“Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5.19
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The Law of God – the Ten Commandments and the precepts, rules, and civil codes that accompany them – are the “law of liberty”, the “royal law” which God has before ordained to guide us in doing good works of love to God and neighbors for His praise and glory (Matt. 22.34-40; Matt. 5.16).
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I am not unaware that many readers are saying, “No, no!” even as they read these words; and I fully expect to hear from some of you who will insist that I am teaching salvation by works.
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But your argument is not with me: it’s with the Apostles James, Paul, and John, as we shall see. More than that, it’s with the Lord Jesus Himself, Who taught us that you cannot attain to greatness in His Kingdom without obedience to the Law of God and faithful urging of that Law on all the followers of Christ. This is not salvation by works, but salvation unto them.
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But which works? The good works prescribed in the holy, righteous, and good Law of God (Rom. 7.12). Believers in Christ are called to confirm, work out, express, and enjoy the full power of their salvation by keeping the Law of God.
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Of course, we cannot do this on our own; this is why God has given us His Holy Spirit (Ezek. 36.26, 27). The Spirit of God is at work within us, making us willing and able to do what is pleasing to God (Phil. 2.13). Those who refuse to hear that good Spirit, or who fail or neglect to learn from and obey Him must consider that, in spite of having confessed Jesus as Savior and Lord, they may not have come to saving faith at all (Matt. 7.20; 1 Jn. 2.1-6; Jms. 2.14-26).
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If we have been liberated from sin, then we are liberated unto righteousness – the good works of God’s Law.
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The psalmist says that the righteous person meditates day and night in God’s Law (Ps. 1). Would like to get started in this discipline? Order a copy of The Ground for Christian Ethics and The Law of God. The first will explain the importance3 of God’s Law, and guide you in taking up the practice of daily reading and meditation. The second provides all the statutes, precepts, and rules of God’s Law organized under their proper number of the Ten Commandments.
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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore, editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).
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Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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