Doers and hearers
“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)” – Romans 2: 13-15 (NIV)
We all have the law in our hearts, the spirit within us. Joel 2:28-29, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:14-16, Hebrews 8:10, 2 Corinthians 3:3.
And the people prayed to the neon gods they made.
Rock and roll is good for my soul, but the Kingdom of God it is not. It’s the way I relax.
Who is a Christian?
How do people know who Christians are according to the Bible? Select one:
- They talk about sin and judge others a lot
- They go to church on Saturday or Sunday
- They talk about God all the time
- God gives them a lot of things and money
- They represent the love of God to all people
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13: 35 (NASB)
New Generations are vexed by beliefs about salvation
They have a keen sense of fairness and unfairness. They reject bias. When people become exclusive, they stand up and shout back.
Some like to contend that faith in God is sufficient – simply accept Jesus and you’re “saved.” They don’t want to accept the ways Jesus showed us, just shout his name. As Paul and others tell us, it’s about what’s in your heart, and as Jesus tells us, it’s not about the name you shout.
There are those who do great works, but it’s so they can boast and show others. That’s not the right path either. It’s the love that is in our hearts because of God that is the right path. Those who love do good things for others without boasting.
“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” – Romans 3: 28 (NASB)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)
The most important thing is what comes from your heart, as Paul said, “when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts”
The Law is love. It’s the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.
In the Kingdom of God – the Law of Love
A poem by Dorian Scott Cole – all rights reserved
They assembled in the street
with their clubs and guns
elites shouting our way or die.
We’re the only ones.
Get out unless you look like us.
Get out unless you believe like us.
Get out unless you love like us.
Leave, take the train or bus.
Only we can say who’s free.
Only we can make the decree.
Only we can say who deserves.
Only we have the life guarantee.
The words of the prophets
are written on the walls.
You’re going down, clown.
Nothing saves in hate filled halls.
And Jesus opened his arms
and he said to them
Gentiles I’m surprised by your faith.
None of you do I condemn.
Roman soldier I’m surprised by your faith.
Come to me regardless of your lifestyle.
Come to me if you want to be free.
Rest in me and you’ll smile.
Come to me if you want to be happy.
I’ll place God’s love in your heart.
My load is light, won’t break your back.
I just ask that you do your part.
And the ones with the guns
stood at the gate
screamed we believe you’re true!
Jesus replied I don’t know hearts full of hate.
It’s not the ones
who scream my name
It’s the ones who loved
took action and came.
In my Father’s house reside
the ones who love all others
who show what’s in their hearts
treating all like brothers.”
Take Home Points
As we move on with this series about this New Era of Change, Conscience, and Reassessment, we need to drop the exclusivist ideas that have become tradition without any basis in fact. There is not exclusivism in following Jesus. These are distortions of what the Bible says.
The standard of belief and conduct for Christianity is love, and it’s not an option or usurped by some idea about “Law.” Our conduct is a matter of conscience for each of us to wrestle with. If in doubt, apply love.
There is no law more important than that of our own conscience. If we violate our conscience we condemn ourselves, and we find it harder to forgive ourselves than others.
_____________________________
Series Links
Church Eras and Chang – Part 2
The organized church – Change Part3
New Era of Change – Part 7 – LGBTQIA++
New Era of Change – Part 8 – LGBTQIA++
New Era of Change – Part 8b – LGBTQIA++
Law and Love – New Era of Change – Part 9 – LGBTQIA++
Deconstruction – New Era of Change – Part 10 – LGBTQIA+
Apostle Paul on LGBTQ – – New Era of Change – Part 11
Paul and same sex activity – New Era of Change, Part 12 – LGBTQ Final
New Era of Change – Conscience and Reassessment
Additional Resources
New Generations Walk with Jesus: The missions in a changing world (by author on Amazon). Young adults not only don’t find what they need in churches, they’re pushed away, and they have a no tolerance policy for the nonsense they see in churches. How do you minister to them? Answers.
Promiscuous America: Smart, Secular, and Somewhat Less Happy. Institute For Family Studies.
How Casual Sex Can Affect Our Mental Health. Psychology Today
https://christianstudies.wordpress.com/2011/05/14/230/
Free Speech – Rabbi Berel Wein.
Judaism and the Gays: Part 1 – Dealing with Mishcav Zachar. Oral Torah.
Sexual Morality? Is it the same today as in 1200 BCE?
Some series references:
How to Keep Millennials Engaged in Church – on Patheos
What Is Meant by Truth? – on Patheos
Tabernacle of Hate – False Religion – on Patheos
10 Reforms Christianity Needs to Make Right Now – on Patheos
________________________
The standard of belief and conduct for Christianity is love. Legal standard.
________________________
If you find these articles intriguing, please consider joining the mailing list.
___________________
Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.
– Dorian
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In