Feeling Theological

So I'm sitting here at my desk on a beautiful Sabbath day and decided to share a few thoughts on the law. See today I gave my Christmas tale, long story and better in person, but the point is that Christmas is all about gifts. That's right gifts... The gifts God gives us especially the gift of grace (Ehp. 2:8&9). So how if we are saved whets the point of the law, on one hand Paul states we no longer need it, on the other God says if you love me keep my commandments. It is an interesting dichotomy because on one hand we are saved by grace and on the other, we are known by our fruits. So here it is my thoughts. Are we saved by grace? Yes. So then do we need to follow the law? Yes. Why? Well because if you have a relationship you show love by actions not words, and any married person can tell you that. In Romans Paul addresses the law and states we are no longer subject and in Romans 6:1 he ask so shall we just go ahead and sin then, his answer: "by no means! We died to sin how can we live in it any longer. Some say the law was only part of the first covenant, to that I say not-ah. Here is how the new covenant reads: I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts I will be their God and the will be my people. (Hebrews 8:10) Even if you think that covenant is only for one people Israel, which by they way were Gods first chosen and we were grafted in, well why does the Bible constantly hold us accountable for our actions. James is a good book, to see how deeds and faith intertwine, if for some reason it's not clear in Paul's writings. Even Jesus said I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Read Matt 5:17-20 to see how important the law is, as a matter of fact read the whole sermon on the mount and you will see Jesus expanding the law not taking away for instance Matt 5:21&22 he says not just murder, but hate is also a sin. So am I saying that you must keep the law to be saved? No only grace saves you, but keeping the law is a byproduct of your salvation and relationship with Jesus. You know the bible describes our relationship with God as that of a marriage so I will look at the ten commandments and see them from the eyes of a marriage. I. No other God's before me, well in a marriage context that would read don't cheat on me, because if you did would that be love. II. No idols, or hey don't look at other women like that, don't have pictures of other women around of be looking a pornography. III. Do not misuse the name of God, or hey don't talk bad about spouse and drag her name through the mud. IV. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy, or please remember our anniversary, you don't want to forget that now do you. The rest are self explanatory in a relationship with others, the first four is our marriage to God. So do we keep them because we have to, or because it's just the common sense way to treat someone when in a relationship. If you continualy break the sanctity of your marriage, what are you saying about it. Are you saying I love you or are you saying the opposite. I have a sneaky suspicion that if we treated our spouses the way we treat God, we wouldn't be married very long. I do things or don't do things for my wife because I love her, not because it's her law, so intern we should keep the law out of love and thankfulness for His grace, because after all it is that grace that saves. And we could follow the law till we are blue in the face, but without a relationship with Jesus it will do us no good. So it is grace that saves, the law shows we have accepted that gift and are treating God and each other right, out of love.