I am guilty of breaking the law--Yes I am guilty of breaking the law. It seems so contrary to my nature—or I propose—all nature of men and women to admit guilt when we have committed a crime. We hate to admit to doing something which is wrong. We will speak about criminals, dictators or even other people we know, who we say have committed something which is wrong in our understanding of what is good and not good or what is good and evil. Thus, we speak whisper and think that others have committed a crime and even regard some crimes as unforgivable but are reluctant to point out or bring to the attention of others or ourselves about some crime or thing we have done. Yet why do we even need to speak like this? What I mean is, why should we think that there is such a thing as good and evil? How do we know? Isn’t it odd that we ascribe that such a thing exists at all? I am speaking from a point of view—of a person who doesn’t know ultimately what life is about. Let us imagine an adult-person such as me, found myself alone--on a tropical island with approximately 90 boys and 10 girls who were around 10-15 years old. Now, Let us say that all of these children grew up in 1940’s Nazi Germany—instructed by Hitler as a Hitler youth--and suddenly found them-selves on this island with me. Obviously, this doesn’t sound like a good situation for me to be in, does it? I’m thinking bad things could happen to me or the other children, if they are left to figure out what to do about being stranded on this island. I would probably want to tell them about certain things that are right and wrong and that in societies such as America, there are laws that keep each person in society safe and that we too should adopt these laws… After telling them this, one of the kids asks me why they should adopt those laws and why they should care about laws at all?
If you are like me the task of trying to do what is right can be very difficult sometimes. Yet what is “right?” and what is law anyway and why do we need it at all?
Aristotle (born in 384 B.C.) is perhaps one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived. Aristotle taught a wide variety of subjects including logic, rhetoric, poetry, ethics, biology, physics, astronomy, political theory, economics, aesthetics, anatomy and metaphysical philosophy. Aristotle didn’t invent logic but he did define it and set forth its fundamentals. As Aristotle understood it, logic was essential for all other sciences and that which is illogical, is unintelligible; it is not only not understood, but is also incapable of being understood. For instance, he wrote about the law of non-contradiction—according to this law which is the chief principle of logic, “A cannot be A and non-A at the same time and in the same sense.” Take the idea which some believe, that science proves God doesn’t exist; this is a falsehood because we know that science can never prove that something which isn’t seen or testable cannot exist. We can however prove that there are no square circles in the universe. Why? Not because we have looked for them everywhere but because it is a logical contradiction. Therefore logic, tells us that science can never prove something such as unicorns or God to not have existed. This law of non-contradiction doesn’t tell us what to think but how to think. Logic and this law of non-contradiction is a tool for understanding relationships to see whether they are contradictory. According to Aristotle “We always like best whatever comes first. And therefore youth should be kept strangers to all that is bad, and especially to things which suggest vice or hate.” “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.” “But perhaps to say that the highest good is happiness is obviously something undisputed” “Every state is a community of some kind, and every community is established with a view to some good; for mankind always act in order to obtain that which they think good. But, if all communities aim at some good, the state or political community, which is the highest of all, and which embraces all the rest, aims at good in a greater degree than any other, and at the highest good.” “The state comes into existence, originating in the bare needs of life, and continuing in existence for the sake of a good life” “Hence it is evident that the state is a creation of nature, and that man is by nature a political animal. And he who by nature and not by mere accident is without a state, is either a bad man or above humanity; he is like the tribeless, lawless, hearthless one whom Homer denounces—the natural outcast is forthwith a lover of war.” “Virtue and goodness in the state are not a matter of chance but the result of knowledge and purpose. A city can be virtuous only when the citizens who have a share in the government are virtuous.”
