May 7, 2003
—2002 Study Month
CM/FM 3424 Compiled 8/02
"The Law of Love!" (ML #302C)
1. We are the last Church! We are God's last Church, the last step in God's progress toward total freedom for His Church and the last chance to prove that the ultimate Church can be trusted with total freedom in this last generation!
2. Each age or generation of the Church has taken another step or some new step toward such freedom from the harsh restrictions of the law to the total freedom of love through the grace of God; from material symbolisms and mechanized ceremonialism to spiritual realities and total spiritual liberty—"the spirits of just men set free!"
3. "For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty"—total and complete freedom from the bondage of the law into total and complete freedom of life and liberty through love! It's the liberating law of love that gives life—not the enslaving "letter of the law that killeth."
4. Can you be trusted with total life, love, liberty and the freedom of the Spirit, or do you have to be kept in the cage of the law for the transgressors who are ruled only by their own carnal lusts and lack of love? The answer depends on you and whether you can keep the rules of love to enjoy such liberty that brings such life!
5. As in marriage and all other social relationships with each other, God's laws of love are still the same:
6. These are questions you will have to answer yourself and before God and others, and you may need counsel in answering them.
7. "Love doeth thy neighbor no harm," for "thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself": This is God's Law of Love! "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." "Against such love there is no law." This is the Lord's law of love. Obey it and you can have total love, life and liberty in the Lord. These are God's conditions.
8. Are you doing it because you want to unselfishly and sacrificially help someone else who really needs it, and by which you can show them God's love, or are you doing it selfishly and unlawfully, not in love for others and God‚ but merely "to consume it upon your own lusts"?
9. This is the difference between lust and love: Lust is merely to gratify your own greedy, selfish appetite, like eating a meal. You may need it, but if you're stealing it from someone else and taking the food out of their mouth to stuff your own, this is selfish lust, not love! But if you are taking the food out of your own mouth and giving your own meal to satisfy and feed another who is hungry and starving for love and needs it desperately and might not survive without it, then this is real love.
10. "Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends." "Therefore we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Are you willing to lay down your life—or even your wife—for a starving brother or a sister?
11. Are you willing to give till it hurts‚ even until it hurts you? Jesus did: He gave His life! God did: He gave His Son! David did: He said, "I will not give unto the Lord of that which hath cost me nothing!"—He gave until it hurt! God gives His Wife, the Church, continually in loving service to others! She is constantly engaged in trying to woo and win the world!
12. Are you willing to give that much if needed? Are you willing to suffer to save others--to offer your life or your wife or be offered as God's Wife or both? They said of Jesus: "He saved others, but Himself He could not save!" This is true: "Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit."
13. Are you willing to plant your seed into the furrow of the body of God's Earth, His Wife, His Church, that it may be warmed by the sun of His love, refreshed by the water of His Word, and bring forth much fruit? As it is with the spiritual, so it is with the physical, and that's the final test:
14. Does it bring forth good fruit—either spiritually or physically or both? "For by their fruits ye shall know them." Does it bring forth the "fruits of the Spirit: love‚ joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness‚ goodness‚ faith, meekness, temperance"? (Gal.5:22,23). Or does it even bear your own good fruit of another new soul for the Kingdom of God?
15. Is it good for you, others, and His Kingdom, and does it bring forth good fruit for all? It is not always easy, and sometimes it hurts you! But it [is] worth it! "For afterward it yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which were exercised thereby." Godly hurt, sacrifice and suffering to help others are good for us. It's the harmful hurt to others that does the damage. That's the difference between selfish lust and sacrificial love! (ML #302C:1-3, 12-13, 15-23, Vol.3.)
"Living the Lord's Law of Love!
—Part 1" (ML #3201)
What Is the Law of Love?
16. (Mama:) Let's start first with trying to define the Law of Love. In the Letter "Our Beliefs Concerning the Lord's Law of Love," the following definition was given:
17. Generally speaking, the Law of Love is the godly principle by which our entire lives, as Christians, should be governed. Jesus summed it up very simply in the famous "Golden Rule," giving us the key to our relationships with others: "As you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets" (meaning that loving your neighbor as yourself fulfills God's laws.—Such love is the "law and the prophets" [Mat. 7:12]). Ideally, this loving principle should guide all of our actions with others (ML #2858:2, Lifelines 21).
18. The Love Charter states that one of the responsibilities of Charter members is as follows: "Endeavor to live by the principles of the Law of Love: To love and care for, and interact lovingly and harmoniously with all members of the Home in which they reside, and with Family members at large." It goes on to say: "Dad succinctly explained the Law of Love in the following quote. 'Love doeth thy neighbor no harm‚' for 'thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself': This is God's Law of Love! 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' 'Against such love there is no law.' This is the Lord's Law of Love. Obey it, and you can have total love, life and liberty in the Lord. These are God's conditions" (The Charter, Responsibilities of Individual Members, F.).
19. Living the Law of Love is simply living what Jesus said is the law, the great commandment—to love. "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets" (Mat.7:12). "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Mat.22:36-40). "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Gal.5:14).
20. This Law of Love that Jesus proclaimed—loving God first, and loving others as yourself—fulfills all the other Biblical law. It means that we are free from all the old Biblical law. For example‚ if you love the Lord with all your heart‚ soul and mind‚ then you won't put other gods before Him‚ nor take His Name in vain. If you love your neighbor as yourself, you won't kill him, steal from him, lie to him‚ or covet what he has. And the reason you won't do these things is because of love. You don't need the Biblical law to keep you from doing these things; you simply refrain from doing them because to do them would be unloving. This freedom from the Biblical law, based on the Lord's instruction to govern ourselves by loving God above all and our neighbors as ourselves‚ is the whole concept of the Law of Love in a nutshell.
21. The reason I'm going into this in such detail is to help to clear up the confusion that the Law of Love only has to do with sex‚ as some seem to think. Yes, it does have to do with sex, and I'll address the sexual aspect later, but it's not only about sex. I want to make sure you understand the point that when we talk about living the Law of Love, we're not only talking about the sexual aspect of it, but about all of it—about loving your brothers and sisters and putting that love into tangible‚ everyday action. It's about sacrificial living, giving of yourself to others, helping those in need, living in unity, and bearing one another's burdens.
22. When speaking about the Law of Love, the Lord said the following:
23. (Jesus speaking:) The Law of Love is simply loving others unselfishly, without regard for self. It's not only sexual, but it pervades every area of your lives. For in this unselfishness and in this life of sacrificial giving and loving, you not only allow yourselves to help many others, but you allow Me to pour out My blessings upon you. For I bless the unselfish and the sacrificial. I bless those who are humble, and I withdraw some of My blessings from those who insist on their own way.
