The Cost of Discipleship

Deitrich Bonhoeffer

Most preachers today are preaching cheap grace.  But this is not the true gospel.  True grace is costly.

Years ago, when my friend, Mike, was discipling me, we read a book together, called The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  It challenged and enriched my understanding of grace and what it means to be a disciple of Christ.  Let's look at some quotes from Bonhoeffer.


 “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship 

“Grace at a low cost, is in the last resort simply a new law, which brings neither help nor freedom.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship 

"Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks' wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church's inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if it were not cheap?...

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is available at Amazon.


Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” 
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship 

“But the disciple had the advantage over the Pharisee in that his doing of the law is in fact perfect. How is such a thing possible? Because between the disciples and the law stands one who has perfectly fulfilled it, on with whom they live in communion...Jesus not only possesses this righteousness, but is himself the personal embodiment of it. He is the righteousness of the disciples...This is where the righteousness of the disciple exceeds that of the Pharisees; it is grounded solely upon the call to fellowship with him who alone fulfills the law.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship    

Willingly He Died
I think the way a man dies says a lot about his character.   According to the Wikipedia article about him, "Bonhoeffer was condemned to death on April 8, 1945...without witnesses, records of proceedings or a defence...He was executed there by hanging at dawn on April 9, 1945...the execution was particularly brutal. Bonhoeffer was stripped of his clothing and led naked into the execution yard, where he was hanged with thin wire for death by strangulation."

The article goes on to state that. "The camp doctor who witnessed the execution wrote: 'I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer ... kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.'”

In Bonhoeffer's death, we see a lovable man who was entirely submissive to the will of God, as the doctor who witnessed it said.  He was able to die this way, because he had died to self long beforehand.  He lived what he believed, and he possessed the costly grace of Christ.  Within him lived the Lamb of God, Who said, "I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. For the Lord GOD helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed." (Isa 50:6-7).

When Jesus was crucified, it was not as though He was dragged away against His will.  He could have easily prevented His own arrest.  But He came to die for our sins, and He did not shrink back.  He did not resist the brutality directed against Him.  No, He offered Himself willingly.  And He expects us to do the same, as Bonhoeffer did in his life and in his death.

I want to make an appeal to you, my friend.  If you are a preacher, please seek the Lord for a true understanding of this costly grace, before you preach another message.  Then speak as a voice for God about it.  Please do not simply be an echo of all the other voices in the world, preaching cheap grace.

To those who are not preachers, if you are a Christian, and you never realized the grace of God was so costly, I ask you to get with the Lord.  Cry out in repentance for all known sin in your life.  Ask the Lord for this costly grace that will cost you everything.  Come and die, so that you may follow Jesus.  This is true grace.  This is the true gospel.


Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

Author's note: This post is a follow up on the following articles I've written recently:

The Law of Love in the New Testament
The Law Established Through Faith
Is Obedience Optional?
The Law Fulfilled in Us
Keeping Sundays Holy
Resting from Work
Is Tithing Required for Christians?
Salvation with Fear and Trembling
Is Practical Righteousness a Lost Truth?
The New Covenant
Obedience by the Spirit
The Highest Form of Slavery
Called to be Blameless 

I invite you to read my daughter's poem, called "The Cost." You can also find my complete collection of blogs at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

The Law Established Through Faith

John Wesley

In my previous post on the Four Tallest Homes in Heaven, I mentioned that a Korean pastor who died and was raised back to life in 1987 saw the four tallest homes in heaven.  Two of them belong to D.L. Moody and John Wesley.

Today I'd like to quote John Wesley's Second Sermon on the Law Established Through Faith.  Please be sure to see my summary at the end, following Wesley's sermon:

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid! Yea, we establish the law.” - Romans 3.31

1. It has been shown in the preceding discourse, which are the most usual ways of making void the law through faith; namely, First, the not preaching it at all; which effectually makes it all void a stroke; and this under colour of preaching Christ and magnifying the gospel though it be, in truth, destroying both the one and the other: Secondly, the teaching (whether directly or directly,) that faith supersedes the necessity of holiness; that this less necessary now, or a less degree of it necessary, than before Christ came; that it is less necessary to us, because we believe, than otherwise it would have been; or, that Christian liberty is a liberty from any kind or degree of holiness: (So perverting those great truths, that we are now under the covenant of grace, and not of works; that a man is justified by faith, without the works of the law; and that “to him that worketh not, but believeth, his faith is counted for righteousness:”) Or, Thirdly, the doing this practically; the making void the law in practice, though not in principle; the living or acting as if faith was designed to excuse us from holiness; the allowing ourselves in sin, “because we are not under the law, but under grace.” It remains to inquire how we may follow a better pattern, how we may be able to say, with the Apostle, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: Yea, we establish the law.”

2. We do not, indeed, establish the old ceremonial law; we know that is abolished for ever. Much less do we establish the whole Mosaic dispensation; this we know our Lord has nailed to his cross. Nor yet do we so establish the moral law, (which, it is to be feared too many do,) as if the fulfilling it, the keeping all the commandments, were the condition of our justification: If it were so, surely “in His sight should no man living be justified.” But all this being allowed, we still, in the Apostle’s sense, “establish the law,” the moral law.

I. 1. We establish the law, First, by our doctrine; by endeavouring to preach it in its whole extent, to explain and enforce every part of it, in the same manner as our great Teacher did while upon earth. We establish it by following St. Peter’s advice: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;” as the holy men of old, moved by the Holy Ghost, spoke and wrote for our instruction; and as the Apostles of our blessed Lord, by the direction of the same Spirit. We establish it whenever we speak in his name, by keeping back nothing from them that hear; by declaring to them, without any limitation or reserve, the whole counsel of God. And in order the more effectually to establish it, we use herein great plainness of speech. “We are not as many that corrupt the word of God;” -kapEleuontes_, (as artful men their bad wines;) we do not cauponize, mix, adulterate, or soften it, to make it suit the taste of the hearers: — “But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ;” as having no other aim, than “by manifestation of the truth to commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

2. We then, by our doctrine, establish the law, when we thus openly declare it to all men; and that in the fullness wherein it is delivered by our blessed Lord and his Apostles; when we publish it in the height, and depth, and length, and breadth thereof. We then establish the law, when we declare every part of it, every commandment contained therein, not only in its full, literal sense, but likewise in its spiritual meaning; not only with regard to the outward actions, which it either forbids or enjoins, but also with respect to the inward principle, to the thoughts, desires, and intents of the heart.

