Some atheists have waged war
against the Ten Commandments in
recent decades, forcing
monuments off public property
wherever they find them.
One famous case involved Alabama
Chief Justice Roy Moore, who
placed a monument of the Ten
Commandments in the judicial
building rotunda in Montgomery,
the state capitol.
This caused no
small controversy.
After a lengthy legal battle,
the monument was removed from
the rotunda and Roy Moore was
removed from his judgeship.
In another famous incident, a
monument displaying the Ten
Commandments at the Arkansas
State Capitol was destroyed by a
man who deliberately crashed his
car into it less than 24 hours
after it had been erected.
The same individual destroyed
another display by the same
method a year earlier in
Oklahoma, but was this only an
act of one crazed man?
As reported by
the Associated Press:
Some professing Christians are
rightfully angered by the
assault against this God-given
code of law, yet surprisingly,
the greatest enemy to the
commandments is not atheists.
I will show you who that enemy
is, and it may surprise you.
So stay tuned.
♪
A warm welcome to all of you
from all of us here at
Tomorrow's World.
On today's program I will be
revealing who is the greatest
enemy of God's Law and it may
not be who you think.
I grew up in mainstream
Protestantism and was taught the
Ten Commandments as a child.
Now I was never much good at
memorization, but I somehow
managed to quote all ten well
enough to receive a personal
copy of the New Testament.
Imagine how surprised I was a
few years later when I was
told we no longer need
to keep these laws.
Not by my atheist
Uncle George, but by two
professing Christians.
All that memorization
time was wasted.
These were not the exact words
they used, but were similar to
those found on one website:
The author of the site goes on
to quote the pet scriptures
that make it appear that the
law is indeed done away.
So what is the truth?
Is the law of God
still in effect?
Or has it been
replaced by grace?
Which is it?
Law or grace?
In the remainder of this
program, I'll answer that
question with five easy to
understand keys that unlock the
answer, but before doing so,
let us notice a few
scriptures that are used by
antinomians--that is, those who
are against the law and claim we
do not need to keep it.
Romans 3:28...
And in Romans 6:14...
And then in the book of
Galatians the second chapter,
verses 15-16 it says...
When you're seventeen years old
and someone cherry-picks
scriptures such as these
and doesn't explain them,
it can be very convincing that
there is no longer any need to
keep the law of God.
To do so sounds like
"salvation by works."
But let's look a little
deeper into the subject.
The first of the five keys
to understanding whether
or not the Apostle Paul
contradicted other apostles,
and Christ Himself, is:
Key #1:
The Apostle Peter warned us that
people twist Paul's writings,
and even tells us
who the culprits are.
Here is the warning,
as found in 2 Peter 3:15-16.
Breaking into a thought,
he writes that...
But, who are these people
who are untaught, unstable,
and who twist Paul's writings?
Let's continue...
Other versions, such as the
Revised Standard,
the New English,
and the New International,
translate wicked as:
"Lawless men."
Now consider for a moment
what lawless means.
Whether the translators use the
term wicked or lawless, it's
evident that those who twist
Paul's letters have
a problem with law.
Think about that.
So our first key to
understanding the Apostle Paul's
teachings on law and grace
is that, according to Peter:
Key #1:
The subject of law and grace
goes further than
the Ten Commandments.
It is clear from New Testament
scriptures that sacrifices,
circumcision, and other ritual
laws are no longer necessary,
but there are statutes in
addition to the Ten Commandments
that Jesus, the Apostles and the
first century church of God
observed, such as the biblical
festivals and holy days.
Why is it dear friends that
professing Christianity claims
it is "salvation by works" to
observe the days God spelled out
in the scriptures, but not
salvation by works to
observe days originating and
steeped in pagan practices?
Think about it.
And what is being lost by
rejecting important
biblical holy days?
Today we're offering our
insightful resource--The Holy
Days: God's Master Plan.
This resource will give you
insight into God's plan for
mankind in a way that you've
never seen before, and it can be
yours absolutely free of charge.
Just pick up the phone and call
the number on your screen to
order The Holy Days:
God's Master Plan.
Or you can order from our
website at TWTV.ORG/PLAN.
And when I come back I'll
give you two more keys
to understanding this
vitally important
subject of law and grace.
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward
resource will help you
understand this vital truth--
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
If you're calling for the first
time, you will also receive a
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of your world from
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Welcome back.
On today's Tomorrow's World
telecast we're looking at the
subject of law and grace.
Many people think the Apostle
Paul explained away the need to
keep the law of God.
Is that so?
As we saw in the previous
portion of this telecast, the
Apostle Peter warned us that:
Key #1:
We will look in a few minutes at
some of those writings that are
twisted by lawless men who
reject God's laws, but first,
let us look at:
Key #2:
Do you realize that if you do
away with law, you do away with
the need for God's forgiveness?
Here is a point that so many
fundamentally do not
understand, and yet a
child can easily understand it.
If there is no law, there can
be no transgression of the law.
Let us read that straight
from the writings
of the Apostle Paul...
