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Christian Churches of God

No. 164D

Antinomian Attacks on the Law of God

(Edition 1.0 20101023-20101023)

It has been brought to our attention that the doctrine of Antinomian Gnosticism that entered the Churches of God through the errors of the WCG and the Binitarian/Trinitarians in that system was far more well-entrenched and extends into the Antinomian Trinitarians of the US religious system. Very much like the US political system, these Antinomians talk past each other and anyone speaking or trying to hold a serious discussion about the Biblical structure and especially the law of God. It is also important that we understand the function and origins of the attacks on the Law of God.

Christian Churches of God

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(Copyright ©2010 Wade Cox)

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Antinomian Attacks on the Law of God

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The Attacks on the Law of God were made in the First and Second Century by the Antinomian Gnostics. Antinomian means against the law (anti-nomos) although modern apologists try to claim it means something else. Gnostic derives from the term Gnosis or knowledge and was the basis of the Heresy in the NT church (see the paper Heresy in the Apostolic Church (No. 089)at:

They claimed that the law of the OT was a different Law to that of the NT and the teachings of Jesus Christ. They claimed that it was given by an evil god, Jaldabaoth, that tried to get people to follow his laws. According to them Jesus Christ was the God of the NT that did away with the laws of the God of the OT. It was inherently based on anti-Semitism that permeated the Roman system. To this day that is the driving force of the antinomian system in the West.

The evil god Jaldabaoth allegedly prevented the spirits of the dead from ascending into heaven via the Milky Way. The function of the saints was to bypass this deity and go into heaven. To this end they had eternal souls to enable them to achieve eternal life. This was regarded by the true Church of God as complete heresy and they were shunned from the Churches of God. The Churches of God recognised these heretics by the fact that they claimed that when they died they went to heaven (Justin Martyr, Dial. LXXX). The reality is that the Bible holds that Christ was the Angel of Yahovah that was with Israel in the wilderness and gave the Law of God to them (1Cor. 10:4; cf. also Angel of YHVH (No. 024) at:

These days most of the Christians, and usually those stemming from North America and extending into the British Commonwealth, really do believe that the law of God is done away and that they, when they die, will go to heaven. It is worth noting that the Roman Catholic Church has recently done away with Limbo, Purgatory and Hell and claims that “Heaven” is merely a state with God and that “Hell” is merely a state separated from God.

The RCs, long ago, divorced themselves from the two Resurrections of the Dead; however, the Protestants did not and have always in their creeds espoused the belief in the Resurrection of the Dead.

The Antinomians, however, in the US seem to widely claim that it is simply a matter of calling on Christ and they will be “raptured” into heaven and thus be saved. Baptism is not a critical sacrament and embraces infant baptism also. This false doctrine is now over 200 years old and growing among these heretics. The fallacy of the doctrines and claims are dealt with in the paper The Millennium and the Rapture (No. 95) at:

Anyone noted as claiming and supporting the laws of God is attacked and subjected to vilification. One insane argument is that anyone adhering to the Laws of God actually has the “Mark of the Beast” in that belief. This is really a more isolated and insane view but we have seen it seriously advanced by Antinomians and what appear to be in fact Satanists.

The logic of the law and the covenants does not seem to be understood by these people. They have developed a grace not law argument. It is in fact both grace and law, rather than one or the other. The matter has been explained in the paper The Relationship Between Salvation by Grace and the Law (No. 082) at:

It is important that we study these topics so that we are able to isolate the errors of these Antinomians.

It is a matter of fact that the entire Protestant Reformation was based on the doctrines of the two aspects in the law, namely that of the Moral and the Ceremonial or Sacrificial Law. This division is explained in the paper Distinction in the Law (No. 096) at:

We had listed the distinction but it seems that the Antinomians are incapable of reading and isolating the problems. A typical Protestant type explanation is as follows.