24. Therefore, by your choosing this unselfish and sacrificial mode of living, which is called the Law of Love, you have opened yourselves up to great happiness from Me, and My blessing upon your lives. And this is not just sexual, for the sexual aspects are a small part of the Law of Love, and they are a small part of My blessings. They are a part of My blessings, but they are a very small part.
25. Sexuality is a minor part of your religion. It's a key part, because it's what arouses the most interest of outsiders and keeps My message in the news, but it's a small percentage of the many ways that people can show love to each other.
26. My Law of Love is first of all that you love Me with all your heart and soul and mind, and second that you love your neighbor as yourself. The greatest way My love is manifested is in the laying down of your life for another. It's in giving your life totally to Me so that I can use it to show My love to others. (End of message from Jesus.)
27. (Mama: ) In another prophecy the Lord said:
28. (Jesus speaking:) Do not label My Law of Love as only sex, for there are so many other aspects that you must also be exercised in. You must learn the gift of encouragement. That is a very major part of My Law of Love. You must learn the gift of comfort‚ the gift of simplicity, the gift of preferring one another, the gift of doing a little extra for your brother, the gift of sympathy and compassion and of feeling the pain which others suffer. These are all part of the Law of Love. Therefore, while it may cost more to disrobe yourselves physically and share My love by having sex with each other, there are all these other aspects that are all part of loving one another. (End of message from Jesus)
29. (Mama:) Sex is only one part of the Law of Love. It isn't even the major part. But because it's often the most difficult part, and because it's scandalous to the System, it's often the only thing that people think of when they hear about the Law of Love. But the Lord says that there is so much more to His Law of Love than sex!
30. The Law of Love is the guiding principle of our lives; it's what everything we do should be based on. The Lord says, "You must learn the gift of encouragement. That's a very major part of My Law of Love." And what about comfort‚ simplicity‚ preferring one another‚ doing a little extra for your brother or sister‚ sympathy, compassion, and feeling the pain which others suffer? These are all important parts of the Law of Love as well.
31. So when the Lord said the Family needed to live the Law of Love more, He wasn't only talking about the sexual aspect of it. He was talking about the totality of it—living in love and harmony with one another, doing no harm to your neighbor, loving your neighbor as yourself—the full application of the Law of Love! He was, of course, also speaking about the sexual side.
32. Some of the confusion, however, about the Law of Love starts with the fact that we use the term "the Law of Love" interchangeably when talking about the totality of the Law of Love and also in the specific or narrow sense of the sexual side of it. As soon as the Law of Love is mentioned, many people automatically think that it's talking about sex and sexual sharing‚ when that's often not the case.
33. Also, it's understandable that you would think in terms of sexual sharing when thinking of the Law of Love, since Dad used this term repeatedly when presenting the Scriptural argument for FFing, sharing and sexual freedom. He showed from the Gospels of Jesus and the Epistles of Paul that through Jesus' death and resurrection, through His salvation and grace, we are free from the Mosaic Law, and as such are free from the sin of adultery, providing our actions are done in love and harm no one. The law which Jesus gave when He said, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Mat.22:39), Dad called the Law of Love.
34. Because the term "the Law of Love" was often used in the Letters in regards to sexual matters, it eventually became synonymous with sexual sharing. However, Dad's usage of the phrase "the Law of Love" was not limited to just sexual matters. In fact, when Peter was researching this point on the ARC he found that in the majority of the Letters where Dad used the phrase, it was not in reference to sex‚ FFing or sharing. In 65% of the Letters where Dad or I have used this term‚ it was not in reference to sexual matters! In two out of every three Letters where this term is used, it's talking about something other than sex.
35. Just for your interest‚ I'll include some of the topics Dad was talking about when he used the term the Law of Love: The Millennium, economic inflation, health rules, rebellion against God, Jesus' new unorthodox movement, the judgment seat of God, paying your bills, getting out of the West‚ love for God, tithing, forsaking all, exercise and get-out, being on time for appointments, Homes fellowshipping together, dishonesty, shoplifting, salvation, Jesus standing before Pilate, Stephen's martyrdom, Christmas, God's covenants, excommunication, the good Samaritan‚ Jesus' Second Coming‚ System parents, Millennial rebels, witnessing, teenagers, parents, the Word, misunderstandings, not working so hard, counseling others‚ bearing the burdens of others, the Charter, and helping single moms.
36. Of course, if you were to look at the sum total of the times Dad used the term "the Law of Love," then a fairly large percentage of the times would be in regards to sexual sharing, because in some of the Letters explaining either FFing or the Scriptural basis for the Law of Love, he mentioned the term over and over. But by researching the number of Letters (not the number of times) that Dad used this term, we discovered that he only used it in reference to sex in one out of every three Letters. Seeing it in that light, it becomes clear that Dad's perspective of the Law of Love, both intellectually and practically, was that it was much more than just a sexual concept.
37. It would do us all good to try to follow in Dad's footsteps and broaden our perception of the Law of Love so we remember that it isn't only about sex and sharing; it's about every aspect of our lives, including the sexual aspect.
38. I can't emphasize enough how vital it is to understand that the Law of Love is what should motivate us in all that we do, and what should be the foundation principle in all of our decisions and interactions with each other.
Addressing the Sexual Aspect
of the Law of Love
39. The sexual aspect of the Law of Love is unique to the Family. It's this side of it that enables us to help and minister to one another in such a deeply personal and intimate way, "laying down our lives for the brethren" (1Jn.3:16). But it's also one of our beliefs which some have difficulty with‚ so I would like to now address this sexual side of it.
40. Most people don't have any problems about the general concept of the Law of Love; all Christians basically believe in theory the Scriptural doctrine that says you should love your neighbor as yourself. I don't think there's anyone in the Family who has a problem with that, at least not in principle. Of course, when trying to live it, that's a different story. Endeavoring to do the loving thing in each instance throughout every day is extremely difficult. But theologically, I don't think there are many folks who have trouble with it.
41. However, when you come to the sexual side of the Law of Love, that's where the sparks begin to fly! When church Christians hear that we believe that having sex with one another outside of marriage is not a sin, if done in compliance with the rules of the Law of Love and the Charter, they generally are shocked, and often appalled!
42. Why do we believe that we can share loving sex with one another without it being a sin, when most Christians believe such actions to be utterly sinful? I believe one of the best answers to this question is given in "Amazing Grace" (ML #1968, DB 8), a compilation of Dad's writings on the subject. I'm going to include portions of it for you to read. Please don't just whiz through this, but read it slowly and try to grasp its significance—especially you second generation folks.