Yes, the law does bring about
wrath--the death penalty.
But if you do away with the law,
you of necessity do away
with the penalty.
And if there is no penalty,
there is no need for grace.
Think about it.
This brings us to the crucial
question, "What is sin?"
When was the last time you heard
the Bible definition of sin?
Here it is in
1 John 3, and verse 4...
That is from the
King James Version.
So let us sum up Key #2 with
this simple equation:
So let us move onto our next
key to understanding the
subject of law and grace.
Key #3:
This principle is found in the
Scriptures, but I will put
it in a modern parable
to make the point.
A certain man went into
a bar one evening.
And after spending too much time
at the bottle, he got into
his car heading for home.
Along the way he missed a stop
light, crashed into another car,
and severely
injured its occupant.
Six months later he appeared
before the judge who asked him,
"How do you plead?"
Feeling very remorseful, he
pleaded, "Guilty as charged,
your honor."
The judge then sentenced him
to a $1,000,000 in fine
or one year in prison.
The man thought to himself,
"I don't have a million
dollars and if I go
to jail, who will take care
of my wife and children?"
So he pleaded with the judge,
expressing his deep regrets
about what he did and proposed,
"Your honor, I promise to never
drink and drive again.
I'll obey all traffic laws,
pay every penny I owe in taxes,
and keep all laws as
perfectly as I am able
from this day forward."
The judge replied,
"That's what
we expect of all people,
but you broke the law and
severely injured a man.
Your keeping the law from this
day forward will not undo what
you did six months ago.
The man bargained further,
"I'll also do 10 hours of
public service each week for
the rest of my life."
The judge replied,
"That will not heal
the injured man.
Choose, 1 year in
prison, or $1,000,000."
Now there was a man in the back
of the courtroom who reasoned,
"This man is truly
sorry for what he did.
I believe he will follow through
with obedience to the law
from this day forward.
I'll pay the fine for him."
Do you realize this is what
Jesus did for you and for me if
we repent of our sins and accept
His payment for us?
Now here are a couple
questions to ponder.
Do you really think the kind
gentleman who paid the fine
would do so if he thought the
man would disregard the
law that caused him to
be brought before the judge
in the first place?
And did the fact that the
penalty was satisfied somehow
do away with the law?
Yet, that is exactly what the
"do away with the law"
crowd teach--that Jesus
did it all for us.
Therefore they reason that the
law, rather than our sins, was
nailed to the cross and we no
longer need to keep it.
And this brings us to
key number 4.
I'll give you that central key
that ties all of this together
in a moment, but I want to
remind you of today's free
offer The Holy Days:
God's Master Plan.
You cannot reject these days and
understand God's plan for
mankind as it's through these
special days that we
learn of His plan.
Don't believe me just
because I say it.
Order your free copy of The
Holy Days: God's Master Plan.
This resource will show
you exciting truths you
never knew before.
It truly is free for the asking,
so pick up the phone or go to
our website TWTV.ORG/PLAN and
order your copy.
And when I come back in
15 seconds, I'll give you the
4th key to understanding the
Biblical teaching
on law and grace.
This clear and straight-forward
resource will help you
understand this vital truth--
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
Call now!
Or go to...
On today's
Tomorrow's World program I'm
covering a crucial subject
about which many professing
Christians are confused.
The subject is law or
grace--which one?
The truth as we are seeing is
that we are under grace,
but grace does not
abrogate the law of God.
So far, I have given
you three keys:
Key #1:
Key #2:
And key #3:
Now for crucial:
Key #4:
The word justify is
grossly misunderstood.
Yet, many of us use the word all
the time in word processing.
We have a command in the menu
bar that determines whether a
letter or manuscript is left,
right, or fully justified.
Left justification means
the left side of a
column is lined up.
Right justification means the
right side is lined up.
And full justification means
both sides are lined up.
Similarly, in the Biblical
sense, when we are out of line
or out of step with God
due to sin, we need to
be back in line, and Paul points
to the only way to get in a
right relationship with God
once we're out of line.
No amount of law-keeping
will wipe away past sins.
That's where the man at the
back of the courtroom
in the parable I gave
earlier is necessary.
That is where faith in the
sacrifice of Christ comes in.
He is that Man who
pays the penalty for us.
Now let us notice how this
understanding makes clear
what Paul wrote.
Paul rightfully declared
in Romans 3:28...
[In other words,
"Has his sins forgiven."]
All our past, present or
future law-keeping will do
nothing to justify our sins, but
what those against the law often
fail to do is read the context.
Notice this clear statement
four verses later where Paul
asks a crucial question
and answers it...
Yet, that is exactly what some
misguided people think--that
the law is voided by faith!
Why do not they believe
what Paul wrote?
Now let us ask the question,
how does faith
establish the law?
Well simply put, the fact that
we need faith in Christ's
sacrifice means there is a
broken law, the penalty of
which needs to be satisfied.
Let's notice
another passage used by
antinomians, that is those
people against the law
in Romans 6:14...
