It has not been our intention to cast any negative inference upon the Ten Commandments. Their importance in the Old Testament and their moral teachings that are still applicable today, forbid us to have an antinomian[1] attitude concerning these laws. Jesus, who came to fulfill the great purpose behind God’s law, said to His disciples, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” However, in looking at the Ten Commandments that were given to Israel, we hope that we have caused some believers to see that they are more than just a list of do’s and don’ts as they apply to the Christian life. I believe we have clearly shown that what was written on those tables of stone had a spiritual significance much greater than most people think.

Matt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

To begin with, for those who are without Christ, these laws offer no hope to anyone who is trying to work their way to Heaven by struggling to obey them. Although there were many in Israel who boasted that they had kept the written law, Jesus taught that in order to “enter into the kingdom of heaven,” we need a righteousness far greater than those religious men and women had. The Gentiles, who were not a part of God’s covenant relationship with Israel, certainly have no basis to hope in a salvation that is earned by obedience to the law. Furthermore, the Scriptures plainly teach, that for everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike—“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Matt 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Matt 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Therefore, if “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness,” what is it that we must believe in order to have salvation?

1. We must believe what the law says about the condition of every one of us—we are sinners. Although most people have some idea about what sin is and therefore what it means to be a sinner—what does the Bible teach?[2] The simplest definition for sin is that it is the “transgression of the law.” To transgress means to cross over the line, to enter into an act that is outside of the boundaries which the law has established. One of the Greek words for sin is “hamartia,” which means to “miss the mark” or fall short of what the law demands. A sinner is a being that commits sin, be it an angel or a man. We became sinners by birth because we have inherited the fallen nature of our first father Adam; and we are sinners by choice and action because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Many have the idea that a sinner is a really bad person who does terrible things, but the law does not make any such distinctions. If we were to do just one thing wrong in all of our life we are guilty of sin. To be a sinner also means to be a part of a fallen race that is at war against God, whose leader is Satan. Just as Lucifer rebelled against God’s authority, we became a part of his rebellion by nature and by choice. Because all of us have sinned, God’s Word declares that “There is none righteous, no, not one”; there is no one that is fit to enter God’s Heaven or to stand in His presence because of the stain of sin.

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Jam 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Eph 1:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

2. We must believe the law when it says that we are condemned and the penalty for our sins must be paid. The penalty for any and all sins is death and that does not mean just physical death— “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Mankind died spiritually when Adam partook of the forbidden fruit; physical death soon destroys our body as the ravages of sin overcome us; but the final, eternal, never dieing-ever dieing death begins when our soul leaves the body and is immediately sent to Hell to await judgment. At the end of the ages, God will bring forth all those who have died without Christ to stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment. It is there that the books will be opened and every unredeemed person will be judged for the things that were done while they lived upon the earth. Everyone who is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the Lake of Fire where they will suffer the second death.

Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Lev 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

3. Furthermore, we must believe the law when it says that we have no hope of trying to make amends for our sins. Many people have the idea that by changing the way they live and doing good, that God will overlook their past sins—but such is not the case. To begin with, a sinner cannot do anything that is truly good. The Scriptures proclaim that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”; the very best things that any of us do are like the bandages of a leper or the menstrual cloth of a woman in God’s eyes. Furthermore, only the shedding of the sinners blood—his death—can atone for past sins. The law is satisfied with nothing less than the death of the sinner; and even if we could offer to God the riches of the whole world, that could not atone for our sins. There are no works of penance, no sacrificial offerings, and no deeds of righteousness that fallen man can give to God on behalf of himself. The state of a sinner before God and His law is truly a helpless and hopeless one—apart from the grace and mercy of God. It is only when we stand before God and confess that we are an empty-handed sinner, that we have any hope of salvation. Jesus did not come to save anyone who is trusting in their own self-righteousness, but He came to call “sinners to repentance.”

Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Matt 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Matt 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

4. After believing all that the law has said about our present condition and eternal destiny, we must then believe in what the grace of God says that Jesus has done for us. In spite of the fact that we are the enemies of God and have broken His law, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Although the law demands death as the payment for sins, God’s mercy allowed a substitute to take the sinner’s place. Throughout the Old Testament the animal sacrifices continually revealed Israel’s need of a substitute to atone for their transgressions of God’s law. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said to his followers, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Jesus was the Lamb to which all the sacrifices of the Old Testament pointed to; for God “made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin” and then He “bare our sins in his own body on the tree.” The death of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary provided an atonement for the sins of His people and made a way for them to be reconciled to God. His resurrection from the dead showed that God was fully satisfied with the sacrifice of His Son for the sins of His people, and the way to God had been opened for them.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 Pet 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

5. The grace of God also tells us that the only way we can appropriate what Christ has done for us is to believe and trust in His sacrifice. We are, by God’s mercy, love, and grace, “saved through faith”; and even the faith by which we are saved “is the gift of God.” When God causes a lost sinner to see their awful state and to cry out for mercy—which is part of repentance— and then brings that sinner to see Jesus, dieing on the cross for their sins, salvation has been wrought in the heart of that person. Biblical faith in Christ is not the result of any of man’s efforts; walking the aisle, saying a prayer, getting baptized, emotionalism, or any of the other schemes that man has devised to create converts will not produce a genuine conversion to Christ. Some of these things may be the result of God’s work in our life, but they are in no way a means to salvation.

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

6. The grace of God also tells us that those who have fully trusted in Christ’s sacrifice and have believed “that God hath raised him from the dead,” that their lives will be forever changed. When a convert is brought to faith in Jesus, they are immediately indwelt by the Spirit of God. The first thing the Spirit does is to bear “witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” God’s Spirit also unites us to our Lord to become a part of His spiritual body. By becoming one with the resurrected Christ we have been raised to a new life; the power of sin has been broken; we are set free from the demands of the law; and we have a new desire to serve God.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

7. Because the Spirit of God creates in us a desire to serve and obey God, the grace of God tells us that we will want to confess Christ and be identified with Him and His people. We should want to tell others what God has done for us, and we should submit ourselves to believer’s baptism. Baptism is the first step in the obedience of faith for a newly born child of God. It pictures what Christ has done for us and is a witness to everyone that we have identified ourselves with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. We should also become a part of a local New Testament church that glorifies Christ and His Word. We need to be in fellowship with other children of God, and be under the teaching and preaching of His Word so that we can grow in the faith.

Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

2 Pet 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

After a person has become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, the battle between the law-works mentality and the grace-faith mindset continues to haunt all believers. One of the greatest dangers for the children of God, but especially new believers, is instead of growing in grace, we are led back under the Old Testament laws and regulations, and are taught the doctrines of men instead of Christ. The Apostle Paul was led to write an entire New Testament book on this very thing—the Book of Galatians. This letter was written to a young body of believers who had been infiltrated by Judaizers—those who promoted circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses. Still today, many well-meaning, and some unscrupulous religious leaders, do not fully understand the doctrines of grace and teach their followers different variations of this same error.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

When a child of God begins to think that by keeping the Ten Commandments, or any other list of rules, it makes them acceptable or pleasing to God, they begin to fall from grace. When they begin to believe that they are achieving a higher status in the Christian life by instituting a list of rules by which they live, they begin to fall from grace. Although, as we have said, the Ten Commandments and other Old Testament teachings are not to be disregarded, we must be careful not to let legalism[3] become the basis of our Christian life. Our carnal mind[4] is still drawn toward doing something to fulfill its desire to have a measure of self-righteousness and self-fulfillment apart from Christ. The fullness of our life in Christ can only be attained by learning to live by faith and walk in the Spirit. Christ freed His people from all the demands of the law so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in them.