3. And indeed this we do the more diligently, not only because it is of the deepest importance; — inasmuch as all the fruit, every word and work, must be only evil continually, if the tree be evil, if the dispositions and tempers of the heart be not right before God; — but likewise because as important as these things are, they are little considered or understood, — so little, that we may truly say of the law, too, when taken in its full spiritual meaning, it is “a mystery which was hid from ages and generations since the world began.” It was utterly hid from the heathen world. They, with all their boasted wisdom, neither found out God, nor the law of God; not in the letter, much less in the spirit of it. “Their foolish hearts were” more and more “darkened;” while “professing themselves wise, they became fools.” And it was almost equally hid, as to its spiritual meaning, from the bulk of the Jewish nation. Even these, who were so ready to declare concerning others, “this people that know not the law are cursed,” pronounced their own sentence therein, as being under the same curse, the same dreadful ignorance. Witness our Lord’s continual reproof of the wisest among them for their gross misinterpretations of it. Witness the supposition almost universally received among them, that they needed only to make clean the outside of the cup; that the paying tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, — outward exactness, — would atone for inward unholiness, for the total neglect both of justice and mercy, of faith and the love of God. Yea, so absolutely was the spiritual meaning of the law hidden from the wisest of them, that one of their most eminent Rabbis comments thus on those words of the Psalmist, “If I incline unto iniquity with my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” “That is,” saith he, “if it be only in my heart, if I do not commit outward wickedness, the Lord will not regard it; he will not punish me unless I proceed to the outward act!”

4. But alas! the law of God, as to its inward, spiritual meaning, is not hid from the Jews or heathens only, but even from what is called the Christian world; at least, from a vast majority of them. The spiritual sense of the commandments of God is still a mystery to these also. Nor is this observable only in those lands which are overspread with Romish darkness and ignorance. But this is too sure, that the far greater part, even of those who are called Reformed Christians are utter strangers at this day to the law of Christ, in the purity and spirituality of it.

5. Hence it is that to this day, “‘the Scribes and Pharisees,” the men who have the form but not the power of religion, and who are generally wise in their own eyes, and righteous in their own conceits, — “hearing these things, are offended;” are deeply offended, when we speak of the religion of the heart; and particularly when we show, that without this, were we to “give all our goods to feed the poor,” it would profit us nothing. But offended they must be; for we cannot but speak the truth as it is in Jesus. It is our part, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, to deliver our own soul. All that is written in the book of God we are to declare, not as pleasing men, but the Lord. We are to declare, not only all the promises, but all the threatenings, too, which we find therein. At the same time that we proclaim all the blessings and privileges which God hath prepared for his children, we are likewise to “teach all the things whatsoever he hath commanded.” And we know that all these have their use; either for the awakening those that sleep, the instructing the ignorant, the comforting the feeble-minded, or the building up and perfecting of the saints. We know that “all Scripture, given by inspiration of God is profitable,” either “for doctrine,” or “for reproof,” either “for correction or for instruction in righteousness;” and “that the man of God,” in the process of the work of God in his soul, has need of every part thereof, that he may at length “be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

6. It is our part thus to preach Christ, by preaching all things whatsoever he hath revealed. We may indeed, without blame, yea, and with a peculiar blessing from God, declare the love of our Lord Jesus Christ; we may speak, in a more especial manner, of “the Lord our righteousness.” We may expatiate upon the grace of God in Christ, “reconciling the world unto himself;” we may, at proper opportunities, dwell upon his praise, as “bearing the iniquities of us all, as wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities, that by his stripes we might be healed:” — But still we should not preach Christ, according to his word, if we were wholly to confine ourselves to this: We are not ourselves clear before God, unless we proclaim him in all his offices. To preach Christ, as a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, is to preach him, not only as our great High Priest, “taken from among men, and ordained for men, in things pertaining to God;” as such, “reconciling us to God by his blood,” and “ever living to make intercession for us;” — but likewise as the Prophet of the Lord, “who of God is made unto us wisdom,” who, by his word and his Spirit, is with us always, “guiding us into all truth;” — yea, and as remaining a King for ever; as giving laws to all whom he has bought with his blood; as restoring those to the image of God, whom he had first re-instated in his favour; as reigning in all believing hearts until he has “subdued all things to himself,” — until he hath utterly cast out all sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness.

II. 1. We establish the law, Secondly, when we so preach faith in Christ as not to supersede, but produce holiness; to produce all manner of holiness, negative and positive, of the heart and of the life.

In order to this, we continually declare, (what should be frequently and deeply considered by all “who would not make void the law through faith,”) that faith itself, even Christian faith, the faith of God’s elect, the faith of the operation of God, still is only the handmaid of love. As glorious and honourable as it is, it is not the end of the commandment. God hath given this honour to love alone: Love is the end of all the commandments of God. Love is the end, the sole end, of every dispensation of God, from the beginning of the world to the consummation of all things. And it will endure when heaven and earth flee away; for “love” alone “never faileth.” Faith will totally fail; it will be swallowed up in sight, in the everlasting vision of God. But even then love, —

Its nature and its office still the same,

Lasting its lamp and unconsumed its flame, —

In deathless triumph shall for ever live,

And endless good diffuse, and endless praise receive.

2. Very excellent things are spoken of faith, and whosoever is a partaker thereof may well say with the Apostle, “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.” Yet still it loses all its excellence when brought into a comparison with love. What St. Paul observes concerning the superior glory of the gospel above that of the law may with great propriety be spoken of the superior glory of love above that of faith: “Even that which was made glorious hath no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away is glorious, much more doth that which remaineth exceed in glory” Yea, all the glory of faith, before it is done away, arises hence, that it ministers to love: It is the great temporary means which God has ordained to promote that eternal end.

3. Let those who magnify faith beyond all proportion, so as to swallow up all things else, and who so totally misapprehend the nature of it as to imagine it stands in the place of love, consider farther, that as love will exist after faith, so it did exist long before it. The angels who, from the moment of their creation, beheld the face of their Father that is in heaven, had no occasion for faith, in its general notion, as it is the evidence of things not seen. Neither had they need of faith in its more particular acceptation, faith in the blood of Jesus: for he took not upon him the nature of angels, but only the seed of Abraham. There was therefore no place before the foundation of the world for faith either in the general or particular sense. But there was for love. Love existed from eternity, in God, the great ocean of love. Love had a place in all the children of God, from the moment of their creation. They received at once from their gracious Creator to exist, and to love.