Aristotle’s thought is echoed in America’s founding fathers such as President George Washington’s First Inaugural Address, when he states “that there exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness.” The issue of nature and law is often echoed in those who influenced our founding fathers “True law is right reason, consonant with nature, spread through all people (Cicero).” “The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, heath, liberty, or possessions (John Locke).” Indeed Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Henry Lee, about the Declaration of Independence and the thought behind—described that it wasn’t something newly thought up or merely to say things which hadn’t been said before but were drew upon by a long tradition of political as well as philosophical tradition “Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Sidney, ect.” Now that we understand the root of natural law, what is law itself? Law is “the collective organization of the individual right to lawful defense (Fredric Bastiat).” What is the primary purpose of law? “The chief duty and care of all governments is to protect the rights of property (Fisher Ames, a Framer of the Bill of Rights)” And according to our fourth president and founding father James Madison…
“A man’s land, or merchandize, or money is called his property. In the latter sense, a man has a property in his opinions and the free communication of them. He has a property of peculiar value in his religious opinions, and in the profession and practice dictated by them. He has a property very dear to him in the safety and liberty of his person. He has an equal property in the free use of his faculties and free choice of the objects on which to employ them. In a word, as a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights. Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions. Where there is an excess of liberty, the effect is the same, tho’ from an opposite cause. Government is instituted to protect property of every sort”
It is apparent that our founding fathers believed in rights as well as laws which were derived from a source of absolute truth and that there is such a thing as good and evil. How could we function in society, if we didn’t believe in some good? Evil is apparent from looking at history; we simply need to turn on the news sometime or read history to understand the depths which humans can destroy each other. Both good and evil do exist and even the atheist believes in some good… but even more than that--even those people we wouldn’t generally associate as “good” refer to themselves as “good people”. Therefore there exists in our hearts or perhaps our conscience a law as defined in the Declaration of Independence which states “the laws of nature and nature’s God” and in the Law—and these things convict us of something which is either right or wrong. I started this blog by saying I have broken the law but what I really meant was that I broke the Law.
All the laws of which I have spoken come from a source which is different from us humans, the Law I am speaking of is righteous, perfect and has its source set in the one thing which cannot be unjust in its judgment but which is perfectly good—the LORD, God. Humans were not created autonomous (free to be a law to themselves) but subject to the law of God. God in the Bible described himself as Holy, good, merciful, just, faithful, loving, perfect in all these qualities and all knowing, all seeing and is infinite. God made humans in his image and the first human was the representative for all his posterity. Adam and Eve represented us perfectly as our original father and mother and whatever they did in their lives, would directly affect all of their descendants. God in his creation could not force Adam or Eve to obey his Law, which to us is now succinctly stated in the Ten Commandments—God cannot violate his own nature. Take for example, God can never create something bigger then himself because that would be a violation of His nature. If God, created something bigger then himself, He would cease to be God, because God is infinite and in-so-doing this argument wouldn’t make sense, because God can never violate his own nature. So when Adam, along with Eve, decided to eat the apple from “the tree of knowledge of good and evil” which God had commanded Him not to eat, Adam had freely disobeyed God and in essence Adam as well as Eve, now sought to determine what was good and bad—in disregard of what God had said. As a consequence, of Adam’s sin to become like God, in Adam, all die (1 Cor. 15:22). If God’s nature is all pure, holy, just, good and perfect, then why would he allow disobedience to love, goodness and charity (which are attributes of God) go unpunished?
It is because of this that it is said that the generations after Adam and Eve, became wicked. Cain and Abel, Adam’s sons were born and Cain murdered his brother. So Cain’s descendants became worse and worse and the wickedness of mankind became great and corruption and evil spread.
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). Now that we have a small idea of the state of mankind, what is after death?
When most people are asked, are you a good person and will you go to heaven? They will say things like “yes, I think so.” Okay so let’s do a little test based off the Ten Commandments. Have you ever told a lie? And that person says “yeah, who hasn’t?” So what do you call someone who lies? “A liar.” Have you ever stolen anything? “Nope” But you just told me you’re a liar. “Well I did steal some candy once as a kid.” What do you call someone who steals? “A thief.” Have you ever looked at someone with lust? “Of course” Jesus says everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28). Have you ever murdered someone? “No” Jesus says that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. By your own admission you’re a liar, thief, murderer and adulterer at heart—and that’s just four of the Ten Commandments. So that person says “ok, so I’m not perfect.” Actually it’s worse than that… Sin isn’t just doing things we shouldn’t. It’s also Not doing the things we should. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin (James 4:17) For God knows the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44:21). So then this person might say, “Well compared to some people (such as Hitler, the KKK, Osama Bin Laden), I’m a saint!” True, but the standard is God’s Law, not other people. Besides, if you were to sin just five times a day, in 1 year that would be 1,825 sins! If you lived to be seventy, you’ll have broken God’s Law over 127,000 times! You’ll have to answer for every sin on judgment day. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). “But won’t God just forgive me?” Try that in court… “I know I keep breaking the law. But can’t you just let it slide?” Only a corrupt judge would do that. A good judge would say “Justice demands that you pay for your crimes.” God is a Holy, Righteous Judge. He hates sin! Jesus warned that God will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all lawbreakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:41-42).