43. It's important that you understand the Biblical basis for it and the original revelation the Lord gave to Dad on this subject. It's not enough that you know it's okay to have sex with others just because the Charter says it's allowed, or just because sexual sharing is practiced in the Family. You need to understand the spiritual principles behind it.
44. A good starting place is the following explanation of why we are free from following the Old Testament laws, and even the Pauline laws (those laid out in the New Testament by the Apostle Paul). Here are the quotes I referred to from "Amazing Grace."
Excerpts from "Amazing Grace"
45. [God] brought the Jews out of their slavery in Egypt‚ but then they were in bondage to the harsh and rigid rules of Moses—the Law. Then along came Jesus with His grace‚ mercy, forgiveness‚ love and truth—our salvation: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (Jn.1:17). He came and showed us that salvation and true righteousness were not by works, but by grace!
46. Thus the early Christians were liberated spiritually, they found spiritual freedom‚ but they were still somewhat in bondage to some of the old customs, traditions and laws which were hangovers from their Jewish past and background that they couldn't quite shake. Remember, the first Christian church was just coming out of the Jewish church and they almost had to make a compromise, because some of them were still under the bondage of the old Law and weren't able to break completely free.
47. But Jesus Himself never gave them any laws, except the Law of Love! When the self-righteous‚ hypocritical religious leaders questioned Him, "Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?" He replied, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul‚ and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it‚ Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Mat.22:37-39).
48. He then shocked them by continuing to say, "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Mat. 22:40). They had thousands of religious laws‚ but Jesus told them that they now only needed two: Love God and love others!—That's all! He said, "In this is the whole Book!"
49. Jesus said that this one simple law—love—is all the Law as well as all the Prophets! That's pretty broad coverage! That takes in the entire Old Testament, "the Law and the Prophets!" Jesus said that's the whole works, the whole Bible, that's all the Law—love! In other words, if you love God and you love others, what do you need with any other laws? You're not going to hurt anybody, you're not going to be selfish, you're not going to do anything that will hurt anybody else!
50. Therefore Jesus' Law of Love frees us from the old law and is all-encompassing, all-absorbing, all-fulfilling and completely above and beyond any other law! God's only Law is Love, and as long as something is done in love with real, unselfish, even sacrificial love, God's love, then it is absolutely lawful in God's eyes. No matter whether it seems a sin in the eyes of the church or immoral in the eyes of man, it is still absolutely innocent in the eyes of God if it's according to love!
51. The Bible says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love; and against such (love) there is no law" (Gal.5:22,23). Against pure love, the love of God, the unselfish, sacrificial love of God and your fellow man, there is no law of God!
52. Jesus said, "I am not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill it!" (Mat.5:17). And by fulfilling it, He ended it; therefore we are no longer required to keep the Laws of Moses of the Old Testament! "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Rom.10:4).
53. God's grace through Jesus' Law of Love is the end of the old law! Paul preached sermon after sermon and wrote letter after letter showing that the old Law was finished, it was done with, period! The Mosaic Law is done away with for the Christian who is living under grace and under the Law of Love! "Now we are delivered from the Law, that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law!" Now "all things are lawful" to those who are living under God's Law of Love! (Rom.7:6; Gal.3:13; 1Cor. 6:12).
54. The Ten Commandments are no more to the followers of Jesus! Hallelujah! God only has one law now: The Law of Jesus, the Law of Love, "to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself" (Mat.22:36-39). Of course, this infuriated the Jews of Jesus' day and their religious leaders, who said of His doctrine, "This is against Moses and against the Law!" (Acts 6:13,14; 21:28).
55. This was the most raging controversy between Jesus and the Jews! It was also the most raging controversy between St. Paul and the legalists, the "concision," the converted Jews who said‚ "Yes‚ we now believe in Jesus, but we still have to keep all the old Law; we still have to keep the Ten Commandments, the Mosaic Law‚ the Sabbath‚ etc." (Phil.3:2).
56. And we still have many Christians today who are just like those legalistic concision members of the Early Church. They're not completely enlightened. They're still partly in the dark. They don't realize that Jesus is enough‚ that His light is sufficient, that His love is all we need. The trouble with them is they're so ingrained with that old "Judeo-Christianity" that they're still preaching the Mosaic Law with one hand while preaching Christ with the other!
57. But according to Jesus Himself and every book of the New Testament‚ God's children today are no longer under the Laws of Moses! We are under grace and under love! For us, the old Law is gone forever! Thank God! We now only have to keep God's Law of Love, His only law—love! For the Laws of Moses are no more to the believer in Jesus! We now only have the Law of Jesus, God's only Law—love!
58. There is now no other law, no Mosaic laws, no church laws! Those laws don't exist as far as we're concerned!
59. For those who are filled with His Spirit of Love, love is the only rule! "For if ye be led of the Spirit‚ ye are not under the law!" (Gal.5:18). "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well" (Jam.2:8).
60. "Whatsoever you do in word or in deed, do all to the glory of God!" (Col.3:17; 1Cor.10:31). That's our rule, God's rule. What are the greatest commandments?—"Love God with all your heart‚ love your neighbor as yourself!" If it lives up to those rules, then it's for the glory of God; and if you love the Lord and you love your neighbor and it's for love, and in love, and has good loving results, praise God!
61. Therefore whatsoever you do in the unselfish sacrificial love of Jesus is right and lawful! Whatever you do in love is the law—and that's all, that's it! God's only law is love! We are totally, utterly free of the old Mosaic Law! We are delivered from the old Mosaic Law and no longer bound by it—we are free! Now all things are lawful to us in love, praise God! As long as it's done in love, it keeps God's only Law of Love!
62. Knowing this, realizing this, and practicing this, of course gives us a lot of freedom. But in another way, His Law of Love is the most binding law of all!—Because God's Law of Love not only says you can't steal, can't kill, can't do this, can't do that, etc., but that you've also got to love everybody!—Which is one of the hardest things of all to do!
63. So in many ways the Law of Love is even stricter than the Mosaic Law. The Ten Commandments said that we were just to do that which was just and righteous, but under Jesus' Law of Love we are to do more than justice and righteousness, we are to have love and mercy.
64. Love is more than righteousness, and mercy is greater than justice! So the Law of Love is greater, and we are to be more kind and more forgiving. In the Mosaic Law there was virtually no forgiving and it was "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth!" (Exo.21:24; Lev.24:20). The Law said that if you knock out my eye or my tooth, I'm allowed to knock out yours!
