If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
To break statutes and not keep commandments is for God's children to forsake His law and to walk outside His judgments and to reject them. Such breaking is disobedience to His law and makes those who do it accountable. To break statutes and refuse commandments in this way is transgression of His law and therefore sin. It is disobedience to His moral law, whose two great principles are love for God and love for neighbor. That moral government reaches throughout the universe, including the fallen world, and calls people to obedience.
Such disobedience is not excused and those who knowingly disobey despite great light and evidence of His mercy are not vindicated. God visits their transgression and iniquity with punishment and with corrective discipline. That warning that disobedience brings punishment for transgression and iniquity shows disobedience has consequences. His discipline is meant to humble His people and lead them back to loyalty. It is meant to purify rather than destroy them, and is not intended to drive them to despair, as David's affliction illustrates.
Even in thus disciplining transgression, He does not withdraw His loving-kindness nor fail in faithfulness. Correction comes, but loving-kindness and faithfulness remain. The commandments have not been abolished, and the verse stands against teachings that excuse refusal to obey them. Christ requires those formed in His image to conform to His character, for God requires conformity to His will and precepts.
To break statutes and not keep commandments is for God's children to forsake His law and to walk outside His judgments and to reject them. Such breaking is disobedience to His law and makes those who do it accountable. To break statutes and refuse commandments in this way is transgression of His law and therefore sin. It is disobedience to His moral law, whose two great principles are love for God and love for neighbor. That moral government reaches throughout the universe, including the fallen world, and calls people to obedience.
Such disobedience is not excused and those who knowingly disobey despite great light and evidence of His mercy are not vindicated. God visits their transgression and iniquity with punishment and with corrective discipline. That warning that disobedience brings punishment for transgression and iniquity shows disobedience has consequences. His discipline is meant to humble His people and lead them back to loyalty. It is meant to purify rather than destroy them, and is not intended to drive them to despair, as David's affliction illustrates.
Even in thus disciplining transgression, He does not withdraw His loving-kindness nor fail in faithfulness. Correction comes, but loving-kindness and faithfulness remain. The commandments have not been abolished, and the verse stands against teachings that excuse refusal to obey them. Christ requires those formed in His image to conform to His character, for God requires conformity to His will and precepts.