4. Nor is it certain (as ingeniously and plausibly as many have descanted upon this) that faith, even in the general sense of the word, had any place in paradise. It is highly probable, from that short and uncircumstantial account which we have in Holy Writ, that Adam, before he rebelled against God, walked with him by sight and not by faith.

For then his reason’s eye was strong and clear,

And (as an eagle can behold the sun)

Might have beheld his Maker’s face as near,

As the’ intellectual angels could have done.

He was then able to talk with him face to face, whose face we cannot now see and live; and consequently had no need of that faith whose office it is to supply the want of sight.

5. On the other hand, it is absolutely certain, faith, in its particular sense, had then no place. For in that sense it necessarily presupposes sin, and the wrath of God declared against the sinner; without which there is no need of an atonement for sin in order to the sinner’s reconciliation with God. Consequently, as there was no need of an atonement before the fall, so there was no place for faith in that atonement; man being then pure from every stain of sin; holy as God is holy. But love even then filled his heart; it reigned in him without rival; and it was only when love was lost by sin, that faith was added, not for its own sake, nor with any design that it should exist any longer than until it had answered the end for which it was ordained, — namely, to restore man to the love from which he was fallen. At the fall, therefore, was added this evidence of things unseen, which before was utterly needless; this confidence in redeeming love, which could not possibly have any place till the promise was made, that “the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head.”

6. Faith, then, was originally designed of God to re-establish the law of love. Therefore, in speaking thus, we are not undervaluing it, or robbing it of its due praise; but on the contrary showing its real worth, exalting it in its just proportion, and giving it that very place which the wisdom of God assigned it from the beginning. It is the grand means of restoring that holy love wherein man was originally created. It follows, that although faith is of no value in itself, (as neither is any other means whatsoever,) yet as it leads to that end, the establishing anew the law of love in our hearts; and as, in the present state of things, it is the only means under heaven for effecting it; it is on that account an unspeakable blessing to man, and of unspeakable value before God.

III. 1. And this naturally brings us to observe, Thirdly, the most important way of establishing the law; namely, the establishing it in our own hearts and lives. Indeed, without this, what would all the rest avail? We might establish it by our doctrine; we might preach it in its whole extent; might explain and enforce every part of it. We might open it in its most spiritual meaning, and declare the mysteries of the kingdom; we might preach Christ in all his offices, and faith in Christ as opening all the treasures of his love; and yet, all this time, if the law we preached were not established in our hearts, we should be of no more account before God than “sounding brass, or tinkling cymbals:” All our preaching would be so far from profiting ourselves, that it would only increase our damnation.

2. This is, therefore, the main point to be considered, How may we establish the law in our own hearts so that it may have its full influence on our lives? And this can only be done by faith.

Faith alone it is which effectually answers this end, as we learn from daily experience. For so long as we walk by faith, not by sight, we go swiftly on in the way of holiness. While we steadily look, not at the things which are seen, but at those which are not seen, we are more and more crucified to the world and the world crucified to us. Let but the eye of the soul be constantly fixed, not on the things which are temporal, but on those which are eternal, and our affections are more and more loosened from earth, and fixed on things above. So that faith, in general, is the most direct and effectual means of promoting all righteousness and true holiness; of establishing the holy and spiritual law in the hearts of them that believe.

3. And by faith, taken in its more particular meaning, for a confidence in a pardoning God, we establish his law in our own hearts in a still more effectual manner. For there is no motive which so powerfully inclines us to love God, as the sense of the love of God in Christ. Nothing enables us like a piercing conviction of this to give our hearts to him who was given for us. And from this principle of grateful love to God arises love to our brother also. Neither can we avoid loving our neighbour, if we truly believe the love wherewith God hath loved us. Now this love to man, grounded on faith and love to God, “worketh no ill to” our “neighbour.” Consequently, it is, as the Apostle observes,“the fulfilling of the” whole negative “law.” “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness; Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Neither is love content with barely working no evil to our neighbour. It continually incites us to do good, as we have time and opportunity; to do good, in every possible kind, and in every possible degree, to all men. It is therefore, the fulfilling of the positive, likewise, as well as of the negative, law of God.

4. Nor does faith fulfil either the negative or positive law, as to the external part only; but it works inwardly by love, to the purifying of the heart, the cleansing it from all vile affections. Everyone that hath this faith in himself, “purifieth himself, even as he is pure;” — purifieth himself from every earthly, sensual desire, from all vile and inordinate affections; yea, from the whole of that carnal mind which is enmity against God. At the same time, if it have its perfect work, it fills him with all goodness, righteousness, and truth. It brings all heaven into his soul; and causes him to walk in the light, even as God is in the light.

5. Let us thus endeavour to establish the law in ourselves; not sinning “because we are under grace,” but rather using all the power we receive thereby, “to fulfil all righteousness.” Calling to mind what light we received from God while his Spirit was convincing us of sin, let us beware we do not put out that light; what we had then attained let us hold fast. Let nothing induce us to build again what we have destroyed; to resume anything, small or great, which we then clearly saw was not for the glory of God, or the profit of our own soul; or to neglect anything, small or great, which we could not then neglect, without a check from our own conscience. To increase and perfect the light which we had before, let us now add the light of faith. Confirm we the former gift of God by a deeper sense of whatever he had then shown us, by a greater tenderness of conscience, and a more exquisite sensibility of sin. Walking now with joy, and not with fear, in a clear, steady sight of things eternal, we shall look on pleasure, wealth, praise-all the things of earth, as on bubbles upon the water; counting nothing important, nothing desirable, nothing worth a deliberate thought, but only what is “within the veil,” where Jesus “sitteth at the right hand of God.”

