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Dead to the Law?
'Ready Answer' by Earl L. HennSome individuals, whether sincerely or not, twist the apostle Paul's writings to argue that God's law is abolished, often targeting Romans 7:4. In this verse, Paul states that a Christian is dead to the law and now married to another, leading some to conclude that obedience to God's laws is no longer required. However, in Romans 6:3-7, Paul explains that through baptism, we are buried with Christ, our old man of sin is crucified with Him, and we are freed from sin to serve righteousness. In Romans 7:1, Paul clarifies that the law has dominion over a person only while he lives, meaning it has the power to condemn us to death as sinners only during our lifetime. Once we die with Christ in baptism, the penalty for sin is paid, and the law no longer has power to condemn us. Using a marriage analogy in Romans 7:2-3, Paul illustrates that a woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if he dies, the bond is broken, and the law cannot condemn her for remarrying. Similarly, in verse 4, Paul explains that we have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, as our old man of sin died at baptism, freeing us from condemnation. We are now married to Christ, who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God. In verse 5, Paul notes that before conversion, our sinful nature brought us under the death penalty. In verse 6, he concludes that we are delivered from the law's power to condemn us because our old man of sin has died, and Christ has paid the penalty for our sins. Now, empowered by God's Holy Spirit, we serve in the newness of the Spirit, keeping God's laws in their full spiritual intent and purpose.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThere exists a pervasive anti-law bias concerning the New Covenant that often surfaces in teachings, revealing itself through subtle implications that laws such as the Sabbath, tithing, holy days, and food laws are restrictive and harsh. This bias mirrors the deception employed by satan in Genesis 3, where he twisted God's law to appear cruel and binding, suggesting that God withholds good things from humanity. Such teachings imply that adhering to these laws prevents enjoyment of greater income, more time, or delicious meals deemed unclean, portraying God's law as an impingement on personal freedom. This attitude reflects negatively on God, the Lawgiver, by suggesting that He imposed an inhibiting bondage through these commandments, contrary to the liberty He intended. This anti-law perspective follows the pattern of the master deceiver, leading to a rejection of God's government and law, just as it did with Adam and Eve. The carnal mind, inherently at enmity against God, cannot hide this resistance, often surfacing against what it considers the least important laws, driven by a desire to avoid control in certain areas of life.
Was Jesus Christ Born Under the Law?
'Ready Answer' by Earl L. HennThe life of Jesus Christ serves as a perfect example for us to follow in every aspect. However, false teachings, stemming from the spirit of antichrist as warned by the apostle John, attempt to deceive true Christians into believing it is not necessary to walk in Christ's footsteps. These subtle arguments, prevalent even in the early church and persisting today, undermine the essence of true Christianity, which is to live the life of Christ anew in our flesh and conform to His perfect example. John cautions against such heresies, emphasizing that a teacher is of God only if they affirm that Jesus Christ continues to live His life in the flesh of every true Christian through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that we must emulate Him in every way. Modern-day Christians must remain vigilant against these deceptive teachings that seek to draw them away from the truth of God.
Approaching God Through Christ (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughMany nominal Christians adhere to a simplistic, bumper sticker version of Christianity, believing that a momentary emotional commitment to Jesus Christ ensures eternal salvation without necessitating any deeper change or understanding. They assume they are eternally secure in God's grace, continuing to live as they always have with little to no further learning about true Christianity. This approach reflects an antinomian tendency, where the law is considered irrelevant or annulled, and personal standards replace God's instruction. Such believers often lack knowledge of even basic biblical concepts, following their own heart's will rather than the comprehensive counsel of God, which includes both simple and profound teachings that require ongoing study and growth.
Liberty vs. Independence
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIn the context of liberty and independence, the concept of being Antinomian, or against the law, emerges as a misunderstanding among some Christians who desire to be free from the constraints of law, seeking to be uncontrolled and unrestrained by it. However, this perspective is not supported by Scripture, which never endorses freedom from the law in the sense of abandoning it. Instead, believers are freed from the penalty of the law through Christ's sacrifice, not from the law itself. This liberation allows us to live under a better system, adhering to the Spirit rather than just the letter of the law. We are not justified by lawkeeping but by faith in Christ, enabling us to keep the law in its spiritual intent and develop God's character. Thus, the Antinomian view of rejecting the law entirely misses the true essence of Christian liberty, which involves a dependence on God and a commitment to righteousness, not a pursuit of independence from His guidance.
Nicolaitanism Today
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe antinomian spirit, an attitude of lawlessness, is a pervasive issue within the church of God, allowing sins to infest its members. When individuals teach and practice that they are not obliged to keep God's laws, sin inevitably breaks out vigorously, placing Christians under the penalty of the law and the wrath of the Judge. Jesus, Paul, Peter, Jude, and John all warn against the encroachment of antinomianism, highlighting its destructive impact on spiritual life. Jesus Himself predicts in His Olivet Prophecy that lawlessness will abound, causing the love of many to grow cold. Paul foretells a great apostasy resulting from the unrestrained assault of the mystery of lawlessness, while John's gospel uses Jesus' words to combat these heresies. The Christian churches of this world are predominantly antinomian to varying degrees, influenced by Hellenistic Christianity and Greek philosophies like Gnosticism. Protestantism, in particular, embraces antinomian theology through doctrines like salvation by grace through faith alone, which removes God's law entirely, and eternal security, which negates judgment for sin. The world itself is antinomian, under the sway of satan the devil, who despises God's law and tempts believers to set it aside for personal desires. Jesus counters such temptations with adherence to the law, and in His prayer, asks God to sanctify His followers by His truth to protect them from this rampant antinomian spirit. Holding fast to God's Word and seeking His righteousness is essential to endure the mystery of lawlessness that will mark the end time.