65. But Jesus says, "Do unto others what you want them to do to you" (Mat. 7:12)—not just whatever they do to you, but what you want them to do to you.—This is love. Jesus went right down the line in Matthew [chapter 5] and said, "In the Law it is written so-and-so, but I say unto you"—and told them something entirely different! He said, "But I say unto you, love your enemies, forgive them!" (Mat.5:38-44).—That's the Law of Love!—Which shows it's even greater and stricter than the old Mosaic Law!
66. Jesus' law is much stricter, much more difficult to keep—in fact, impossible! If the old Law was impossible, Jesus' Law is even more impossible! That's why He says, "Without Me, you can do nothing!" (Jn. 15:5). But He also says that we "can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us" (Phil.4:13). For "His grace is sufficient for us, His strength is made perfect in our weakness!" (2Cor.12:9). (ML #1968:9-17‚ 21-25‚ 27-35).
67. (Mama: ) Do you understand what Dad was teaching us here with all these Scriptures? We are free from all of the religious laws in the Bible through the Lord's salvation and through living His Law of Love. This is why we don't need to keep the Mosaic Law and other church laws. Of course, this doesn't mean that we're free from all of society's laws. If you break a law in the country you live in, you can't just tell the police officer or the judge that you're above their law because you live the Law of Love! Dad is talking about Biblical laws that we're free from, and there were hundreds of rules under the Mosaic Law in the Old Testament. The books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy are just full of them! Of course, we do practice some aspects of the Mosaic Law just because of common sense—and as a part of love. We don't kill, cheat, lie and steal because it's not loving. Nor do we eat unclean foods or live in unhealthy ways, because that defiles the temple of our bodies the Lord has given us and hinders our loving others.
68. Now let's continue on with the "Amazing Grace" quotes and see what Dad says about why we are free to enjoy sex with one another. Dad says:
69. As the Apostle Paul said, for the loving, liberated followers of Jesus, "All things are lawful to us, but not all things are expedient!" (1Cor.6:12). We have been freed from the bondage of the old Law and the condemnation of sin by the liberating Law of Love in Christ Jesus‚ and if what we're doing is in love and not hurting any innocent party‚ then it is perfectly legal according to God's Law of Love.
70. Of course, most churches and churchy Christians today would say, "Well, all things may be lawful under Christ's Law of Love—except‚ ahem, anything to do with sex!"—Because the churches have declared almost everything that has anything to do with your body or sex or self or pleasure as illegitimate, illegal, immoral‚ and irreligious!
71. But "all things" being lawful for His loving, believing, Law-of-Love-following children includes sexual freedoms also!—As long as what we're doing is done in the unselfish, sacrificial love of God! According to the Scriptures, there is no longer any law against sex that is done in love, God's love, and hurts no one: It is not sin, neither adultery, nor fornication!
72. After all, what was the idea and purpose of the old Mosaic Law against adultery? Even behind the old Laws there was the love of God and His desire to keep people from hurting each other and damaging each other either physically or otherwise, even their feelings. So if we're keeping God's Law of Love‚ then we'll try not to hurt anybody. We'll do our best to try to live in love, to help people without hurting them.
73. And although the church has been going by Paul's rules and their own traditions for ages, God has finally broken through in the Spirit to us with His Last-Day message! We are God's last Church, the last step in God's progress toward total freedom for His Church, and the last chance to prove that the ultimate Church can be trusted with total freedom in this last generation!
74. We are in a new day, a new time, and God has given us His Word for this day and this time! And just like the Early Church and the dawning of the Christian era was a total change, and totally outdated, outmoded, and overthrew the legalism and bondage of the Mosaic era, so we today are having to cast away all of the old legalistic traditions, conventions and holier-than-thou self-righteousness of the church system today. It's like a whole new dispensation of grace!
75. We have had special, direct revelations from the Lord which have shown us that some of these activities which most Christians would call sin or sinful are covered under grace and the love of God! Therefore we have totally broken with the churches' traditions and preconceived ideas about God and misconceptions of morality. We have turned completely around and are going in a different direction, no longer their way but God's way, and we are free to enjoy to the full the beauties and wonders of His creation with all of its pleasures, which He Himself created for our enjoyment!
76. Through Jesus and His salvation and the freedom of His Spirit, by the grace of God, we have regained the liberty and the freedom of the Garden of Eden!—And that's the only way anyone can really get back to such freedom—the original freedom, sinlessness, perfection, liberty and openness of the Garden—by first getting back to perfect fellowship and a relationship with God and belief in His Word, faith in Him and in His creation (ML #1968:38-41,53-56).
Why Then Are There Sexual Rules in the Charter?
77. (Mama:) Dad clearly made the point that we are free from the law through love, and as such, we are free to love one another sexually, without sin, as it is no sin if it is done in love. We are free to share love one with another without sin because we're living under the fullness of the Law of Love, both the widely accepted interpretation of the Law of Love by Christianity in general and the full freedom as the Lord revealed it to Dad.
78. You might wonder, if "all things are lawful" and we are free from the law, then why do we need to have the sexual restrictions included in our Love Charter? Why is it that Dad says we're free from the law, yet we still have some laws (the strict rules of the Charter) regarding sexual interaction that we must follow?
79. It's because we are imperfect beings who, as much as we might try to fully live in love, fall short of the mark. Dad recognized this when he first wrote about the sexual aspect of the Law of Love. He proposed guidelines that he felt were sufficient at the time, but which proved not to be, as they were not specific enough. As the years went by, other restrictions were put in place, some of which were then embodied in the Love Charter.
80. In the Letter "An Answer to Him that Asketh Us," the Lord explained why the restrictions were needed. I'll include a portion of that prophecy and some of my original commentary as well.
81. (Jesus speaking:) Because the truth of God‚ the freedom of the Heavenly realm, is too broad for the mind of man and for the heart of man, so are there restrictions put so that man can operate within the bounds of the heart of man. For the heart of man is wicked and evil. And though I abide in the heart of those that love Me‚ that have received Me‚ yet there is a constant struggle to yield to Me. So I have put the bounds on these freedoms as protection—protection of others and protection of self—that you‚ My children‚ can move freely within the bounds, bounds which are much broader than those who do not receive My truth.
82. I have set wider boundaries for you to operate in because of your belief and your receptivity to My truth‚ so you can move within these bounds in love without sin. For great is your faith in that you have believed the Words that I spoke to your Father David, and you have received these truths from Heaven. Thus I have widened your bounds, and you are free. You are free as children of the King to roam freely within the bounds that I have set—wide bounds. Whereas those that receive not My full truth operate within much stricter bounds. If they cross over their bounds, because of their little faith, it is sin.
