Do you believe He taught it in principle?
Oh..absolutely!!
And you probably share my problem, with how Grace is taught in the Christian community. Many denominations can tell you what Grace is...but they can not tell the believers....how Grace is obtained.
Jesus taught how we receive Grace in (John 14:21)...and Paul in (Romans 2:5-7). But false teachings, teachings from generation to generation, have cast these teachings aside. These teachings which attempt to make the word of God conform to the image of man...and not to the image of Christ.
The word they use is....."
Works", the word which is feared by those who follow the False Doctrines. When Jesus and Paul both teach that we receive Grace...through our
"Works"....through our obedience to the Lord Jesus. This is why many believers become unBelievers....they don't understand Grace and How wonderful life can be....if they only had Grace.
Ahh..but are we talking about the Ten Commandments?
Yes and No...as it pertains to the confusion caused by the word,
Works.
Why?????
The Ten Commandments
do not require us to do anything...so how can they be called....
Works??
Paul is not teaching against the Ten Commandments.....he is teaching against the
Works of the Law of Moses. That part of the Law of Moses which required, Works!! The, do this, part of the Law, not the, don't do that, part of the Ten Commandments......not that keeping those Laws aren't part of receiving God Grace. Look at this passage...at something most people miss...
knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
(Galatians 2:16)
As I hope this illustrates Paul is talking about the...
Works...of the Law of Moses.
Now Jesus also has Laws which require "Works". Only these works are done out of Love. Jesus commands us to feed those who are hungry...cloth those who are cold...house those who need shelter. These Laws require us to do something, and since they are done out of Love....This is what makes them..
.Good Works!!
Spent more time on this than I meant to. Gotta go brother. God bless you!!