Another Berean Posting that Irks Me

Here's another "The Berean" Email Posting that got me..well..heated up.

The main gist of brother Earl Henn thoughts lies with this paragraph

"In this verse (Romans 7:1) , Paul explains how the law has "power" over a human being only while he lives. He means the law has power to condemn us as a sinner and, consequently, condemn us to death only as long as we are alive. Once we have died, the penalty for sin has been paid, and the law has no more power to condemn us."

Oh WOW! So that means Jesus Christ's death on the cross has no power over us while we are still alive? And that Jesus Christ's redemptive work will only happen when we are dead to our body?!

What twisted theology is that?!!?


Using Amplified version of Romans 7:1

Do you know that, brethern - for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the law - that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive?

I will categorically state here: the power of sin through the law has NO power over us NOW! The death of Jesus Christ has rid the power of the law and subsequently its effects, which is condemnation and death, when we accepted Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour.

It is through the Lord's death, that His will to allow us to obtain the sonship of God is able to be exercised.

I am of the opinion that brother Earl is thoroughly wrong in his interpretation of this verse and the way the Letter to the Romans is trying to convey.

The verse that confirms my view on this lies in the preceding verse Chapter 6 verse 22-23 and Chapter 7:6

But now having been set free from sin, and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end everlasting life.
(Rom 6:22)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rom 6:23)


But now we have been set free from the Law, having died to that in which we were held, so as for us to serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.
(Rom 7:6) (Emphasis mine)

Dear brothers and sisters reading my blog, I have highlighted the word NOW in red to show that our salvation is NOW. Our escape from the effects of sin, and the demands of the Law can happen NOW. We need not wait till we die to receive the eternal life. We NOW serve through the Holy Spirit, and NOT through the demands of the Law.

Brother Earl says "Some have interpreted this to mean that, now that we have died with Christ, the law is no longer binding on Christians."

The true meaning of this is that the effects of the Law and thus condemnation through Law has no effects on us now. That does not mean we are not following the Law. We follow the law through the Holy Spirit, in that we love God, we love our neighbour as ourselves....even when we failed to follow the Law, the demands for breaking the Law is taken over by our Saviour and Abba God's forgiveness is ready for us to take when we fail.

In effect, when we receive Christ, we have already fulfilled the law and we become better persons because we already been forgiven for our trespasses in the past, the present and the future.

If we receive eternal life NOW, so how can we die in Spirit so that we take it up again when our body is sleeping (Paul did not say Christian will die, we are all but asleep because of the eternal life that is given to us).

If we follow brother Earl's explanation, then the sacrifice on the cross has no effects on our lives now and for the future. So what is so good about the news if the benefits of following Christ is of no use until we die?

Although brother Earl has gone to the Lord, but his erroneous teaching still permeates the mind of Christians and thus rob the JOY in having the Lord in our Lives. In brother Earl's quest to debunk Christians that law is not important anymore, he has in effect marred my Lord's work on the cross.

We must remember, without the law, we shall never know that we fall short of the glory of God. Without the law, we shall never know the standards of God. Without the law, we shall never know how to treat others with love and respect. Without the law we shall never know how much Jesus loves us.

Rejoice that the punishment demanded by the law is now being met through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. So that we can live life to the fullest without feeling guilty. We need not wait till we 'sleep'.