How Does Faith Establish the Law? (Part Two)
'Ready Answer' by David C. GrabbePaul addresses a critical misunderstanding in Romans 3:31, questioning whether faith in Christ's sacrifice nullifies God's law. He emphatically answers that this faith does not overthrow the law but rather upholds and confirms it. This perspective counters the antinomian tendency to view faith as a dismissal of God's standards, revealing instead that belief in Christ's atonement acknowledges the law's ongoing relevance. Such faith admits the necessity of the law as a definition of right and wrong, since sin, defined as transgression of the law, triggers the death penalty and the need for a Redeemer. Therefore, far from promoting lawlessness, faith in Christ's sacrifice implicitly affirms that God's law remains in effect, highlighting the need for repentance and a turn from transgression to maintain a spiritual relationship with God.
Is Obedience Required Before Receiving God's Holy Spirit?
'Ready Answer' by Earl L. HennSome have raised objections to the clear meaning of Acts 5:32, which states that God gives His Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. One objection claims that it is impossible to obey God before receiving His Spirit, thus suggesting that obedience cannot be a prerequisite for receiving it. However, the Bible outlines repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ as fundamental requirements for receiving God's Spirit, as seen in Acts 2:38. Repentance involves a genuine remorse for sins and a desire to change one's life to align with God's commandments. This earnest desire to obey, even before receiving the Spirit, is evident in the teachings of John the Baptist, who demanded that people bear fruits worthy of repentance. Therefore, Acts 5:32 means precisely what it says: God grants His Holy Spirit to those who demonstrate obedience to Him through repentance and faith.
Looking Forward (Part 2)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsFalse teachers have twisted Paul's teachings on grace, Christian liberty, and faith into excuses for sin and lawlessness, promoting a distorted view of freedom that disregards obedience to God. They have misinterpreted grace as a license to sin, ignoring Paul's condemnation of sin's enslavement and the high cost of grace, which demands our lives in obedience to Him. Similarly, they have perverted Christian liberty into unchristian license, wrongly believing that believers are free from all restraints, whereas Paul emphasized that liberty is freedom from sin's bondage, not from virtuous restraints or God's laws. This misuse often leads to a relapse into former worldly habits, as seen in the church becoming liberal and Laodicean under external influences. Additionally, Paul's doctrine of faith has been twisted to suggest that Christian action is unimportant, contrary to his teaching that we are created for righteous actions and good works. These distortions by false teachers, driven by human nature's tendency to abuse truth, pose a constant threat to the steadfastness of believers, enticing them away from the inspired Word of God into error and destruction.
Whose Morality Are We Following?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIn the Israelitish nations today, a troubling trend of antinomianism has emerged, reflecting a belief that under the gospel dispensation of grace, the moral law holds no use or obligation because faith alone is deemed necessary for salvation. This dangerous notion, sometimes flowing into the church of God from mainstream Christian churches, undermines the importance of God's law in guiding moral conduct. It represents a clever deception by satan, imposing a distorted morality even among those who claim to follow Christ. Mainstream Christianity often exhibits this antinomian perspective by asserting the right to overrule God's law when it is found unpleasant, thereby promoting a form of morality based on human reasoning rather than divine command. This rejection of God's moral standards contributes to the broader societal drift away from absolute Christian morality, replacing it with a secular, individualistic ethic that lacks reference to Him as the supreme Lawgiver.
Liberty Through Self-Control
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIn the context of declining freedoms in society, there is a pervasive misunderstanding among many who profess Christianity, particularly within Protestant circles, regarding the nature of Christian liberty. They often view Christianity as a form of license, suggesting there is no law to follow. This perspective is essentially antinomian, meaning against the law, and implies that since Christ has lived righteously, there is no need for personal righteousness or adherence to law. This belief distorts the true message of liberty in Christ, portraying it as freedom from all constraints rather than freedom to live righteously under God's guidance. Satan promotes this deceptive image of God's way as restrictive, while in reality, God's path offers true liberation through adherence to His standards, contrasting sharply with the antinomian view that rejects the law's role in Christian life.
Titus (Part Seven): Maintaining Good Works
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughNominal Christianity often embraces a philosophy that sidelines the importance of works, focusing heavily on salvation by grace to the point where obeying God's Word and living out His teachings is seen as contrary to their beliefs. They label those who emphasize works as legalists, a term misused to criticize adherence to God's law as a means of salvation, which is a misunderstanding. This antinomian bias leads them to believe that Christ has done everything, requiring no effort on their part, thus excusing them from the responsibility of good works. They interpret passages like Acts, which state to believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation, as the core of their belief system, ignoring the broader biblical call to action. This perspective fosters a self-imposed spiritual blindness, disregarding the Bible's numerous instructions and examples that highlight works as essential to the sanctification process, aiding in the development of righteous and holy character, though not contributing to justification. Furthermore, many scholars and commentators, influenced by this antinomian tendency, may downplay the significance of maintaining good works as a faithful saying, prioritizing grace over the active response God expects from believers. Paul, however, insists through his teachings to Titus that believers must be careful to maintain good works, emphasizing their central role alongside grace in the Christian walk.