In Leviticus 26:3-4, the Lord says, “If you walk in my statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.”
The word ‘if’ is a powerful word. With it, God made a conditional covenant with the children of Israel. His covenant with Jacob was conditional (Gen. 35:9-15), His covenant with Isaac was conditional (Gen. 26:1-5), and His covenant with Abraham was conditional (Gen. 18:1-14). To each of them the Lord promised great things…if they obeyed His commands. God’s favor has never been unconditional.
It is a wonder then why so many denominations preach otherwise. They preach “once saved, always saved” where no amount of sinful living can remove you from God’s grace. They preach predestination, removing your free will of choice altogether.
The statement from Leviticus stands out because it comes near the end of the book containing God’s laws for the priesthood and sabbaths. Leviticus is filled with laws. They were strict and complex, yet God still expected Israel to obey them. As Christians, we do not have such a heavy burden (Gal. 3:10-14). Jesus said, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:30).
Christ has fulfilled the law and by His grace we have been freed from it. Does that mean we have no obligation to live righteously? Paul said, “Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom. 6:1-2). But, didn’t Paul say in Chapter 8, verse 1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…?” He certainly did! He didn’t stop there. He continues, “…who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Paul’s statement no longer applies to us if we stop walking according to the spirit. If we bring worldliness back into our lives, Christ will no longer dwell in us. Jesus said in John 15:6, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
Do not be deceived. God’s grace is conditional. Thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ that we are no longer under the burden of the law, that never had the power to wash away sins. In Christ, we can have full assurance that we are saved so long as we continue to walk in the paths of righteousness. If we are faithful until death (Rev. 2:10), if we strive for good works (Jas. 2:14-17), and if we allow the commands of the gospel to abide in us (1 John 2:24), then we will receive the crown of life.