In this chapter, I would like to address the main struggle that many people in the church wrestle with. Are we under the Law, Grace, or both? I want to first share with you many verses dealing with Law and Grace so you can see what the Bible has to say. To understand the Gospel these verses that follow are vital, so please read them. The first few pages (1-11) of this study are the same as the study on the “Ten Commandments Explained!”, but expound on Law and Grace in much more depth.

   In this study on Law or Grace I mainly want to show the difference between using the law as a list of rules to be followed to become righteous verses the Christian becoming righteous only by gift for faith in Jesus Christ. But before we get deep into this study on Law or Grace, I want to first show how the Christian already fulfills the Ten Commandments by just being a Christian! Many look at the Ten Commandments as a list of rules to follow to become “holy” and try to achieve that end result through obedience to them, but actually the Ten Commandments are just a description of the Christian’s current state of being as born of the Spirit! A natural (in Adam) man cannot consistently keep a spiritual law and a natural man cannot bear spiritual fruit. Fulfilling the Ten Commandments is a state of being, not just doing.
 
     Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law (Romans 3:31 KJV).
 
    Thou shalt have no other God’s before me.
 
    As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him (1 Corinthians 8:4-6 KJV).
 
     Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.
 
     For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device (Acts 17:28,29 KJV).
 
    Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.
 
    Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV).
 
     Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.  Jesus Christ is our Sabbath and our eternal “holiness” comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit!
 
     Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV).
 
    For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works (Hebrews 4:2-4 KJV).
 
    And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Colossians 1:21,22 KJV).
 
 Honor thy father and mother.
 
    For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her (Proverbs 4:3-8 KJV).
 
 Thou shalt not kill.
 
     For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)(2 Corinthians 10:3,4 KJV)
    

   And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village (Luke 9:54-56 KJV).
 
  Thou shalt not commit adultry.
 
      Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God (Romans 7:1-4 KJV).
 
   Thou shall not steal.
 
   Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; (1 Timothy 6:17 KJV).
 
     Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s (1 Corinthians 3:21-23 KJV).
 
     But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ (Philippians 3:7 KJV).
 
   Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. The Christian bears true witness through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Spirit of Truth).
 
     A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies (Proverbs 14:25 KJV).
 
     I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true (John 5:30-32 KJV).
 
    And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith (Acts 15:8,9 KJV).
 
     It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me (John 8,17,18 KJV).
 
    And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (1 John 5:8-10 KJV).
 
  Thou shalt not covet.
 
    But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:2-4 KJV).
 
    For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:9,10 KJV).
 
      The verses that I used in unlocking the Ten Commandments are just what came to memory while I was writing. There may be other New Testament scriptures that fit each commandment even better, but you can get the gist of the idea with these verses.
   
                            The Old Testament Key to the Ten Commandments
 
     Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.  Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God (Ezekiel 36:22-28 KJV).
 
    Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said,  I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (2 Corinthians 6:14-16 KJV).
                         
                           The New Testament Key to the Ten Commandments
 
       The Ten Commandments are the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s heart
 
       Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone (Ten Commandments), but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:2-18 KJV).
 
    The rest of this chapter is a study of the difference of attaining righteousness through obedience to the law, or righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ because for many this is a stumbling stone. I let some pastors and other Christians review the information in this chapter and I am getting enough feedback to address something that they have brought up. Many people, when they hear me talk about the Christian walk and the Gospel say, “Franklin, you believe you can walk in “sinless perfection”. I answer, “What I believe is you can walk in His righteousness”! It is a walk of FAITH! In the epistle of Romans, Paul explains this beautifully. In the book of Titus, Paul addresses the same thing from the opposite direction.
 
      Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:19-23 KJV).

    But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself (Titus 3:9-11 KJV).

   I want to address this before you read any farther. I completely understand that my righteousness is as filthy rags and cannot be cleaned (1 John 1:8), so I just accepted the free gift of righteousness and put it on by faith. That is the righteousness that I walk in, and yes it is “sinless and perfect” because it came from God as a gift, not earned and kept by me through perpetual “good works”. I had no part in creating it. This is a stumbling stone for many and some will just never understand this. Let me try to explain it this way. See I was made a sinner because of what Adam done, before I was ever born as Paul taught in Romans.
 
     Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon ALL men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon ALL men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:18,19 KJV).

   You can see also in this same verse that I was made righteous by what Jesus Christ did on the cross BEFORE I was born! The only problem is that I didn’t know Jesus Christ died for my sins until someone comes and tells me about the “good news” of the Gospel, which is salvation through Jesus Christ. Until I heard the “good news” of the Gospel, I was living a life on earth, like Adam, who was hiding from God and I didn’t know I was forgiven.

    And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in YOUR MIND by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Colossians 1:20-22 KJV).

    As we read earlier in Romans 5:18,19, since my condemnation as a sinner came on me before I was born, and my redemption from that sin was accomplished on the cross of Calvary before I was born, then that only leaves me with the choice of “accepting or rejecting” that salvation. I can in no way “add to” or “take away” from my redemption that was accomplished on a cross BEFORE I WAS BORN! The doctrine of “WHY” we accept or reject (i.e. predestination or freewill) the salvation discussed here, is a topic for another study. Please read the rest of this chapter from the point of view of what I just explained. I don’t think I can explain the Gospel any simpler, but I will try.

   Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3 KJV).

    But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake (2 Corinthians 4:3-5 KJV).

    But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:21,22 KJV).

   For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (Romans 10:2-5 KJV)
 
      What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (Romans 9:30-32 KJV).
 
    And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Jesus Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Phil 3:9 KJV)
 
    Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (Romans 7:1-6 KJV).
 
