Since all three of my sons play football, I get to attend numerous games throughout the fall season. At one game my eldest son, Gabriel; was running the ball down the field to the end zone. We were all cheering loudly and enthusiastically. It was a beautiful hand off, he skillfully maneuvered around the opposing team’s defense, and everyone was ecstatic about the touchdown … only to find out, moments later; a little yellow cloth had been thrown on the field during the play. The announcer disappointedly explained that there was a penalty on the play. In other words, as awesome as that play was, someone broke the rules. Not only did my son’s team forfeit the touch down he just made, but they also lost an additional 20 yards and had to move backwards on the field. Later that week, as I was studying, the Lord showed me what happens when his children violate his commandments. Many of us move through life breaking spiritual laws which hinder progress and momentum in our lives. By repeatedly breaking his commandments, penalties are assessed, and the enemy comes in and attacks us, thereby causing delays, setbacks, confusion and frustration.
Most churches today do not address the fact that the Bible is governmental, it’s about God’s kingdom, his laws and his will. Grace does not exempt us from keeping the Law. What kingdom can function without laws? Grace enables us to fulfill the Law, because life has been imparted to us to do just that. Jesus stated in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to destroy theLawor theProphets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Yet common belief in the church has been, that grace has been given thereby we do not need to concern ourselves with the Law. Nothing could be further from the truth. And if we continue to carry on as if it is, we will be assessed penalties and continue to lose ground in our marriages, homes, finances, ministries, etc. Hosea 4:6 says: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me; keep my commandments.” His commandments are the laws of the kingdom. Consider for example, the law of forgiveness. This law states that if we want our sins to be forgiven, we should forgive others. When we do not forgive, the enemy can torment our lives (Matthew 18). This is not a suggestion, a theoretical statement, or a metaphor alluding to some other truth. It is a spiritual law. If we do not forgive, then our own sins will not be forgiven! And no one can afford that. I cannot afford for my sins to be held against me, do you realize what doors the enemy can use to torment, afflict, and oppress us through this violation? Sins are legal doors that the enemy uses to attack us. They are penalties on our “play” …. that cause us to lose ground.
Apply this principle to a marriage, where a spouse is offended and refuses to forgive. The enemy can now come in with anger, division, suspicion and much more. Thereby, causing that couple to move backwards in their marriage. Yes, God still loves us, however, we do not make very much progress in life ignoring his commandments.
When Paul explained that we are not under the law but under grace, he was explaining that we are no longer subjected to trying to fulfill the law in our own sinful flesh or in our own strength. No one can do that. Because “we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!” However, if one is born again and walks in the Spirit, then life kicks in. The life that is in Christ Jesus begins to flood our hearts and that life enables us to keep the word. It enables us to walk up right. It not only justifies us before God, it also enables us to stop sinning! The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the Law of Sin and Death (Romans 8).
We do not have to live in sin. We do not have to walk according to the dictates of the flesh. We can keep his commandments because grace, has been given to us. Be certain, that God intends for us not to live lawlessly.
These are things we need to think seriously about. Perhaps the reason, we take two steps forward and three steps back is because we are lawless. We are attempting to serve God without keeping his commandments. Not a good situation! Let’s do better.