6. Can you say, “Thou art merciful to my unrighteousness; my sins thou rememberest no more?” Then for the time to come see that you fly from sin, as from the face of a serpent! For how exceeding sinful does it appear to you now! How heinous above all expression! On the other hand, in how amiable a light do you now see the holy and perfect will of God! Now, therefore, labour that it may be fulfilled, both in you, by you, and upon you! Now watch and pray that you may sin no more, that you may see and shun the least transgression of his law! You see the motes which you could not see before, when the sun shines into a dark place. In like manner you see the sins which you could not see before, now the Sun of Righteousness shines in your heart. Now, then, do all diligence to walk, in every respect, according to the light you have received! Now be zealous to receive more light daily, more of the knowledge and love of God, more of the Spirit of Christ, more of his life, and of the power of his resurrection! Now use all the knowledge, and love, and life, and power you have already attained: So shall you continually go on from faith to faith; so shall you daily increase in holy love, till faith is swallowed up in sight, and the law of love established to all eternity!

My Commentary on Wesley's Sermon
First of all, Christians, living under the New Covenant, are not under the Old Covenant law, but able to fulfill its intent through faith in Jesus Christ. We are not endeavoring to keep up the law of Moses in conjunction with the gospel of Christ. Now that I've made that clear, I'd like to point out what Wesley taught in this simple summary. 

Wesley made the following overarching points that should be seen as an umbrella:
1 We are to declare, not only all the promises, but all the threatenings that we find in the Bible. At the same time that we proclaim all the blessings and privileges which God hath prepared for his children, we are likewise to “teach all the things whatsoever he hath commanded.” We know that “all Scripture, given by inspiration of God is profitable,” either “for doctrine,” or “for reproof,” either “for correction or for instruction in righteousness.”
2. The inward, spiritual meaning of God's Law is hidden from the vast majority of what is called the Christian world. The spiritual sense of the commandments of God is still a mystery to these people.  They are strangers to the law of Christ, in the purity and spirituality of it.

We make void the Law through faith in the following ways:
1. By not preaching it at all, and doing so under the cover of preaching Christ and magnifying the gospel
2. By teaching that faith supersedes the necessity of holiness; teaching that this is less necessary now than before Christ came; or, that Christian liberty is a liberty from any kind or degree of holiness:
3. By living or acting as if faith was designed to excuse us from holiness; the allowing ourselves in sin, “because we are not under the law, but under grace.”

 Wesley also said what we do not establish:
1. The ceremonial law
2. The whole Mosaic dispensation
3. The moral law, as if keeping all the commandments were the condition of our justification. You cannot rely on your obedience to the Law to save you, because it is only by grace that you are saved through faith (Eph 2:8-10).  But we still, in the Apostle’s sense, “establish the law,” the moral law.  The moral law is generally considered timeless, eternal, and universal, based on God's own character, and therefore in force today.  The moral law is God's wisdom, His loving, Fatherly instruction. 

We establish the Law on the earth in the following manner:
1. When we declare every part of it, every commandment contained therein, not only in its full, literal sense, but likewise in its spiritual meaning; not only with regard to the outward actions, which it either forbids or enjoins, but also with respect to the inward principle, to the thoughts, desires, and intents of the heart.

2. By our doctrine; by endeavoring to preach it in its whole extent, to explain and enforce every part of it.
3. When we so preach faith in Christ as not to supersede, but produce holiness of the heart and of the life.

4. By preaching Christ, and all things he has revealed in all his offices -- as our great High Priest, as the Prophet of the Lord, and as remaining a King for ever; as giving laws to all whom he has bought with his blood; as reigning in all believing hearts until he has “subdued all things to himself.”
5. By continually declaring that faith is only the handmaid of love. Love is the end of all the commandments of God, and if you keep His commandments, you will abide in His love (Jn 15:10).

We establish the Law in our own hearts and lives only by faith, and we do so in the following manner:
1. By faith with confidence in a pardoning God, we establish his law in our own hearts in a still more effectual manner. There is no motive which so powerfully inclines us to love God, as the sense of the love of God in Christ.  He who has been forgiven much loves much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.
2. As we walk by faith, not by sight, we go swiftly on in the way of holiness. While we steadily look, not at the things which are seen, but at those which are not seen, we are more and more crucified to the world and the world crucified to us. Always remember that we can do nothing apart from the Lord Jesus (Jn 15:5), and it is only by faith in Him that we bear fruit.
3. When you fly from sin and labor that the Law may be fulfilled, both in you, by you, and upon you. By not sinning “because we are under grace,” but rather using all the power we receive thereby, “to fulfill all righteousness.”
4. When you apply it not to the external part only; but inwardly by love, to the purifying of the heart, the cleansing it from all vile affections.

It's no wonder Wesley has one of the four tallest homes in heaven!  He preached the whole counsel of God, establishing the law, and teaching men to establish it by faith in their hearts.  He taught that the ultimate goal of the Law is love from a pure heart.  This teaching has been lost today.  This is why the church is in such chaos and lacking revival.  Let's repent and return to the ancient paths. Discipleship will cost you everything.

Author's note: This post is related the following articles I've also written:

The Law of Love in the New Testament
Is Obedience Optional?
The Law Fulfilled in Us
Keeping Sundays Holy
Resting from Work
Is Tithing Required for Christians?
Salvation with Fear and Trembling
The New Covenant
Obedience by the Spirit  
The Flesh vs. the Spirit

You can also find my complete collection of blogs at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

The Law Fulfilled in Us

Did you realize that the Law is fulfilled in the life of the obedient disciple of Christ?  That's right.  It's true.

Many people like to quote the passage that says there is no condemnation for the believer.  They like the part that says, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." (Rom 8:1-2)  I like that part, too!


But let's look at the rest of it. Paul wrote to the Romans: "For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Rom 8:3-4).  Paul said that if you walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, then the requirement of the Law is fulfilled in you.

D.L. Moody

In my previous post on the Four Tallest Homes in Heaven, I mentioned that a Korean pastor who died and was raised back to life has seen the four tallest homes in heaven.  Two of them belong to D.L. Moody and John Wesley.

Today I want to quote from Standing in the Gap ministries, which exposes the error of the "once saved always saved," doctrine of "eternal security."  The author considers D.L. Moody to be a heretic.  I would not condemn Moody as a heretic.  But I think the author of Standing in the Gap did a fine job of showing the merits of Moody's preaching, as well as expounding on the important part he left out. He shows how the weakness of Moody's doctrine has led to major error in many of today's preachers that have taken grace to the extreme. I'd like to quote directly from excerpts of the article here, and all Scriptures cited are quoted in their entirety at the end:

You are saved by 'Receiving' the implanted WORD (which is Christ) that is able to save your soul and then PUTTING it into practice..." James 1:21-22. Be DOERS not hearers only, deceiving your own self!"  The 'Receiving' & 'Doing' cannot be separated, for James states, "That a man is Justified by WORKS and NOT by Faith only!" Js2:24 This is seen throughout the bible. We are called to 'Obedience to the faith!' Rom1:5, 16:26 etc. The act of 'Continual' obedience is shown in such passages as Rom2:7, Col1:23, Heb3:14, 2Pet1:4-11 God cannot Obey for us. Salvation is therefore 'retained' by our willingness to 'Continue' with Him.