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

What exactly does it mean to “fall from grace”? Does it mean that those in Christ can lose their salvation?—if it did, salvation would not be “by grace.” If there was anything that we as humans had to do in order to be saved or in order to stay saved, salvation would not be “by grace.” There are many Christians who hold to some form of error about their salvation. Although there are many variations to this, they all go something like this—‘God did all He could do to save us, but man must do his part’; or, ‘Jesus died to pay for our past sins, but we must obey the Ten Commandments, be faithful, and confess our sins in order to go to Heaven.’ The problem for most Christians is that they do not know their Bible. They know what momma said, the preacher said, the devils tell them, and what their own flesh says, but they do not know “thus saith the Lord.” Anyone who has a clear understanding of Bible truth knows that if salvation is “by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Isa 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore, since salvation is all of grace, what does it mean to fall from grace? Paul told the Galatian church that because of putting themselves back under the law “Christ is become of no effect unto you.” However, again, he was not talking about the efficaciousness of Jesus’ blood concerning our eternal salvation. What Paul was referring to was the spiritual blessings that Christ brings into our lives in the here and now. All of the promised blessings that God has provided for us in Christ are conditioned upon our faith, and the law is not of faith. So then, what are some of these blessings that we have in Christ?

Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

1. Christ frees us from the condemnation of the law. Since Christ paid our sin debt and redeemed us from the curse of the law, our conscience is free from guilt. Those who put themselves back under the law struggle with guilt, because they can never please God by keeping the law. The law is never satisfied by what we do because it is never enough, but God is satisfied with what Christ did for us.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

2. Those who abide in Christ have the continual witness that they are the children of God. When we fully trust in what Jesus has done for us, the Holy Spirit bears testimony to our spirit that we are secure in Christ. Those who fall back under the law-works mentality struggle with their assurance of being saved, because they don’t feel good enough to be accepted before God. Living under grace is dependant upon our believing the truth, and when we forsake the truth we forsake our mercies.

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

2 Thess 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

3. Those who are daily dependant upon Christ experience the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The Holy Spirit always responds to the truth of God’s Word and empowers those who are trusting in God’s Word. Believers who are walking in the Spirit experience victory over sin and great boldness to witness for their Lord. Those who are walking in the flesh struggle with sin and find it difficult to say anything about Christ.

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Phil 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

4. Those who walk by faith see the fruits of the Spirit being manifested in them. When the Spirit of Christ indwells a believer we begin to experience the very life of God. The qualities that are the essence of God’s being start to show forth in the believer’s life. Those who labor to please God in the flesh are miserable, cold, and unsatisfied because the fruits of the Spirit can only be experienced, not duplicated.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

5. Those who abide in Christ see much fruit bearing for the Kingdom of God. They see answers to prayers, miracles, and other souls brought into God’s family. Those who labor after the flesh are fruitless. They may be busy in doing religious good works, but they are not accomplishing anything for the glory God.

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

1 Cor 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Why do preachers and teachers continue to lead their followers by a system of law-works? One of the motivations that many spiritual leaders are driven by is pride. They come to believe that their church, their system, their breed of Christianity is superior to other believers. They themselves get their eyes off of Christ and start to believe that they are one of God’s “special” instruments here on earth; that God has given them a “special” revelation of His will and the means to attaining a higher level in the Christian life. Many pastors and teachers will go to extremes in drawing up their lists of do’s and don’ts that make them more “spiritual” than other children of God. Others, who continue to indoctrinate the people of God with the demands of the law, have the fear that most Christians cannot handle the freedom that they have in Christ. Many preachers and teachers—those who have an understanding of grace—think that their followers must be restricted by rules and laws to control their carnal actions. Many churches have formulated a long list of restrictions that dictate who can become a member or who can serve Christ in their assembly. They may say they believe in grace, but in reality they teach and practice legalism. Those who teach such error place themselves in the stead of the Holy Spirit, who lives within believers and is at work to bring them into the obedience of Christ. Believers will never have real victory until they have been set free and taught to live by faith.

Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?