The Rev. Tong himself struggled with the need for the law in his teenage years. In his talk, he expressed he had wondered why he needed to pray ”˜The Prayer of Humble Access’ during Holy Communion.
The prayer taught that Christians “do not presume” to go to the table. In addition, they “are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs” under it. At the same time he had been taught that Christians were children of God.
If Christians are tested by the message of grace, they may also be emotionally ”˜torn down’ by the law.
But obedience is not a matter of reward and punishment, the Chapel of the Resurrection vicar argued.
It is about the renewal of minds, transformation of lives and the formation of a community of service. Christians are called to put aside idolatry, overworking, immorality, dishonesty, despair and embrace a better mode of living.
Can the commandments be seen a promises?
When God is finished transforming us then what the law demands will be natural behavior coming from the new nature inside, i.e. when God has transformed you then, You shall have no other gods but me. …. Then you shall not commit adultery. … Then you shall not covet.
Complete obedience to God is impossible without God’s transforming work in us. Obedience to God is a promise of grace. God’s not finished with me yet.
Just a thought.