Rom8:1-3 make perfectly clear that IF you walk in the Spirit & not the flesh, you fulfill the righteous requirements of the law and suffer no condemnation. But IF you walk according to the flesh nature, you fall BACK under the condemnation of the law. Read Gal6:7-10 and contemplate the truth of Reaping what you Sow. Grace doesn't magically remove you from the consequences of fulfilling the lust of the flesh. (Gal5:19-21) You MUST Crucify the flesh with it's passions & desires, Gal5:24, or end up in hell.

“The people must be made to understand that the Ten Commandments are still binding, and that there is a penalty attached to their violation. We do not want a gospel of mere sentiment. The Sermon on the Mount did not blot out the Ten Commandments.” – DL Moody

Although Moody preached free grace, he did not view it as an unconditional license for immorality, as many osas preachers do today. He understood the teachings of Christ to the extent that they compelled men to 'take up' their cross and follow. In his mind there were no half baked Christians who were depending on a past moment of faith to get them through. It was a life of discipline & self denial, energized by the Spirit of God in Love. The danger I see however is in neglecting the reams of scripture that deal with falling away, warning the righteous and avoiding false doctrine. Moody may have believed that a person 'once saved' was KEPT by God against every temptation & snare, but SCRIPTURE says otherwise! "KEEP yourself PURE, from idols, from sin, from immoral behavior, from the error of the wicked!" (1Tim5:22, 1Jh5:18,21, 1Pet2:11, 2pet3:17 to name a few)  Why would Jesus Himself TELL us to MAKE EVERY EFFORT to enter by the Narrow Gate, if He was going to do it for us? Lk13:24. And this teaching follows throughout: Heb4:11, 12:14, 2Pet1:5, 3:14,  "Make every effort to: Enter, Be Holy, Add to your faith, Be found without spot or blemish!"  At least SOME of the responsibility rest with us according to these scriptures, wouldn't you say?

For a fuller explanation of DL Moody's views, read 'Sovereign Grace' at this link: http://www.biblebelievers.net/SalvationDoctrine/kjcsover.htm.   But I can save you the trouble by stating that basically he believed wholly that the Gift of Salvation was given without merit (which is 100% correct) and since it's given without merit, NOTHING done afterward has any merit toward it's ultimate goal. Although, as I pointed out, he DID NOT teach that you could live in open rebellion to God's law, commit adultery, immorality or suicide and still inherit the kingdom of heaven.

The Narrow Path to the Kingdom is one of Constant striving, persuasion, struggle against sin. (Lk13:24, 2Tim3:12, Heb13:4)  YES, it must be done in His Strength, by His Grace through Faith in His Word! But it MUST be done nonetheless. It's the WORK of Faith with POWER, 2Thes1:11, that saves. Those who refuse to remain STEADFAST in the faith to the end WILL NOT enter the kingdom.

Grace is the dynamic by which God transforms the heart and stamps in the image of His Son. Here's an accurate translation: Charis: good will, loving-kindness, favor, of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

Although Eph2:8-9 alone can 'sound' as though NOTHING is required of man. You MUST understand that the 'Gift' of salvation in itself is Free and cannot be earned by anything we do, BUT ENDURING to the end once we enter into this Grace & Receive His Power, is an ABSOLUTE necessity if you want to enter the Kingdom. The Scriptures make this perfectly clear. Had Abraham merely said to God, "Okay, God, I believe, now I'll just wait here for the promise."  He would NEVER have INHERITED the promise & God would have chosen another!  But his OBEDIENCE made his FAITH perfect before God, WORKING out his salvation & final entrance into the kingdom. (Phil2:12-13, 2Pet1:4-11)  You will only enter heaven by Continuing to DO His Word! Js1:22

Grace DID NOT lower the Holy Standard of God, as Moody as his cohorts imply. Christ declared when he introduced His ministry that He came for the express purpose of FULFILLING the Law & the Prophets! Matt5:17  Further He taught that under GRACE if your hand or eye causes you to sin, CUT them off! Matt5:28. Heb10:28-29 declares that it's WORSE to sin against Grace than it was the law of Moses, even though the penalties were severely enforced. Because you are "Insulting the Spirit of Grace!"  And Paul specifically pointed out that by Faith we ESTABLISH the law, not abolish it! Rom3:31 THAT'S why the Righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled IF we Walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh. Rom8:3 AND the 'Law of sin & death' are STILL in effect! (Rom8:1-3)

Grace calls you to OBEDIENT Love of God and His Commandants. When you Walk in Love, you fulfill the law, Mark12:20-31, when you REFUSE to walk in love by the power of His Spirit, you fall BACK under the condemnation of the law & Judgment shall befall IF you do not repent. (Rom8:1-13)  Grace doesn't 'soften' the requirements of God, it provides the Divine Power to MEET those requirements.

[The reason Christians lack spiritual POWER is because they lack OBEDIENCE!] Plain and simple, NOTHING is going to occur in your heart or life & you are guaranteed to end up in hell fire, UNLESS you Steadfastly OBEY God's Word, Purify your heart by faith and endure to the end!  (Rom2:7, Gal5:6, 1Pet1:22, 1Jhn5:4).

These excerpts above have been taken from the article on DL Moody at Standing in the Gap ministry.  To read the full article, key here.