      For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14 KJV).
 
     But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law (Galatians 5:18 KJV).
 
     For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:10-14 KJV).
 
    For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17 KJV)
 
     But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses (Acts 13:37-39 KJV).
 
     For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV).
 
     For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4: 3-8 KJV)
 
    The Christian covenant is based on the Abrahamic covenant of faith, NOT the Mosaic covenant of the law received on tablets of stone (Ten Commandments) which came 430 years after, as even Moses agreed!
 
                                                          Mosaic Covenant
 
    And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD made NOT this covenant with our fathers (Abraham, Issac, and Jacob), but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying, I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage (Deuteronomy 5:1-6 KJV).

                                   Christian / Abrahamic Faith Covenant
 
       For ye are NOT come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:18-24 KJV).
 
     For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was NOT to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: (Romans 4:13,14 KJV).
 
     And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, CANNOT disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise (Galatians 3:17-18 KJV).
 
    Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are two covenants; the one from mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar in mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice thou bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. NOW WE, brethren, as Issac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? CAST OUT the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are NOT children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (Galatians 4:21-31 KJV).
 
                                                       The Explanation
 
      Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:19-29 KJV).
 
                                                   Who is that seed to come?

     Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ (Galatians 3:16 KJV).
 
   WARNING!!! After all the scriptures presented here, some pastors will still try to preach the Ten Commandments were not done away with, but only the “ceremonial laws” were abolished by the new covenant or try to teach that God gave us the Ten Commandments out of love so we don't “hurt ourselves”. Paul plainly addresses this error in 2 Corinthians 3:7-15 KJV by teaching that the “LAW” which was abolished was “written and engraven in stone”, WHICH WAS the Ten Commandments! The ceremonial laws were not “written and engraven in stone”.

    The reason for Paul to forsake the “law” was NOT because it wasn't holy, spiritual, or just, it was simply because it was no longer needed to govern those born of the Spirit (i.e. Christians) on the outside, because the Holy Spirit takes over that ministry from the inside. In fact, Paul even refers to the Ten Commandments as the “ministry of condemnation” and the “ministry of death” in 2 Corinthians 3:7-9 KJV, yet in the “ministry of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit” there is no condemnation!
 
    There is therefore now NO condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1,2 KJV).
 
    For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17 KJV)
 
    This is why Paul a devote Jew, after receiving the Holy Spirit, abandoned the Jewish religion and started preaching the faith he once destroyed (Galatians 1:23 KJV). Paul didn't hate the Jewish people, he simply found a better covenant and a better way through Jesus Christ to have a relationship with God (Hebrews 12:18-24 KJV).
 
     But I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in TIME PAST in the Jews religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted it (Galatians 1:11-13 KJV).
 
   By preaching Jesus Christ and the new covenant, Paul was not being “anti-Semetic” as some may assume, but in fact he yearned for their salvation (Romans 9:1-5 KJV). The Jewish nation are God's chosen people, but Christ's church must understand that the only relationship that the New Testament Christian has today to the Old Testament Jews is through Abraham we share an inheritance, NOT A RELIGION!!!! (Galatians 4:21-31 KJV).
 
    As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentence. (Romans 11:28,29 KJV).
 
      Through out history, what I have just explained in this study has been repeated over and over again since Jesus Christ brought us a New Covenant. Some people will understand this study on the Ten Commandments and to some it will be a stumbling stone. Some will see this study as blasphemy and an attack against God's holy law, but there are others that will read this with joy and will see only the victory of Christ instead. Here are some ancient examples of this 2000 year old battle still being fought today between the “armies of law” and the “armies of grace”. Same arguments, same outcome. It will never end until Christ comes.
 
Stephan's persecution:  Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephan. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God. And they stirred up the people and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delievered us. (Acts 6:9-14 KJV).
 
Apostle Paul's persecutions: And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgement seat, Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. (Acts 18:12,13 KJV).
 
      And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him. Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (Acts 21:27,28 KJV).
 
     To all the people that read this bible study on the Ten Commandments and are NOT “born again” (i.e. born of the Spirit) then the Ten Commandments are still in full force and effect on you with their righteous condemnation until heaven and earth pass away as Jesus taught. You will be judged by them at the last day.
 
   For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18 KJV).
 
     And finally I must address all the preachers today, who have tried to put their congregations under prayer shawls and old Jewish customs and follow a “Jewish Jesus” into some Judeao-Christian combination religion, about what you are doing to your congregations. This is Jesus' warning to your ministries, not mine. Remember, this warning was given to THE CHURCH at Philadelphia!!!
 
     Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (Revelation 3:9 KJV).
 
   Yes, Jesus was born a Hebrew, but HE came to the world to be a new and living way to God.....(John 14:6 KJV).
 
    I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Galatians 2:20 KJV).
 
   Now after all these scriptures, If someone still argues that they are a Christian and are also under the law, then Paul gives the appropriate course of action to take. Paul warns the true Christian to avoid strivings about the law, with people that are still saying they are under the law!
 
      But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself (Titus 3:9-11 KJV).
 
     Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:22,23 KJV).
 
     I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean (Romans 14:14 KJV).
 
    For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:17,18 KJV).
 
    Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove (convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; (John 16:7-9 KJV).
 
      What I have found also that anyone that claims to be still under the law IS STILL UNDER THE LAW! God is still demanding righteousness from them because they have not accepted the free gift of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ even though they may claim they have. They never have truly died in Christ and they are still looking forward to the death penalty on their life imposed by the law for their sin.
 
     For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV).
 
