To Whom Does the Moral Law Apply?
Does the moral law of God apply to those outside the church or only to those within? There have been attempts in the past years to say that God’s moral law applies only to members of the church, and, as a result, those people outside the church are incapable of committing adultery. Therefore, one can be married and divorced as many times as he wishes before obeying the gospel; he just cannot do that as a Christian! There are many passages in the Bible that show this to be positively and completely false. Listed here are some examples:
I Corinthians 6:9-11. "And such were some of you." The Corinthians used to be fornicators, adulterers, etc., before they were washed (baptized), etc. Therefore, they broke God’s law before they obeyed the gospel. How could they break the law if the law does not apply to them?
Romans 1 describes the state of the Gentiles that were given up by the Lord because of their ungodliness, and unrighteousness, and among the sins were fornication, etc. How could they have been guilty of this sin, if they are not under the law?
Revelation 22:15. "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and harlots," etc. How could those outside the church be guilty, if the law did not apply to them?
It is quite clear that anyone, within or without the church, can break God’s laws. If we are in violation of God’s laws, we must repent, which certainly involves stopping the violation. Baptism does not wash away a sinful relationship, or marriage. Baptism only washes away sins that have been turned away from in repentance. Baptism cannot sanctify sin. If one is living in a sinful condition, one cannot be baptized, and then keep on living in that sinful condition. One must repent, which involves turning away from that sin, or stopping the committing of that sin.
It is amazing what some do to the scriptures to get away from, or around, what the scriptures teach. Why cannot we live in harmony with the simple teaching of the New Testament?
– Max Patterson, 4438 South 89th Road, Bolivar, MO 65613-8012
