Old Testament Saints Not Saved By Keeping The Law

Romans 4:13-15, “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”

I am astounded at the woeful theological ignorance of multitudes of preachers today, who foolishly teach that Jews living during the time of Moses were required by God to keep the law to get to Heaven. That is tommyrot, balderdash, flapdoodle and poppycock! Yes indeed dear friend, it sure is! The false teaching that people were ever saved by the works of the law is a doctrine of devils. 1st Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” A doctrine of devils is a false teaching which originated with the father of all liars, the Devil himself (John 8:44). I really like this sermon quote from D.L. Moody:

"If no man ever has anything to say against you, your Christianity isn't worth much. Men said of the Master, 'He has a devil,' and Jesus said that if they had called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household." —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

Amen and amen! What saith the Scripture? 2nd Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Today's pastors aren't standing, so they aren't hated. God pity the preacher that the world don't hate!!! One of my favorite preachers, Pastor Danny Castle, said that and he is so right.

I was reading the Holy Bible today and this passage of Scripture caught my attention:

Romans 4:13-15, “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”

The Bible says if they who KEEP THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW are made heirs of the promises of God, then faith is made void. What would be the purpose of faith, or even of Christ dying on the cross, if anyone could be justified by works? Galatians 2:21, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Many preachers today are FRUSTRATING THE GRACE OF GOD!!! The Apostle Paul was frustrated by what he saw going on in the churches of Galatia. Paul saw that some among them were troubling them by perverting the Gospel. Galatians 1:7, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Heretics are nothing new!

I love Pastor J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) who proclaimed this great truth:

Christianity is NOT a ceremony;

Christianity is NOT even the Church;

Christianity is NOT a system;

Christianity is a person, 

and that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ, 

and it's Who He is, and what He has done.

THAT'S CHRISTIANITY, and nothing else is Christianity. 

Oh, how we need to get back to HIM—the Lord Jesus Christ!!!

Another one of my favorite preachers is Pastor A. Ray Stanford (1916-2012), who wrote this:

“Salvation becomes ours when we trust Christ to SAVE us. Effective service is ours through OBEDIENCE. Salvation primarily involves the spirit and our eternal destiny; it is a gift (John 5:24). Service involves the body and our present earthly life; it is labor for which rewards are given (Romans 12:1, 2; I Corinthians 3:8-15; Luke 10:2).

It is obvious to see for the Bible student who is led by the Holy Spirit, that NO ONE has ever been saved by trying to keep the Old Testament law. The very idea is preposterous! Romans 4:3-4, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” If the Jews living under the Mosaic law were saved by trying to keep the law, then God owed them salvation. But as we just read, God doesn't owe anybody anything. Salvation has always been by grace alone, through faith alone, in the promised Messiah. Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”