The "law of Christ" and the "law of God"

The New Testament is a body of doctrine called, “The Law of the spirit of Life in Christ” (Romans 8:2). It is also referred to as, “The Law of Faith” (Romans 3:27), “The Perfect Law of Liberty” (James 1:25), and “The Law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

By definition, the word “law” means, “a rule of conduct enforced by a controlling authority,” or, “An order that is obligatory to observe.”

All law contains a penalty for violation or it isn’t a genuine law. That is, if there is no penalty for disobeying the Law of Christ, then there is no such thing as the Law of Christ.

Believers understand that there is a law of Christ. It is the highest law known to man. The Law of Christ is the most exalted, and the most elevated actuality in existence. Therefore, it stands to reason that the “penalty” for turning your back on such a law must extract the most elevated of punishments.

For those who trust and obey, the penalty has been paid by Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 5:9), but what about those who do not trust and obey? They must pay the penalty themselves. The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23), eternal death (Matthew 25:46).

Jesus did not speak of eternal damnation, everlasting punishment and of a place where the “fire is never quenched” just to scare people, but to set forth a reality and truth. Jesus did not warn against the subtlety of false teachers (Matthew 7:15; 2Corinthians 11:13-15), just to confuse people, but rather to warn those whom He loves. Jesus knows what Hell is like. He was involved in the creation of it (John 1:3; Matthew 25:41). That’s why He “…desires none to perish…” (2Peter 3:9).

The claim made by the majority that one can believe, worship, and live any life style he chooses just as long as he is sincere, and still go to Heaven, violates the whole theme of commitment to God (Luke 9:23; Luke 14:33). If God allows His eternal law (Mark 13:31), to be violated without an eternal penalty (Revelation 21:8), then the Bible is false and the whole concept of religion is futile.

The point is, one’s attitude toward obeying the whole New Testament Law determines whether or not one is a genuine believer (John 14:15). — Toby Miller

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