PRÉCIS ON THE DOCTRINAL SYMMETRY OF THE LAW, THE SPIRIT, AND OBEDIENCE IN THE LAST DAYS

SCRIPTURE. “This is my argument: The Law, which began 430 years after the covenant [concerning the coming Messiah], does not and cannot annul the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the promise and make it void.” – GALATIANS 3:17, AMP

KEY TERM: “THE PROMISE.” ‘Epaggelia’ [ἐπαγγελίαν]: “‘An announcement, pledge or assent to do something.” NOTE: “In the New Testament, ‘epaggelia’ primarily refers to a Promise made by God, often concerning future blessings or the fulfillment of His Covenant. It is used to convey the assurance of God’s faithfulness and the certainty of His Word. The term underscores the reliability and trustworthiness of God’s commitments to His people.”

QUOTATION. “Some decry the Law as an imposition of Religion. But all Law imposes Religion in that Law is necessarily ‘Religious,’ for all Law is an expression of Morality … The Christian must see God’s Law as a Guide for his own personal behavior. ‘God’s Law is Law, not suggestion!’ It is fundamentally obligatory, not merely recommended.” ― DR. KENNETH L. GENTRY, JR., God’s Law Made Easy, 2020; edited

COMMENTARY.“The Covenant God made with Abraham, was not done away by the giving the Law to Moses. The Covenant was made with Abraham and his Seed. ‘It is still in force!’ Christ abideth for ever in His Person, and His spiritual seed, who are His by faith. By this we learn the difference between the Promises of the Law and those of the Gospel. The Promises of the Law are made to the person of every man; the Promises of the Gospel are first made to Christ, then by him to those who are by faith ingrafted into Christ. Rightly to divide the Word of Truth, a great difference must be put between the Promise and the Law, as to the inward affections, and the whole practice of life. When the Promise is mingled with the Law, it is made nothing but the Law. Let Christ be always before our eyes, as a sure argument for the defence of faith, against dependence on human righteousness.” – MATTHEW HENRY, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

DK’S TAKE. Daring to make a complex system of theology concerning Salvation simpler, let me quote from the Promotional Statement describing the view of Reformed theologian Dr. Gentry.

“We live in an Age of accelerating Moral Decline which bodes ill for the future of our culture, society, and nation. A stable, peaceful, and productive society requires a secure and righteous Moral Foundation. ‘Man cannot exist without a Moral Code to restrain his sinful passions and to guide him to righteous conduct.’ Our collapsing mores should especially be a deep concern for Christians because moral decadence, left unchecked, inevitably leads to social collapse. And this will not only destroy Christian families, but the opportunity of the Christian witness to the world …

Contained within the Absolute Truth of God’s Word we find His Solution to man’s moral confusion: God’s Absolute Standard for Righteousness contained in his Holy Law. Unfortunately, contemporary theological discussions too quickly write-off any consideration of both the legitimacy of God’s Law in the New Covenant era and the applicability of it in the modern world setting.”

TO SUMMARIZE. The Law is necessary to guide us toward Righteousness every single day, but it cannot ‘Save us.’ Only Jesus the Christ can do that. ‘But BOTH are necessary to Righteous Life!’

‘The Church-wide Scourge of the Hyper-Grace Gospel has all but destroyed the very Foundations of such Doctrine. As it was conferred upon both Abraham at Ur and Haran, and Moses at Sinai. Thus, this LAWLESS TRUMPIAN DARKNESS is going to destroy us, beloved, unless at this very Late Hour we disengage from him in utter, public and passionate Repentance!

CODA. Otherwise, ‘The Flame of Hell’ for so very many, both “Christian” and Pagan, as we enter the very last Portal of Time and History as we have known it. Let us close, therefore, with the WORDS OF CHRIST, toward a recommitment to “Love the Law,” as did David (Psalm 119:97).

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” – MATTHEW 5:17-19, NKJV

I trust this settles the matter: If we love God, we obey His Commands. Not by might, however, nor by human effort save for Desire, but ‘By His Spirit!’ Selah.