83. The bounds that I have set, because I have set them‚ are the boundaries, and you are to go no further. To go further is sin, for these are the boundaries that I have set. I have set these boundaries that these things would not be a testimony against you. I have set these boundaries in wisdom and in love.
84. As I lead you step by step, so did I lead your Father David step by step. So did he too learn the need for boundaries, and so did he set boundaries for your safekeeping and protection. So stay within the boundaries of God and sin not, for he that oversteps the boundaries sins in My sight. For these are the boundaries of God, the boundaries that your David has set forth by the wisdom of God. Remain within the boundaries and you are free; step without [outside] the boundaries and you sin. (End of message from Jesus.)
85. (Mama:) I thought it was very interesting how the Lord pointed out that the boundaries He has set for us are much broader than those set for most other Christians because of our faith and our acceptance of the freedoms that He offers to us. Because most other Christians don't accept these freedoms‚ their boundaries are smaller.
86. For example, because of our faith, we can enjoy sexual fellowship with another consenting adult outside of marriage, without sin. Whereas if a Christian who doesn't believe as we do were to do the same thing, for him it would be sin. The Bible brings this principle out clearly when it says, "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 [condemned] if he eat [or commits any other act that he's doubtful about], because he eateth [acts] not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom.14:22-23).
87. Although the Lord has given us in the Family much freedom, there are, nevertheless, some restrictions. The Lord says clearly here that He, through Dad, has set some boundaries for us. He goes on to say that if we cross over those boundaries it is sin. What are those boundaries? The boundaries that Dad put in place concerning sex were:
88. These rules are all precisely reiterated in the Love Charter. What the Lord is saying is that if you break these rules, cross these boundaries, you are sinning. He said these boundaries were set up by Him: "The bounds that I have set, because I have set them, are the boundaries, and you are to go no further. To go further is sin, for these are the boundaries that I have set."
89. What is it that gives us faith? The Word, right? "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom.10:17). So if the Word gives you faith for something, like it does for us to have sexual fellowship with other consenting adults [voting members within their age bracket], then you can engage in those activities without sin. However, when the Word says that you cannot do something‚ then you cannot have the faith to do it, because you would be acting in disobedience to God's Word. So to cross the boundaries the Lord through His Word has set up, is sin (ML #3016:79-87, Lifelines 22).
Summary of Points
90. I hope that reviewing this material helps you to understand that:
* By living and obeying the Lord's Law of Love, we are free from all other Biblical laws.
* Through Jesus' fulfillment of the law‚ we are freed from the Laws of Moses, and therefore consenting parties within their age bracket are free to share sexually with one another without sin, providing they do so in accordance with the Law of Love and share within the appropriate age bracket as outlined in the Charter. (The guidelines of the Charter regarding sexual activity can be found in the Offenses Warranting Excommunication, D, and the Sex and Affection Rules, which explain that members age 16 and up can have sexual contact within certain age groups.)
* Because we are imperfect beings, it is necessary to have these boundaries (as written in the Charter) in order to protect ourselves and others from harm.
* To step over these boundaries is sin.
* The boundaries for us are much wider than for those Christians who believe that having sex with anyone other than your marriage partner is sin. Thus we can share sexually without sin, because of our understanding of the Scriptures and our faith; while for a Christian who doesn't believe as we do, the same act would be a sin.
What About Adultery?
91. I've had a number of young people write and ask me, "Isn't sexual sharing with a married person committing adultery?" Some have brought up the story of Jesus with the woman who was caught in the act of committing adultery, and pointed out that Jesus said to her, "Go and sin no more." They say that since Jesus said that she shouldn't sin anymore, that He was in effect saying that adultery was a sin. That's exactly right! It was a sin for her because she was under the Mosaic Law. But we are not under the Mosaic Law, so for us it isn't sin, providing we are acting in accordance with the guidelines and restrictions of the Law of Love.
92. When he was asked this question Dad answered, "She was still under the Mosaic Law, but even then the Lord forgave her!—We are not!—We are only under Christ's Law of Love!—'Against such there is no law!'—Not even adultery!" (ML #1566:64).
93. I think it's worth taking the time to firmly nail down why it isn't adultery for us to share sexually. Let's look at a few things Dad has said on this subject:
94. There is no more adultery for us who live under God's only Law of Love! If what we do is in love, "against such there is no law" (Gal.5:22–24). "All things are lawful unto me, and to the pure‚ all things are pure!" (1Cor.10:23; Tit.1:15) (ML #2835:20).
95. As far as we're concerned and as far as the Bible says‚ for us there is no such thing any more as adultery! There is no such thing any more as a Biblical law against adultery, as long as whatever is done is done in love, because the Law of Love supersedes all other laws! (ML #647:39).
96. We're no longer under the laws on adultery and all the rest, so how can we break them? How can you break the Mosaic Law when you're not under it?—When you're just under the Law of Love?—And love doesn't need any law! "Against such there is no law," against love. (Gal. 5:22,23). We are free! We've been liberated from the Law of Moses, we're free! "He that the Son has set free is free indeed!" (Jn.8:36). And what's the other one on freedom? "If ye continue in My Word ye shall know the truth‚ and the truth shall make you free" (Jn.8:31-32). Isn't that what we've taught you? Haven't we continued in the Word? Isn't that why you enjoy this freedom?—Every kind of freedom, including sexual freedom, as long as it's in love! (ML #2134:46‚47).
97. Of course, I'm not saying that there's no more adultery in the world today; the world is rife with adultery among the unsaved or the unbelieving—and even Christians who are still in bondage! But in our society of the Family, if we're living and operating in love, in God's love, how can there be any such thing as adultery, which literally means corrupting and polluting?—That's what adulterating something means. Our sexual freedom does not adulterate, it does not poison, it does not pollute or corrupt anybody or anything, because we have sex in love. Our sexual sharing is done in "faith, which worketh by love" (Gal.5:6). (ML #2835:33).
98. Of course we don't commit adultery! We're not adulterating anything! We're not polluting anything! We're all one Family! We're all married to each other and it's all in love and we wouldn't think of doing anything to hurt anybody. Our form of sexual sharing is not adultery, but is good and godly! And we need more of it, because it binds us together and we learn how to give and sacrifice, as well as how to enjoy each other. Praise the Lord! The Mosaic Law is not made for us, because we wouldn't think of doing anything against God's Law of Love. At least I hope none of the Family would! (See 1Tim.1:9.) So there is no more adultery for us who live under God's only Law of Love! (ML #2878:38,39).