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The Decalogue was / The Sacrificial or Ceremonial Law was
1. Given by God through the Angel at Sinai (Ex. 20: 1,22; Deut. 4:12;13; 5:22); / 1. Spoken by YHVH; written by Moses (Ex. 24:3,4,12); given in addition to the Commandments (Ex. 24:12);
2. Written by Yahovah (Ex. 31:18; 32:16); / 2. Written by Moses (Ex. 24:4; Deut. 31:9);
3. On stones (Ex. 24:12; 31:18); / 3. In a book (Ex. 24:4,7; Deut. 31:24);
4. Handed by Yahovah to Moses (Ex. 31:18) / 4. Handed by Moses to the Levites (Deut. 31:25,26);
5. Deposited by Moses in the Ark (Deut. 10:5); / 5. Deposited by the Levites by the side of the ark (Deut. 31:26) where it was a witness against Israel.
The Decalogue / The Sacrificial or Ceremonial Law
6. Deals with moral precepts (Ex. 20:3-17); / 6. Deals with ceremonial ritual matters (from its use in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy);
7. Reveals sin (Rom. 7:7); / 7. Prescribes offerings for sins (see Leviticus);
8. Shows the breaking of the law is sin (1Jn. 3:4) and the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). / 8. Has no sin in breaking because it is abolished (Eph. 2:15); hence where no law is there is no transgression (Rom. 4:15).
9. We should keep the whole law (Jas. 2:10);
we must not break the least of the Law (Mat. 5:19) / 9. The Apostles gave no such commandment (instruction or commission; diesteilametha) to keep the law (Acts 15:24);
10. Because we shall be judged by this law (Jas. 2:12); / 10. We are not to be judged in keeping it (Col. 2:16);
11. The Christian who keeps this law is blessed in his doing (Jas. 1:25); / 11. We are not justified by the law but by faith (Gal. 5:1-6);
12. It is the perfect law of liberty (Jas. 1:25; cf. Jas. 2:12) because the law is perfect (Ps. 19:7); / 12. Liberty comes from faith not justification by law (Gal. 5:1,3).
13. This law was established by faith in Christ
(Rom. 3:31); it was not destroyed (Mat. 5:17); / 13. Christ abolished the division of the law (Eph. 2:15); the debt (Col. 2:14); and structure (Gal. 3:19).
14. Christ was to magnify the law and make it honourable (Isa. 42:21); / 14. Christ blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us (Col. 2:14).
15. We know that the law is spiritual (Rom. 7:14 cf. v. 7). / 15. This law is of a carnal commandment (Heb. 7:16). God suffered Israel to be given laws by which they might not live because of their pollution (Ezek. 20:25). This law made nothing perfect.

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The Chierographon of Colossians 2:14 was the so-called handwriting of ordinances, which was in fact the bill of indebtedness owed by each of us to God for our sins, and which was nailed to the stauros or stake by Christ as being paid by him. The Antinomians don’t seem to get it. They ignore the meaning of the Chierographon as a bill of indebtedness and try to make it mean the law of God, which it does not mean. The sacrificial law was indeed fulfilled in Christ and in that sense the sacrificial law was paid once and for all by Christ. That indeed was fulfilled and completed by Christ, but it was the only aspect of the law that was completed.

Thus, the bill of account or debts (cheirographon) incurred from the ordinances of the ceremonial law was the thing that was nailed to the stake. Therefore, the ritual purification by offering was eliminated or taken out of the way once and for all by Christ. This heresy at Colossae is examined in detail in the paper Heresy in the Apostolic Church (No. 089) at:

The Holy Days and the Sabbaths are not part of the ordinances of the ceremonial law. Only the sacrificial laws are eliminated. By his sacrifice, Christ once and for all disarmed the principalities and powers. The Greek text for these words says archas (translated rulers) and ezousias (authorities). He exposed them with openness, triumphing over them in it. Thus, Christ exposed the heavenly powers (and chiefly Satan) that would not give themselves for their human charges as he had. The Law stands. For the Law is holy, and the Commandments are holy and just and good.

