Did God give us commandments in order to frustrate us, to make it impossible for us to please Him? Or has He made a way for us to please Him through Jesus Christ (and I am not speaking of grace, the atonement, the remission of sins, but of wisdom and power to live differently)?

Did your earthly father ever tell you to do something? Did he expect you to do it or did he give you jobs to do you could not possibly perform so you would tell him how wonderful he is and how you need his mercy?

If you took this attitude he would tell you to stop flattering him and start obeying him.

Isn't this what Jesus said? "Why do you call Me,‘Lord, Lord,' and don't do what I command you to do?"

How in the world did we Christians ever get ourselves into such a doctrinal mess?

God has commanded us to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.

Does God expect us to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God, or did He command this behavior so we would see how high His ways are above us, go to Christ for forgiveness, and then continue in unjust, unmerciful, and proud behavior?

Has God made provision for us so we can do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God?

First of all, He has forgiven all our sins through the blood of the cross.

He has given us of His Holy Spirit to strengthen, guide, and comfort us.

He has given us the writings of the Apostles as well as the four Gospels.

He has given birth to Christ in our heart.

He has given us fellow saints to encourage us.

He has torn the veil so we can go directly to the Mercy Seat for help in our time of need.

He has given us the body and blood of Jesus Christ to eat and drink so we can live by Christ as He lives by the Father.

God has warned us of the consequences of continuing in sin.

God holds out to us fabulous rewards if we will overcome the evil that strives against us.

God has given us the gifts and ministries of the Spirit.

God has given us the record of His past dealings with Israel so we might have examples of how to conduct ourselves in the Kingdom of God.

Why has God given us all these? So we can do nothing and wait for Christ to take us to our mansion on the basis of our naked belief?

Surely no person of at least average intelligence would believe such a farce.

God has roles and tasks in His eternal Kingdom that are to be performed by people. But before people can serve effectively in the Kingdom they must be changed into the moral image of Christ and brought into union with God so they are serving God and not their own desires.

To be continued.