How can a young man keep his way pure? By taking heed according to Your word. Psalm 119:9

Christian writings are a-plenty right now. Whether or not they represent the True God needs to be a matter of discernment (even with this post).

Some are quick to say that God loves every one of their readers. He has a wonderful plan for their lives. He will forgive every sin they commit. He is full of grace and mercy and that the law is behind us.

There is some truth in every one of these statements. They just should not be the blanket statement we so frequently read and hear.

God does love His people. The scriptures say He keeps covenant to a thousand generations for those who love Him and keep His commandments.

God does have a wonderful plan for the lives of those who are also faithful to Him. He is clear that it is obedience that brings blessings (which is not scripturally defined as wealth), not faithful church attendance or faithfully reading a blog, or even faithfully reading the Bible. If we love Him we will obey His commands. These are the words of Jesus himself (John 14:15). If we want a wonderful plan for our lives, we must follow Christ.

God is merciful in forgiveness. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. A born again Christian will not lose her salvation because of sin. She will lose the blessings that come from obeying Him. 1 John 1:9 says that when we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. No such promise exists for the professing believer who refuses to confess sin or keep His commands.

God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — is gracious and merciful. John 1 says that He came full of grace and truth. He is also just and jealous of any affection we give to another “god.”

Though the law is not necessary for salvation (Galatians 3:13)  (we are saved by faith, not by works Romans 3:28), we must understand and obey it. The ceremonial laws were fulfilled by Christ. He is once and for all our sacrifice for sin. Praise God for this wonderful gift.

Paul, in Galatians, also says that the law is still useful to us. It sets a standard for us to live by in order to please God. The law draws unbelievers to Christ. Galatians 3:24 says, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.”

When Paul says that all of the law would be fulfilled if we would love our neighbors as ourselves, He is quoting Jesus in Matthew 19:17-19. Earlier in that chapter Jesus quoted what God gave us as law for marriage from Genesis 2:24. Paul makes the point again in Romans 13:18-20:

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.  For the commandments, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” “YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,” “YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,” “YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,” “YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 

Scripture is clear, if we want to love our neighbor and receive the blessings of the Lord, we have to keep His law. Do we know it well enough to keep it?