If what we are teaching is correct, current Christian teaching is incorrect. We have allowed ourselves to be deceived by trusting in our traditions and experiences rather than in the written Word.

Another reason is that we have a very cunning, skillful adversary who has blinded Christians to the truth. We will be speaking about the adversary in a moment.

Lawlessness

We of today interpret the Great Commission as "go out to a lost and dying world and tell the people that Jesus loves them and has forgiven their sins."

The truth is, the resurrected Lord Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples, teaching them to observe the Lord's commandments.

"Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

The Book of Acts informs us that the apostles and evangelists of the Lord indeed did go forth to several countries, beginning at Jerusalem, and bore witness of the atoning death and triumphant resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They proclaimed repentance and forgiveness of sins in the name of the Lord Jesus. In this manner they gained disciples.

Then the Holy Spirit inspired Paul, Peter, John, James, Jude, and the writer of Hebrews to record that which the early leaders were teaching the disciples, that is, the commandments of the Lord under the new covenant. The Epistles of the New Testament primarily are exhortations to holy, righteous, obedient living. They are not a repetition of the fact that God continues to forgive our sins no matter how we behave. The teachings concerning grace versus works that are found in the writings of Paul, such as in Romans and Galatians, are not contrasting Divine grace and godly behavior. This would be to negate the main exhortations of the Epistles. Rather the Apostle Paul was continually presenting his case against the keeping of the Law of Moses, not against righteous behavior!

Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:16)

God is a God of law. From the time of the Garden of Eden to the present moment there are laws and expectations that people are to obey.

God sometimes changes His covenant with mankind, as He did when He superseded the Law of Moses with the new covenant.

God changes the provisions He makes for us so we may please Him, but God never, never, never changes His goal for His creatures. God's goal for His creatures always has been, is now, and forever shall be, that they practice righteousness, love mercy, and walk humbly with God as they keep His righteous commandments.

To be continued.