Aww--"not under law,
but under grace."
Now, taken out of context
this may appear to say we don't
have to keep the law, but is
that what Paul is saying?
Why don't people read
the very next verse...
Now, how can I fail to
mention one more scripture that
the "law is done away with"
crowd loves--Galatians 3:13...
The man who seeks justification,
seeks to have his past
sins forgiven through
law keeping will fail.
The law is meant to define sin,
not justify past sins.
Only faith in the sacrifice
of Christ can do that.
Now notice that the
previous passage does
not say the law is a curse.
Paul even tells us in
Romans 7:12...
The curse, as shown in the
passage from which Paul
quotes Galatians 3:13
is the death penalty.
Read it for yourself in
Deuteronomy 21:22-23.
The law is not the curse,
but disobedience to
it brings a curse,
which is death.
And that is why we need a savior
to pay the penalty for us.
There is a 5th key to
understanding what the Bible
teaches about law
and grace and I'll give
it to you in a moment,
but I want to give you
one more opportunity to order
our free resource The Holy Days:
God's Master Plan.
I cannot express to you how much
I deeply desire for you
to prayerfully read
this wonderful resource.
It will open your
understanding to Biblical
truths that have been in front
of you all your life.
It will answer questions
regarding the fairness of God
and what happens to your loved
ones who never received Christ
during their lifetime.
It explains what happens when an
infant or child dies.
So order your free copy of The
Holy Days: God's Master Plan.
And when I come back,
I will give you a final
key to understanding this
subject of law and grace.
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward
resource will help you
understand this vital truth--
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
If you're calling for the first
time, you will also receive a
free annual subscription to
Tomorrow's World magazine.
Ten inspiring issues discussing
news, science, and modern
culture will help you make sense
of your world from
a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions
around the world who are turning
to Tomorrow's World for truth,
prophecy, and hope in these
confusing times.
Call now!
Or go to...
The subject of law and grace has
been grossly misunderstood.
Some try to justify their
past sins by works.
Others cast aside the
law of God, claiming it
is no longer in force.
We are seeing today that the
law of God is still in effect,
but we need something else
to justify our past sins.
It is time now for,
Key #5:
Mankind from the beginning
has had a hostile attitude
to the law of God.
Adam and Eve chose to
determine for themselves right
and wrong rather than listen
to their Creator.
And Paul speaks of this
hostility in Romans 8:7...
But does that mean that we are
to remain hostile to the law?
Certainly not.
Paul continues...
That is Romans 8:8-9.
So what does the
Spirit of God do for you?
God gave the Ten Commandments
to Israel on what the
New Testament refers to as the
day of Pentecost.
Nearly fifteen centuries later,
God poured out the Holy Spirit
on His fledgling Church.
Is there any connection
between those two Pentescosts?
We read right after the
restatement of the
Ten Commandments in
Deuteronomy 5 and verse 29...
Do you realize dear friends,
that hostility to the law
is the problem that the New
Covenant is to rectify?
A change of heart is what the
New Covenant is about.
Read that in
Hebrews 8, and verse 10...
The law was given on Pentecost
when Israel came out of Egypt,
but they didn't have the
heart to keep it, so God gave
the Holy Spirit on the first
Pentecost after the resurrection
to effect a new attitude
of heart and mind.
Under the New Covenant, not only
does the law still exist, but
it's even more difficult to
keep, because we are to keep the
spirit or the intent of the
law as well as the letter.
And this is shown in Jesus'
sermon on the mount...
That is Mathew 5:27-28.
Perhaps you have been told that
the law of God is burdensome,
but is that what the Bible says?
Listen to the Apostle John in
1 John 5, and verse 3...
And notice this...
Now, here is the
dirty little secret.
Most rational people are not
against all of the
commandments--just the ones they
disagree with, and the one they
disagree with the most is,
the fourth one:
"Remember the Sabbath Day
to keep it holy."
They're fine with nine but
conclude that God made a mistake
with one of them and sent Christ
to correct the error.
In effect, they claim all ten
are voided but nine are
resurrected in what they call
the "law of Christ."
Of course, they also want
to get around the Biblical
Holy Days so they can
substitute holidays that are
steeped through and
through with pagan customs.
Apparently, keeping Sunday
and pagan holidays,
according to them is not
burdensome, and not trying to
save yourself by your works,
but resting on the day that God
chose at Creation--that
is the seventh day--and
keeping His holy days is
burdensome, according to them,
and trying to save
yourself by your works.
Is that what you
think, my friends?
I hope for much better from you,
our Tomorrow's World followers.
Be sure to come back next week
when Richard Ames, Wallace
Smith, Rod McNair, and I will
continue to share with you the
revelation of Jesus Christ, the
good news of the coming Kingdom
of God, and the exciting
end-time prophecies
and their meaning.
So be sure to join us right here
next week at this same time.
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
Call today and join millions
around the world who are turning
to Tomorrow's World for truth,
prophecy, and hope in these
confusing times.
♪
The preceding program is
produced by the
Living Church of God.