Question:  Dear Greg,

            As I understand it, the Ten Commandments and festival days are obsolete.

            1 John 3:4 states that sin is breaking God’s law.  What law is this?  (This is not a trick question).

            Also, can a person attend any church, or must it be a certain one?

            Ralph

Answer:  Dear Ralph,

            No, of course it’s not a trick question.  Two thoughts:

1.      If you read the entire book of 1 John you will see words like law and commands mentioned.  However, these words do not refer to the Mosaic covenant that the rest of the writings of John, not to mention the entire New Testament, tell us are no longer required of Christians.  Some sabbatarians read “command” in John and other places in the New Testament and insert “10” before command—but no such reading is allowed for in the text.

2.      Please read verses five and six after verse four.  They clarify what John means by verse four.  In fact, you really need to read the entire book because simply quoting chapter three, verse four, then flipping to some other proof text in some other part of the bible, also taken out of its context only proves that the Bible is being misused.

            The Bible does not confer “only true church” status on any denomination or human incorporation.  The “only true church” status is given to the body of Christ, which is the universal body, composed of all who believe in and accept Jesus Christ, regardless, and sometimes in spite of, denominational affiliation.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht