Introduction. Just before the Babylonian captivity, when the priests had taken the authority of God’s words lightly, God considered that violence had been done to His law (Zephaniah 3:4). God upholds His words. In fact, He doesn’t uphold the earth with as much respect as He does His words. The earth will pass away, but His words never will (Luke 16:17).
Many believe that since we have a testament of grace, God doesn’t care about law. However, that’s not the case. We’re compelled to follow God’s commandments which comprise the law of Christ (Galatians 5:13-14; 6:2; James 2:8; 1 John 2:8-11; 4:21; Revelation 22:14). People may get frustrated because we’re so meticulous with the interpretation of Scripture, but the New Testament warns me about six ways in which violence can be done to God’s law — and this is why we need to know these.
Violence Is Done When There Is a Failure to Rightly Divide the Law
In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul told Timothy to “rightly divide” the truth. The idea is to cut straight or handle accurately; i.e. to teach the truth correctly and directly.
Some preachers get mixed up on the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
They try to apply the thief on cross as a valid example of salvation (Hebrews 9:15-17).
They try to bring in Old Testament rituals, such as incense and instrumental music, and apply to New Testament worship.
Some preachers pit personal addresses against general principle.
In John 16:13, Jesus presented the general principle that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostle’s knowledge of truth.
However, preachers use that principle and make it a personal address by telling people to “wait for the Spirit to guide them.”
Some preachers blatantly take verses out of context.
Some make the word “works” in Romans 4:1-5 apply to works of faith, when the context is about meritorious deeds of the law (Romans 3:20, 28).
The contrast is between “works” (no violations of law) and “faith” (trusting obedience). In fact, Romans 4:3 quotes Genesis 15:5 which was spoken after Abraham “obeyed by faith” (Hebrews 11:8-9).
Violence Is Done When There Is a Failure to Declare All of the Law
Paul was determined to declare the whole purpose or counsel of God (Acts 20:20, 27). This meant all of the contents of God’s divine plan.
Can we be declaring the whole purpose of God if we emphasize “faith only” in salvation, but fail to speak of repentance, confession, and baptism?
As someone in a denomination if they would ever tell someone who asked them what to do to be saved what Acts 2:38 or Mark 16:16 says.
I guarantee you that they will say that it might get the wrong idea if they did.
How about when preachers state that giving is required every first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:2), but neglect the same frequency for the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7)?
Violence Is Done When the Law Is Twisted
In 2 Peter 3:16, Peter used the term “twist” metaphorically to denote those who distort or torture language in a false sense.
Peter’s statement in 1 Peter 3:21 gets twisted by those who don’t want baptism essential to salvation.
Some have said baptism doesn’t save, for Peter explicitly says, “not the removal of the filth of the flesh”, meaning that the passing of water over the body doesn’t cleanse anyone.
But Peter teaches that the flood is a figure of the antitype. Baptism is the antitype prefigured by the flood that washed away a sinful world, with the exception of Noah and his family who had faith and then acted when God told him to.
Jesus' statement in Matthew 19:9 gets twisted by those who want to justify unlawful marriages.
Some preachers want to allow divorce and remarriage for any reason including the only one which Jesus gave.
Other preachers want to allow divorce and remarriage under special circumstances, such as “mental divorce.”
Violence Is Done When There Is Adding to or Subtracting From the Law
Revelation 22:18-19 pronounces a curse to all those who add or subtract from the words of the Bible. The word “add” means “to put or lay upon”, while the word “take away” means “to take away, remove, or carry off”.
Nadab and Abihu added strange fire in Leviticus 10:1-2. A small matter in their eyes was a big matter to God, for it made their worship vain (Matthew 15:9). What about adding to the work of the church in the form of social or recreational programs? What about adding to the organization of the church in the form of extra offices and organizational structures?
After Jehoiakim found the law, he cut away what he didn’t want (Jeremiah 36:23). What about taking away things for which we have proper authority? In the past several years, brethren have sought to do away with Bible classes, meeting houses, multiple containers in the Lord’s Supper and women teachers.
Violence Is Done When There Is Altering or Perverting of the Law
In Galatians 1:6-8, Paul warns about those who would distort or pervert or corrupt the pure gospel of Christ. The word literally means “to transform into something of an opposite character.”
This has and can still be done by mixing in the Old Testament with the New Testament.
The Judaizing teachers were combining the rite of circumcision with the gospel (Galatians 5:1-4).
Seventh Day Adventists alter or pervert the Law by combining the worship of the Sabbath with a Premillennial belief based on Revelation 20.
How many Old Testament laws may be added to the gospel? Is it still the gospel? How many human changes can we make to the New Testament pattern of sound words? Is it still the gospel?
Violence Is Done When the Law Is Ignored
Hebrews 5:9 states that Jesus is the source of eternal salvation to all who obey.
However, you won’t find one verse of Scripture that assures an eternal reward for those who ignore the gospel. In fact, Paul promises vengeance on those who don’t obey (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; cp. Ephesians 5:6).
You won’t find one verse of Scripture that assures an eternal reward for those who refuse to abstain from and condemn moral sins such as abortion, adultery, dancing, drinking, drug abuse, homosexuality, and immodest dress of and Romans 12:21; 1 Peter 4:1-2
You won’t find one verse of Scripture that assures an eternal reward for those who disregard their public influence through social media and social interactions. We should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27). Don’t be a companion of fools (Proverbs 13:20). As yourself if you’ve lived to show that you’ve washed your robes (Revelation 22:14).
Hebrews 2:3 ponders the question of escape even if we are guilty of neglect. It won’t help us in the least bit that Christ has spoken to us if we fail to listen. How many times have you ignored God’s call in the gospel? How many times have you morally corrupted yourself? How often have you shown yourself to be unfaithful and hypocritical through your actions on social media or among your coworkers and friends?
Conclusion. God upholds His law. It’s more important to Him than heaven and earth. They will be removed before He would allow the smallest letter or stroke to pass (Isaiah 55:11). Don’t do violence to God’s law through your attitude or actions. Allow your heart to be pierced through with the power of the Word and obey today.
