@lamninator, you are completely right about how when one is suffering, the last thing he needs is condemnation - and it's so prevalent in some circles.
When you wrote about the law, I thought of a question, and forgive me if this is offensive. Do you believe the point of the gospel is to focus on following the law? Like out of love for Jesus we will follow the law? Paul points out that the purpose of the law is to be our schoolmaster that leads us to the true knowledge of Christ, insomuch as it's a measuring stick showing us that we don't measure up and it reveals our sinful nature. Yes, it is perfect and good, but the works of the law are dead works without the spirit and it's fruit: Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control (and against such there is no law). Through this fruit the law becomes part of our fiber and transcends it at the same time by causing it to be obsolete to those who walk in the spirit.
Thank you for reading my article and for your thought provoking comment. I'm following you now too! :)
I would even go so far as to say that we aren't even required to follow the 10 commandments. We have a new law that has been introduced by a new covenant and a new priesthood. (Hebrews chapters 7-9). That law is the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2), also known as the Law of the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2), also known as love. Because loving your fellow Christian is loving God and love does no harm to it's neighbor, therefor love is the fulfillment of the law. See Romans 13:10, 1 John 2:7, 3:23, 4:21.
I do not believe that is the point of the gospel, and I agree with you there wholeheartedly. Funny enough as it is, abiding by God's law is something that seems to come about naturally should we choose to follow Jesus in our hearts -- a byproduct.
I suppose the point I was trying to make was: the legalistic approach generally turns into a form of self-tyranny...which in my eyes doesn't work too well. Anyway! Looking forward to reading your future stuff!