Isn't it interesting that so much attention is paid to the foundations of the wall? The foundations already!

The wall and its foundations are so utterly important! They are of extreme importance because the whole Christian thing is a response to the rebellion of the angels. The Father is telling His creatures there is to be no more monkey business. Angels or people who violate His eternal moral law will be walled out of Paradise.

This is why current Evangelical teaching is so contrary to the new covenant. Whereas the new covenant has as its objective the writing of the eternal moral law in the heart and mind of the believer, the current teaching is that Divine grace is an unconditional amnesty and no law applies to the believer in Christùthe very opposite of the Divine intention.

The names of twelve Jews are inscribed on the gates of the new Jerusalem. The names of twelve Jews are inscribed on the foundations of the wall. Twenty-four devout Jews.

Does this give you the idea that Christianity has to do with the Jews? After all, the first Christian assembling was composed of five thousand Jews all zealously keeping the Law of Moses. They never heard of grace as it is preached today. If anyone came up with such an abomination he would have been stoned.

God gave the Jew, Paul, the understanding of the transition from Moses to Christ, the relationship of the Law of Moses to the new covenant. Peter said Paul was hard to understand. In fact, to the present hour the relationship of Moses to Christ is not understood.

Some are saying we still have to keep parts of the Law of Moses.

A majority are maintaining we now have received an unconditional eternal amnesty and are under no law of any kind whatever. These Christians sometimes do not even do what the pastor asks of them. Some go so far as to disobey the laws of the land and are now in jail studying their Bible.

We have found in our jail ministry that most of the Christian ministry in the jails stresses that salvation is by grace alone and no righteous behavior is necessary. Yet the congregation is there because they didn't behave righteously. Amazing!

When we go into the jails we stress the relationship between being a Christian and righteous behavior. Guess what? The prisoners understand this readily and latch onto itùmuch more readily than the believers on the outside who haven't been caught yet. Amazing!

It is true that the believer in Christ is under no aspect of the Law of Moses. But his freedom from Moses is on the condition he has died with Christ on the cross and now has risen with Christ. He or she must be married to Christ and bring forth the fruit of righteous, holy behavior.

If we have not died with Christ on the cross, have not risen with Christ, are not married to Christ and bringing forth the fruit of righteous, holy behavior, then the Law of Moses is breathing down our neck and condemning us to death.

"Do you mean, Brother Thompson, that if I do not live righteously I am living in spiritual death even though I believe in Jesus Christ?"

You got it!

"But that isn't what I have been taught!"

Right!

"What am I supposed to do?"

You are supposed to keep on living in the flesh until the day of resurrection, at which time you will reap corruption. That way you can prove that I am telling you the truth.

"I am not keen on this idea."

Well you might try going to Jesus and asking Him to help you keep His commandments and the commandments of His Apostles.

If all else fails, read the directions.

Your friend, Bob T.