99. (Mama:) That makes it pretty clear, doesn't it? For us, if we're acting in accordance with the Law of Love, there is no adultery, because we're not under the Laws of Moses; we're free by the law that Jesus gave‚ the Law of Love. We're free because we believe the Word, because we believe what Jesus said, and because we believe what the Lord revealed to Dad about the full extent of the freedoms the Lord has given. As Dad stated, "It all boils down to whether you're going to believe in Moses or Jesus!—Whether you're going to insist that we keep the dead laws of Moses and the prophets of yesterday, or the living love-law of Jesus and His apostles of today!" (ML #592:31).
100. So we aren't bound by the Mosaic Law! Of course, this is providing that your sexual sharing with others is done in love and is not hurting anyone. If not, you are operating outside the boundaries of the Law of Love, and in that case it is a sin. If you're not following the guidelines of having the willing consent of your mate, of hurting no one, and doing all things in love, then it is a sin for you. But you're not guilty of disobeying God's laws if whatever you're doing, you're doing in love. And if you know you're acting in love and in accordance with the Lord's counsel in this series of GNs and the Charter, then you can go ahead by faith, according to God's Word, and you don't need anything else. [Note: For more on "hurt," please see "Living the Lord's Law of Love, Part 2," ML #3202:177-195, GN 805.]
101. (Jesus speaking: ) My Law of Love is that which sets apart the children of David from My other children. Not only is it radical, free and unconventional, but it's difficult, and it's only for the strongest. It separates the men from the boys and the women from the girls. It separates the soldiers from the civilians, and even separates the elite troops from the regular troops.
102. You fear that you'll never be able to live and practice these meaty doctrines; but I tell you that you can and that you are able, for I will be able through you. The fact that you've not given up, that you've not turned your back on My service, and that you've not turned your back on the Words and teachings of David proves that you are a strong soldier and that you belong here, in the elite troops. And if you belong here, if this is your destiny and your mission, then believe Me that I will make it possible for you to finish the training and that you will pass the grade and graduate with honors. It's tough‚ it takes time to graduate from officers' training, but once you do, you've gained something that nobody can take away from you! I know it's hard‚ I know it's painful. You feel like you want to give up trying and like you're not going to make it, but I want you to make it!
103. The new weapons that I give you for this new day are the weapons of loving Me intimately, of hearing My voice, and of unity with your Family. These weapons will enable My children to fully live My Law of Love and to bring down My full blessings. I know that you love Me, and I know that you believe My Words and My voice, but you must learn to fully use these weapons to gain the victories that you need.
104. As you love Me, as you spend time loving Me and becoming filled with Me‚ thus will I be able to fill you with My love, My seeds, My truths, My thoughts‚ My views, and thus will you be able to see things as I see them. When you can see things the way that I see them‚ then although your natural man may struggle and buck against it‚ you'll be able to fight, knowing that you're doing the right thing, and knowing that I will give you the strength for it. (End of excerpts of message from Jesus.) (ML #3201:10-31, 38, 41-81, 85-96, 106–115, 135-138; GN 804)
OPTIONAL READING:
"Grace vs. Law!" (ML #635)
105. There are quite a few things I don't agree with the Apostle Paul on, and I think I have as much right to my opinion as he had to his.
106. But what if you take Paul's word as law, like the Church does? Everything Paul said is total absolute law, they claim, and that's it! Even if he says, "This speak I, not the Lord" (1Cor.7:12), it still came from Paul so they think it is right. What he said about women in the church (1Cor.14:34,35) and all that, was totally contradictory to what the Holy Ghost said through the mouth of Peter right in the second chapter of Acts (Acts 2:17-18). How are they going to keep silence in the church if they are going to prophesy, or how are they going to prophesy if they are going to keep silence in the church?
107. So some of those old-time churchy Paul worshippers are apt to have quite a few doubts and questions about the things I say.
108. So you have got to believe in the Lord and in me, that I am a new prophet of a new day of a whole lot of new things that Paul never even thought about!
109. A lot of things that Paul said were right for his time and his day, but they don't necessarily bind us today. If God has spoken at all and shown me these things at all, if it's the Lord at all, it is His Words for today and it supersedes anything else that has ever been given, if it is different, if it is a change. That's what the Christian era did to the Mosaic era.
110. The Christian era was a total change, and it totally outdated, outmoded and overthrew the whole works. That's the fight that Paul was having!
111. If the early Christians had said, "Now wait, we have to check all of this out with the Mosaic Law and we still have to keep the law.—It's got to check out with the Scriptures‚ it's got to check out with the law!" they never would have broken away from the Mosaic Law.
112. Our Revolution has almost been as big a break with the past as the coming of Christ and His message was with the legalism of the past of the Mosaic era. It's been like a whole new dispensation of grace.
113. You see, when people don't want to obey the grace they always return to their legalism in self-defense‚ they always go back to the law to prove their point.
114. When people are not willing to receive the revelations grace gives, the freedom that grace gives and the new wine that grace gives, they always turn back to their legalism and the law to prove their points, that it is not according to the law, not according to Moses, not according to the Bible, not according to Paul. They go back to their law and their self-righteousness and their old rules.
115. When these people start going back to these old legalistic Scriptures‚ even some of the legalism of Paul, then they are turning their backs on the freedom of grace and the liberty which the Lord has given us and the new wine and the new truth and new revelations which are for us today, here and now, and not for Paul and his day, much less Moses and his day!
116. If they go back to the law even on one point they are obligated to keep the whole law. (See Galatians 3:10.) See, if they will surrender even one point and feel that in any one point that they have got to be bound by the law and it contradicts what the Lord has shown, then they are going to go back to the whole works and there is no stopping place!
117. You've either got to go all the way by grace or you've got to go all the way by law. (See Rom.11:6.) "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith" (Gal.3:11,12). (ML #635:3-15, DB1.)
Optional Letters and pubs:
"Living the Lord's Law of Love‚ Part 2," ML #3202:3-52, 66-82‚ 95-153, GN 805
"Amazing Grace," ML #1968‚ DB8
From Word Basics (GP):
THE LAW OF CHRIST
"The perfect law of liberty" vs. religious legalism
1.Salvation is purely by grace‚ not works:
Rom.3:28A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law
Eph.2:8,9By grace (undeserved mercy) are ye saved through faith; it is the
gift of God: Not of works
Tit.3:5aNot by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us
A. Salvation is not partly by grace and partly by good works:
Rom.11:6If by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace
B. Salvation was always by grace, even in the Old Testament:
Gen.6:8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord
Gen.15:6(Abraham) believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness (See also Rom.4:3,5-8,21‚22)
Hab.2:4The just shall live by his faith
Heb.11:13[Old Testament saints] all died in faith having seen (the promises) afar off and were persuaded of them
C. Scrupulously keeping the Mosaic law never saved anyone:
Jn.1:17Law given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus
Rom.3:20By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified
Rom.9:31Israel, which followed after the law hath not attained unto the law of righteousness
Gal.2:16A man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ (See also Gal.3:11)
Heb.7:19The law made nothing perfect, but a better hope did
2. What was the Mosaic law?
A. It was a legal code that God gave Moses upon Mt. Sinai:
Exo.24:12The Lord said unto Moses, Come up to Me into the mount and I will give thee a law [to] teach them
(See also Exo.31:18; 32:15,16,19; 34:1,28.)
