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THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
A Common Doctrinal Deception By Joseph T. Larsen
epistles of Paul. This shows plainly that principles and teachings are not any lower under Grace than under Old Testament Law. If anything, Grace is far higher in its requirements. Surely Gal. 5:22-23 alone would prove this. This refers to the fruit of the indwelling Spirit, and not at all, to the energy of the flesh in self-efforts. The danger lies just here, that believers (or mere pro fessing Christians) may walk contrary to Old Testament principles, thereby violating also the teaching of Grace in the New Testament, walking in the flesh rather than „the Spirit of God. When such is the case, the Old Testament law is a “check” on them. The Spirit, Himself, will also reprove them either by inward indication, or by the Word of God. Sometimes some fellow-Christian may call their attention to the truth of an unrighteous walk, or worldly walk, thus leading them to see the right way again. This should be done in the truest spirit of love, longsuffering, forbearance, and meekness. No censorious or undue critical spirit ought to prompt such disciplinary action either in private or public reproof. Grace, in its workings with love and faith, w ill lead us to walk aright before God and man. But where it does not, it is not the fault of the poWer of the “Spirit of grace and life,” but the fault of the ignorance, disobedience, and carelessness of the professing Christian. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8.) “That they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. . . . to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” (Titus 3:8, 1 4 ) .' “Faith without works is dead.” This is also true with grace. If we show? no fruitful work before God according to His Word and the Spirit, then there is proof that we are not in Grace, or not walking according to its workings. “For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath ap peared unto all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” (Titus 2:11-12). Then we will also be looking for His “glorious appearing” with per fect satisfaction and expectation, being “zealous of good works,” because of His redeeming Grace working in us. May God grant Grace to every Christian to so live, that they may happily conform their lives to His Grace and purposes for them, that they might be “conformed to the image of His Son,” “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:11.) PARENTS: Have You Discovered “The Children’s Garden” ? It is edited by a Specialist in Children’s Work. (Page 24 of this issue)
“Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid! How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Rom. 6:1-2. ¡HERE is a very common error among professing Christians of thinking, saying, and even acting out this erroneous doctrine. They may express themselves in other words; saying: “I am not living under the Old Testament of Law, but under the New Testament of Grace.” This- statement, if understood in a dispensational sense, is very true. But if they mean that they need not obey the general principles of God as expressed by His holy, righteous, and just law, then they are badly mistaken. None, aside from Christ, has ever ■kept the law perfectly. But. it is no doubt God’s purpose that true Christians should keep His commandments. “For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free, from the law of sin and death. That the righteousness of the- law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Rom. 8:2, 4. This passage would indicate that it is the work of the Spirit-filled believer to walk in the Spirit, thus fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law of God. There seems to be at least three “laws” mentioned in the Bible; First, the Law of Moses, the Ten Commandments; second, the Laws and Principles expressed by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, (Matt. 5, 6, 7 ); thirdly, the Law of Liberty in Christ (James 1 :2 5 ), commonly called the “law of love.” This latter is also expressed in Rom. 8:2, where it is called the “law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus." It is in the power and spirit of the latter law that the believer is supposed to walk while in grace. But wherever there is grace there is faith and love. Wherever the last three graces abound, works also abound. This is not, then, a work under bondage of the law in the energy of the flesh, but a work of the Spirit of God in the believer, as He represents the living Christ, and imparts Him unto us. Self-efforts in works to do good among men, never went very far. There was little element of sacrifice in such “charity,” which was done chiefly for worldly praise and' glory. There may have been no spiritual love in the heart according to the love mentioned in 1 Cor. 13, 1 John 4, and Rom. 5:5. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuf- fering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23). These fruits and graces abound in the Spirit-filled believer, causing him to fulfill—yea, more than fulfill— the right eous requirements of God according to thç Old Testament law. Note that there are only two positive commandments in the Ten Commandments, and eight negative. The posi tive commandment, concerning the sabbath, was given di rectly for the Israelites, and not the Church of God, or Gen tiles. Neh. 9:13-14 shows to whom thèse laws were given, (Ex. 19:25). But the other positive commandment, con cerning children honoring their parents, ought to be an easy1matter, almost natural for any true child. However, this commandment has been, and still is disobeyed by thou sands of youth over all the world, because of their sinful disobedience to their parents. All other commandments which are negatives are most surely also forbidden in the teachings of Christ and the apostles and especially in the
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