"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11
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(15) For the Law results in [divine] wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression [of it either].

Amplified® Bible copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

If we take to its logical conclusion the statement that "justification by grace through faith does away with law," then there is no such thing as sin any longer, for the law defines what sin is (see also I John 3:4). If that is true, Christ died in vain.

In addition, it violently flies in the face of two clear facts: 1) Two thousand years after Christ shed His blood to pay the penalty for sin—providing the means for justification—we still must repent of sin to be forgiven. That has not changed, so sin must still exist and law still exists. Thus, the Ten Commandments still exist, as sin is the transgression of that law. How can this be if there is no law to transgress? 2) The New Testament record of Jesus Christ's and the apostles' exhortations to Christians not to sin, especially after one is forgiven.

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Four)



 

Topics:

Justification

Justification by Faith

Justification by Grace through Faith

Justification by Works

Keeping Commandments

Keeping Commandments as Love

Law

Law "Done Away"

Law and Grace

Law Breaking

Law Keeping

Repentance

Sin

Sin, Hating

Sin, Struggle against




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