B. It was a strict code of justice and retribution:
Exo.21:23-25Thou shalt give life for life
eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand
burning for burning
Heb.10:28He that despised (broke) Moses' law died without mercy
C. The ten commandments were not merely "helpful moral guidelines," but strict laws carrying the death penalty:
Exo.20:2,3(1) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me [Death penalty: Exo.22:20; Deut.13:1-18.]
Exo.20:4‚5(2) Thou shalt not make any graven image (Death penalty same as (1). See also Lev.26:1,30; Deut.4:23-26.]
Exo.20:7(3) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain [Death penalty: Lev.24:10–16]
Exo.20:8–10(4) Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy [Death penalty: Exo.31:14,15; 35:2.]
Exo.20:12(5) Honor thy father and thy mother [Death penalty: Exo.21:15,17; Lev.20:9; Deut.21:18-21.]
Exo.20:13(6) Thou shalt not kill (murder) [Death penalty: Exo. 21:12; Lev.24:17,21; Num.35:16-31.]
Exo.20:14(7) Thou shalt not commit adultery [Death penalty: Lev.20:10; Deu.22:22]
Exo.20:15(8) Thou shalt not steal [Punishment: Exo.22:7; Pro.6:30; death penalty: Exo.21:16.]
Exo.20:16(9) Thou shalt not bear false witness [Punishment and/or death penalty: Deut.19:16-21]
Exo.20:17(10) Thou shalt not covet anything (of) thy neighbors'
Gal.4:21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
D. The ten commandments were only the beginning; Moses' law contained hundreds of other commandments:
Deut.27:26Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them (See also Gal.3:10 )
(See also Deut.4:13,14a)
E. It was impossible to avoid guilt or to keep the whole law:
Jam.2:10Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all
3.The law served a purpose only for a time:
Gal.3:19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions till the Seed (Jesus) came
Gal.3:23Before faith came, we were kept under the law
Heb.9:10Carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation
A. It was merely a copy‚ a shadow, of the real thing:
Col.2:16‚17Sabbath days are a shadow of things to come; but the body [the reality that casts the shadow] is Christ
Heb.8:5The example and shadow of Heavenly things
Heb.9:8b,9First tabernacle a figure for the time then present
Heb.10:1The law (had) a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things
1Jn.2:8A new commandment because the darkness is past‚ and the true light now shineth
B. The law was impossible to keep:
Jn.7:19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? (See also Acts 7:53)
Acts 15:10A yoke upon the neck which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear
Rom.7:14–19The law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. How to perform that which is good I find not
C. This showed man he was a sinner in need of grace:
Rom.3:20bBy the law is the knowledge of sin
Rom.7:7I had not known sin, but by the law
Rom.3:19That all the world may become guilty before God
Gal.3:24The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ (See also Rom.4:15)
D. The old law was unprofitable and eventually to be replaced:
Rom.8:3What the law could not do, in that it was weak
Heb.7:18There is verily a disannulling of the [Mosaic law] for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof
4.Atonement (payment) for breaking the law:
A. Because men constantly broke the law, forgiveness was needed, and a blood sacrifice was required:
Lev.4:1–4If a soul shall sin against the commandments of Lord bring a (bull) kill the (bull) before the Lord
Lev.17:11It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul
Heb.9:22Without shedding of blood is no remission
B. But this never permanently freed man from sin:
Heb.10:1-4,11It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins can never take away sins
C. But Jesus made a perfect and permanent sacrifice:
Mat.26:28This is My blood which is shed for remission of sins
Heb.9:7-14By His Own blood obtained eternal redemption for us
Heb.9:25-28aChrist was once offered to bear the sins of many
Heb.10:10-12We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all
1Pet.1:18,19Ye were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ
1Jn.1:7bThe blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin (See also Jn.1:29; Rom.5:9.)
5. The new law, the law of Christ:
A. God promised a new law to replace the old Mosaic law:
Jer.31:31-33The days come that I will make a new covenant I will write (My law) in their hearts
Heb.8:7-10Finding fault with (that first covenant), He saith, I will make a new covenant
B. Names of the new law:
A new covenant (Jer.31:31); the law of faith (Rom.3:27); the law of the Spirit of life (Rom.8:2); the law of righteousness (Rom.9:31); the law of Christ (Gal.6:2); the new testament (Heb.9:15); the perfect law of liberty (Jam.1:25); the royal law (Jam.2:8); the holy commandment (2Pet.2:21).
C. Jesus' death on the cross fulfilled and ended the law:
Mat.5:17I am not come to destroy (the law), but to fulfill
Jn.19:30(Jesus) said, It is finished [When He died for our sins, the Mosaic law ended for believers.]
Rom.10:4For Christ is the end of the law ... to every one that believeth
Col.2:14Blotting out [wiping the slate completely clean of] the ordinances (the law) nailing it to His cross
D. The old Mosaic law is now discarded (for believers in Jesus):
Heb.8:13He hath made the first (covenant) old. That which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away
Heb.10:9He taketh away first (law), that He may establish second
Heb.8:6A better covenant established upon better promises
E. True believers are no longer bound by the rigid Mosaic law:
Rom.6:14bYe are not under the law, but under grace
Gal.3:24,25The law was our schoolmaster. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster
1Tim.1:9The law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless ungodly profane murderers
F. Jesus has liberated us from the Mosaic law:
Rom.7:4Ye are become dead to the law by the body of Christ
Rom.7:6Now we are delivered from the law
Rom.8:1,2The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death
Gal.3:13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law
G. Jesus' Spirit and truth gives us freedom:
Jn.8:36If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed
2Cor.3:17Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
Gal.5:1The liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free
Gal.5:5Through the Spirit hope of righteousness by faith
Gal.5:18If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law
H. Read Jesus' liberating Words to be set free:
Jn.8:31,32Ye shall know the truth, and truth shall make you free
Rom.10:17Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God
Jam.1:25Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein shall be blessed in his deed
6.Now the commandment is to love God and our neighbor:
A. This fulfills the law, and fulfills your only obligation:
Mat.7:12All things ye would that men should do to you, do to them: for this is the law (See Luke 6:31)
Mat.22:36-40Thou shalt love God thou shalt love thy neighbor. On these two commandments (depend) all the law and the prophets.
