don't be an antinomianist!!

went for churchwide biblestudy today... it was super good!! pastor kong talked about legalism and antinomianism.. the 2 extremes of christianity. the main message was about the sductions of antinomianism.. sounds like a pretty big word huh.. haha! we all learn something new each day.. :)

anyway, ANTINOMIANISM = being against all laws(including the 10 commandments)
[anti = against, nomos(Gk) = law]
antinomians preach about it.. they will try to convince christians into having the same belief system as themselves.. that's why it's so dangerous and we all have to know about it!!

there are 3 shades of antinomianism:
1) gnostic spiritualism
2) libertinism
3) situation ethics

the first one.. GNOSTIC SPIRITUALISM. it's when people think they have a special knowledge that others don't, they claim they have a unique connection with God, thus they have certain revelations that no one else can receive. their preachings usually go against mainstream christianity but they still believe in it because to them.. it was the 'Holy Spirit who told spoke it'. if you ever hear someone say that... please check that spirit.. and don't be afraid to stand up against it!! make sure it goes together with God's Word.. if not reject that preaching!

next is LIBERTINISM.. note, it's not come from the word 'liberty' but instead it's 'libertine'!
[libertine = freedom, with no restrictions]
people who believe in libertinism view redemption as a license to sin!! and this results in licentiousness.

Romans 5:20-21 says "moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. but where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through rightousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

these kind of antinomians focus on grace.. but grace and truth must be in balance!! understand that Jesus died on the cross to save us from the 'bondage of sin' to put us in the 'bondage of righteousness' (which is a light and easy burden) God's grace doesn't mean we can continue sinning.. the bible says we should not envy sinners(Proverbs 23:17) so the bottomline is : sinning is WRONG!!!

and finally.. SITUATION ETHICS.
such antinomians are not totally against the laws.. however, they only believe in one law(all of God's laws reduced to one).. and that is the law of love.
[law of love = doing what seems most loving at a given situation]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a covanent involves - calling
- promise
- grace
- inheritence
- assurance of salvation
- shedding of blood
all these elements are evident in the covanent God made with Abraham and Jesus(during the last supper)

God also made a covanent with Moses(aka the Mosaic covanent).. it's a addition set of laws other than the covanent God made with Abraham and Jesus.. meaning it's only temporary. it's to guide the people to Christ before His 2nd coming.. just like how parents will set rules for their kids because it's for their own good.

John 14:15 says "if you love Me, keep my commandments."

there are many laws stated in the bible.. so we must be able to differentiate them. they can be classified into :
1) the moral law(the 10 commandments)
- concerns about our personal righteousness, how we ought to live.
2) the civil law
- how a nation/community ought to govern themselves.
3) the ceremonial law
- how people ought to worship God. (mostly in the old testament.. tells people how them should prepare sacrifices etc.)

the purpose of the law is to act as a mirror, a restraint and a revealer.
it is a mirror because it shows us the face of God and how we are like.. it exposes our sinful nature.
it is a restraint because it helps to keep things in order. people fear punishment, thus matters will be under control and confusion will not prevail.
it is a revealer because it shows us the standard of righteousness to live by. each individual's conscience can be subjective.. so we have the bible to tell us what is right or wrong.



the message seems pretty heavy.. but it's a really good word. take time to slowly digest it. can't wait for the 2nd session next wk!! thank God for pastor kong.. he's such a wonderful senior pastor! :)