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According to US News and World Report, less than every hour, someone is murdered in the United States. A burglary occurs less than every 3 minutes. 400,000 illegitimate births occur every year. There are 3 million abortions performed every year. 60% of all Americans have been victims of a major crime at least once. There are 1 in 7 children who are sexually abused. The United States has 20 times more rape than any other country. 30,000 people commit suicide each year. Additionally, 60% of Americans steal on a regular basis, 24% commit adultery on a regular basis, and the average American tells 100 lies a day. We are one of the most violent and wicked nations on earth, yet we are the greatest Christian nation. Something is desperately wrong, especially when we have more churches than ever before, more members than ever before, and more pastors than ever before.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." Preachers are to preach the Word, but the current condition is not all their fault. Notice that the people are described as not wanting to hear it. They do not want the truth because they want to be told that they can continue in their sin and still make it to heaven. They will only listen to those preachers that will tickle the ear with good stories, an easy way in, and no conviction of sin.

Why then be a Christian? There is no apparent difference today between a Christian and a non-Christian. Paul states it quite well. Galatians 2:14 "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" Now remember, Christians are spiritual Jews today. That means where we see the word Jew, we can substitute Christian and where we see Gentile, we can substitute heathen. Galatians 2:14 "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [them] all, If thou, being a Christian, livest after the manner of Heathens, and not as do the Christians, why compellest thou the Heathens to live as do the Christians?" Amen?

There was once a woman who asked her husband weekly to go to church with her. After several weeks, he finally had enough. He said, "We both watch the same TV, go to the same movies, smoke the same cigarettes, eat the same food, and listen to the same music. You go to church and I stay home and watch football. What’s the difference?" He is absolutely right. If there are no standards for Christians to live by, why become a Christian.

Today, the Bible is being made a mockery. For instance, a church school teacher will teach how to be modest and decent, yet Saturday night, she is down at the dance hall wiggling her stuff all over the dance floor. There are preachers who preach on morality and yet are down at the bar cracking dirty jokes.

Every Christian claims to be a follower of Christ. What does it mean to be a follower of Christ? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." Following the Word of God, which contains many standards, allows God to remove the imperfections and replace them with good works.

Now let us ask a very important question: Is there sin in the World? Well, yes of course. How do we know? How does the Bible define sin? 1 John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." So since there is sin, then by definition, the law still exists.

Are people taught properly today? Romans 2:18 "And knowest [his] will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law." They are not being taught properly since they are being taught that the law has been done away with. We are to be taught from the law. This explains why teenagers do not know right from wrong. They are being taught no absolutes, but rather, everything is gray today. They are told, "Whatever feels good do it!"

It was not like this fifty or so years ago. But since the 1950’s, we have been on a down hill spiral. What happened? Prayer and the Ten Commandments were removed from the public schools. Even many churches took the commandments down. When that happened, the Devil and his angels had free reign over the children that today are in positions of power making decisions without any moral backing.

So if our kids are not getting the guidance they need while in school, and they are not getting it in church or family, what are they going to be like? A generation without God.

What happens to God’s people when they lack godly instruction? Hosea 4:1-2 "Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because [there is] no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood." The Word is what is to be preached as we already read in Timothy. It is the same standard in the Old and New Testaments. Notice what happens. The lack of truth and knowledge leads to swearing which breaks the third commandment, lying which breaks the ninth commandment, killing which breaks the sixth commandment, stealing which breaks the eighth commandment, and committing adultery which breaks the seventh commandment. That sounds like society today. In fact, what happened in the high school in Colorado is a direct fulfillment of these verses. You see, the law puts value on life. Take away the law and there is no value hence, people do not think twice about killing somebody else.

What is the eventual result? Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." This is a serious issue. This plays a part in whether we are saved or lost.

But many say, "Oh, I’m a good person. I do all kinds of good things." Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Sounds like a lot of good people will not be going to Heaven. Why? Because they just did not do the will of the Father.

What is the will of the Father? Psalm 40:8 "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart." David delighted to do the will of God, which was to keep the law. This is the difference between the legalist and the born again Christian. It is the heart motivation. Legalists keep the law thinking they can earn heaven. True Christians keep the law because they do want to hurt the God they love.

Is there not a new covenant? Hebrews 8:7-9 "For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord." The first covenant failed. It was a relationship that became a list of dos and don’ts.

What is the new covenant? Hebrews 8:10 "For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." The law has moved from cold tables of stone to the warm tables of our hearts. We just love God so much that we would not want to displease God even in the slightest manner, but the words have not changed.

