In Romans 2, beginning with verse 13 we are introduced to the premier problem that characterizes mankind’s pre-conversion condition. This sin is at the core of all sins and serves as the root from which all sin springs–DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD’S LAW. In verse 13 we are told that, following JUSTIFICATION (forgiveness of all PAST sins–Rom. 3:25), in order to retain one’s justified status, one must be a DOER OF THE LAW (Rom. 2:13). Just hearing it in church and believing it are not enough, one must DO (obey) it because all people will be judged by that Law. In verse 14 the Apostle Paul notes that when Gentiles, who have not had access to the Law and therefore have not been taught the Law, BY NATURE DO (OBEY) THE LAW, they are a Law unto themselves and show the WORK OF THE LAW that is written in their hearts. The “work of the Law” is the manifestation of righteousness produced by obeying the Law.

Old Testament saints such as God’s prophets proclaimed the Law that God had written. Those who believed and obeyed that Law were God’s saints (holy ones). They dealt with the letter of the Law as it was recorded on stone plates and placed inside the Ark of the Covenant. In Jeremiah 31:31 the Lord proclaimed that at a later time He would, through the Holy Spirit, write that same Law on the hearts of His true saints. The Spirit would then reside within them.

In Hebrews 8:10 we are told that the vast majority of the Israelites of old did not obey the stone-etched Law God had written for them in stone with His finger. For that reason He wrote it in the hearts (minds) of His true saints beginning on the Day of Pentecost 31 A.D. at which time He gave them His Holy Spirit to empower them to keep not only the letter of the (stone-etched) Law, but the SPIRIT OF THE (Spirit-etched) LAW as well. These people, numbering 120, were converted, not saved. They, along with Abel, Noah, David and others are still in their graves awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. Read about Life After Death. Key word–What.

Beginning with true conversion and ending with his/her death, the true convert obeys the Law in both letter and spirit, both of which are necessary in order to receive salvation. An example of the letter/spirit situation is as follows: committing adultery is breaking the LETTER OF THE LAW while lusting is breaking the SPIRIT OF THE LAW. One who continues to sin following a supposed “salvation experience” has fallen victim to Satan’s false salvation ploy. This is the case for 99% of those who have embraced the church’s perverted version of the salvation/born again experience. So-called “saved” people continue to sin because their leaders tell them that, due to Adam’s sin gene transfer, sin is a natural part of their lives. Their “salvation” is counterfeit, as is the church to which they “belong.” They in fact belong to the church, but not to God. Ask a churchite if he/she is a Christian, he/she will respond by naming the church he/she “belongs to.” The church is their Golden Calf that will take them to heaven.

Satan’s false prophets keep church people ignorant of God’s “fine print.” Being ignorant of what He says about their theology, they spend their lives assured that they are “saved” and “born again” when in fact they are neither. By feeding them a steady diet of “headlines” and discouraging them from reading or hearing anything other than their church’s doctrine, billions of people have spent their church lives in a pre-conversion (lost) spiritual state. But there is hope. Read about this hope in the series titled Who Will Comprise the Great Multitude? Also read The Three Resurrections and The Millennium. Key words–Multitude, Three and Millennium respectively.

It is essential that we understand the importance of obeying the Law following our justification (having all past sins forgiven) and conversion (TOTAL reversal of life). Having been declared righteous (sinless) and having been converted, WE ARE COMMANDED TO OBEY GOD’S LAW IN ORDER TO RETAIN OUR JUSTIFICATION (RIGHTEOUSNESS) AND CONVERSION (“walk as Jesus walked”–1 Jn. 2:6). The necessity for righteousness is summed up in First John 3:10: “WHOSOEVEFR DOES NOT DO RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD.” Notice the “DOING” part of the Christian walk (lifestyle). Read James 2:10,14,17,18,20,24,26 plus First John 2:6; 3:1-10; 2:2-5/ First Peter 4:17,18 and Revelation 3:21.

In order to emphasize the importance of the Law we will examine several verses that speak directly to the point. We will begin with Romans 2:18 where the Law of God is called “most excellent,” meaning that nothing is more important that the Ten Commandments–INCLUDING NUMBER 4. In verse 20 the writer makes reference to “the Truth (found) in the Law.” To make certain that we know that he is referring to the Ten Commandments, Paul quotes three of them. Note that Jesus did the same thing when talking to the rich man about how to inherit eternal life as referenced in Mark 10:17-22. Note verse 19 where Jesus emphasized the Ten Commandment Law that the man had to obey in order to receive salvation.

In Romans 2:23,24 Paul warns that TO BREAK GOD’S LAW IS TO BLASPHEME HIM AND TO DISHONOR HIS NAME. In verse 25,26 he says that disobeying the Law makes one a spiritual Gentile (heathen–sinner), and to obey the Law makes one a spiritual Jew. In verse 27 he notes that a Gentile who obeys the Law will judge a Jew who disobeys the Law.

Another indication of the importance of the Law relative to obtaining salvation is found in Romans 3:1,2 where Paul asks how important it is to the Jew to have had the Law (“Oracles of God”) in their lives. The advantage is “Great in every way,” for the Oracles (Words) of God constitute “the Truth of God” (3:7). Which is exactly what Jesus said in John 17:17. That the Law is of utmost importance to the Godhead (Adonai and Yeshua) has been proven in this series. Let us give Their Law the same place in our hearts as it is in Theirs. Let us also understand that justification is the first step on the believer’s journey to the Kingdom of God.

In summary: justification (removal of all past sins, making one righteous) must be followed by conversion (total reversal of life’s thoughts, words and deeds) after which the convert must obey God’s Law for the remainder of his/her life in order to inherit salvation and rebirth upon the return of Jesus Christ (Mat. 10:22). DO NOT ALLOW SATAN’S FALSE PROPHETS TO DECEIVE YOU INTO EMBRACING HIS “ONLY BELIEVE” LIE. IF THEY EMPHASIZE THAT LIE YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO OBEY THE COMMAND OF GOD FOUND IN SECOND CORINTHIANS 6:14-7:2.

The basic problem relative to the sin issue is that salvation seekers do not believe God’s double-stated definition of sin: “TO TRANSGRESS THE LAW IS SIN; FOR SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW” (1 Jn. 3:4). Having the sin-Law connection explained twice in one sentence is not enough to convince professing Christianity’s Sinners Saved By Grace majority. Not having accepted the Lord’s definition of sin, SSBG have not repented of breaking His Law, which means that they are still in their sins and the death of Christ is of no value to them. To correct this deadly error read The Friends of Jesus. Key word–Friends.

We are either God’s friend or His enemy. This is made abundantly clear in First John 2:3-5 where we are told that we can only know Jesus if we keep His commandments. We prove our love for God by obeying His Word (Law). Only by obedience do we KNOW that we are in Him. He that says he knows Christ and does not obey His Law is a liar and God’s Truth is not in him (1 Jn. 2:3). L.J.