A Red Flag

God gives moral laws in the Bible for three reasons. The first is to steer the conscience of a society. Communities who are ignorant of God's moral law run amok more so than otherwise. The second is to drive the conscience to Christ. God the Holy Spirit uses our knowledge of moral law2 to convict us of our sins, and convince us of our need for forgiveness.

But the third purpose of moral law, or Christ's commandments in the New Testament specifically, is to guide the Christian into the path of God's righteousness. The imperatives of the New Testament are not suggestions, or guidelines, or tips. They are all laws, just as much law as anything the Lord commanded under Moses. This is why the believer can say, "I love Your law, O Lord, I meditate on it day and night" (Psalm 119:97). 

So here is the red flag: be alert to any preacher or teacher who says that Biblical moral law is only a cause of death and condemnation. That is untrue. The Bible's moral laws, whether Old or New Testament, were only a cause of death incidentally. It's only because we were unjustified, rebellious sinners that God's laws brought down judgment. God's laws in themselves are holy, righteous, and good. But once God forgives us and makes us new, what once condemned us changes into a light of guidance for us.

A preacher who denies the third purpose of God's laws is an example of what is called "antinomianism" -- that is, anti-commandment-ism. There are many who make this mistake, though I'm sure many make it with no ill intent. Some confuse Moses' particular law with moral law in general, and so, since New Testament believers are not under Moses' law, they think there are no commandments to keep. Others are so over-preoccupied with legalism that they are blind to the threat of licentiousness. You might say they are so obsessed with the formality of Ephesus that they ignore the carnality of Pergamos.

I have never read an antinomian preacher who says, "I am antinomian." They all claim to believe in the third purpose of moral law. But when you read and hear them, all they talk about are the alleged dangers of commandment-keeping. That is an antinomian, and we should treat it as a red flag.