     And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it  (Luke 9:23,24 KJV).
 
    Search the scriptures; for in them ye THINK ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life (John 5:39,40 KJV).
 
     The Bible refers to this as “the law of sin and death”. If you sin you will die, unless you can find someone to die for you (Jesus), which is what I did. The Christian gospel must be looked at from a life vs. death issue instead of just a good vs. evil issue. Jesus Christ has already paid the death penalty on the cross for the believer. The Christian has already passed from death unto life through Jesus at the cross and they are experiencing a resurrection now into a spiritual world and looking toward eternal life. Christ condemned sin “in the flesh”, but the Christian is “in the Spirit”.
 
      For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:(Romans 8:2,3 KJV)
 
     For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:6 KJV).
 
     But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10 KJV).
 
    The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:56,57 KJV).
 
     Let me explain the Law vs. Grace doctrine another way. See Jesus taught that one jot or tittle shall not pass from the law until all things be fulfilled.
 
    Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:7-20 KJV).
 
     Seems like a contradiction to all the other scriptures. What is the answer then? The Christian today is teaching the fulfillment of the commandments as a ministry of the Holy Spirit in your heart instead of the purposeful determination of your flesh to become righteous through works.
     You have to understand that in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John the world was still under the law and the “age of grace” didn’t start till after the cross. So as long as Jesus was walking the earth He enforced the law on all that claimed their righteousness came from obeying it and forgave all that could not obey it. You can see plainly the difference in these two scriptures on how God deals with the issue of forgiveness before the cross and after the cross.
 
     And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:25,26 KJV).
 
    And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32 KJV).
 
     Now that we have FIRST been forgiven, that then gives us the freedom to forgive others. The Christian now also loves because he has FIRST been loved. Religion teaches that when sin comes, then grace and correction leaves and wrath and rejection comes until we repent.
     Even today, as long as you are still “alive” then you are under the law and you must die for your sins because the wages of sin is death. To this day, death is still the penalty for breaking the law (Romans 6:23 KJV). The Christian has already “died” when they were crucified with Christ and the law cannot go any farther at that point. Its righteous penalty has already been paid in the death of Christ for us.
 
      Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God (Romans 7:4 KJV).
 
    If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3 KJV).
 
    For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law (Romans 5:10-13 KJV).
 
    Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:6-11 KJV).
 
      If you are trying to save your life in this world, then you will lose it, but if you go ahead and die in Christ now (Galatians 2:20), then you will find life eternal (John12:25)! The law has no power over the Christian that is dead in Christ. It is only appointed unto men once to die and then the judgment, but there ARE two was to die. You can die in your sins or die in Christ. If you die in your sins then you will face the judgment of God at the last day (Revelation 20:12-15). If you are crucified with Christ right now (Galatians 2:20), Jesus took your judgment at the cross and your name is now written in the book of life (Philippians 4:3). If you die in Christ today, you can then be resurrected by His Spirit to walk in a freedom knowing that the law can never kill you again! That is the reason why the Bible says that God no longer imputes us with sin (Romans 4:5-8 KJV) (John 16:8,9 KJV).
 
      Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove (convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; (John 16:7-9).
 
     There are two conditions that you can be under in this world, “condemnation for sins” or “justification of life”. You must understand these terms, as they are frivolously tossed around in the church, but what they are referring to holds eternal implications!
 
     Condemnation for sin means God says, “You deserve to die, because you didn’t really believe that Jesus atoned for your sins (John 16:9 KJV)”.
 
    Justification of life means God says, “that you deserve to live, because of your faith in Jesus Christ”.
 
    As you can see by the verse (John 16:9 KJV), condemnation for sin (which some Christian are constantly claiming in their lives) comes from unbelief in the free gift of Jesus Christ, but what about “justification of life”? “Justification of life” would have to then come from true belief in the free gift of Jesus Christ!
 
    Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation: even so by the righteousness of one the FREE gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:18,19 KJV).
 
     I can usually ask most Christians what “condemnation for sin” feels like, and they can tell me in great detail, because they claim that they experience conviction everyday, but I don’t think I have ever had any Christians that can tell me what “justification of life” feels like! Something is wrong with that……..
 
    Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3 KJV).
 
     For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (Hebrews 10:1,2 KJV).
 
    The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; (Hebrews 9:8,9 KJV).
 
     The true Christian through the indwelling Holy Spirit has come to the knowledge that they deserve to live eternally because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ once for all. All you can ever get from the law is the knowledge that you deserve to die (condemnation of sins).
 
     Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe (Galatians 3:21,22 KJV).
 
    Let me put this into perspective so it can be easily understood. According to the Bible, there are only three reasons that can explain why you are not under the condemnation for sin.
 
Number one: You are a reprobate (Romans 1:26-28). Remember that the reprobate does not like to retain the knowledge of God. The reprobate is under condemnation but just choose to ignore it until their conscience is seared, or they attempt to remedy it through works. The Christian on the other hand, seeks the knowledge of God instead of rejecting it.
 
    Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame (1 Corinthians 15:34 KJV).
 
Number two:  You are a liar. (1 John 1:8)
 
Number three: You found such amazing grace in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross that God no longer imputes sin to you. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. (Romans 4:6-8)(Romans 5:15,16)(Romans 4:22-25) (Romans 6:23)(Romans 6:14)(Romans 5:18-21)(Romans 8:33,34)(Colossians 1:21,22)(1 John 2:1,2) (Romans 5:10-13)(Hebrews 1:3)(Romans 8:1)(Hebrews 7:22-28)(John 5:22-24)(Hebrews 13:20,21)(Ephesians 2:13-16)(1 John 4:17)(Romans 3:21-24)(2 Corinthians 5:17-19)(Hebrews 10:8-14)(John 3:16).
 
      Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:18-21 KJV).
 
     The Christian now stands in grace and also in a state of being that the Bible refers to as “justification of life” instead of “condemnation for sin”. Sin with its penalty has no more dominion over you because you are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14 KJV). Because of Jesus sacrifice, you now have “justification of life”.  God says, “YOU DESERVE TO LIVE ETERNALY”!!!!!!!!!!
 
    And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:22-25 KJV).
 
     But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. (Romans 5:15,16 KJV).
 
     But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses (Acts 13:37-39 KJV).
 
     Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (Romans 4:6-8 KJV).
 
     Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself PURGED our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3 KJV).
 
     For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once PURGED should have had no more conscience of sins. (Hebrews 10:1,2 KJV).
 
    As we can see by the previous scriptures, a pure conscience is not only possible, but is a result of the redeeming power of Jesus in a true believer’s life. What do you think would happen if you went before most confessing Christian congregations and declared that you had a clear conscience and no condemnation of sin in your life? Paul tried it.
 
   And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth (Acts 23:1,2 KJV).
 
    And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men (Acts 24:16 KJV).
 
     I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; (2 Timothy 1:3 KJV)
 
    The reason that I keep going over Law vs. Grace doctrine from many different angles is because you have to understand the difference between self-righteousness and the gift of righteousness or you will get totally confused when you come across other scriptures that seem to stand in direct contradiction. As we just read Paul says that, “he has lived in all good conscience before God until this day”, but then describes himself later as “the chief of sinners”! If you do not “rightly divide the word of truth” then this sounds like Paul was sinning with a clear conscience?
 
    This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting (1 Timothy 1:15,16 KJV).
 
   There is a “condemnation of sin” that doesn’t come from God that I believe many in religion are walking in though and thinking it’s from God. I will expose it shortly. The reason why the Bible says that God no longer imputes us with sin after the spiritual newbirth, because if He did, what would be the penalty?
 
    And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin (Hebrews 10:17,18 KJV).
 
    Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38 KJV).
 
    And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; (Luke 3:3 KJV).
 
   Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (Romans 4:6-8 KJV).
 
     The penalty for sin has already been paid once for all eternity to anyone that accepts the free gift God has offered mankind in the sacrifice of His Son. God has already accepted the payment for our sins and also the sins of the whole world, because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ one time for all sins. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, God looks at you as cleansed. If God now looks at you as still unclean, that would mean that Jesus failed.
 
      I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Galatians 2:21 KJV).
 
     For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame (Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV).
 
    It is one thing for you to believe you have forgiveness it is another thing to actually experience and walk in that forgiveness!
 
     My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole  world (1 John 2:1,2 KJV).
 
    Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:33,34 KJV).
 
     If the Holy Spirit is not condemning us that believe in Jesus, then who is?
 
     For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God (1 John 3:20,21 KJV).
 
     A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing the he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself (Titus 3:10,11 KJV).
 
     Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46 KJV).
 
    And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles (Acts 18:5,6 KJV).
 
    And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (1 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV).
 
    And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst (John 8:9 KJV).
 
   There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1 KJV).
 
      If God is not imputing sin to the Christian, then how do we that truly believe in Jesus stand before God today? I have some “GOOD NEWS”!
 
     And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in YOUR MIND by wicked works, yet NOW hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable (unconvictable) in his sight: (Colossians 1:21,22 KJV). 
 
   Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any (1 Corinthians 6:9-12 KJV).
 
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not (1 Corinthians 10:23 KJV).
 
    But what if we still sin and are not under condemnation?
 
    My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John2:1,2 KJV).
 
     By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did ONCE, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. (Hebrews 7:22-28 KJV).
 
    This is very important! The one (Jesus) that God has given authority to judge or condemn you for your sin, actually loved you so much He died for you even knowing you were a sinner!
     
    For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father  which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:22-24 KJV).
 
     As you can see by all these scriptures, it is Jesus that dealt with your sin, so you can walk in His righteousness! Because of that, God grants you “justification of life”. This is the living mindset that the true Christian walks in. You have to come to the realization that because Jesus died for you, God has already decided that you deserve to live eternally! Are you still an enemy of God in your mind?
 
      And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in YOUR mind by wicked works, yet NOW hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable (unconvictable) in his sight: (Colossians 1:21,22 KJV).
 
     I think that Mary of Bethany was one of the only ones to grasp the significance of the need for Jesus to die to accomplish this great reconciliation.
 
     Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her (Matthew 26:6-13 KJV).
 
    The true Christian doesn’t believe that they “sneak” by with sin or they have a “license to sin” because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, on the contrary, the true Christian finally comes to a point that he realizes that he was a sinner and had no power over sin to defeat it outside of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel doesn’t get any simpler than this: the blood of Jesus overcomes the “sin penalty” while the indwelling Holy Spirit overcomes the “sin desires”. It is only through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, that we can even get the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the first place.
 
    For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (Romans 8:13 KJV).
 
 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16 KJV)!
 
     See your sin doesn’t cause God to hide from you as many churches teach today, but it causes you to hide from God as Adam in the Garden of Eden.
 
     And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable (unconvictable) in his sight: (Colossians 1:21,22 KJV).
 
    The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3 KJV).
 
    Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance (Psalms 90:8).
 
Religious Trap!  I want to stop here and address several arguments that I have run into in religion with different doctrines that seem to contradict and confuse. One that many pastors like to use to justify the sin in their life is Romans 3:9,10 KJV.
 