Scriptures cited above:

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (Jam 1:21-22)

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (Jam 2:24)

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, (Rom 1:5)

but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; (Rom 16:26)

to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; (Rom 2:7)

if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. (Col 1:23)

For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, (Heb 3:14)

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. (2Pe 1:4-11)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1-4)

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.  (Gal 6:7-10)

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Gal 5:19-21)

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  (Gal 5:24)

Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.  (1Ti 5:22)

We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

(1Jo 5:18-20)

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

(1Pe 2:11)

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,  (2Pe 3:17)

"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

(Luk 13:24)

Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.  (Heb 4:11)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Heb 12:14, NIV)

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, (2Pe 3:14)

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2Ti 3:12)

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Heb 13:4)

To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, (2Th 1:11)

 

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Phi 2:12-13)

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. (Mat 5:17)

but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Mat 5:28)

Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? (Heb 10:28-29)

Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. (Rom 3:31)

"There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. "The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also. "In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her." Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. "But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, and the God of Jacob'? "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken." One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mar 12:20-31)

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. (Gal 5:6)

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, (1Pe 1:22)

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. (1Jo 5:4)

Scriptures: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.

Author's note: We are not endeavoring to keep up the law of Moses in conjunction with the gospel of Christ. You cannot rely on your obedience to the Law to save you, because it is only by grace that you are saved through faith (Eph 2:8-10).  Always remember that we can do nothing apart from the Lord Jesus (Jn 15:5), and if you keep His commandments, you will abide in His love (Jn 15:10).  This post is a follow up on the following articles I've written recently:

The Law of Love in the New Testament
The Law Established Through Faith
Is Obedience Optional? 
Keeping Sundays Holy
Resting from Work
Is Tithing Required for Christians?
Salvation with Fear and Trembling
The New Covenant
Obedience by the Spirit 
The Ways of Life
The Flesh vs. the Spirit
 
You can also find my complete collection of blogs at Writing for the Master.

Photo credit: Image is from a post by Dr. Michelle T. Johnson, called Obedience is the Antidote, on her Alabaster Woman blog.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Where Should You Give Your Tithe?

“Tithing is the mechanism for funding the Gospel. Those who withhold tithes and offerings from the Lord are disobedient Christians, they won't be ready for His return. By their disobedience, they hinder the gospel from going out, costing souls. That Lord has warned the church, that anyone who loves money more than Him, will not see the Kingdom.” -- Robert Brownell, Little Lessons

 To read my previous post on tithing, key here.

Once you have become convinced from Scripture that the Lord expects Christians to tithe, then you must decide where to give the tithe. I once was asked the question, “Is giving tithes to the Lord necessarily giving to the local Church in the New Testament? Aren’t Christians free to give wherever the Spirit leads?” I have asked the Lord the same question myself.  "Lord, where should the tithe be given?  Can the tithe be given elsewhere besides the local church?"

Based on what I have read in the Word of God, my opinion is that we must support our local church.  What would it be like if nobody supported his or her local church this way?  How would any church operate?  It would be wrong for people to benefit in so many ways from the church (teaching, preaching, visitation, prayer, counsel, worship, fellowship, healing, deliverance, etc) and not share all good things with those in oversight.

The Storehouse is God’s House
A pastor told me about 20 yrs ago that if I choose where to give my tithes, then I become the Lord of the tithe.  It’s true.  The Lord instructed us through the prophet Malachi to bring the whole tithe into the "storehouse" so there may be food in "God's house."  "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. (Mal 3:10).  In saying this, the Lord showed that the storehouse and His house are one and the same.

According to the Law, the people were to bring their tithes to the temple, so we know that was the storehouse, known as God’s house.  There are over two hundred references in the Old Testament to the “house of the Lord,” but one of those will suffice. King David said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’" (Psa 122:1)

Jesus also said of the temple, "My house will be called a house of prayer" (Mt 21:13). In that case, He was obviously referring to the temple in Jerusalem.  But He also told those same people, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (Joh 2:19). In this case, He was not referring to the building.  The apostle John explained, “But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” (Joh 2:21). 

And the apostle Paul explained that the church of God is the Body of Christ, and we are His temple.  “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1Co 3:16).  Just as Jesus referred to His physical body as the temple, His corporate Body on earth is also the temple.  So in the New Testament, we know that the Body of Christ is the house of God.  And this is how we must now apply the words of Jesus that His house would be called a house of prayer.

There are many more New Testament references to the house of God.  The apostle Paul said, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Gal 6:10). The household of faith referred to the people of God, the church.  In Paul’s instructions about the qualifications for elders, he also said, “But if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?” (1Ti 3:5).  Here Paul made a direct correlation between a man’s ability to manage his own household and his ability to take care of God’s household, which is the church of God. 

So the temple in the Old Testament is now the Body of Christ, God’s household, a house of prayer, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it means that in the New Testament, you should give your tithes to the church. 

Some believe they are free to give their tithes directly to other believers, like strangers, widows, orphans, the oppressed, and the poor.  No doubt, those are important needs that are near to the Lord’s heart. However, I tend to think of giving to those needs as “offerings” given above and beyond the tithe, or “alms to the poor,” if given to the poor. 

On the other hand, if we maintain our interpretation of the "storehouse" as the local church, then we would give our tithes to the local church.  This would be in line with common sense, as well as the scripture about sharing with those who teach you. Paul said that, “The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.” (Gal 6:6). He also taught that we must not muzzle the ox, and the worker is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18).  He was clear that this applies to ministers of the gospel who have dedicated their lives to preaching.  Would God be pleased if a disciple gives his tithe to a widow while his pastor and family go hungry and without proper clothes or shelter?  

In the New Testament, the disciples shared all good things with their elders, which were the apostles in Jerusalem.  They brought their gifts and laid them at the apostles feet (Act 4:35; Act 4:37; Act 5:2).  It was the apostles who then determined how those funds should be distributed, and to whom they should give them. Where there were widows in need, the apostles used the funds to ensure the widows received a distribution of food. And the apostles were not getting rich off this money either.  Peter and John told the lame beggar that they possessed neither silver nor gold! 

The collection Paul took for the poor disciples in Jerusalem was similar.  He wanted people to set aside a sum of money in keeping with their income each week, based on what each one had decided in his heart to give. He wrote to the Corinthians, “On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.” (1Co 16:2) Then when Paul came to Corinth, the local church overseers gave the money from the church members to Paul. “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2Co 9:6-7).   In turn, Paul took the gifts and delivered them to the saints in Jerusalem.  This was a ministry to the saints (2 Co 9:1).

Old Testament Roots
If you want to really hear from God on where to give your tithes, then prayerfully read Numbers 16-18.  The instructions are very clear. 

