There is a right way to do things, and there is a wrong way, grace, the grace of God for many, has blurred those lines.
Those in the Old Testament after the giving of the law, knew exactly what was expected of them, there was one right way, the way of the law. “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee.” (Phil. 3:5) Paul followed the law, perfectly, and to the point, then Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, (Acts 9:3-4) and over a period of about two years taught him about grace.
The following of the law did not make it possible to enter into the kingdom of God, grace did, and only grace ever has. “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:23) Long before the law.
The sacrifices could not cover sin, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Heb. 10:4) The right way has always been the way of grace, of belief, of faith, there has never been another way. There are so many people I speak with that cannot understand properly Matthew 7:20, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” They confuse the works done by the Spirit of the Lord through us with works that must be done in order to obtain salvation, believing that certain ones, if not accomplished, will not show that salvation as complete, as real. They are in essence dishonoring the work done on the cross, and have forgotten, or decided to simply ignore James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Peter was guilty of this in part, unbeknownst to him for some reason, when he attempted to compel the people to live as the sons of Jacob. (Gal. 2:14) Many religious organizations will profess that without baptism salvation cannot be obtained, using Acts 2:38 as a “golden rule.” The Roman Catholic cult has an entire list of items that must be followed, and even after that, they have the “sin of presumption.” The law is never enough.
Grace is provoking the children of Israel to jealousy, (Romans 10:19) it is a stumbling block to most, (1 Cor. 1:23) grace is Jesus Christ, and to the majority, He is not enough. The law, any law, whether it be those given to Israel, those imposed by any religious organization, or even the traditions of many churches, now seen as “fundamental” to their beliefs, will never allow anyone to enter into the kingdom of heaven, only by faith in Christ as the propitiation for our sins, by the blood that He shed for us, will we inherit eternal life.
Ponder this, a paraplegic that can do absolutely nothing for themselves, if they are not given assistance in this life, they will die. If that person accepts Christ, what works would you expect from them?
Here is just in one quick instance, the moment of truth for those that still believe that our works, no matter how insignificant, are needed for eternal salvation, and what they have done by these thoughts is put Christ to an open shame. (Heb. 6:6) Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. All who believe and call on the name of the Lord God’s Son, Jesus Christ, will be saved (Romans 10:13) it will be counted to them as righteousness, no more needs to be done, and that is why so many have blurred the line between works and grace.
The following of the law, no matter what law someone chooses, allows them to feel as if they have been a part of something, that something that they did by their own free will, by their own merits, is seen as honorable and true in the sight of the Lord. “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.” (Isaiah 64:6) “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Prov. 14:12)
That my friends, is the wrong way. Until you come to an understanding of the Sovereignty of God, you will never understand properly the grace of God, and you will never learn to submit fully to that grace. “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4)
