- The ultra important focus is on correct doctrine and theology.
- The ultra important focus is on the functioning of the Spirit supernaturally.
- The ultra important focus is on liturgy and historical religious practice.
All of the above focus areas ignore the radical nature of the first century gospel spread by the apostles in general, but subsequently, in large part by the Apostle Paul. After all it is Paul and Silas that were accused of turning the world upside down in Acts 17:6, and when those seeking to incarcerate them could not find them in Thessalonica, they arrested Jason and others. So what is the gospel that turned the world upside down? It was the good news that explained to human beings that they had been reconciled to God by the faith of Christ. It was the good news that they were eternal beings, and that they could look forward to resurrection and eternal life. It was the good news that they were totally justified by God based upon the faithful obedience of Christ Jesus who was willing to die to prove that the resurrection was real. It was the good news that they could in fact apprehend this justification by believing it to be true. This is truly a radical message. It expressed the fact that there was absolutely nothing that one could do to gain favor with God. Justification was not based on any sort of obedience except the obedience of faith. The obedient act was to apprehend, trust in, rely on, and cling too the fact that God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to himself and not counting sin against anyone. Further, that he made Jesus who did not know sin/unbelief to be made sin/unbelief for all which in turn made them the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.
When one understands the above to be absolutely true, one would then truly love God with all their heart, all their soul, and all their strength (Deu 6:5.) In fact, if one truly trusts in, relies on, and clings too the gospel message, it would be impossible not to love God. Subsequently, it is this real love for God that is the transformative impetus. Likewise it was the real love for God, birthed from the real gospel message, the message that is truly good news indeed, that would generate heart felt obedience to the law of God. In order for this transformation to really take place, one has to completely rest in this fact no matter what, and must never use their obedience to determine their standing before God. Those who would cry antinomian at this just simply do not understand the gospel and the operation of the gospel in the transformation process.
Justification is not a one time event that ushers one into the possibility of salvation. Justification is ongoing, and it is ongoing based on continuing faith. That is why the author of Hebrews speaks about the importance of perseverance of faith. It is not a matter that would have one no longer justified. It is a matter of practicality. If one feels they can lose the justification as the result of behavior, then the supernatural transformation that comes from believing the gospel ceases. Paul explains in Romans the source of this supernatural transformation. Rom 5:1 CSB "Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The foundation of the transformation is peace with God. It is the good news.
Peace with God sets the person free from fear, allows them to rest in grace which in turn produces the transforming love. So how should the Law be used? As Paul states it should be a tutor that drives one to Christ for justification and peace with God, but then, if the true gospel is taught and believed, then the Law could be used to promote loving accountability. This would happen only within a community where the real true gospel is believed and taught. In this environment the Law would never be used to judge. It would be used only to inform one of the true heart of God.
In the three iterations listed above, they all promote using the law as a standard of righteousness. Further, the law is used to try to force people to transform themselves by a read and do process. That never works. Paul unequivocally states two things: 1) no one will be justified by the works of the law and 2) Christ is the termination of the law for righteousness. So why is the law such an important focus of all three of the iterations mentioned above? The only possible answer is that these versions do not understand the catalyst of the transformation process, and have altered the original first century gospel that turned the world upside down.
