Where there is a breaking of the law, there must be by necessity consequences for those actions. “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.” (Romans 3:20)
We live in what is called the age of grace, no one who has been born-again is under the law, in fact the law is of no effect anymore, it was fulfilled in all its requirements by the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross, but I have yet to meet anyone who truly lives their life in the freedom of that knowledge.
The grace of God does not allow us to become lawless individuals, we live our lives in obedience to the will of the Father, and so by default we adhere to what He desires for us. Law enforcement officers are given the ability to use discretion, to determine if the infraction occurred because of extenuating circumstances. If the laws of man were followed to the letter, punishment would be acted upon swiftly, but men lie and so the truth is not always apparent. “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” (Luke 8:17)
As those who have been crucified with Christ, and truly as all men are, the Lord sees everything. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Heb. 4:13) And so to the point of this poorly written letter, how much of your life is lived in fear of retribution from the Lord, how much is done in love, and how much because you fear His punishment if you are not obedient?
What would happen if you decided to stop attending church, would the Almighty become angry with you? Is there a law that says, “Thou shalt attend a worship service once a week for an hour or so?” “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) Does Hebrews 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.” constitute a requirement to be there every Sunday morning? Now, consider this, that church you are attending, if they believe that if you are not baptized you will go to hell, would you continue attending it? If most of the Sunday morning services revolve around the cares and troubles of the world and not in worshipping and adoring the Lord God, if there is more tradition than humble adoration, if it is little more than a community clubhouse where like-minded individuals gather to discuss current events, and you stop attending, will the Lord be angry with you?
Which is worse in your eyes, continued attendance of that feigned place or not attending church at all?
Ask yourself this, why are there so many different “churches” in your community if the body of Christ is just that, one singular body working in tandem for the glory of God?
There were in my youth billboards along the highway that read “Go to the church of your choice,” an innocuous enough sounding statement, but one of great deception at heart, for Satan knows full well that deception is one of his greatest tools. It never ceases to amaze me that those who call themselves Christians who pick and choose which laws they should adhere to from the Scriptures are the ones who know and understand the word “grace” the least. “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)
Here is what they need to contemplate, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14) None of it, not one part, not under the Ten Commandments, not under the Mosaic law, not under the law of the Pharisees, we are under grace. Grace says serve because you love me.
“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:” (Romans 8:3)
