the law is binding ... and not

Many remain muddled regarding how to respond to sin. They fail to understand one or more of the following:

• God's command, i.e., what is sin and His will in regard to that
• His power to redeem
• how we can be involved in redemption without being guilty of judging

In contrast, Peter Cockrell posts this clear minded quote from John Stott in Men Made New. To the question of whether or not the law is still binding on the Christian, John Stott wrote both yes and no.

‘No’ in the sense that our acceptance before God does not depend on it. Christ in his death fully met the demands of the law, so we are delivered from it [as a means of salvation]. It no longer has any claims on us [to condemn us for sin]. It is no longer our lord.

‘Yes’ in the sense… we still serve… But the motive and means of our service have altered. Why do we serve? Not because the law is our master and we have to, but because Christ is our husband and we want to. Not because obedience to the law leads to salvation, but because salvation leads to obedience to the law. The law says, ‘Do this and you will live’. The gospel says, ‘You live, so do this.’

How do we serve? Not in oldness of letter, but in the newness of spirit. That is, not by obedience to an external code, but bysurrender to an indwelling Spirit.”

I was recently reading Proverbs 13. I think it is clear that we must instruct and correct. Some confuse this with warnings against wrongful judgement. They are falling into deception and in their subsequent actions failing to obey God.

Proverbs 13:1, 14, 18, 24; "A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. ...to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." Those that love instruct and rebuke - moreover, the wise embrace it. Instruction brings life to the wise. Only the foolish find death in it. Too many today believe we cannot bring life if we stand for right and in that thinking, they are the carriers of death. Not only that, but they fail to understand the power of God to set up free from the old man. It is only the fool who does not desire to judge and to turn from evil.

Proverbs 13.2-3, 15-16; "From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly." There's a right and a wrong way to do this. The right way bears fruit which is good. A key to doing this rightly requires right knowledge - the opposite of the popular denial that truth can be known from Scripture and a fear of the Lord.

Proverbs 13.5-6, 9; "The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked. The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out." Many reject the idea that there can be loving confrontation and therefore resort to making no distinction between righteousness and evil. In that they sin and fall short of loving God because to love Him is to obey Him.

Proverbs 13.7; "One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth." Those rejecting truth often claim to be richer because they embrace love. Sadly theirs is not godly love and in the end are not only living in poverty, but they impoverish those they believe they are rescuing.

Proverbs 13.10; "By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom." These even go on the air or internet to boldly proclaim their sin as being consistent with godly living and then fight with the Church when His truth is represented to them. They are even arrogant enough to say it is those standing for truth that are the arrogant.

Proverbs 13.20-22, 25; "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want." Many are running from right-teaching and embracing the false-teaching of the wicked. Liberals and postmodern innovators are redefining love and god in their image and in doing so bring disaster to themselves and those they pretend to be defending.

My friends, if we call ourselves the family of God we must obey Him (Mk 3.35). That requires some discomfort but if done in love with a mind toward restoration, it will bring life. Hiding behind a distorted understanding of judging will only result in death. Pray God help us stand for truth and to do so in love and grace. By His Spirit it can and must be done for His Name's sake.