The mixture covenant practiced by confused Christians

[alaric]

How to identify a confused Christian who is mixing grace with law?

When you hear a Christian say “Grace is good but too much is not good, we need to balance grace with the law”.

What does the bible says about mixing grace with law?

Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?

Galatians 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

It is clear that God does not want us to mix grace with the law.

Why are they confused?

1) They do not understand the true purpose of the law

2) They do not know what is sin

3) They do not know their identity in Christ

4) They are not rightly dividing the word of God

What is the purpose of the law?

Romans 3:20 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.

The more we try to keep the law, the more you will see your inability to keep it. The law is like a mirror to show us about our true nature. Our true nature is a sinner.

What is sin?

Romans 14:23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Sin covers more than just breaking the law (10 commandments). Everything that does not come from faith is sin. Even simple thought of worrying and complaining is sin because you doubted that God is able to provide the best for you. In fact, a Christian is sinning without realizing.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The first sinners that God put into hell are fearful and unbelieving but not the ones who committed horrendous outward sins.

What is a Christian identity in Christ?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

What is an unsaved sinner? Sinner + Flesh

What is a born again Christian? New creature(Soul & Holy Spirit) + Flesh

Why does a Christian still sin after salvation? It is because of the flesh.

What is the difference between a sinner and a new creature? The new creature do not want to sin and feel dirty doing so. On the other hand, a sinner enjoys sinning.

Romans 7:18-19 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

The law only empowers the flesh to act which will lead to more sin.

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

How does a Christian sin lesser? By flowing with the Holy Spirit without the consciousness of sin. For a Christian to be unconscious of sin, he/she has to truly believe that Jesus Christ has paid for their past, present and future sins.

What is rightly dividing the word of God?

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

It is not mixing both old covenant (Law) with the new (Grace). It is not taking what is written for the Jews into the Church. It is not fearing and worrying that Christians will suffer the same punishment as non-Christians.

 

[GospelS]

How to identify a confused Christian who is mixing grace with law?

It is by grace alone that we will be able to follow God's will and keep His law. By grace we receive the power of the Spirit that enables us to obey the law and His will. I will put my Spirit in you and cause you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:27

Anyone who is finding/trying hard to obey the God's commandments is the one who is trusting in his/her actions more than God's grace, and is therefore confused because keeping the law is difficult for flesh, but not for those who received the Holy Spirit. I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30.

 

[com7fy8]

What is the purpose of the law?

Romans 3:20 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.

The more we try to keep the law, the more you will see your inability to keep it. The law is like a mirror to show us about our true nature. Our true nature is a sinner.

Galatians 3:19-25

To me, it looks like this is saying that the Law has people see their sin, but also the Law is for bringing people to Christ. Just seeing our sin does not bring us to Jesus, I would say.

So, do you agree with this? And in case you do . . . is the Law still today useful for bringing people to Jesus?

 

[alaric]

Galatians 3:19-25

To me, it looks like this is saying that the Law has people see their sin, but also the Law is for bringing people to Christ. Just seeing our sin does not bring us to Jesus, I would say.

So, do you agree with this? And in case you do . . . is the Law still today useful for bringing people to Jesus?

Salvation is only through Jesus Christ, there is no other way. The law is meant to bring us to the knowledge that everyone cannot meet God's perfect standard because nobody can fully keep the law. Once we have lose faith in our self, the only option is to turn to Jesus Christ and trust in his finished work alone.

 

[crossnote]

Yet through the new nature His law (nature) is written on our hearts, no longer on tablets of stone but on the flesly tablets of the heart. No longer obeyed in our strength but followed through the inner working of His Spirit.

Philippians 2:12-13 NASBS
[12] So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; [13] for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

 

[Bcs90]

How can someone receive too much grace? Are you saying they are using grace as a justification to sin when they want? Isn't grace only given by our (just) God through faith in Christ alone not by their own works?
Anyway, I am a new christian so I don't know too much about the bible yet, but I would think if someone was in that frame of thinking their heart hasn't been transformed and they are just living in the middle, who is to say how much grace they have received and what their reward is but God?

 

[PROPHECYKID]

Salvation is only through Jesus Christ, there is no other way. The law is meant to bring us to the knowledge that everyone cannot meet God's perfect standard because nobody can fully keep the law. Once we have lose faith in our self, the only option is to turn to Jesus Christ and trust in his finished work alone.

This is a ridiculous idea. Why would God just give us a law just to show us we can't keep it. Let me ask you this question. If you were being led by the spirit 24/7 from tomorrow, would you be able to keep the law perfectly? I'm speaking here specifically about the 10 commandments?

 

[PROPHECYKID]

How can someone receive too much grace? Are you saying they are using grace as a justification to sin when they want? Isn't grace only given by our (just) God through faith in Christ alone not by their own works?
Anyway, I am a new christian so I don't know too much about the bible yet, but I would think if someone was in that frame of thinking their heart hasn't been transformed and they are just living in the middle, who is to say how much grace they have received and what their reward is but God?

That is what these guys do. They use strawman arguments. I have never heard anybody ever say anything about there being too much grace. There is no such thing.