    What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:9,10 KJV).
 
   The correct use of this verse is to expose self-righteousness in someone and the need to trust solely in the gift of righteousness imputed to us by faith in Jesus Christ. Many pastors though just quote they first part of this discourse of scriptures and claim that they are talking about the “sorry sinful state of the Christian”, even though the Christian has supposedly been given the gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. If a person claims the first verses in this discourse and apply it to their self after they are “saved” then they have to claim the rest of the verses that go with this that are also describing the same person. Let’s now read this scripture in its full context!!!
 
   What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes (Romans 3:10-17 KJV).
 
     Is this truly a description of your pastor or your own state of being as a “new creature” in Jesus Christ? Do these scriptures read in full context truly describe the present state of the “saved” Christian even though they claim to be a “born again” new creation and a child of God or does this verse better describe the Christian?
 
      Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV).
 
    Coincidently, the “none righteous, no not one” verse does seem to stand in contradiction to Luke 1:5,6.
 
     There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Luke 1:5,6 KJV).
 
     The Bible says that, “as a man thinks in his heart so is he”. If you always go through life thinking that you will always be a low down dirty sinner even after you “get saved”, then you will also accept all sorts of sin in your life as normal. After all sinners are suppose to sin. That is what sinners do. Since I am a low down dirty sinner, I am just doing what I should be doing by sinning. But if you believe that you have been made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ, then your life should start manifesting that state of being also. The Bible says, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he”.
 
     For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God (1 John 3:20,21 KJV).
 
    For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed (Romans 10:10,11 KJV).
 
    Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame (1 Corinthians 15:34 KJV).
 
    I want to briefly explain also a very popular scripture that is used today by many to try to prove that the law has not changed and is in full force and effect even to the “born again” believer.
 
     For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified (Romans 2:13 KJV).
 
   Taken in it’s proper context, Paul is talking about the people who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and they are still trying to be “justified” in God’s eyes by obedience to the law instead of grace through faith. Paul plainly teaches the correct New Testament covenant in other scriptures that stand in direct opposition to Romans 2:13 as means of justification in the New Testament believer.
 
    To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Romans 3:26-28 KJV).
 
    What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (Romans 4:1-5KJV ).
 
    The verse that Paul uses to tie all this together is one that many have used to claim that they can “lose their salvation”. In actuality this verse is just showing that those that believe in justification through obedience to the law, have never truly knew Jesus Christ in the first place!
 
   Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4 KJV).
  .
     I want to also show the proper use of a verse that is also misused to claim that people “lose their salvation”.
 
      For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (2 Peter 2:20-22 KJV).
 
    This verse is just showing that you can clean up a pig, but as long as it is still a pig it will return to doing pig things. It never says that the sow is changed into a “new creature” like the Christian by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit! This is very similar to the pastors that still claim they are “sorry sinners”, but just forgiven and cleansed and then go right back into sin, because of never changing “sin desires”. Or the story about the person that is cleansed from a demon and it returns with seven more (Luke 11:24-26 KJV). These people only know Jesus as just a “forgiver”, but not a “Savior”.
 
     Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin (Romans 6:6,7 KJV).
 
    As you can see in the sow and dog parable (2 Peter 2:20-22 KJV), you can take a unsaved man, clean him up and place him on the front row of the church every Sunday and Wednesday, hold him accountable to other church members for his actions, get him involved in some ministry or works in the church, teach him God’s commandments, but you still have not set this man free from his sin…. all you have done, without an actual spiritual newbirth, is placed this man in a “holy cage”. As soon as the “holy cage” is removed, he will go right back to doing what his previous nature had him trapped in before. In many churches, the pastor has to spend most of their time trying to keep everyone locked in this “holy cage”. They are trying to disciple goats, instead of feeding sheep. These people haven’t “lost” their salvation, they never had it to begin with….
    Another one is the doctrine of “backsliding”. This is popularly used in the church today to explain the “sinning saint”. In the Bible the doctrine of “backsliding” is associated only with Israel while under the law. Israel gained “righteousness” through obedience to God and then slid backward through disobedience. It is just another form of requiring the Christian to attain “righteousness” through the law and provoking them to reject the gift of righteousness given then by true faith in Jesus Christ! “Backsliding” doctrine teaches you have to “regain” the ground that you lost through disobedience.
 
   I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Galatians 2:21 KJV).
 
   Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4 KJV).
 
     And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life (2 Corinthians 3:4-6 KJV).
 
    I want to put this simply, because I use to wrestle with this also. God understands that you cannot clean up your flesh and you were a sinner. That is why He sent Jesus to take your place! If you are under “condemnation of sin” then that means you still need to clean up the flesh (old man) or find an atonement. You can try to clean up your flesh, but when you are done cleaning your flesh, it still has no inheritance in the kingdom of God.
 
      For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3 KJV).
 
     Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such WERE some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any (1 Corinthians 6:9-12 KJV).
 
     Remember that it was the sacrifice (Jesus) that was required to be without spot and blemish. Now your relationship with God no longer is conditional on whether you sin or don’t sin (as many think that sin breaks their fellowship with God), but your relationship with God is strictly based on the blood of Jesus alone. We are not justified by anything we have done or any commandment we have kept, but by who we have believed in!
 
    For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:23,24 KJV).
 
   And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses (Acts 13:39 KJV).
 
     In fact if you are disobedient, then God now steps in with correction and chastening, instead of rejection. As plainly taught in Hebrews chapter 12, if your fellowship with God is broken when you are disobedient until you repent, then you are correcting your own behavior, and if God is not correcting you but rejecting you when you are disobedient, then the Bible says God is not even your Father! How can you be chastened and rebuked by the Lord if you don’t do anything to be chastened and rebuked for?
 
