You wonder at the above statement.

Irony?

Listened to a cd on ANTINOMIANISM by Rev Kong Hee (CHC)just now and it made me think about what is the basis of a Christian's faith? Who's really a Christian? Is a Christian living as a Christian?

ANTINOMIANISM REFERS TO THE BELIEF THAT GOD'S GRACE HAS FREED CHRISTIANS FROM OBEYING THE LAWS AND COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, ESPECIALLY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. People who have this belief fall into the trap of legalism- they follow what the law says but don't understand the spirit of the law. They obey the rules without the right attitude of heart.

e.g. When you forgive, do you know why you have to?
e.g. When you love your neighbour as yourself, do you know why you are told to do so?

the bible said so? your pastor said so?

How about the Pharisees? They followed the laws, they observed Sabbath's day, they are the leaders in synagogues, they lead God's people and they give one-tenth of thier income to the church. Why then are we told not to follow the way of the Pharisees?

"These people come near to me with their mouthand honour me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me.Their worship of me is made up of rules taught by men." -Isa 29:13

"i hate, i despise your religious feasts;I cannot stand your assemblies.Even though you bring me burnt offering and grain offerings,I will not accept them.Though you bring choice fellowship offering,I will have no regard for them.Away with the noise of your songs!i will not listen to the music of your harps.But let justice roll on like a river,righteousness like a never-failing stream!"- Amos 5:21-24

are we merely following law? are we the Pharisees?rem Gal?
"...so we, too, have put our faith in Jesus Christ that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not be observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." -2:16

i remember an incident when my manager told me to work during Christmas eve, that the co is offering $10 an hr for the day. I declined the offer, saying that i'm attending service in church. She retorted, "I'm sure your God wants you to earn money as well." For a while i was stumped. "ya.. its money you know. God wants us to prosper right, surely work can earn more money' i thought to myself. it was so tempting then to work.

Till my friend reminded me that "...cannot serve both money and God."-matt 6:24

How timely! cos i was almost bought into my manager's suggestion that i contemplated working, till i was refered to what the bible really says about money. what my manager said sounded very logical and right, it falls in with the idea that God's good, his grace's sufficient. But we also need to remember what he really said in his word.

A lotta times, the world's thinking makes so much sense. How often have u heard people saying, "dont worry lah, your God will bless you. Dont have to do anything, trust him to provide." "dont go church for one sun is okay lah, can always go the next time."

Unless we know His word, what it really means, we can stray easily to what the world says and offers.

why are you following the ten commandments? why are you following the law? are you putting your faith in the ten commandments and waiting to claim your reward as promised in the bible when you meet God?

or are you puuting your faith in Christ?
What is the basis of your Christian faith?
What do you base your faith on?

may i leave you with this:


"Not everyone who says to me,'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
-matt 7:21

posted by ser @ 4:57 AM