Sinners want to be saved but the Ten Commandments cannot save. Christ saves.

Many of us think that most believers and even non-believers who commit sin want to continue to do so. We think they don't want out. I submit to you that many of these 'great' sinners are just like you: they feel bad after each episode and are trying hard to find a way out of that sin but cannot!

You see (especially pastors and leaders none of whom can "cast the first stone,") you're not the only one who wants to live a righteous life☺ Most believers and non-believers struggle to live right but can't. It's death to condemn such further with the reading of the law. They have the law emblazoned on their hearts already. The letter kills.

For believers who have this experience, this isn't a unique situation. Paul of the New Testament faced the same dilemma. In Romans 7:18-19, Paul says:

"For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."

This is a born-again and Spirit-filled Paul speaking here.

In Christ, we have the same solution to this problem as Paul did in verse 25:

"Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Christ delivers us from this inability to do the good we want to do and makes sure that we live right! How, you may ask? The very next chapter (Romans 8:1-2) shows us how:

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

Believers, as the righteousness of God in Christ, when you sin, which you have and will in the future, there is no condemnation for you. Our Heavenly Father still sees you as righteous; not because of what you do or don't do but because of what Christ did.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

With this gift of righteousness comes no condemnation. It is our Saviour's "Neither do I condemn you " that makes us " Go and sin no more."

You will not continue or have that desire to sin because the Holy Spirit will transform you when you look to Christ for your righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:18.) Nothing to do with our efforts at suppressing those sinful desires. 

The kingdom of God isn't human logic:)

For those insisting on keeping the Ten Commandments and doing good deeds in order to be righteous and those saying that this gift of no condemnation is a license to sin, cast the first stone if you haven't sinned since you became born-again.

Also, if you think you won't sin anymore by using your own strength, remember Peter who knew that he would never deny our Saviour Jesus.

If you are in this category, preaching that or trying to obey the Ten Commandments (which Romans 3:20 says cannot make anyone righteous in God's sight) in order to get right with God, kindly bear in mind that Galatians 5:4 says: "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."

This means that when those that are trying to make themselves right with God by keeping the law break just one law, asking for forgiveness in Jesus' name becomes an effort in futility. This group will need to go back in time, and maybe become Jews in order to be able to offer their animal sacrifice in a proper temple and through a human high priest like the ancient Israelites. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Law and grace don't mix. You can't depend on Jesus and the Ten Commandments at the same time.

Believers, there is only one Good News and it is based on righteousness by faith, not obedience to the law of sin and death. In fact, Paul places the only curse in the new testament (doubly!) on anyone preaching a different gospel in Galatians 1:8-9:

"Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. 9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed."

Sure there are some that replace God's grace with sheer license to sin (Please read Jude 1 for this; my husband says these letters are too long:)) But this is no excuse for anyone to try to "help God" by introducing the law to keep New Covenant believers in check. Such people get to be under a curse!

We are not under law but under grace. Sarah (Grace) is more than capable of raising Isaac. You don't need Hagar (the law.)

Believe Right and you will Live Right!