Hell is described as the final place of those condemned to eternal punishment at the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:41-46, Revelation 20:11-15). It is a place of fire, darkness, weeping, gnashing of teeth, destruction and torment (Jude 7, 13, Matt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30, 2 Thess. 1:7-9; 2 Pet. 3:7; 1 Thess. 5:3, Rev. 20:10; Luke 16:23). Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it (Revelation 20:11). When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne (Matthew 25:31). God judges the righteous and God is angry with the wicked everyday (Psalm 7:11). There is none that does good, not even one (Psalm 14:3, Mark 10:18, Romans 3:10). According to their deeds, so will he will repay, wrath to his adversaries (Isaiah 59:18). For behold, the LORD will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire (Isaiah 66:15). He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty (Revelation 19:15). I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath their lifeblood spattered on my garments and stained all my apparel (Isaiah 63:3). And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them (Ezekiel 8:18). And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire… and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10, 20:15, Jude 13). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). I tell you my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! (Luke 4-5).
So then, what can be done? “How then can anyone get to heaven?”
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God (John 3:16-18). God loves you So Much, he sent his Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for your sins… then he rose from the grave defeating death! After being convicted by the Law, which condemns those who declare they are good, the Law sends those who are under it seeking a savior. For you’re condemned by the Law—Jesus says--For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished (Matthew 5:18). For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it (James 2:10).And when the Judge says, unless someone has paid for your fine—your bail money, unless someone has paid for your sins and there is only one name under heaven which can be evoked to save sinners from the “second death” which is the lake of fire, you will perish. So then this person should ask, what must I do to be saved from eternal punishment?
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. Not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8). I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose (Galatians 2:21). You cannot earn eternal life by good works. For by the law, no one is good, none is righteous and all have fallen short of the glory of God. If you could be justified as righteous and worthy of salvation under the law through good works, then why did Jesus commit himself to the Cross? For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them—because by works of the law no one will be justified (Galatians 2:16, 2:21). But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone (Matthew 15:18-20). Jesus is always concerned with the heart, because it is from the heart and then thoughts and then actions that we degrade ourselves, others and God. For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty (2 Peter 1:16). We must be transformed first by the saving grace of Jesus and the help of the Holy Spirit will transform us from the inside out. Only those who humble themselves repent (turn away from their sins) and come to Jesus. Turn to God in repentance and have faith in the Lord Jesus. He will forgive your sins and give you a new heart! If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Now if you are ready to pass from death into life, to be saved--pray something like this:
“Dear God, today I turn away from all of my sins [name them] and I put my trust in Jesus Christ alone as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me, change my heart, and grant me Your gift of everlasting life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
Now have faith in God. He is absolutely trustworthy. Never doubt his promises. He is not a man that he should lie; for God cannot lie. The sincerity of your prayer will be evidenced by your obedience to God’s will, so read his Word (the Bible) daily and obey what you read.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7). “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin (Romans 3:18-20). In the Old Testament, the essence of a proper attitude to God is “fear,” the absence of which is practical atheism. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the Lord is a common theme throughout the Old and New Testament and especially a controlling principle in the Proverbs. The fear of the Lord is the only basis of true knowledge. This “fear” is not distrustful terror of God, but rather the reverent awe and worshipful response of faith to the God who reveals himself as Creator, Savior, and Judge. Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of knowledge and wisdom—only this fear enables one to know what anything means ultimately.
A good bible believing and reading Church is essential for any believer’s growth in Christ. Without a church family—it is almost impossible to grow and will likely stagnate—for the devil will tempt all who are in Christ—just as he tempted Jesus Christ himself. You will have struggles in Christ, because the world does not want you—because if you are in Christ, you are no longer of the world and the world which is ruled by the prince of darkness will not want you to be like Christ. What struggles did the early Christians and Apostles go through? Well they endured massive resistance and persecution but in order to shorten their struggles, I will just list how they died:
According to Fox’s Book of Martyrs
I. St. Stephen suffered next after Christ—being taken and stoned to death.
II. 44 A.D. James the Great was beheaded.
III. 54 A.D. Philip was scourged, thrown into prison and afterwards beheaded.
IV. 66 A.D. Matthew suffered martyrdom being slain with a halberd.
V. Matthias was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.
VI. Andrew was crucified on a cross; the two ends were fixed transversely in the ground.
VII. St. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria, at the great solemnity of Serapis their idol, ending his life under their merciless hands.
