The Spirit Minded Person Submits to God’s Law

Paul Specifically SAID So

Brother Michel Lankford

Today’s Question:

Why Do You Believe that Paul the Apostle was NOT Teaching AGAINST Obeying the Old Testament Law? It seems pretty clear that Paul was teaching that.

Part 3: Romans 8:5-8

A Quick Review…

• In Episode 1: We discussed the fact that Paul made 6 testimony statements openly declaring that he was not teaching against the Commandments of God in written Scripture (Acts 24:14–16; Acts 25:7-10; Acts 28:17-21).  To put it simply, if you are going to accept Paul as an apostle, then you cannot rightly claim that Paul taught against keeping the Old Testament Commandments of written Scripture, especially when Paul openly declared that he was not teaching that way, on multiple occasions.

• In Episode 2: We discussed the fact that Paul upheld the authority, the validity, and the continuing usefulness of the Old Testament.  Paul told the Romans that what was written in the Old Testament, was written for OUR Instruction, so that we could have hope, and walk in unity of mind, (Romans 15:4 -6).  Paul told the Corinthians that the Old Testament was written as an example to us, so that we would not crave evil things, and so that we would not disobey God, the way that Israel did in the wilderness, (1 Corinthians 10).  Paul is not going to say, make sure you learn from Israel’s mistakes, and don’t repeat their disobedience against God, and then turn right around and tell people, disregard and disobey what God commanded now, because you are under Grace.  That makes ZERO sense.  Paul also told his protégé Timothy to CONTINUE doing the Scriptures that he had learned since childhood, (2 Timothy 3:12-17).  There was No New Testament when Timothy was a child.  The ONLY Scriptures that Paul could possibly have been telling Timothy to CONTINUE doing, was the Old Testament of written Scripture. Paul specifically said that ALL Scripture IS profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God will be thoroughly equipped for every good work, (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In these verses, Paul makes four very important claims. a.) All Scripture is God-breathed, (not just some Scripture but ALL Scripture). b.) Paul clearly says that all Scripture IS profitable. Notice what he does not say. Paul does not say that SOME Scripture is profitable, but other Scripture is done away with and obsolete, so that you should disregard and disobey it now. He clearly says that ALL Scripture IS STILL profitable. c.) If you notice the things that Paul said that Scripture IS STILL profitable for, you cannot do without those things. Those attributes are INDISPENSABLE for the child of God and for the growing disciple. You cannot do without God’s Word. You can’t do without sound doctrine. You can’t do without reproof, and without being able to prove and establish what you believe on the basis of what God says. You can’t do without God’s correction, because if we don’t correct our course when we go astray, it will destroy us. We can’t do without God’s instruction that will train us how to be righteous. We cannot do without God equipping us to fulfill all the good work that God wants us to do. Conclusion: Since Paul clearly said that ALL of Scripture IS profitable to accomplish these great purposes, it then makes ZERO sense to turn around and say, you should now disregard, pay no attention to, and disobey the Old Testament on purpose, (which is two thirds of the Scripture), because you are saved by grace through Jesus Christ, and you are not saved by your works. The common Christian claim makes NO sense. Either, ALL of Scripture IS profitable, to train us in righteousness, and to equip us for every good work, or SOME Scripture is abolished, done away with, obsolete, and should be ignored because we are saved by Grace. However, the simple fact is, that both standards CANNOT be true at the same time.

• In episode 3 of this series, (today’s episode), we will see something else very specific that Paul said to the church at Rome.

As It Is Written: “For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5–8 CSB)

Many modern Christians INSIST on believing and teaching the LIE that Paul supposedly taught that we should not submit ourselves to God’s Laws and Commandments, because we are saved by Grace through Messiah. According to modern theology, we should reject the Commandments of God because of Grace. Supposedly, we should not submit ourselves to God’s Law, because we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Allegedly, anyone who now tries to submit themselves to the Biblical Commandments in God’s Law is supposedly in bondage and they are lacking the Grace of God. That is what is commonly taught as the Grace of God today. What’s worse, is that the LIARS who are teaching this line of manure, are doing it in Paul’s name, even though Paul specifically taught the OPPOSITE of such FALSE doctrines right here:

• Not submitting ourselves to God’s Law, CANNOT be a sign that you are walking in God’s Grace. Paul just said that not submitting to God’s Law is a sign that you are carnal minded, and that you are living according to the sinful nature.

• Not submitting ourselves to God’s Law, CANNOT be a sign that you are walking in God’s Grace. Paul just said that not submitting to God’s Law is a sign that you are hostile against God.

• Not submitting ourselves to God’s Law, CANNOT be a sign that you are walking in God’s Grace. Paul just said that not submitting to God’s Law is a sign that you are walking in DEATH.

• Not submitting ourselves to God’s Law, CANNOT be a sign that you are walking in God’s Grace. Paul just said that not submitting to God’s Law is a sign that you are not pleasing to God, because you CANNOT please God living that way.

• Paul just said that it is the CARNAL MINDED person, who lives by their sinful nature, that does not submit himself to God’s Law. Paul says that the CARNAL MINDED PERSON is not even ABLE to submit himself to God’s Law. This means by obvious contrast, that the person who has a mindset that is controlled by the Holy Spirit should be both WILLING and ABLE to SUBMIT himself to the Law of God.  This goes right in line with what the prophets teach in (Ezekiel 11:19-20; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Living in the Holy Spirit causes you to obey God’s Commandments, and NOT to DISOBEY them).  So, Paul was teaching right in line with what the written Old Testament already said.  According to Paul, it is only the person who is controlled by the sinful nature, that does not and cannot submit himself to God’s Law. By definition, the person who is truly being controlled by the Holy Spirit should be both willing and able to submit himself to God’s Law.

• According to Paul’s OWN definition, IF Paul was truly teaching people not to submit themselves to God’s Law and Commandments, (as many Christians believe and proclaim today), then Paul would be teaching people to be carnal minded, and to obey their sinful nature.
• According to Paul’s OWN definition, IF Paul was truly teaching people not to submit themselves to God’s Law and Commandments, (as many Christians believe and proclaim today), then Paul would be teaching people to be carnal minded, and to be hostile against God.

• According to Paul’s OWN definition, IF Paul was truly teaching people not to submit themselves to God’s Law and Commandments, then Paul would be teaching people to walk in such a way that HE just SAID CANNOT please God.

• According to Paul’s OWN definition, IF Paul was truly teaching people not to submit themselves to God’s Law and Commandments, then Paul would be teaching people to walk in such a way that HE just SAID leads to DEATH. Even according to Paul, rejecting God’s Law and walking outside the Law of God, DOES NOT lead to Eternal Life. That leads to death. Don’t forget that Paul wrote those words, even while he was, “Under Grace!”

• I know that we are saved by Grace through faith in Messiah. We are not going to obey God perfectly enough to save ourselves. I do get it. Nevertheless, I still want to and I choose to willingly submit myself to the Commandments of God in written Scripture, because I love God, and I want to learn to love Him more perfectly with my whole being, and obeying God’s Commands and Instructions is what teaches me the mechanics of how to Love God, just as it says in 1 John 5:2-3, and 1 John 2:3-6).

• I know that we are saved by Grace through faith in Messiah. We are not going to obey God perfectly enough to save ourselves without Christ. I do get it. Nevertheless, I still want to, and I choose to willingly submit myself to the Commandments of God in written Scripture, because I love God, and I do not want to be carnal minded. I don’t want to obey my sinful nature. I WANT to obey the Heavenly Father. Disobeying God’s Instructions only feeds the sinful nature, it doesn’t overcome it, like were supposed to do.

• I know that we are saved by Grace through faith in Messiah. We are not going to obey God perfectly enough to save ourselves. I do get it. Nevertheless, I still want to, and I choose to willingly submit myself to the Commandments of God in written Scripture, because I love God, and I want to come into agreement with God. I don’t want to be hostile against God. I want to walk with God; therefore, I must come into agreement with God, and not be hostile against Him, (Amos 3:3; Romans 8:5-8).

• I know that we are saved by Grace through faith in Messiah. We are not going to obey God perfectly enough to save ourselves. I do get it. Nevertheless, I still want to, and I choose to willingly submit myself to the Commandments of God in written Scripture, because I love God, and because I want a mind that is truly controlled by the Holy Spirit and produces life and peace.

• I know that we are saved by Grace through faith in Messiah. We are not going to obey God perfectly enough to save ourselves. I do get it. Nevertheless, I still want to, and I choose to willingly submit myself to the Commandments of God in written Scripture, because I love God, and because the Holy Spirit is living in me and is empowering me to both be willing and able to OBEY the Father. In fact, my willingness and ability to OBEY the Father, is how I can know for certain that I’m actually growing in God’s Grace, and that God’s love is truly being perfected in me, because the New Testament clearly says that whoever keeps God’s Word, in him, the love of God is perfected, by this we know that we are in Him (1 John 2:5; cf. Ezekiel 11:19-20; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Philippians 2:13). Any wicked sinner can disobey God and not care. Genuine Grace will teach you and empower you to obey God, and not to disobey God. Do not be deceived.

• I know that we are saved by Grace through faith in Messiah. We are not going to obey God perfectly enough to save ourselves. I do get it. Nevertheless, I still want to, and I choose to willingly submit myself to the Commandments of God in written Scripture, because I love God, and because I want to please God. Even according to Paul, if I don’t submit myself to God’s Law, then I cannot please God. Pleasing God matters to me, so I choose to learn and to progressively submit to His Standards.

• I know that we are saved by Grace through faith in Messiah. We are not going to obey God perfectly enough to save ourselves. I do get it. Nevertheless, I still want to, and I choose to willingly submit myself to the Commandments of God in written Scripture, because I love God, and because I want to have a mindset and to walk in a way that leads to life, and that does not lead to death. Even according to Paul, this requires that I submit to the Law of God.

So, how about you? Will you choose to submit yourself to the Law and Commandments that God has established? Or, will you disobey God, and be carnal minded and obey your sinful nature, which is what every sinner does? Will you choose to submit yourself to the Law and Commandments that God has established? Or, will you disobey God, and be carnal minded and have a mindset and a way of life that is hostile against God, and cannot please God? Will you maintain a carnal minded disobedient mindset which leads to death, all the while you claim to be under God’s Grace? Or, will you submit yourself to God’s Law by the power of the Holy Spirit, and so produce a mindset and a way of life that leads to life and peace? Those are the choices that every believer faces, each time they encounter and respond to God’s Law and to His Commandments. Do not fool yourself. These are life and death questions. Paul could not be teaching the Lawless Grace that most Christians think he was. Paul just taught the opposite of Lawless Grace, right here in the New Testament.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Brother Michel Lankford.