When did the law come into existence? Exodus 31:18 "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." Sure, the law was given to Moses, but the law existed even before then. Genesis 26:5 "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." Abraham kept God’s commandments. Sure, Abraham is the father of the Jews. Well, the law existed before then as well. Genesis 3:6 "And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden because they disobeyed their Father by partaking of the forbidden fruit as well as breaking the sixth commandment for they knew a death penalty was involved. But the law even existed before then. Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Lucifer and the angels got kicked out of heaven over the law. Why? Because Lucifer coveted God’s throne breaking the tenth commandment, wanted to be like God breaking the first commandment, and then spread lies breaking the ninth commandment. If he and the angels got kicked out of heaven for breaking the law, how can we expect to get into heaven while breaking them? Amen?

Are we sure the law is in Heaven? Revelation 11:19 "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." What is in the ark? Deuteronomy 10:2, "And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark."

Before continuing on, may I ask, does the earth still exist? Sure. Does the sun shine during the day and the moon and stars come out at night? Sure. Matthew 5:17-19 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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. 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." Now you just told me that heaven and earth are still here, that means the law exists as well.

How is the law used? James 2:10-12 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all. 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. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." It is quite clear that God will use the law during the judgment, otherwise, what guidelines would God use to determine if we are His disciples or not.

Are we saved by the law? Romans 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." You cannot be saved by keeping the commandments, however, the law tells Christians what sin is.

It is like a traffic light. Does a red light physically prevent you from entering into the intersection? No. It just warns you of the impending danger. And if ignored, the consequence could be bodily injury or death. So it is with God’s commandments. They will not stop a person from sinning, but one is wise to adhere to them to avoid bodily injury and even death.

James 1:22-25 provides another illustration to reveal the purpose of the law. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." We are not to just listen, but we are to be doers as well. It is like a man beholding himself in a mirror. If he were to have dirt on his face, how would he know that? By using a mirror. But what if he did not like mirrors? What if mirrors were abolished? Does that take care of the dirt on his face? No way. What does he have to do? Wash it. Once he washes his face, how does he know it is clean? By a mirror. But all mirrors were abolished! Of course, if he did decide to look in a mirror, which did not change, he would find a clean face. That is how the law works. It points out the dirt so that we know we need to be cleansed.

If the law were done away with, which commandments should we abolish? The first commandment? Exodus 20:2-3 "I [am] the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." This keeps people from serving money, power, etc. and acknowledges the God of Heaven as the true God.

The second commandment? Exodus 20:4-6 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." One does not need to pray to statues or any other idols instead, go straight to God in prayer through Jesus Christ.

The third commandment? Exodus 20:7 "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." TV, movies, and in the work place, God’s name is often used disrespectfully.

The fourth commandment? Exodus 20:8-11 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Satan has people under the gun seven days a week. No wonder families are breaking up. No wonder people are so stressed. God gives people one day a week to escape the rat race.

The fifth commandment? Exodus 20:12 "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Of course this works both ways. Kids are to honor their parents, and parents are to be worthy of honour.

The sixth commandment? Exodus 20:13 "Thou Shalt Not Kill." God’s four Word answer to violence.

The seventh commandment? Exodus 20:14 "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery." God’s five Word answer to AIDS.

The eighth commandment? Exodus 20:15 "Thou Shalt Not Steal." There should be no need of locks, safes, or security systems.

The ninth commandment: Exodus 20:16 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." Afraid of hurting someone’s feelings? Consider the fact that no one should ask for an opinion if they do not want to receive a true answer. Amen?

The tenth commandment: Exodus 20:17 "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour’s." There were these two gentlemen that since their school days were always competing. If one got a brand new car, the other had to get a better brand new car. If one bought a house, the other had to buy a better new house. And it continued to escalate until one of them died. He was buried in a solid gold casket. The other guy had to out do him so he put in his will to be buried in the top of the line Mercedes, wearing a tux, with a cigar in his mouth. And they actually did it.

So which commandment should we remove? It seems the majority of the world has removed them all.

James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." Yes. Belief in God is necessary but notice that Satan’s belief in God generates a reaction – He trembles. Should Christians also have a reaction?

During a live presentation, if it were announced in a low soft voice, with no excitement whatsoever, "The building is on fire. Let’s all leave at once before we burn up." How many people would move? None, because they do not believe it. But if there was an explosion and smoke began to seep up through the vents and shouted were the words, "THE BUILDING’S ON FIRE! HURRY UP! LET’S GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE WE ALL BURN UP!" How many would respond then? All. Why? Because they believed.

It is true that to be saved we must believe in Jesus. But what does that encompass? The following is the result of searching all the verses regarding saved, save, believe, believed, believest, believeth, believing, and belief.