      And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof ALL are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons (Hebrews 11:5-8 KJV).
 
      God now fellowships and takes pleasure in the believer because they no longer trust in the obedience of their flesh, but in the blood of Jesus as the atonement which was God’s sacrifice as the sole basis for securing eternal fellowship with Him. The obedience you seek will follow as a result of that relationship with your Heavenly Father and His chastening! Remember your sin is destroying you, not God. God changes your destructive behavior to save you, not Him! The reason why your sin cannot break your relationship with God (and this will shock many in religion today), is because your relationship with God is not based on you! It is based on Jesus interceding for you!
 
      My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John2:1,2 KJV).
 
    But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore HE is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:24,25 KJV).
 
     I think many in religion may have forgotten this main simple truth, if it wasn’t for the sacrifice of Jesus, you would never be able to have a relationship with God no matter how good or obedient you are. That is why I cannot “embrace all faiths” as just different ways to God. If you want a joyous relationship with God, just except His sacrifice (Jesus)! He provided it for you to prove He desires a relationship with you (John 3:16)! When you come to God by the blood of Jesus alone not trusting in anything else, (law, sacrifices, etc.), then you are acknowledging that the sacrifice of Jesus was all sufficient to secure that relationship with Him for ever. Everything else (obedience, works, stewardship, etc.) that you desire will then come as a result of that relationship with God through Jesus Christ! The divine order is first relationship, then correction. As a new spiritual baby, you have to be taught how to live in this new spiritual world by your Heavenly Father.
 
    Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:8,9 KJV).
 
      Your Heavenly Father will do the correcting and chastening as you can read in Hebrews chapter 12.
 
 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (Hebrews 12:3-6 KJV).
 
    You overcome sin by an act of God’s will, not your own will. Here are some other verses that should bring more joy and good news to anyone reading them.
 
     Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20,21 KJV ).
 
    But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (Romans 5:8-11 KJV).
 
    But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Ephesians 2:13-16 KJV).

  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:19,20 KJV).
 
    My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John2:1,2 KJV).
 
     The true Christian understands that they cannot “clean up their flesh”, but must let it die and they understand that their righteousness is as filthy rags. The true Christian just swaps their righteousness for Jesus’ righteousness that cannot get dirty. Jesus already paid it all for those that believe in His finished work on the cross!
 
    The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:56,57 KJV).
 
    Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law (Romans 5:12,13 KJV).
 
     This grace and liberty where in you stand though brings tremendous responsibility because even though God is not imputing sin to you for Jesus’ sake. You still can do things that can hurt others even though you are not under condemnation for sin as Paul plainly taught.
 
    For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another (Galatians 5:13 KJV).
 
   Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? (1 Colossians 2:20-22 KJV).
 
     Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend (1 Corinthians 8:7-13 KJV).
 
     This verse shows that a Christian can sin against his brethren and sin against Christ, even though he is not committing sin against himself.
 
    I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: (Romans 14:14-16 KJV).
 
    All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not (1 Corinthians 10:23 KJV).
 
    In the middle of all these scriptures I want to stop and make sure you fully understand and don’t lose sight of what the Gospel is offering. The victory over DEATH!
 
     Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:8-10 KJV).
 
     The battle is being fought in your mind. It is knowing the truth that shall make you free (John 8:32 KJV). One of the victories of the Gospel is walking in a clear conscience, and peace with God and peace with yourself, because death is a state of mind as taught in the Bible.
 
     For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6 KJV)
 
     Remember, death originally came from the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil (Genesis 2:16,17 KJV). The physical death of Adam was the end result of the knowledge of death. The victory was won at the cross. The Christian life is simply walking in that victory.  
 
     The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:56,57 KJV).
 
     You see the Word of God brings the truth to light, and then the Spirit of God brings the truth to pass. It is one thing to have a vision, it is quite another to see that vision come to pass. Your mind “awakens” to righteousness through the knowledge of the truth. It is sometimes referred to as “The Great Awakening” and the beginning of a new day.
 
     Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:34 KJV)
 
     And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light (Romans 13:11,12 KJV).
 
     The Bible says that repentance is a gift of God so they can acknowledge the truth. The drunk, thief, drug addict, or the prostitute needs to understand that they are already forgiven for Christ’s sake if they will just awaken to that truth and receive that gift of repentance.
 
      And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2 Tim 2:24-26 KJV).
 
     And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet NOW hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable (unconvictable) in his sight: (Colossians 1:21,22 KJV).
 
     The Bible says that it is the “goodness of God”, not the “wrath of God” that leads you repentance!
 
      Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:1-4 KJV).
 
    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16,17 KJV).
 
    Now back to Law vs. Grace scriptures.
 
    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. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:21-24 KJV).
 
    Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-19 KJV).
 
     The penalty has already been paid. If anyone reading this keeps “losing his or her salvation” please ask yourself one question. Does the blood of Jesus wash away all sin, or does sin wash away the blood of Jesus? It can only go one way! If you claim you can “lose your salvation” that was secured for you by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, you are not proclaiming to the world your failure, but the failure of Jesus!
 
   For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame (Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV).
 
     Once the blood of Jesus has washed away your sin, then anything you do afterward cannot wash away the blood of Jesus and is already atoned for. You now have an advocate!
 
     My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1,2 KJV).
 
     Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25 KJV).
 