First of all, we need to understand that the Lord chose Moses and Aaron to preside over all the tribes of Israel.  Yet Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who were Levite, grumbled against them. They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" When Moses heard this, he fell on his face; and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, "Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; even the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself (Num 16:3-5).  Note that Moses said the Lord would show who is His, who is holy, and would bring near to Himself the one whom He will choose. 

Moses asked the Levites why it wasn’t enough for them that the Lord had separated them from the rest of the congregation to serve in the tabernacle.  He asked them if they also wanted the priesthood, too (Num 16:8-10). At Moses’ command, they took their censers, put fire in them, and lay incense in them in the presence of the Lord.  “Moses said, ‘By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing. If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. But if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the LORD.’ As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions.” (Num 16:28-32).

In this instance, God showed who was holy and who was not.  “So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, ‘The earth may swallow us up!’ Fire also came forth from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.” (Num 16:33-35).  In addition to Korah and his 250 men, a total of 14,700 people died that day in a plague from God on account of Korah.

Then the Lord went a step further.  He had the leader of each of the twelve tribes present their staff to Moses.  Aaron’s name was written on the staff that represented the tribe of Levi.  The Lord said that the staff that budded, blossomed, and produced almonds would indicate the man He had chosen.  “Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.” (Num 17:8)

This proved that God does have a man whom He chooses.  “So the LORD said to Aaron, ‘You and your sons and your father's household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood. But bring with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may be joined with you and serve you, while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. And they shall thus attend to your obligation and the obligation of all the tent, but they shall not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die.” (Num 18:1-3)

From this passage we learn that the Lord gave the priesthood to Aaron as a gift to serve him while he and his sons were before the tent of testimony, but they did not have the right to come near the furnishing of the sanctuary and the altar.  God gave Aaron and his sons the responsibility to carry out the obligations of the sanctuary and the altar. He said, "So you shall attend to the obligations of the sanctuary and the obligations of the altar, so that there will no longer be wrath on the sons of Israel. Behold, I Myself have taken your fellow Levites from among the sons of Israel; they are a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD, to perform the service for the tent of meeting.” (Num 18:5-6)

Now the next part is key to understanding who gets the tithes.  “Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, ‘Now behold, I Myself have given you charge of My offerings, even all the holy gifts of the sons of Israel I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual allotment. This shall be yours from the most holy gifts reserved from the fire; every offering of theirs, even every grain offering and every sin offering and every guilt offering, which they shall render to Me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.” (Num 18:8-9).  The Lord gave Aaron charge of His offerings that the sons of Israel gave as holy gifts to the Lord.  He gave them to Aaron and his sons as their portions and as a perpetual allotment.  All the gifts that were not put through the fire were for him and his sons.  The Lord continued in the following verses after this to detail all the kinds of gifts that would belong to Aaron and his sons. 

“Then the LORD said to Aaron, ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.’” (Num 18:20-21).  Aaron did not inherit any portion of land among the Israelites, like the rest of them did.  The Lord said that He was Aaron’s portion and inheritance!  And the Lord gave all the tithe in Israel to the sons of Levi for an inheritance in return for their service to God.

"To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting. (Num 18:21)

And again, the Lord said, "For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, 'They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.'" (Num 18:24).  The Israelites offered their tithe as an offering to the Lord by presenting them to the Levites, and the Lord gave the tithe to the Levites. 

In the New Testament, the pastor stands in the role of Aaron and his fellow Levites.  The pastor receives the tithes that the rest of the people offer as an offering to the Lord.  The Lord has given the tithe to the pastor as an inheritance, since he has no other inheritance. The Lord is the pastor’s inheritance. 

Pastors Must Also Tithe
Just as the rest of the people must tithe to the Lord, the pastor also must tithe.  This is what the Lord said to Aaron and his fellow Levites. 

Here is how it worked. The Lord said to Aaron, "Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, 'When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe.’” (Num 18:26).  The Lord told Aaron to tell his fellow Levites to offer to the Lord a tithe of the tithe.  In other words, out of the tithe they received from the people, they were to offer a tithe of that to the Lord, the best part of what they received.  The Lord considered that best part to be the sacred part, or holy part.  It was dedicated or set apart.

He instructed Aaron to tell the Levites, “’So you shall also present an offering to the LORD from your tithes, which you receive from the sons of Israel; and from it you shall give the LORD'S offering to Aaron the priest. Out of all your gifts you shall present every offering due to the LORD, from all the best of them, the sacred part from them.' You shall say to them, 'When you have offered from it the best of it, then the rest shall be reckoned to the Levites as the product of the threshing floor, and as the product of the wine vat.’” (Num 18:28-30)  This meant that the Levites must give the LORD'S offering to Aaron the priest. This was to be the best part of the offerings they received from the Israelites.  After they gave this to Aaron, the rest of the tithes they received were to become theirs to eat and drink.

Putting it All Together
First of all, your tithe must be given to the Lord.  But as we have seen, there is the question of where on earth those funds should be given.

In the Old Testament, God gave Israel's tithes to the Levites as an inheritance in lieu of land.  This concept is in line with pastors today, and other full-time gospel ministers. 

The first apostles chose not to neglect the word of God to serve tables. “So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables…But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’" (Act 6:4).  The twelve apostles were functioning in a dedicated role, serving the congregation through their devotion to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.  It’s no different for pastors and other full-time ministers today, who have no other vocation. They have chosen not to make a living any other way, since they have dedicated themselves to their calling.   In a way, many such pastors have no other means to provide for their families, and they have no other inheritance. 

The same thing that applied to Aaron and the Levites applies to pastors today.  They should receive the tithes that the people offer to the Lord in the sanctuary.  And then they must offer to the Lord a tithe of the tithe.  The rest of what they receive is theirs to live on, after they have given the best part to the Lord. Obviously there are boundaries set by each church on how much the pastor can receive as salary, so I think those will apply in each situation.  Any issues with that need to be worked out with the church board.

The church of God is God’s household, the house of the Lord, also called the temple.  Just as the tithes were brought to the temple in the Old Testament, they should be brought to the church in the New Testament.  Therefore, I believe in supporting the local church with tithes, and then giving offerings elsewhere.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

Author's note: If you enjoyed this article, you may also like "Is Tithing Required for Christians?" I also recommend The New Covenant, and Obedience by the Spirit. You may visit the Main Directory for Seeking the Lord, and also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Is Obedience Optional?

