Even though Jesus died on the cross for it.
Jesus was born under the law. John the Baptist didn't preach the gospel that Paul preached.
Paul preached, “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should
repent and turn to God and
demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.”
John the baptizer preached, “
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
Paul preached, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,”
John the baptizer preached, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look,
the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Same gospel was preached.
Of course not. We are just told to stop obeying in order to earn salvation.
We are never told to stop obeying.
We are told we cannot work at cleaning ourselves to purify/justify ourselves for God by the purification/ceremonial works which begins with circumcision.
That means no one has to clean themselves by getting circumcised, and adhering to a dietary law, and doing various external washings, and sacrificing animals.
No one has to do those things anymore because faith that Jesus’ blood cleans us is what cleans us of the sins we repent of doing.
We are never ever told there is a wrong time to obey God.
Not quite. Not stealing is obeying God and it is of course a good thing. Not stealing and then turning around and expecting God to honor you with salvation based on your good work is a "dead work".
Obeying God is never a dead work. You cannot ever say obeying is wrong. As for God honoring us with salvation for obeying, it is exactly what He does. You must come to God through Jesus and repent of stealing.
John 12:26
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
2 John 1:8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
True. Which is how we know that obedience to God does not earn salvation. Titus 3:5.
That scripture is about no one having to wash themselves with various external washings and sacrificing animals. That scripture is about the Holy Spirit washing us by our faith in Jesus’ blood.
Humbling yourself is realizing that on your best day you are a sinner who deserves hell for all eternity and realizing that only if God gives you a righteousness you didn't earn, can you be saved.
Trying to work for salvation is the opposite of humility. The law was given that "every mouth may be stopped and all become guilty".
As long as you are still working, you are still running your mouth and trying to clean up the old man.
At least you are coming to admit we have to do SOMETHING to be saved. You know that Jesus says if you do not change and humble yourself as a little child---you will NEVER enter.
When one humbles themselves as a little child, it means you are ready to do anything and everything Jesus says.
Jesus also says that unless you forgive others---the Father will not forgive you.
How do you think you are going to be forgiven of all your sins if the Father does not forgive you?
Jesus says those who obey receive the Holy Spirit.
See Acts 5:32, John 14:23, and many more.
The message of the gospel is sent to those who fear God and do what is right.
Acts 13:26 "Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.