Romans 7:12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. (RSV)

Christ said: “If you would enter into life, keep the commandments”.

Matthew 19:17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." (RSV)

So, we cannot inherit eternal life unless we keep the Commandments. Here God is seen as the centre of ultimate Good, hence the word God. The Law hangs in its entirety on the two Great Commandments (Mat. 22:40).

Matthew 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" [37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment. [39] And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. [40] On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." (RSV)

The Law is thus destined to an end or purpose, which is in Christ and intended to reconcile us to God. The Law, being spiritual, proceeds from God and thus is kept in our natures in order to reconcile us to God. The Law, then, does not cause death but rather it is sin, which is transgression of the Law (1Jn 3:4), working within the individualthat causes death.

Romans 7:13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. (RSV)

The Law is spiritual but humanity is carnal, sold under sin.

Romans 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. (RSV)

The entire argument that the Law is not spiritual and, hence, not of the New Testament is utterly false. The truly converted person delights in the Law of God in their inner selves. The Psalms were identified by Christ as part of the law.

Psalm 119:1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! (RSV)

Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, (RSV)

For the Law leads men to Christ, who is the end of the Law.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified. (RSV)

The end of the Law (telos gar nomou) here is the conclusion as the goal or the objective, being the point or act or state aimed at. It is not the cessation of the Law.

Being led by the Spirit liberates the individual from being under the Law.

Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. (RSV)

Not because it does away with the Law, but rather because it enables the Law to be kept from inner desire and right action, being in our very nature. Paul’s position on the necessity of keeping the law is examined in the paper Paul: Part 1 Paul and the Law (No. 271)at:

Paul kept the law and went to great lengths to keep it. Acts 21:21 is deliberately misrepresented in this regard.

Acts 21:17-24 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. [18] On the following day Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present. [19] After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. [20] And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed; they are all zealous for the law, [21] and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs. [22] What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. [23] Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; [24] take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you but that you yourself live in observance of the law.

Anyone who says that Paul did not keep the law of God is a liar. Also anyone who says they are without sin (which is transgression of the law of God (1Jn 3:4) is also a liar.

Hebrews is misused often by the Antinomians and we will examine the misused sections in detail below.

Hebrews 8:10-13This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [11] And they shall not teach every one his fellow or every one his brother, saying, `Know the Lord,' for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest. [12] For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."[13] In speaking of a new covenant he treats the first as obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (RSV)

Thus, the spirit is written in the hearts and minds of the people. So, the people keep the Law through the Holy Spirit. The Law kept through the heart in right action serves then as the mark of the elect. Again, unconverted thinking is identified by its resistance to the Law and arguments which seek to eliminate the Law.

The Law of God is pursued by faith and not by works.

Romans 9:32 Why? Because they did not pursue it through faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (RSV)

However faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

Obedience to the Commandments is a necessary prerequisite to the retention of the Holy Spirit, which dwells in those who keep God's Commandments.

1John 3:24 All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us. (RSV)

Acts 5:32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." (RSV)

Thus, it is impossible to be a Christian and love God and Christ without keeping the Law. Of necessity, this involves keeping the Sabbath as the Fourth Commandment.

Salvation by Grace

The grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce all irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope and the appearance of the glory of the great God, and the saviour of us, Jesus Christ (Tit. 2:11-13; see Marshall's RSV Interlinear Greek-English New Testament). Christ is thus the appearance of the glory of the Great God, who is our Saviour (Tit. 2:10). Grace is thence a product of the activity of Jesus Christ.

The Church is guarded by God's power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1Peter 1:5 who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (RSV)

The outcome of faith is the salvation of the soul. The prophets prophesied about the salvation but did not know the time or the person of Messiah when they predicted his suffering and subsequent glory.

1Peter 1:9-10 As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls. [10] The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired about this salvation; (RSV)

Sin came into the world through Adam and reigned from Adam to Moses. Death was the result of sin.

Romans 5:12 Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned -(RSV)