Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Monday, July 30, 2007 2:00:39 PM
The familiar words of Romans 8:1 speak peace to a multiple that no man can number from every kindred, tribe, nation and tongue. These are the spiritual seed of Abraham joined to Christ by faith…
‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.’
The message of the gospel is that grace has come in Christ Jesus. The harsh penalties imposed on OT Israel are done away with in the coming of the New Covenant. The Christian is well aware of his own sin and the cost of redemption. He is overwhelmed with the mercy of God shown to him in the gospel. He agrees with Christ in His treatment of the woman caught in adultery.
The Mosaic Law is without mercy for those who transgress. But rather than observing a strict adherence to the judicial law, Christ caused those who would condemn the woman to consider their own sin…’He who is without sin cast the first stone.’
In the gospel mercy is the friend of repentance; forgiveness more powerful than condemnation. Even apart from repentance the Christian understands tolerance because the grace of God has come near to him. God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were dead in sin Christ died for us. We call all men to repentance, but how shall we condemn anyone for whom Christ has died?
Everybody knows what hate crime legislation is about. It is not to protect sodomites from the Christians. It is to suppress the gospel message of repentance toward God and faith in Christ Jesus for all manner of sin, including sodomy.