"We Are Not Under Law".. The scriptures make it very clear, that No One is capable of keeping the Law so, it is Jesus who kept the Law where we could not and it is Jesus alone who kept the Law perfectly and the reason we have Grace is because of His righteousness that was imputed or given to our account.. A lot of people really don't understand which covenant they are living under. Some may even be confused and condemn themselves because, they feel that, they have not lived up to a perfect standard required by their pastor. They don't realize that, the purpose of the Law is to make one "guilty". So, a lot of people do good works in the church because they've been taught that it's demanded by God. The Old Covenant Law was for Jews (Israel) only. The New Covenant is for Jews and Gentiles (you/me). In Hebrews 8:6-7 it says; "But, now He hath obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been "faultless", then no place would have been sought for a second. The New Covenant is not of "Works but Rest in His work." The Apostle Paul struggled to keep believers from falling back under the OT Laws. Legalist of the day, tried to make the Gentiles (non Jews) keep the Jewish commandments of circumcision, the dietary commandments and the observance of special days but, the Apostle Paul taught that we are no longer under the law but under grace and churches who are preaching justification by keeping the law are blaspheming God and saying to God, that Christ died in vain ! Here is what Paul said in Gal 2:21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." Works in an attempt to please God is contrary to scripture but, most churches today hammer away at members to work work work ! People are pressured to perform more works by these false teachers and preachers who tell them "God honors what you do for the ministry and you gone be blessed" when in fact scripture teaches the opposite. Members are pressured into attendance every time the church door opens and are placed on a guilt trip if they don't perform. They are pressured into working in child care (nursery), Sunday school, outreach, nursing homes and manual labor for the church. Not to mention that, these churches "rarely" give their members the opportunity to exercise his or her spiritual gifts. The Bible teaches that, God hates works in a attempt to please Him-"let's prove it by the word".. Romans 4:4-6  "Now to him who (works), the wages (are not) counted as (grace) but (debt). But to him who does not work but, (believes) on Him who justifies the ungodly, his (faith) is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness (apart) from works ! Let's go to Galatians 5:4-6 "You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by the (Law) you have fallen from Grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope or righteousness by (faith) for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything but faith working through love. Colossians 2:20-22 "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world do you subject yourselves to regulations, "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle. Which all concern things that perish with the using-according to the commandments and doctrine of men..  These churches today have more heretical rules than the pharisees ! And if they can keep you under law, it will keep you from the object of your faith (Jesus) who is the New Covenant.. In order to please God we have to place our faith exclusively in Christ and what He did at the Cross, not your pastor !  "We are not under law, we have been saved by the grace of God and what the law could not do Christ did so you and I could be free from the law of sin and death. And, who the Lord made free is free indeed !! If you are in Christ, you are at liberty to live and do as Christ taught, we are not bound by the tradition of men. You and I are not bound by the ideas, theology, or opinion of men who call themselves pastors. Read what Jesus said in Mark chp. 7 regarding the tradition of men.. Christians who follow these modern day pharisees and saducees have no clue that, their worship (e.g. Sunday service) is done in vain and yet, they still will not study the word for themselves.. Listen, Jesus made the way for us to have access to the Father and the throne of grace. Before He died, He said; "It is finished" He paid the price and all we have to do is have faith in the finished work of Christ. We can not earn our way into the kingdom, Our works, church attendance, tithe and offerings, or being a good person etc: don't matter to God, those things are not our mediator ! It's Jesus Christ and Him Crucified... Let's get back to our first love !!