    I do agree that if your salvation comes by something you do, then you can lose it by something you do. But if your salvation comes by what Jesus did on the cross, then you cannot reverse that, all you can do is accept that atonement or reject it. Many people also think that every time they are disobedient that they also have to reapply the blood over and over to cover the new sin to restore fellowship with God. That is still the Old Testament style of sacrificing and God no longer accepts it.
 
     Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that HE may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE  for all (Hebrews 10:8-10 KJV).
 
    By the Christian claiming they are still under the law and just replacing the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament with Jesus, you make the blood of Jesus no stronger than an animal’s blood to take away sin, because you have to constantly keep applying it. Jesus’ sacrifice was one body sacrificed one time for all sin!
 
     By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered ONE sacrifice for sins FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by ONE offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (Hebrews 10:10-14 KJV).
 
     For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame (Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV).
 
     For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:19 KJV).
 
       But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:21-25 KJV).
 
    And once again we see in Romans 3:25 that you just read, that through the blood of Christ Jesus we receive “remission of sins that are past”. Paul is careful to point out that any past sins are forgiven, because Hebrews chapter 10 says that any future sins are not even imputed to the Christian!
 

    Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:18-20 KJV).
 
    I want to stop right here and discuss “remission of sins” because nobody preaches it anymore. This is the main message of the Gospel! What does “remission of sin” mean? The word “remission” in the Greek is “aphesis” which means deliverance, forgiveness, or liberty. Sin is like a disease that starts in the soul and attacks the whole body. But the Bible says that sin when it is finished brings forth death (James 1:15 KJV), just like cancer when it is finished brings forth death, and AIDS when it is finished brings forth death. What would happen though if you found a cure for cancer or AIDS that could put it into remission before it had a chance to complete its course (death)? According to these verses, that is what the blood of Jesus has accomplished for the sinner! When did the “remission of sins” start? When you die and go to Heaven? The remission of sins was accomplished at the moment you accepted the blood of Jesus Christ on your life and the Holy Spirit indwelt you.
 
    Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:37,38 KJV).
 
    For the believer to go back to obedience to the law with its required blood sacrifice as a means of justification or to receive blessing is to deny the very sacrifice of Jesus Christ!
 
     I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21 KJV)
 
     Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4 KJV).
 
     But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the CURSE of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:11-13 KJV).
 
    God has already accepted the payment for our sins and also the sins of the whole world, because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ one time for all sins. Since the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, God has been reconciling man back to Him, not rejecting, condemning or imputing their sins to them any longer.
     I want to touch on something briefly that ties in with this study also. Many think that God’s will and plans can be messed up by man, because the Bible says that it is God’s will that “none should perish”, yet many people perish everyday. I believe that God has not had to sit by with His hands tied and watch men perish. On the contrary, God did something about it when gave His own Son to atone for the sins of any that will accept that atonement.
 
      For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16 KJV).
 
    By this verse we can see that God not only did not stand by and was somehow helpless to stop mankind from perishing, but He was very active in making a way of escape for mankind. This verse is so good I have to quote it again!
 
     And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19 KJV).
 
     As you can read, God became at peace with all mankind that will accept the free gift of the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
 
     But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (Romans 5:8-11 KJV).
 
     My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1,2 KJV).
 
      See Jesus condemned sin “in the flesh”, but the Christian is “in the Spirit”. He that is born of the flesh is flesh, but he that is born of the Spirit is Spirit (John 3:6,7 KJV). In fact, how do you know the true gospel is being preached if you hear it? One of the signs is it will be seen as being taught against the laws of Moses by people claiming you have to keep the laws of Moses!
 
      And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: (Acts 6:8-13 KJV).
 
     And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law (Acts 18:12,13 KJV).
 
    And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place (Acts 21:27,28 KJV).
 
    Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart (2 Corinthians 3:12-15 KJV).
 
     The reason that I am writing about this again is to make sure you understand the benefit of completely dying in Christ. I still see many people in the church still wrestle with the question of “are they under the law or under grace” or a mixture of both? Once again, the answer is very simple. If you are “alive”, then you are under the law. If you are “dead” then the law has no more power over you because death was the maximum penalty the law carried.
 
     Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God (Romans 7:1-4 KJV).
 
     But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; (1 Corinthians 1:9,10 KJV).
 
     If you are still “alive”, then you are in religion, but if you are “dead”, you are in Christ.
 
    If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3).
 
    When you cross over into the realm of the Spirit, where eternal life exists, then the law cannot follow you past the cross of Calvary with it’s death sentence. The judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV) is not a judgment of salvation, but a judgment of service to receive gifts. The “end of the world” and eternal judgment for the Christian’s salvation came at the cross of Jesus. The rest of the world that rejects Jesus waits for another “end of the world” and eternal judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
 
     Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out (John12:31 KJV).
 
    For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:26,27 KJV).
 
    If you are already claiming to be a “Christian” and are reading this then you may be saying, “this is ridiculous, I am not dead”, but if I am “dead” like your saying, then when did I die?
 
       For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Galatians 2:19-21 KJV).
 
   But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Romans 6:14 KJV).
 
     Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:5,6 KJV)
 
    Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (Romans 7:4-6 KJV).
 
     The cross of Jesus is a door to pass through death and enter into a world of spiritual life. Please read the chapter “The Spiritual World”. By the death of Jesus on the cross, every penalty of the law was paid. The law cannot go past the cross to follow us into the spiritual world and eternal life! This is why the Bible says that Jesus fulfilled the law instead of doing away with it! This is why Jesus is called “the way”.
 
      Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:12,13 KJV).
 
    Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (Matthew 5:17,18 KJV).
 
     Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:14,15 KJV).
 
     Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man SHALL BE accomplished (Luke 18:31 KJV).
 
    And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:44,45 KJV).
 
    The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it (Luke 16:16 KJV).
 
     Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and ALL  things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man SHALL BE ACCOMPLISHED. For he shall be delievered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spited on : And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they UNDERSTOOD NONE of these things: and this saying WAS HID from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken (Luke 18:31-34 KJV).
 
    Many have changed the Gospel from “Jesus is the way”, to “Jesus showed the way”, and reduced the Gospel into the same covenant as the Old Testament that still needs fulfilling and Jesus Christ has been reduced down to nothing more than a heavenly inspired motivational teacher whose blood sacrifice carried no more power over sin than an animal sacrifice!
    Once again, I see in the church today when people that want to be saved are told to come to the foot of the cross. What I came to find out is the true path to salvation was not at the foot of the cross, but on the cross! Paul said:
 
      I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
 
     Your eternal life can start today, but only if you truly die, and you can never truly die at the foot of the cross no matter how many times you come to it. You do not die at the foot of the cross. In fact, how could I be buried with Jesus in baptism (symbolic) and raised to walk in a new and living way except I first died. That’s like the children of Israel coming to the Jordan River and never crossing into the promise land. The Jordan River is also called the “river of death”. Paul understood that he had to die meant a total surrender and that was on the cross.
 
    But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Galatians 6:14 KJV).
 
     And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Colossians 2:10-14 KJV).
 
      Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Romans 6:3-7 KJV).
 
     What Paul realized and what I later realized was, the cross of Calvary offered me the unique opportunity to die to this world just as dead as the ones in the grave without shedding my blood. I found someone to die for me! Paul explained it this way.
 
      For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17,18 KJV).
 
    Jesus offered himself as a real sacrifice for me. I offer myself as a “living” sacrifice for Him. The victory that you seek is not at the altar, as many believe in the church today when they are told by the pastor to come down to the altar, but the victory is found on the other side of the altar!
 
      I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1 KJV).
 
    You can “rest in peace” now, not when you breathe your last breath!
 
    For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4:3 KJV).
 
    If you have been coming to the foot of the cross or the altar at church, then yes you are still under the law because you never died. Those who have crossed over to the spiritual world at the cross of Jesus are not under the law. The cross is a doorway through Jesus to a spiritual kingdom and a resurrection that I could partake of now.
 
     Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24 KJV).
 
    If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3 KJV)
 
    The ones that are at the foot of the cross in the church are still in the flesh (Adam), still under condemnation, and still looking toward death, the penalty for their sin.
 
    For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22 KJV).
 
     You might as well be living back in time almost 2000 years ago and be standing in the crowd looking up at Jesus on the cross. Even today you are still in the world of the Old Testament and not in Christ. I hear many in the church today lament that it was their sin that put Jesus on the cross. I look at the cross differently. I believe that it was the love of God for me that put Jesus on the cross! We love God because He first loved us!
 
     For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16 KJV).
 
     Every Saturday and Sunday, many different religions play out different doctrines and rituals at the foot of the cross, totally ignorant of a whole new spiritual world on the other side of the cross. The eternal life and victory you seek is on the other side of the cross, in the realm of the Spirit. That is why Jesus said for you to take up your cross and follow Him! Please read the chapter “The Spiritual World”.
 
    He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal (John 12:25 KJV).
 
     Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:13,14 KJV).
 
    I like to see pastors that preach behind a pulpit that is shaped like a cross. This signifies that they are on the other side (spiritual) and speaking words of the new life “in the Spirit” to all that are still at the foot of the cross who refuse to be “crucified with Christ” and let go of this world.
 
     And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. (Acts 5:18-20 KJV).
 
     The Christians that have been crucified with Christ are “in the Spirit” and are now looking forward to eternal life. It is only appointed unto men once to die, but if we die at the cross with Jesus then the Spirit of life enters in us and starts renewing the mind with spiritual knowledge. If you throw out doctrine in the church for the sake of “unity”  because “doctrine causes division” then you are then left with nothing truly “Christian”.
 
    And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10 KJV).
 
    And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:23 KJV).
 
   The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew (Proverbs 3:19,20 KJV).
 
  All we are waiting for now is the redemption of our bodies.
 
      But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (Romans 8:11 KJV).
 
      But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; (1 Corinthians 1:9,10 KJV).
 
   The Bible speaks in many places about crossing over into the spiritual world. Please read the chapter “The Spiritual World”. I will explain much more on life in the spiritual world because what is being taught mainly in most churches is how to somehow survive in the natural world.
 
    Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7 KJV).
 
      If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3 KJV).
 
       We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death (1 John 3:14 KJV).
 
   But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9 KJV).
 
     As is plainly taught in the Bible, the Christian has already passed from death unto life through Jesus Christ. Now after reading all this, if you really have great confidence in your obedience and the power and determination of your flesh to please God and you are “purpose driven” to keep all of God’s commandments and fulfill the purpose you believe God has for your life, then I agree that is a very noble undertaking. Maybe you can succeed where the Apostle Paul failed!
 
   For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ  (Philippians 3:3-7 KJV).
 
     I also think if everybody would obey God’s commandments and follow Biblical principles, then the world would be a much better place. Here then is a good starting point in your quest for those who look for “holiness” through works, instead of faith. Try keeping God’s FIRST commandment to man and the rest of your life should become much easier.
 
    And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou gayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou neatest thereof thou shallot surely die. (Genesis 2:16,17 KJV).
 
     This should now be enough information to help the new believer that may be studying simple foundational doctrine on law and grace.