The law of God has been forgotten in much of American Christianity today. “We are not under law, but under grace,” is the cry of many in the church and therefore, they live more sinfully than the world because they claim the name of Christ, but live like sons of hell. It is true that we are no longer under the condemnation of the law if we are in Christ, but that's because the condemnation fell on Him when he was on the cross. Now we are free to obey God's law when before we couldn't obey it. Those who abuse grace show that they have never received it. Look up Jesus’ words to the pharisees and you will see how much God hates hypocrites.
The law is good if it is used lawfully, 1 Timothy 1:8. The way it is used lawfully is as a mirror to show a sinner who he is in truth. The law brings the knowledge of sin, Romans 3:20, and the apostle Paul said that the law killed him, Romans 7:9. That’s exactly what has to happen to us. The law must kill us before we can be born-again. Doesn’t that make since?
We need to teach our children the law, the Ten Commandments, so that they know what sin is. Be careful though, lest we raise little pharisees who are duped into thinking that they can actually keep the commandments and please God by their obedience. The teaching of the law is always coupled with the grace of God through the cross of Christ. The law shows them why they need forgiveness for Christ.
Teaching Christ without the law makes turns our kids into grace abusers and little hellions. Teaching the law without Christ makes hard-hearted prideful pharisees. The catechism addresses this, which is another reason we do it. It teaches that we can’t obey God on our own and that we must have God’s grace.
Check out this video and see the law work in this young man’s heart in a matter of minutes. Then watch how he finally understands the gospel, even though he probably had heard it a hundred times before.
The man witnessing is Ray Comfort and his ministry is called Way of the Master. For more information on using the law in witnessing, check out Livingwaters.com and listen to Hell’s Best Kept Secret. You can also go to Wayofthemaster.com for more videos.
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