The spread of a disturbing twist in the message of grace
There is an increasingly disturbing message on the loose which is currently as we speak, being propagated from Singapore to America and is possibly having a global effect.
The message at best is an incomplete understanding of the teaching and doctrine of the grace of God. At its worst, the message will totally kill your walk with God if imbibed for too long.
At the core is a profound misunderstanding of the grace of God, its aims, purposes and power as well as a total misunderstanding of the old covenant law. A proper, biblical understanding of the law and its purpose as well as the grace of God and its purpose will help christians everywhere to quickly discern error and help them to steer clear of the trap of holding beliefs that lead them to become anti-law, 'anti-nomian' or hold a view of the grace of God which degenerates into the licence to sin - 'licentiousness'.
Andrew Murray writes splendidly about the divisions, purposes, intents and character of God as revealed by both old and new covenant in this free e-book,
The Two Covenants, which is being held by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
I was myself a former adherent to the aforesaid message for about 6 years. Shamefully I was one of its ardent proponents . Looking back, I can say with much regret that this message has caused me untold amounts of damage to my faith, regret, sorrow and unnecessary suffering to my walk with God and it has created and invited much unnecessary trouble in my life. I sincerely wished I had read this book earlier than I did, for it would have saved me much sorrow. I highly commend it to you, for your own personal and spiritual growth and profit and as a defence against such teachings which are now as common as the flu.
Two Gods?
The book helped to open my eyes that it is the same God of the old covenant who is loving and kind and gracious in both covenants but also superbly just and holy, so as to inspire worship and much admiration. In both covenants He is inflexible in His holiness yet boundless in His grace and superabundant in His grace and mercy toward mankind. It truly helped to deepen the knowledge of this God who is merciful yet holy.
A healthy respect for the law
There comes with this deception a dishonouring of the commandments, the law of God. Paul in His treatise on law and grace in the book of Romans helps us to walk the line, free of legalistic human effort and full of the Spirit of God in relationship which is born by faith. Yet Paul called the law - good, just, holy in Romans Chapter 7 'has what is holy caused me to sin, surely not'
Quoting Paul in Romans 7 (NASV) excerpts
12 So then,
the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 Therefore did
that which is good become a cause of death for me?
14 For we know that
the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
The chief proponent of the grace of God and its chief expositor, Paul is calling the law, the commandments holy, righteous and good. I argue that if a christian cannot say that of the Law like David, that he loves God's laws and righteous ways, 'O how I love your law,' that christian is likely to lose all reverence for God falling into a trap of taking God for granted and is in a dangerous position of falling into licentiousness - a way of life that subtly endorses sin.
Gradually, that Christian's faith becomes totally ineffective. The teaching replaces the power and deadly force of true faith with a substitute which is not faith but with an imitation, a toy gun - capable of doing no damage to the devil or sin or the powers of darkness. An object capable only to provide its bearer a a totally false sense of security in his delusions that what he has is indeed true faith, when faith's power and substance had been robbed from that person without his knowing.
A Warning
Proverbs 22:28
Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set.
That ancient landmark is Moses Law, which Christ Himself never did disrespect in any of his teachings. In fact Christ strengthened the law! If a Christian has no proper place to put the law in the matrix of his faith, then there is danger of being deceived into licentiousness.
Be warned! Any revelation or teaching that either removes Christ's sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 or exalts any teaching and revelation above that which Jesus Himself preached when He was on earth is likely heresy and will stand the judgement of its works and fruit at the last day.
Legalism versus Holiness born by grace
There is a line to walk - either we are trying to be good by human effort or we are in relationship with the Spirit of God through trusting in Christ's person, word and work through faith in God's empowering grace.
Walking in a faith relationship with God causes us to become transformed. 'Walking by the Spirit' we become more like Him through encounters with the very living God in seeing His heart and character and experiencing it first hand upon the tablet of our heart, we are transformed (2 Cor 3).
Any sincere believer who desires to work the works of God will come into a conflict with the flesh and his own sincerity in wanting to be pure and reach a place where He is forced to either continue the journey trusting in self and strength or leaning into the Christ who died on a cross and was raised from the dead to live through us.
May this book help in forming your faith foundation as you attempt to walk the line of faith in following the master in whatever He says to you, in a personal, intimate relationship.
