The Cross-less law offense.

Do this, this and this and you will be:

1. Happier

2. Healthier

3. Wealthier

4. Wise

Such is the promise much of the Christian Church makes today. This promise is false, just as other false teaching, it will hurt people. It is the misapplication of the law which is the cause of this hurt and possible offense.

Galatians 3:²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law,imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian

The law, not a do God a solid and he will do you a solid, but rather a prison? Surely one cannot love God with all his or her heart and his neighbour as himself. One needs to see to his or her own needs first which will necessarily take the place of Jesus and move him second. One would be worse than an infidel if he or she neglects his or her own household to serve the neighbor.

The offence comes when one has pulled the teeth of the law and makes it doable and sells it to the believer. For example to make the love spoken of in the law as a gushy feeling toward God and my neighbor with whom I happen to get on. That can only be a dismal failure as Jesus promised we will have tribulation. At times this tribulation will include neighbors who are down right nasty. This will offend the believer when he or she is confronted with the law in all its full chomping force and proceeds to terrify. This being terrified has caused many to loose faith due to no cross or blood of Jesus which absolves the guilt.

The command has more to do with the love we have as fruit of the Spirit, rather than one worked up by ourselves, which loves God and our neighbor perfectly. It is a glorious promise that in Jesus’ death and resurrection our failures at the law are forgiven and we are totally justified. This will be indeed good and comforting to the troubled soul. It will offend, the proud and arrogant sinners, which are the ones who need offending.

Let us believe this good news and live in the peace it provides. In the name of Jesus. Amen. †