When we step back and take a look at what it means to “keep the demands of God’s covenant” – Psalms 25:10 “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant.”, we see that those “obligations” we have to the Lord are very important. Not because God is not lenient to us and gracious when we do not follow His statues or when we break His laws, old and new testament, but because the idea of keeping God’s rule over us is what should guide us. His Old Testament laws are not completely null because much of the Old Testament speaks of direct obedience to God in so many aspects of life. However, the Old Testament regulations that are not based on morality are not binding to us anymore. In the New Testament, we are bound to all God’s commands in the hopes that we will obey them fully. His “rules” are the result of His “rule”. Antinomianism may teach that we are not bound to obey rules from God, but only concern ourselves with the spirit of what the rules would say. This could not be more in error. Matthew 5:19 says “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.”
And again in Luke 17:2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.”
The definition of Antinomianism: relating to the view that Christians are released by grace from the obligation of observing the moral law.
Antinomianism may teach that the laws from God given to us in the Bible, the commands and precepts, and rules for living do not apply to us but are written to give us a guide and are for those people who are law breakers. But the truth is that Jesus said anyone who breaks the least of the commandments and teaches others to do the same will be least in Heaven. The attitude should be that of keeping God’s laws, even if we know we won’t get it flawlessly done until we get to Heaven. Each Christian should apply the rule of God and the rules of God with common sense and with the honest attitude of keeping every part of the law. Jesus said “I did not come to abolish the law and the Prophets but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 Jesus came to bring the heart back into the law, so that we would see our need for Jesus’ ruling over us and giving us the strength to follow the law in the way of perfection as shown in Scripture, that is keeping it more completely, willfully. If a teacher of the Bible or preacher or minister of Jesus would in anyway tell you that you do not have to obey God’s commands, I would get away from that person as soon as possible. You will be held accountable on the day of Judgment for having knowledge of what the Word says and doing otherwise, even if you were “following directions” from a teacher or one in a place of spiritual authority over you. Woe to those who honestly think that breaking God’s commands on purpose is tolerable or justified. Don’t worry if you find yourself taught the wrong way- those who teach will be judged more severely in this life and the next. Just worry about yourself.
The attitude of rebellion against the Word of God is not what Jesus had in mind when He spoke of living by the spirit and “not under law”. As so many Antinomians love to quote. Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. How about looking at verses 19-21? There you will find all the works of the flesh, the sinful nature. And that those who continue in such things will not go to Heaven at all. (Galatians 5)
19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Also food for thought:
Romans 6:14
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Galatians 5:16 What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.
God, please give us grace so that we will be propelled into righteousness, joy, and peace – not unrighteousness, shame, and confusion.
It truly is in our best interests to follow Jesus’ commands and keep in the Way.
Rebekah's Reflections 