VIII. Peter was condemned to death and crucified. Jerome said that he was crucified, his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was.
IX. Paul was beheaded.
X. 73 A.D. Jude was crucified.
XI. Bartholomew was at great length cruelly beaten and then crucified.
XII. Luke was hanged on an olive tree by the idolatrous priests of Greece.
XIII. 74 A.D. Simon was crucified.
XIV. Barnabas’s death took place about A.D. 73
XV. John the “beloved disciple,” was brother to James the Great and was the only disciple to escape violent death.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:21
The Bible should be taken seriously when it says what is right, just and good; because “are you not new creations in Christ? Do you not have the wanting to do what is right and to hate sin? For Jesus hates sin and cannot be a part of that which is sinful. So if you have on the Lord Jesus Christ, then will you not love what he loves and hate what he hates? It is extremely difficult to be faithful; when you are alone and have no Church family and no Church you can call home. If a vine is not connected to the main root, which is the “True Vine” i.e. Jesus Christ and the body of Christ (the Church), then how will it continue to grow and mature? Will It not more likely wither away, die out and be as if it was cast on rocky soil, producing just thorns and weeds--which are not a part of the branch of the “True Vine”. “Do you swear to tell the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth, so help you God” That is what we hear during movies or in a courtroom ourselves and the truth is what this blog is about, not what I deem as the truth but what God says is the Truth “and the Truth will set you Free” and the Bible is Truth—what people decide after they have learned of the Truth is their decision but they must know that as Hebrews 9:27 states “And just as it is appointed for man to die once and after that comes judgment. I plead for you to look at the Law and consider your own guilt. I hope urge and pray that you turn to God, repent and put your faith in Jesus. I love you so much... And God loves you so much more "he is not willing that any should perish". He takes no pleasure in condemning people. Please come to Jesus! After death, God will raise us all from the dead and judge you according to his standards. Do not neglect your salvation or say "i can wait until this-or that time" please allow Jesus into your heart and mind today. How could i be a true friend if i didn't warn you about the judgment to come. I want to be eternal friends. Their is a chasm between heaven and hell and none can pass between. It is forever and those who do not choose God, the choice is made for them--because they did not believe in the only Son of God.
This blog is not only for everyone but me as well. By writing it down, I re-confirm my commitment to “knowing” and learning the Laws, truth and Jesus. Through the continued deepening of faith come the fruit of love and also liberty and most especially freedom of the individual in a society. The love of Christ is what brought the Pilgrims to America and that is what the monument in the pictures I included represent. It is the most important monument in America and is the least known of any. It is located at the end of a neighborhood street, where almost no one ever visits. It is called the Forefathers Monument in Plymouth—where the Pilgrims landed. It was dedicated to the pilgrims. It has a woman on the top, pointing towards the heavens with an open Geneva Bible and a star on her head which signifies wisdom--under her it says "faith." Below her is another figure which signifies Morality, and then law, education and finally freedom (freedom being the last thing to be gained from faith in the Christian God). Each figure is a symbol of Christianity and that each step from faith to morality and morality to the law was all because of the top statue which represented “faith” This monument was erected so that we would forever understand how the Pilgrims accomplished their “new world” and how our Founding fathers achieved freedom. It was a clarion call to us—later generations; so that we would never forget how they did it and we would be able to understand how to defend freedom as well.
References
http://www.vindicatingthefounders.com/library/property-rights.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y2KsU_dhwI – 180—movie by Ray Comfort and Living Waters
http://historicaldigression.com/2012/01/31/forefathers-monument-in-plymouth-an-overlooked-colossus/Defending your Faith: an introduction into apologetics by R.C. Sproul
Drive thru History: with Dave Stott’s
The Reformation Study Bible ESV
Sermon – Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”
Sermon – Charles H. Spurgeon “A warning against Hardness of Heart”
God has a wonderful plan for your life: The myth of the modern message – Ray Comfort
Fox’s Book of Martyrs – John Fox
The Law – Fredric Bastiat
The U.S. Constitution: A Reader – Hillsdale College Politics department
Politics and Nichmachaen Ethics – Aristotle
The Consequence of Ideas – R.C. Sproul
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