"He who rejects me is an unbeliever". Those responding on this thread are believers. Regardless if they believe certain things the way you do; they have accepted Christ as their Savior.
Is it okay to walk outside the "rules and regulations that God gave us? NO but that is why God's mercy and grace is there for us. Do you think God is surprised when we sin? Or does he remember that we are just dust? Does God not understand our fallen nature, our faults and failures? Does He not understand that we are in this body of death? Does He not understand that we have this new nature within us fighting with the old nature?
I think the contention lies in those that say we have to work for salvation or we have to work to "maintain" salvation. We are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ - PERIOD. God gave us "rules and regulations" so that we can live a godly life and know what is expected of us after we have been born again not to "maintain" our "new birth" [salvation]. Those "rules and regulations" keep us in fellowship with the Father and the Son. Will we walk outside those lines? Of course we will - does that mean "just don't try"? Of course not - we continue to run the race, fight the fight. Remember that when we hated Him and we were distant from Him - He sent his Son to die for us. The law brings wrath [Rom. 4:15] - when we fail; we get mad at ourselves, condemn ourselves - the law is what made us aware of sin and our sins increased why? only because we were aware that we were sinning - BUT where sin increased - grace did much more ABOUND! [Rom. 5:20] Forgiveness is instantly available - God forgives and God also FORGETS.
You speak much truth.
Everything I say, is from the perspective of one who has already accepted Messiah, honestly my studies are always geared around what does He want. With the current state of the world, know in Scripture as "the Mystery of Iniquity" I think obedience is so grossly under preached it is repulsive, not jokingly or metaphorically, like sit down for a second because of the non-stop bombardment of anti-righteous filth on the TV, movies, music, bars, clubs, crooked politicians, crooked businessmen, criminals, on and on, etc, etc. And yes I sin also, but its like a dizzy spell of craziness out there. It bothers me so. I'm not perfect, I don't always reply perfectly. But I feel I can stand on the words of Yahshua (Jesus) its all about love, these are His words;
Mattithyah 24:12, "And because
iniquity will abound, the love of the many will grow cold."
"iniquity" is:#0458
anomia {an-om-ee'-ah} from G0459
Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)
1) the condition of without law
1a) because ignorant of it
1b) because of violating it
2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness
2 Thessalonians 2:7, "7 For the mystery of iniquity is already working, but the One restraining him will continue to restrain him, until he is made to appear in the midst. And then that lawless one will be revealed, whom Yahshua will remove with the breath of His mouth, and make powerless with the appearance of His coming-- Whose coming is according to the energy of Satan..."
Matt 5:19, "Whosoever, therefore, will break one of the least of these Laws, and will teach men so, he will be called the least in the Kingdom of Yahweh; but whosoever will do and teach them, the same will be called great in the Kingdom of Yahweh."
Matt 7:12, "So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets."
Matt 22:36-40, "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law? Yahshua said to him: You must love Yahweh your Father with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Yahchanan (John) 14:15, "If you love Me, keep My commandments."
I WANT TO GOT TO THE KINGDOM OF YAHWEH VERY VERY MUCH, however if YHWH told me today I was not going, I honestly believe I would NEVER quit promoting righteousness. (im human, I know I dont do it perfectly)