In reply to:
[color:"blue"]That is why God instituted a new covenant. By living within us, God has created a race of no-fault people --- thus guaranteeing that His moral law will be kept. He puts His law into our minds, and writes them on our hearts. So how can we be obligated when God has taken the responsibility? We can't.

Well, at least you have come to admit the perpetuity of the moral law of God which in the new covenant people is written on their hearts; the same law that was written in the consciences of all men and iterated when it was written on the two tablets of stone on Sinai. Take the first law: Idolatry has always been forbidden and always shall be. It makes no difference what age, dispensation, covenant a man lives in, he is to worship the one true God and Him only. This same moral law is to be obeyed by men, regardless whether they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit or not; it is obligatory that all men everywhere refrain from practicing idolatry.

Now this second part of your statement is very disturbing: "So how can we be obligated when God has taken the responsibility?" Why are you insistent upon confusing Justification with Sanctification? In Justification, a sinner is pronounced righteous on the basis of Christ's vicarious, substitutionary work; an imputed righteousness. In Sanctification, that imputed righteousness begins to be realized in the transformation of a believer as he is conformed to the image of Christ; partakes of the divine nature. As Christ's righteousness was total conformity to the law, likewise all those who are being conformed to His image do likewise. However, this keeping of the law, which is pleasing to God has no merit in regard to Justification. Doing of "good works" does have its rewards nonetheless; even in their imperfections.

What is most troubling is that you think that "God is responsible" for this keeping of the law..... !! [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/rolleyes.gif" alt="rolleyes" title="rolleyes[/img] Can you show me ONE biblical text (in context) that shows that God, not man, is responsible TO KEEP THE LAW? Faith, for example, is a gift of grace which is included in the Holy Spirit's work of regeneration. It is the first sign of true spiritual life that emerges from the newly recreated spirit of man. Although the Spirit indwells the sinner, brings that new life in the soul which produces true saving faith, it is NOT the Spirit that is responsible to believe on Christ. It is the person's total responsibility to both repent and believe, even though the means to do so are graciously created and given by God. Man does the actual repenting and believing. Likewise in Sanctification, man is responsible to flee from sin and "put on the new man that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth." (Eph 2:24; Col 3:10; 1Joh 3:2) All who truly believe in Christ have been regenerated and given that new heart wherein the Law (moral) of God is written and to which it is given the responsibility to conform oneself to it as did Christ.

Philippians 2:12-13 (ASV) "So then, my beloved, [color:red]even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, [color:red]work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure."
Could the Spirit, through the pen of Paul, have made it any clearer that he did in this passage? Believers are exhorted to OBEY always and to WORK OUT their own salvation. They are incontrovertibly responsible to "obey and work out". The responsibility to do this is incredible and seemingly impossible. Yet believers are to not become overwhelmed with this responsibility because it is God (Holy Spirit) Who provides the will (desire) and the means (strength/power) within them. There are literally dozens of exhortations found in the Epistles wherein believers are to act according to holiness and righteousness. If all believers weren't responsible to DO these things, then why are they enjoined, exhorted, commanded to do them?

Where Justification is a monergistic work; God only! [Sola Gratia], Sanctification is synergistic God and man working together to accomplish a singular purpose and end. [Soli Deo Gloria]. (cf. 1Pet 2:11ff; Gal 5-6; Eph 4-6; et al)
Galatians 6:7-9 (ASV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
In His Grace,

[Linked Image]

simul iustus et peccator

[Linked Image]