1. James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well." One cannot spend eternity with someone they do not believe in, especially those who do all in their power to prove that there is no god. So believe there is one God.
2. John 3:15-16 "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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." John 6:69 "And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." Acts 8:36-37 "And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 2:21 "And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Believe Jesus came in the flesh and is the Son of God of whom we are not ashamed to call upon.
3. Acts 15:11 "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God." John 11:26 "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Believe that Jesus’ blood pays the penalty of sin, which is grace for we do not deserve such a free gift.
4. Romans 10:9 "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." 1 Thessalonians 4:14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." Believe that Jesus rose and the saved will rise as well unto eternal life.
5. John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also." Acts 1:11 "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Believe that He will return.
6. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Believe that God forgives confessed sins no matter how great the sin.
7. Matthew 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Believe that Jesus can keep us from sinning. Note that Jesus came to save us from our sins meaning it is through true belief in Jesus that we are kept from sinning. Note what else Jesus said on this subject. John 8:33-34 "They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." Besides, if we truly believe God is Almighty, would He not be mightier than our sins?
8. 1 Timothy 4:16 "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." Luke 8:12 "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." Believe the Word of God is a saving power to those that keep His Word. This is confirmed with the good ground: Luke 8:15 "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience." Further, it is reinforced in John 8:31, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed."
9. Mark 9:23 "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth." John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name." Romans 10:4 "For Christ [is] the end" [result] "of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Believe that through Jesus Christ, we can keep the commandments of God. Are the commandments an eternal life issue? Luke 18:18-19 "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none [is] good, save one, [that is], God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother." Clearly it is the commandments spoken here. Additionally, there was another situation that Jesus was more specific about. Luke 10:25-28 "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." And what did Jesus say about these two great commandments? Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Jesus said, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." That is because the first four commandments deal with our love to God (John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments.") and the last six deal with our love to our neighbour (Romans 13:9 "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."). But you may have heard that no one can keep the law. That would mean that God would be expecting the impossible, but Paul does not think this way. Romans 7:12 "Therefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and JUST, and good." The commandments are just that is fair, reasonable, able to be kept.
10. Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Believe by being baptized.
11. Luke 13:23-24 "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." James 4:4 "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." Believe that one must resist the worldly attractions offered through the wide gate for the worldly ways are a choice to be an enemy of God.
12. Mark 8:35 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." Mark 13:13 "And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Believe that one is to be used by God even unto death if it would win souls for the kingdom
13. Romans 9:27 "Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved." Believe that those following the right way, the minority view, will be saved.

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

1 John 5:2 "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."

1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." An illustration of this is that of marriage. Imagine the husband getting up in the morning and saying, "I don’t feel like going to work." Then he remembers, "Oh yeah, I have to go to work. I have to do the chores. I can’t go out on any more dates." Is that what marriage is like? Of course not. A husband should provide for his family and take care of the things around the house and not go out on dates, but that is not where the focus is. The focus is on doing all that pleases his wife. It is in his heart to do all those things automatically.

1 John 2:3-4 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

Psalm 119:97 "O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation all the day."

Daniel 7:25 "And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Here it is identified that the Antichrist will think to change God’s law.

1. God’s Law is called "the Law of the Lord" (Isaiah 5:24).
2. God’s Law is called "the Royal Law" (James 2:8).
3. God’s Law was written by God on stone (Exodus 31:18, 32:16).
4. God’s Law was placed inside the ark (Exodus 40:20).
5. God’s Law points out sin (Romans 7:7, 3:20).
6. God’s Law is not grievous (1 John 5:3).
7. God’s Law judges all people (James 2:10-12).

Clearly, the Ten Commandments are not part of the "Law of Moses" that were Nailed To His Cross.

God desires His character to be expressed in each person. To do away with the commandments, one would have to do away with God because the Ten Commandments reveal God’s character…

1. John 4:24 God is Spiritual, Romans 7:14 His Law is Spiritual.
2. 1 John 4:8 God is Love, John 15:10 His Law is Love.
3. John 14:6 God is Truth, Psalm 119:142 His Law is Truth.
4. 1 Corinthians 1:30 God is Righteous, Psalm 119:142 His Law is Righteous.
5. Isaiah 6:3 God is Holy, Romans 7:12 His Law is Holy.
6. Matthew 5:48 God is Perfect, Psalm 19:7 His Law is Perfect.
7. Psalm 48:14 God is Forever, Psalm 111:7 His Law is Forever.
8. Luke 18:19 God is Good, Romans 7:12 His Law is Good.
9. Deuteronomy 32:4 God is Just, Romans 7:12 His Law is Just.
10. 1 John 3:2-3 God is Pure, Psalm 19:8 His Law is Pure.
11. 1 Corinthians 1:9 God is Faithful, Psalm 119:86 His Law is Faithful.
12. James 1:17 God is Unchangeable, Matthew 5:18 His Law is Unchangeable.

THAT’S CLEAR! Amen?

Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Is this a blanket allowance to break the law? Why not let the Bible answer this for us? Romans 6:15 "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Paul knew that people would misunderstand him. Because we are saved by grace, does that mean we can break the commandments all we want so we can get lots and lots of grace? His response is "God Forbid!" That is strong language.

