Neither hot nor cold...

Believers, God hates sin to the uttermost, so much that just stumbling at one point of the Law makes one guilty of all (James 2:10). One tiny sin ruins every good work done and negates every commandment kept under the Law. Just a tiny speck of sin in man makes him unacceptable to God, even if he has done a gazillion good works and does His best to keep the Ten Commandments. According to the Law, he must be punished with death. "The wages of sin is death" and God the righteous Judge will exact judgment to the uttermost. He cannot overlook even the tiniest sin. He hates sin that much.

Those who think that their efforts at law-keeping and good works should count for something with God do not know how seriously He takes the issue of sin and how much He hates sin. He cannot abide an iota of sin. He cannot stand an atom of dirt in universes of white.

Because He loved us so much and does not want any to perish but have everlasting life, He gave His Son to die for our sins so that all who believe in Him can live. Our sins for His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Think of it as people writing an exam for which the price of failure is death and where failing one question means our score is zero (you break one law, keep the rest and you are still guilty of all.) For us to pass (be saved from eternal damnation, sin and addiction, oppression, sickness, etc) we need a 100% score, no more, no less. But everyone has already failed at least one question (all have sinned; there is none righteous.)

Christ came and righteously offered all of us the requisite 100% score (the Lord’s Righteousness) that will give us life (the only brand of righteousness that cuts it with God.) But many people hang on to their 99% score (human effort at keeping the law and doing good works) which is as good as zero because of the 1% stain (break one law and you're guilty of all.) These ones have also been cut off from Christ for their efforts: "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace." Galatians 5:4.

Others attempt to take some marks from Grace (Christ’s freely given 100%) to "complete" their own score (righteousnesses from works of the Law!) These ones say “I know I am not perfect but God will see that I’ve tried my best.” One leg on Mount Zion and the other on Mount Sinai. Ko le werk!!!! Our best can never cut it with the Most High God. It takes the blood of Jesus to escape the full wrath of the Law. These ones here are not totally under Law and not totally under Grace. Neither hot nor cold! This is an abomination to the Lord. Look what Christ says of this lukewarm church in Revelation 3:

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see."

These ones feel that they have some good in them, that they are still "okay.” They do not know that their garments are filthy or that they need white garments (Christ's righteousness). They strive to keep the Law to get some righteousness and think “Jesus will understand, see how hard I tried and do the rest.”

The “hot” here is definitely not “keeping the Law in order to gain right standing with God” as many teach; this would mean getting cut off from Christ (Galatians 5:4). This would mean “cold” is having a total disregard for the Law. Christ said “I could wish you were cold or hot.” Why would Christ wish for us to have a total disregard for the Law? He came to fulfil the very same Law for us! That is how holy and upright the Law is. It takes the blood of the Son of God to save us from the consequences of disobedience

Better to be totally under Law where you see that you can never pass by your own efforts and be driven to Grace; or totally under grace, where you get to enjoy the full benefits of our Lord's goodness.

Think of an oncologist dad whose beloved child has cancer. God hates sin but loves the sinner. This how seriously God hates sin: to the same degree that He loves us, so much that He gave His Son to die for our sins so that we can freely receive the righteousness that it takes to escape the wages of sin; SO THAT WE CAN STOP SINNING; so that we can produce "a harvest of good deeds for God" (Romans 7:4) and also reign in life!

With Christ, our Abba Father fills us with the Holy Spirit (spiritual chemotherapy that is sure to work perfectly!) and the cancer of Sin, alongside ALL of its symptoms (our acts of sins) disappear! We are transformed by the Spirit, not the Law.

Believe Right and you will Live Right