Grace not Law - Andrew Farley
Andrew Farley is the Head Pastor of Ecclesia Church in Lubbock, Texas and the author of The Naked Gospel. He has some fantastic things to say about the true message of the Gospel - Jesus Plus Nothing.
Farley reminds us of the truth that, this side of the cross, we no longer have to try to prove ourselves to God by trying, always in vain, to live up to the Law of Moses - the Law of the Old Testament, the Old Covenant. Jesus released us from the curse of the Law by his perfect life, vicarious death on the cross and his glorious, vindicating resurrection. He reminds us that if we want, as Christians, to live under Mosaic Law, we must live under the WHOLE Law. That is not just the Ten Commandments, that is ALL of the Mosaic Law - strict Sabbath observance (on Saturday by the way, not Sunday), dietary restrictions (say bye bye to sweet & sour pork, garlic prawns, fresh crab), ritual cleanliness/uncleanliness, temple sacrifices. We can’t just pick and choose the bits of Old Testment Law we like, or think are most important. It’s all or nothing. Getting the Law 99% right is not enough either - 100% or you fail.
Farley reminds us of the who the Law is meant for - non-Christians - and that once we have faith in Christ, we are no longer under Law, but under Grace. Many of the things we are told to do as Christians - ask repeatedly for forgiveness, 10% tithing, using the Mosaic Law as a “moral compass” - are simply misled and have nothing to do with the true Gospel - JESUS PLUS NOTHING. In fact Farley controversially states that, because when we become Christians we are delivered from the Law and “wed” to Christ, if we then try to go back to the Old Covenant, we are actually “cheating on Jesus”. Strong words - but just think about it a while.
This is a message that EVERY Christian needs to hear. The true Gospel without the unnecessary (or even contrived) extras. The Naked Gospel! JESUS PLUS NOTHING!
Read The Naked Gospel
Watch some previews of The Naked Gospel.
Listen to Andrew Farley’s sermons at Ecclesia Church here.