Many Christians today use the “grace card” as an excuse why they don’t need to concern themselves with obedience to God’s commandments.  In other words, they feel that since we are saved by grace through faith, and not by works, our works are not important.  But this could not be farther from the truth.

God places great importance on obedience in the life of the disciple.  This is what Jesus taught.

Condition for Eternal Life
The apostle Paul said that Jesus Christ is the source of salvation to all those who obey Him.  "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation." (Heb 5:8-9). That's not my opinion, it's God's Word.

The apostle John said, “The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” (1Jo 2:17).  If you do the will of God, you’ll live forever.  If not, you will pass away with the world and its lusts.

Jesus also said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death." (Joh 8:51) This is a conditional sentence containing the word “if.”  It is only “if” you keep His word that you will never see death.  Surely we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus.  But once you are saved, the Lord expects you to keep His word. If you want to meet the conditions for eternal life, you must keep Jesus’ Word!

As John the Baptist said, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (Joh 3:36).  The wrath of God abides on the one who does not obey the Son, and he will not see life.

Loving Means Obeying
Jesus also said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (Joh 14:15).  Many people say they love Jesus or they believe in Jesus. But they don’t do what He said.  They don’t keep His commandments.  They make excuses why they don’t need to give tithes and offerings or keep Sundays holy. They justify why it is ok for them to practice sexual immorality, occultism, or idolatry.  But their actions show the true condition of their heart.  A person can appear to be a true follower of Christ on the outside but God knows the heart. There are multitudes of churches on the Earth and many of the churches are filled with many people. However, most of them are not true Christians.

If you want to abide in Jesus' love, here is what you must do: you must keep His commandments!  He said, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. (Joh 15:10).  Jesus set the example for us and kept His Father’s commandments, so we need to imitate Him.

He was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, not just a natural death.  Paul said, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus… Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phi 2:5,8).  The Father expects that kind of obedience from disciples of Christ.

Hear and Act on Jesus’ words

Not everyone who believes in Jesus is going to heaven.  Not everyone who calls Him, “Lord” is going to be saved. 

Listen to what Jesus taught.  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall." (Mat 7:21-27)

Your salvation is based on grace through faith in Christ.  But it ultimately depends on whether or not you hear and act on Jesus’ words.  Those who hear His words and act on them will be saved.  When the storms come, they will not be shaken.  But those who hear His words and do not act on them will not be saved.  Jesus will call them “you who practice lawlessness,” and command them to depart from Him. They will be destroyed like the house built on sand. 

Don’t build your house on the sand!  All your prophesying, working miracles, and casting out demons in Jesus’ name will not save you.  Those are good to do, but if you are not acting on the words of Jesus, keeping His commandments, you will be blown away.

Jesus’ True Family Does God’s Will
If you are truly Jesus’ brother, sister, or mother, you will do the will of the Heavenly Father.  Jesus said, "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (Mat 12:50).  It doesn’t matter if you have prayed to ask Jesus into your heart and you go to church every week.  God is watching to see whether or not you will do His will. If you fail on some point, repent sincerely and ask forgiveness.  God is gracious and will forgive you.  But don’t keep walking in the same sin or you will eventually wind up in hell. 

Feeding on Obedience
When Jesus had once spoken to the woman at the well, His disciples asked if he wanted something to eat. Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” (Joh 4:34).  For Jesus it was nourishing to Him to do the will of God, and it is for every disciple of His who chooses to do God’s will. Man lives on every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.

Sheep and Goats Judged on What They Did or Did Not Do
Jesus is coming back very soon.  At the final judgment, He will sit on His glorious throne.  Here is how He described it:

"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Mat 25:31-46)

Jesus taught that what we do to His brethren, we do to Him.  Remember that He taught us His brethren are those who do God’s will.  So whatever you do to them you do to Jesus.  Whenever you feed His brethren who are hungry, visit those who are sick or imprisoned, clothe those who are naked, or invite those who are strangers into your home, you are doing it to Jesus Himself.  Conversely, whenever you neglect to do so, you neglect to do it unto Jesus. 

The sheep and goats will be judged on what they did and didn’t do.  Both the sheep and the goats will call Him “Lord.”  But only those who do God’s will, who act on Jesus’ words will inherit eternal life.  Those who do not will go away to eternal punishment.

The Word Will Condemn Those Who Don’t Keep It
This is the part people don’t like to talk about.  It doesn’t fit with their idea of grace and freedom.  But these are the words of Jesus our Savior.  He said, "If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me." (Joh 12:47-50)

Jesus clearly taught that the word He has spoken will condemn anyone who hears His sayings and does not keep them.

Putting it All Together
Jesus Christ is the source of salvation for all who obey Him. If He is truly your Lord, then that means He is your Master.  It means you do whatever He says.  If you love Him, you will keep His commandments.  If you don't keep His commandments, then you don't really love Him.

In that final judgment, you won’t be able to pull out the “grace card” from your hand and claim that you are saved by grace alone.  You need to take care now that you are doing the will of God, keeping His commandments, hearing and acting on Jesus’ words, and feeding on obedience to the Lord. 

When you see one of Jesus’ brethren hungry, feed them.  Clothe those who are naked.  Invite those who are strangers into your home. Visit the ones who are sick or in prison. Listen to Jesus’ words.  Study the Bible.  Know what God has commanded, and do what He says.  Then you will prove that your faith is genuine.  Then you will be one of Jesus’ brothers or sisters.  Then you will prove yourself to be one of His true sheep, and you will inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Christians, living under the New Covenant, are not under the Old Covenant law, but able to fulfill its intent through faith in Jesus Christ. Those who chose to ignore God's commandments and neglect the words of Jesus will die in their sin.  They will perish and go away to eternal punishment.


Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

Author's note: This article is related to the following messages:
The Obedience of Faith
Doing What is Right
Righteous Deeds and White Robes 
The Law of Love in the New Testament
The Law Established Through Faith
The Law Fulfilled in Us
Faith Works!
Keeping Sundays Holy
Resting from Work
Is Tithing Required for Christians?
Salvation with Fear and Trembling
If -- A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

I invite you to read my daughter's poem, Overflowing Blessings. You can also find my complete collection of blogs at Writing for the Master.

Photo credit: Image is from a post by Dr. Michelle T. Johnson, called Obedience is the Antidote, on her Alabaster Woman blog. "Wise and Foolish Builders" painting © 2012 Danny Hahlbohm, all rights reserved by the artist.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.