Following are some popular reasons why we do not have to keep God's commandments.

I am saved by grace, not by works.

I believe in Calvinism so I don't have to keep God's commandments. God is saving me sovereignly. Grace is sovereignly initiated by God and no matter what we do God's grace will not change or fail.

Hebrews 6:4-6 and Galatians 5:19-21 cannot mean what they say, at least as far as Christians are concerned, because we are not obligated to keep God's commandments. (This is a problem in consequences, which we intend to discuss in a future essay.)

The just shall live by faith. We are saved by faith alone.

The only law that governs Christians is the law of love.

Christ is perfect and His perfection has been imputed to us.

Christ has done it all for us and all we are to do is believe.

Christ will perform the commandments in us if we will just relax. (This is a problem in method, which we intend to discuss in a future essay).

The four Gospel accounts are no longer binding on us because now we are saved by grace.

The letter kills but the Spirit gives life and so we do not have to obey the commandments of Christ and His Apostles.

The Book of Galatians applies only to Gentiles.

The Book of Hebrews applies only to Jews.

The Book of Revelation cannot be understood and should be avoided.

To attempt to live righteously is to detract from the perfection of Christ or the perfect work of Christ.

The commandments were given to show us our need of a Redeemer. God does not expect us to keep the commandments, only to discover through them how unworthy we are and thus bring us to Christ.

No one can keep Christ's commandments.

If you are aware of any we have missed would you please send them to our Internet address? There may be hundreds more. Thank you.

We have presented in a previous essay a very simple model of salvation.

Step One—we receive our forgiveness.

Step Two—we keep the Lord's commandments by the grace He gives us.

Step Three—Christ is formed in us.

The three steps must be taken within the environment of our participation with Christ in His death on the cross and His glorious resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father.

Our mammoth problem of today is that we have removed Step Two on the basis of the excuses listed above. Yet we cannot move to Step Three except as we take Step Two. We absolutely must keep the commandments issued by Christ and His Apostles or Christ will never be formed in us.

The reason the effects of revival are not more permanent is that the people are not taught the absolute necessity for keeping Christ's commandments. If we love Him we will keep His commandments. If we keep His commandments He and the Father will make Their eternal abode in us.

He who says he knows and loves Christ, and yet does not keep His commandments, is a liar. The truth is not in him or her. The disciple (the Christian) is the individual who keeps the commandments of Christ.

To be continued.