The prodigal son recognized that he did not deserve his Father’s forgiveness, but this was after his repentance and confession of his sins. The doctrine of “unmerited favor,” on the other hand, teaches that salvation happens even while continuing in open disobedience to the laws that God gave us in the Old Testament. It is with this false security that many in churches ignore the Lord’s commandments. Jesus never taught this in the Gospels. What Jesus taught is that it is the Father who sends us to the Son. And the Father only sends those who follow the same laws given to the nation He set apart for Himself with a perpetual covenant. God watches us and, seeing our obedience, even in the face of opposition, He unites us with Israel and delivers us to Jesus. | “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:44
The devil needed special permission to attack Job because he was faithful to God’s Law and pleased the Lord in everything. Nothing has changed today. When we love God and seek to follow His laws, given to the prophets of the Old Testament and to Jesus, the devil does not have free access to our lives. On the rare occasions when we suffer his attacks, it is because he has presented his case to God, and the Lord has allowed it, knowing that we will come out victorious and stronger. But this special protection from God does not exist for those who know His laws and ignore them. Do not follow the majority just because they are many. Obey while you are alive. | “The Lord guides with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.” Psalm 25:10
Many in the church seek God in prayer, asking Him to reveal the plan for their lives, as they feel lost, stagnant, and without direction. However, the basis for discovering God’s plan lies in obedience to His laws. When God sees that someone is seeking to follow His laws revealed to the prophets of the Old Testament, even in the face of opposition, everything changes between them and God. The Lord begins a personal relationship with that person and reveals the purpose for their life. God reveals nothing to the one who knows His laws but ignores them; however, to the one who obeys, He pours out blessings, protection, and sends them to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. | “The Lord guides with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.” Psalm 25:10
In meetings with the rabbis, Jesus was clear in stating that much of what they taught was not what God had instructed Israel through the prophets of the Old Testament. They had created their own doctrines and traditions and, besides the Scriptures, declared other writings as sacred. The true Israel, set apart by God as His people, consists of Jews and Gentiles who remain steadfast in the covenant with Abraham, sealed by circumcision. It was to this Israel that the Father sent His Son as a sacrifice for sins. Any Gentile can join the Israel of God, be sent to Jesus by the Father, and achieve salvation, but to do so, they will need to follow the laws that God gave to Israel, the same laws that Jesus and His apostles obeyed. | The Gentile who joins himself to the Lord, to serve Him, being thus His servant… and who holds fast to My covenant, I will also bring to My holy mountain. (Isaiah 56:6-7)
Nowhere in the Gospels did Jesus say that He came into the world so that we could ignore His Father’s laws and still achieve salvation. In fact, Christ’s mission was already typified in the sacrificial system long before His coming. Those who sought to obey the Law correctly went to the temple when they sinned, while those who ignored the Law and tried to compensate with sacrifices were censured by the Lord, as happened with King Saul. With Christ, the situation is the same. Seeking the benefits of the cross without obeying the laws that God gave to the prophets and to Jesus is seeking in vain. Do not follow the majority just because they are many. Obey while you are alive. | “You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.” Psalm 119:4
The claim that it is impossible to obey all of God’s laws is a lie. Most often, this statement comes from individuals who refuse to obey but do not admit that the real reason is their love for the present world. However, they cannot deceive God, who searches the hearts. Whoever knows the laws that God gave us through the prophets of the Old Testament, and yet ignores them, is in open rebellion against the Lord and should expect nothing from Him. However, when this person awakens to their desperate situation and begins to obey God’s laws, they gain access to the Almighty, who will guide them and send them to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. | “You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.” Psalm 119:4
God made an eternal covenant with one man in the Bible and, from that man, created, protected, and set apart a nation for Himself, promising never to abandon it. It was to this and for this nation that God sent His Son, as a sacrifice for their sins. It is important to make clear: God did not set apart several nations, but only one, formed by the descendants of Isaac, son of Abraham, and the Gentiles of his household. No Gentile will be saved outside of Israel, as only one nation was chosen by God. The Gentile who wishes to be saved by Jesus needs to follow the same laws that the Father gave to the nation of which Jesus was a part. The Father sees our faith and courage, unites us with Israel, and leads us to the Son. This plan of salvation makes sense because it is the true one. | The Gentile who joins himself to the Lord, to serve Him, being thus His servant… and who holds fast to My covenant, I will also bring to My holy mountain. (Isaiah 56:6-7)
Soon after Jesus’ ascension, the devil realized that many Gentiles would be interested in seeking the God of Israel, now that Christ had fulfilled His mission and the Holy Spirit had been sent. The enemy fabricated the idea that Christ founded a new religion for Gentiles: they invented a name, created doctrines and traditions, and, most seriously, lied, saying that obedience to God’s laws is not necessary for salvation. None of these things have a basis in the four Gospels, but the strategy worked, and millions follow this deception. What Jesus really taught is that the Father sends us to the Son, and the Father only sends those who seek to follow the same laws given to Israel, laws that Jesus and His apostles themselves followed. | “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” John 6:65
Any doctrine about salvation needs the support of Jesus’ words in the four Gospels and the Old Testament to be true. The plan of salvation taught to Gentiles in our days does not come from Jesus or God’s prophets; it is a false doctrine. Yet, Gentiles accept it with joy. First, because almost everyone around them accepts it, and thus, they feel safe in the crowd. Second, because, even though false, this doctrine allows them to continue loving this world to which they are deeply attached. Salvation is individual. No Gentile will ascend without seeking to follow the same laws given to Israel, laws that Jesus and His apostles themselves followed. Do not follow the majority just because they are many. | The Gentile who joins himself to the Lord, to serve Him, being thus His servant… and who holds fast to My covenant, I will also bring to My holy mountain. (Isaiah 56:6-7)
The faithful servant does not make decisions based on what they think is right, but on what the Lord commanded through the prophets and Jesus. They discard their own understanding and accept God’s Law without question, because they recognize that, even when something seems right, their mind is fallible, but the Creator is perfect in everything. The Gentiles that the Father sends to the Son for forgiveness and salvation have this attitude. Even if the majority ignore the laws of God revealed in the Old Testament, they choose to go against the tide and obey the Father’s laws with all their strength. Salvation is individual. Do not follow the majority just because they are many. Obey while you are alive. | “You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.” Psalm 119:4