It works like this. There is a speed limit law, which all are under. If people go over the speed limit and get caught, they are guilty. Now one might approach the judge and say, "I’m guilty, but I’m going to ask for grace." He may ask, "What is grace?" "It is a pardon that I don’t deserve." He says, "All right. I’m going to give you grace and dismiss the fine and the points and clear your record." You are under grace, right? Now does that give you permission to always break the speed limit? No of course not.

Who brought in Grace? Acts 15:11 "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." We are saved by the grace offered by Jesus Christ.

Did He offer grace only from the point of the cross? 2 Timothy 1:9-10 "Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." Grace existed even before the world began. Those before the cross were not saved by works but by grace brought to light in the cross, as we are not saved by works but by the same grace.

Did grace exist in the Old Testament? Exodus 33:12-17 "And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation [is] thy people. And he said, My presence shall go [with thee], and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not [with me], carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? [is it] not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that [are] upon the face of the earth. And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name." Exodus 34:9 "And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it [is] a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance." So Moses and the Israelites found grace. How can that be? Easy, they could not have been saved any other way. It would take only one disobedient act to be cast into hell since the "agreement" was that the Israelites would obey every word that God spoke and we know they did not. Even Moses disobeyed by striking the rock a second time when he was to speak to it, yet we are told that He is in heaven. Grace is a pardon for when we fall short of what God expects, which covers our confessed sins.

But Moses was not the only one under grace. Genesis 6:8 "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." Obviously, grace existed well before the cross. Besides, could you see in heaven a conversation between an Old Testament and a New Testament person? The Old Testament person may say, "Boy, it was difficult to get here. I had these ten rules hanging over my head all the time. How was it for you?" The New Testament person may reply, "Oh, it was a piece of cake. I was able to cuss and sware to fit in at work. I had a girl on the side in addition to my wife. Cheated people anytime that I knew I wouldn’t get caught. And got pretty wealthy too. I..." That would be ludicrous. According to Hebrews 13:8, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, Amen?

How do we know we are under grace? Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." By faith. The law merely points us to what sin is so that through grace by faith, our sins are forgiven. Once they are forgiven, then what? Romans 6:1-2 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Again, so that no one would misunderstand, Paul uses very strong words – "God Forbid!"

The Bible tells us that SIN is the transgression of the LAW. Whoever then hates God’s LAW upholds SIN because SIN is breaking the LAW and where there is no LAW there is no SIN. Whoever then hates SIN must support the LAW. Now the Bible tells us that GRACE is pardon for SIN, which is breaking the LAW. And all of us need GRACE because all of us have SIN. Now CHRIST died that we may have GRACE, which is pardon for SIN, which is breaking the LAW. And the GOSPEL is the story of CHRIST who died that we might have GRACE, which is pardon for SIN, which is breaking the LAW.

But preachers today are preaching that the law has been done away with. The law is not binding anymore. What is the ultimate conclusion?

Because if you do away with the LAW you also do away with SIN because SIN is breaking the LAW and folks, if you don’t have anymore SIN you sure don’t need GRACE which is pardon for SIN which is breaking the LAW. And if you don’t need GRACE you sure don’t need CHRIST and He is foolish to come down here for nothing. And folks, if you don’t have CHRIST you sure don’t need a GOSPEL which is the story of CHRIST who died that we might have GRACE which is pardon for SIN which is breaking the LAW and if you don’t need a GOSPEL then you sure don’t need a PREACHER and he just preached himself out of a job, so you might as well get rid of the CHURCH. AMEN!

Revelation 12:17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." At the conclusion of what is known as the history chapter, our present day reveals that Satan focuses on a remnant or small group of people who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.

Popular Christianity however says that the law can be changed or thrown out, Satan is only angry at them because they keep preaching about Jesus. But Satan tries to kill these last faithful people that love God so much that they shun man made traditions and strive to follow God’s commandments as well as the Bible and the Bible alone.

Revelation 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." I want to be a Saint. How about you? They are identified as keeping the commandments of God and claiming the faith in Jesus. And we learned, 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Praise God for Jesus because we all fall short of perfection. But this should not deter our desires to love God so much that we want to keep His commandments.

Revelation 22:14 "Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." We will have the right to enter into heaven when we keep His commandments -- not to be saved, but because we are saved.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man." It does not get much plainer than this.

It comes down to the fact that if we continue to deliberately break God’s commandments, we will not enter into heaven. On the other hand, keeping the commandments does not guarantee heaven either. By a loving relationship with God, we will have the desire to keep His commandments and will do all to keep them for His grace is sufficient for us.

May God bless you and keep you and may your love for Him grow more and more each day so that it is your sole desire to love Him and keep His commandments.¤