Rom.13:8He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law
Rom.13:10Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law
Gal.5:14All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself
Jam.2:8If ye fulfill the royal law Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well
(See also Mk.12:29-31)
B. Deeds done in pure, unselfish love are lawful:
Gal.5:22,23Fruit of the Spirit is love against such there is no law
1Cor.6:12All things are lawful unto me (See also 1Cor.10:23)
Tit.1:15aUnto the pure, all things are pure
Lk.11:41bBehold, all things are clean unto you
C. But you have to have faith for your actions:
Rom.14:14To him that esteemeth (thinks) any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean
Rom.14:22Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth
Rom.14:23He that doubteth is damned (judged) for whatsoever is not of faith is sin
Tit.1:15bUnto (the) defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure
7. Living the new law:
A. In some ways, the law of Christ is stricter than Moses' law:
Mat.5:38-42[Exo.21:24 said:] An eye for an eye‚ and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, resist not evil
Mat.5:43–45[The law] said, Love thy neighbor‚ and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies
Lk.10:25–37Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Who is my neighbor? [Even those you'd normally dislike]
Jam.4:17Him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not it is sin
B. Only Jesus can give you the power to live His law:
Phi.2:13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure
Phi.4:13I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me
2Cor.5:14aThe love of Christ constraineth (compels) us
2Cor.12:9My (God's) grace is sufficient for thee
8.Warnings against misusing the new law:
A. Selfish‚ unloving liberties:
Rom.14:15If thy brother be grieved now walkest thou not (in love). Destroy not him with thy [liberty]
Rom.14:20All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence
1Cor.6:12All things are lawful but all things not expedient
1Cor.8:9,12Take heed lest this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak (See 1Cor.8:all)
1Cor.10:23All things are lawful for me‚ but all things edify not
B. Walk in love, not in lust and sin:
Rom.6:1,2Shall we sin, that grace may abound? God forbid
Gal.5:13Use not liberty as an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another
1Pet.2:16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God
(See also Rom.3:8; 14:all; 15:1,2.)
9. Beware of falling into religious legalism:
A. The concision: Believers still bound by the law:
Acts 21:20Many thousands of Jews which believe (in Jesus); and they are all zealous of the (Mosaic) law
Phi.3:2,3Beware of evil workers‚ beware of the concision
(See also Acts 15:1,24; Gal.6:12,13; Rom.2:28,29.)
B. Don't be entangled again by the law:
Gal.3:1,3Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit‚ are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal.5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage [to the law]
Col.2:20-22If ye be dead with Christ why are ye subject to ordinances the commandments and doctrines of men?
C. Legalism is self-righteousness and denies Jesus' sacrifice:
Rom.10:3Going about to establish their righteousness, have not submitted unto the righteousness of God
Gal.2:21If righteousness come by the law, then Christ (died) in vain (for no reason) (See also Gal.5:4)
D. The law can't save you or make you righteous:
Acts 13:39By Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law
Rom.9:31,32Israel, which followed after the law hath not attained to the law of righteousness
Phi.3:3-9Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ
E. Those who attempt to obey the law are under bondage:
Gal.3:10Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things
Gal.4:21-31[The allegory of the two covenants, one of freedom, the other of bondage]
Gal.5:2-4[Who tries to keep the law] is a debtor to do whole law
Jam.2:10Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all
10.Trying to legalistically keep the law is not God's will:
A. Legalists completely miss the main issue:
Mat.15:2-6Why do Thy disciples transgress tradition of elders? Ye transgress commandment of God by your tradition
Mat.23:23Woe! For ye pay tithe of [tiny spices but] have omitted weightier (more important) matters mercy and faith
Mat.23:24Ye strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel
Mk.7:6-8Their heart is far from Me ye hold the tradition of men, [such] as the washing of pots and cups
Jn.5:8-11[Jesus told a lame man, Take up thy bed and walk. The legalists ignored the miraculous healing and told him it was not lawful to carry his bed on the Sabbath]
B. Legalism is a crushing weight to those it is imposed upon:
Mat.23:4They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders
2Cor.3:6bThe letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life
C. The solution: Walk in God's love and Spirit:
Mic.6:8What doth the Lord require of thee‚ but to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Jn.6:63aIt is the Spirit that quickeneth (makes alive); the flesh profiteth nothing
Rom.7:6We should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter [of the law]
2Cor.3:6aNot the letter [of the law]‚ but of the Spirit
Gal.6:2Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill law of Christ
11.Even under the Mosaic law‚ God's love and mercy prevailed:
A. God always wanted love and mercy more than legalism:
Hos.6:6I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than [sacrifices] (See also Mat.12:7)
Mic.6:6-8Shall I come before Him with offerings? What doth the Lord require of thee, but to love mercy
Mk.12:33To love Him with all the heart and to love his neighbor is more than all offerings and sacrifices
(See also Deut.10:12; 1Sam.15:22; Psa.40:6; 51:16,17; 69:30,31; Isa.1:11-16; Jer.7:22,23.)
B. He allowed exceptions and the Mosaic law to be broken:
2Chr.30:1–3[King Hezekiah celebrated the Passover in second month, instead of first—Exo.12] (Also Num.9:1-11)
2Chr.30:16–18aMany in the congregation were not sanctified yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written
2Chr.30:18b–20Hezekiah prayed, The Lord pardon every one though he be not cleansed. The Lord hearkened to Hezekiah
Mat.12:5On the Sabbath days the priests profane the Sabbath, and are blameless (See also Jn.7:22,23)
Mat.12:1-4David did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat (See 1Sam.21:6)
C. Even the highly religious, those bound by the law‚ broke it:
Exo.31:14,15[The Mosaic law:] Whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death
Mat.12:11[They pulled their sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath]
Lk.13:15[All of them led their ox or ass away to watering then]
Jn.7:22,23Ye on the Sabbath day circumcise a man
D. Certainly then, we who are not bound by it‚ can break it:
Mat.12:10-13It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days [even if it means breaking the Mosaic law]
Lk.13:11-16Ought not this woman be [freed] on the Sabbath day?
Jn.7:22-24[If ye break the Sabbath, why] are ye angry at Me, because I have
made a man whole on the Sabbath day? (See also Jn.9:14-16)
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