A Mistake of Law

A mistake of law: an incorrect opinion resulting from an erroneous evaluation of the law and is no legal defense.
I offer the above definition to introduce one of the most common misconceptions making "the circuit" these days among nominal Christians. Comments such as, "I just think that if you’re a good person you will go to heaven." Or, "Live your life the (morally) best that you can and you will go to heaven," are the manifestations of this mistake of the law. I think a little background will help clarify this doctrinal error.
In general, the above comments refer to Christ’s compression of the Ten Commandments or, the Law - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Webster’s defines "law" as - a rule of conduct or action established by custom or laid down and enforced by a governing authority. For our purposes this authority is God.
According to our misguided friends, God has placed a number of laws before us that require our observance and obedience. It is their erroneous assertion that following and obeying these "God-given laws" is all that is required to get them into heaven. Many of my Catholic friends are under this fallacious notion. But a closer understanding of this common misunderstanding reveals quite a different outcome.
When we follow, obey, or abide by "the law" we are merely doing what is expected of us. The Law is not some lofty goal with the crown of heaven awaiting those who best comply with it. The Law doesn’t make us good and it doesn’t make us holy; it is the bare minimum standard of behavior for human decency and compassion. In other words - obeying the law is what we’re supposed to do!
I’ve heard parents talk of giving their graduating high-schooler a new car or a grand sum of cash for graduating from high-school; something he or she was expected to do in the first place. It was something they were supposed to do. Now consider the consequence of such an unwarranted and unearned present. First, it gives the young person the idea that by simply meeting their obligations great rewards will follow. Again, simply because they did what they were supposed to do they mistakenly believe they have earned something special. We can now see the error in the logic.
But enough digression. Let us now move to the center of the issue: salvation. Salvation is not a present. A present is something that is earned - i.e., a presentation received for meritorious service, etc. A present can also be given to someone based on a tradition or custom such as a birthday or a wedding anniversary. No, salvation is not a present; it is a gift. A gift is an unearned reward. You do nothing to receive a gift. It is bestowed upon you because the giver cares enough about you to give it to you freely. A gift comes to you through the grace of the giver. For our purposes this giver is God. And God freely decides who has been elected to salvation. In other words: your salvation is beyond any power you imagine you have.
"But!" You object, "I treat everyone with generosity and kindness." You’re supposed to! Remember; your behavior, no matter how good is no lofty example of "saving behavior". There is no such thing. As I stated earlier; it is the base-line minimum standard of human decency. If you’re not practicing these bare minimums you’re practicing greed, pride, hatred, apathy, avarice and a number of other "less than desirable character traits." But let us assume for a moment that you do attempt to obey the Law. Can you honestly say that you keep every aspect of the Law? I would refer you to James 2:10 - "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
The Puritan writer, Ralph Venning perhaps makes the point even clearer -
"If any one of these (laws) is transgressed, it is against the will of God which runs through them like a silken string through many pearls, for if that is cut or broken in only one place, the whole is broken." In other words, if you break the law in one place; you’ve broken it . . . period.
Have I convinced you yet that the Law cannot "save you?" Calvinist theologian, John Murray had this to say about the effect of the Law. "Law can do nothing to justify the person who in any particular has violated its sanctity and come under its curse. Law, as law, has no expiatory provision; it exercises no forgiving grace . . . It can do nothing to relieve the bondage of sin; it accentuates and confirms the bondage."
Your next question might be - "If obeying the Law cannot save me then what is it’s purpose?" Paul gives the clearest answer to the enigma in Romans 3:20 - "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight since through the law comes knowledge of sin."
That’s it. The Law merely shows us what sin is. And as our opening definition clearly states - mistaking its purpose is no legal defense. In other words, on judgment day we will not be able to use the excuse that we misunderstood the law. And of your good works? Like "filthy rags," - Isaiah 64:6.
I am now hoping that you have come to ‘the question,’ - "If obeying the Law doesn’t assure my eternal salvation, then what does?" Remember that "gift" I mentioned earlier?
God, in His mercy and infinite love for us even as we are sinners (law breakers) has offered us assurance of our salvation in His son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All we must do is believe in Him. Christ is the gift that God gave us for our eternal salvation.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  (John 14:6) And what of the Law? As I stated earlier - the Law is still the bottom line basic standard of human decency and should be followed as best we can. After we have been justified by the atoning death of Christ, following the Law as best we can is evidence that we have truly received "saving faith." But merely doing our human best to obey the Law (good works) and being "good people" cannot save us. That notion is a mistake of Law. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only thing that can save us. God bless you all and keep you. Amen.

Hope, Inheritance, and Power - Ephesians 1:17-20

Hope, Inheritance, and Power - Ephesians 1:17-20
　

    Reading Ephesians, I was drawn to Paul’s powerful prayer for discernment in 1:17 - 20. He begins the verse by asking God to give us the "spirit of wisdom;" the "revelation in the knowledge of Him;" and the "eyes of (our) understanding being enlightened," so that we may know - 1) What is the hope of His calling? (2) What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (i.e believers)? And (3) What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe? Paul’s prayer is for   believers to be blessed with wisdom, revelation, and knowledge and enlightenment. The purpose is for us to be able to clearly see, comprehend, and be assured of God’s promises to us and that our faith is not frivolous.

    What is this "hope of His calling?" First, let us define "hope" as used here in scripture. The hope described here is not a mere desire but the actual basis or ground upon which we place our trust and expectations. This hope is actually the very foundation of our faith. And "of His calling?" That Godly calling is not the general calling given to all men in the gospel, but the inward or effectual calling that comes from our heavenly Father via His mercy and grace. As Paul so succinctly put it - "Whom He did predestined, He also called: and whom he called, He also justified." (Romans 8:30)
    What are "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints?" 1 Peter 1:3 - 5 tells us, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Our inheritance is the eternal salvation provided for us by the atoning death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
    Finally, what of "the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe?" Most often our human pride resists the overtures of God. Our hearts and heads are hardened by the "prince of the world" - Satan. Our fallen human nature denies the holiness of God and demands that we live according to the flesh. How great is the power that God exerts upon us to change our unbelieving hearts? How strong is the power of God’s effectual call that makes a saint of a sinner? God’s power is so great that we cannot resist it when He calls us to Him. If we can resist the call of God then God has not called us.
    In God we have the hope of our faith, the inheritance of our salvation, and the power of God which calls us, saves us, justifies us, sanctifies us, and keeps us eternally.
May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be always with you. Amen.