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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
An exposition of Romans 10:4, which says: "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes," will help in understanding what is means that Christians are n...
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Bob Rutz
Supporter
Paul wrote the entire book of Galatians to answer this specific question, and he did a bang-up job of it. Then the entire 15th chapter of Acts describes the ratification by the Jerusalem Apostles and Elders of Gentile Christians' freedom from the law. The Galatian Christians had been set free from obedience to the law by becoming obedient to the Holy Spirit (fulfilling Jesus' John 17 promise that He and The Father would come to live in them). But as soon as some of the zealous Jewish law-keeping Christians (see Acts 21:20) heard about this, they tore up to Galatia in a desperate attempt to drag these Gentile converts back into submission to the law code, and were succeeding! Paul, furious at their meek submission to this re-enslavement to the law, royally and lovingly chews out his Galatian children in Christ. Galatians is a marvelous read, and makes it all so crystal clear. Keep in mind, law-keeping Christians are not big on Bible studies in Galatians.
Singapore Moses
Supporter
God delivers from sin at the new birth (2Cor. 5:17-18 1Jn. 3:9; 5:1-4,18), so if you become subject to it again, it is because of your choice (Rom. 6:13). We are not under the law, but under grace. You are not under the law that demands obedience, without giving power to obey. You are under grace that demands the same strict obedience to God, but gives free pardon for sin and power to obey.
David Sutton
Supporter
The old law was fulfilled nailed to the cross.Rom15:4 things written afore time are for our learning. Col. 2:14 having been blotted out and nailed it to the cross. There are some similar things in the new covenant that are the same but there are many that are not. For new bible students I would suggest you read through the New Testament first. Then go back and read the entire bible. You will gain and understanding of fulfillment of prophecy that most seem to miss. We must not use the old law unless you want won't to be judged by it. I for one don't wont to go back to that. Animal sacrifice and all that was in that original law. Scripture says that if the first had of been perfect there would have been no need for the new covenant. We have all we need in the new, we are thoroughly furnished. We have the perfect law of liberty the New Testament. Once God winked at this ignorance but not that we have it all written down to clear up all confusion as to the difference between the old and new, it's up to us to study and understand what God expects of us to obtain our salvation. So the answer to your question is no we don't obey the old law. There are some that say we are still to obey the Ten Commandments and I agree that they are similar to some of the laws of today. But what about the one keeping the sabbath day. We worship on the first day of the week.
Penny G. Vera
Supporter
Hello, I would like to address this question with the reason Jesus needed to become a Human. Remember, Adam and Eve disobeyed God, that is sin. Every human child that was born to Adam and Eve and their decendence were born with sin. There was not one Human who could undo what Adam and Eve did. We just kept on sinning. Jesus, Son of God, (not Adam and Eve), Born of a Vergin, Clean from Sin, walked as a Man and did not disobey God, But OBEYED his every word. Gave up his life so that we, through Jesus, could be Born A New, in the Spirit. We are new creations, Jesus being the head and we are the body. Now we put on the Character of Jesus Christ daily, we die to the flesh and live for the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit. We fail and get back up again, why, because we are still Human beings. When we received Jesus as savior, we received the Holy Spirit, who teaches us, if we didn't need teaching, because we fail, then why would we need the Holy Spirit. He is our Guide, He is God in us. He will never leave us nor forsake us, never! Have Faith and keep on studying we are always learning.
George Delmindo
Supporter
To understand this question, one need to learn and understand how a person becomes a Christian in God's sight. Paul said in Romans 8:9 - "..Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,he is none of his". Now, verse 14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the SONS of God". The Spirit of Christ is also the Spirit of God, right? A person then becomes a Christian and so a son of God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and remains to be as long as the Holy Spirit is 'IN' him. In Acts 2:37-38, when Peter was asked by the jews of what should they do to get saved, Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". Repentance is turning away from sin, it means quitting from the habitual attitude of committing sin. Baptism is a symbol of death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Col 2:12- "..buried with him in baptism..". The Holy Spirit then will only reside in you after you have committed yourself to turn away from sin and believed in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, in his shed blood which justifies you. In other words, through repentance and baptism, you are forgiven of your sins, you are justified - forgiven. You are now 'SAVED' from the penalty of death which hangs on your head because of sin. There is therefore now no more condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who do not walk after the flesh but according to the Spirit (Rom 8:1). As a Christian, you are now no longer under the Law, because Christ paid the penalty for you by dying on the cross. You are now under 'grace', that is, 'undeserved pardon'. Sin is the transgression of the Law (1 John 3:4), the penalty of breaking the Law is Death, not just death, but the Second Death. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 6:23). When Jesus paid the penalty of death for you, through repentance and baptism, your sins are forgiven, but the sins that you are going to commit after that you have become a Christian is 'not included' (Rom 3:25), that is why John speaking to fellow Christians in 1 John 2:1 that ' if any man commit sin, we have an advocate to the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one'. Now, Jesus Christ is the vine, we Christians are the branches, the Father is the husbandsman, and the Holy Spirit is the sap. The sap flows from the vine to the branches. Now, if you as a Christian deliberately break God's Commandments thus committing sin willfully, the holy spirit will leave your body because it cannot remain in an unholy dwelling place. The sap will be cut off from the vine to the branch. The branch without the sap will soon wither and die and will be thrown into the fire. As a backslider, you are in grave danger of committing the unpardonable sin. If the Holy Spirit which already had found residence in you and left, and you suffered death or the Lord came which ever comes first, then, you have committed the unpardonable sin. Notice Hebrews 6:4 about what Paul said concerning this, "For concerning those who were once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the goodness of the Lord, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God to themselves again, and put him to open shame". Once a Christian fall away, he is again placing himself under the Law, and the Law will claim its price; the penalty of breaking the Law which is the Second Death, in the lake of fire.
James Kraft
Supporter
When we become believers, we become the children of God by faith. Now we are no longer under the law, but under grace. You can not mingle law with grace. It can only be one or the other. Under the law we could not be justified by keeping the law. The law was given to show us we are sinners and can not keep Gods laws to bring us to Christ for salvation. The minute we trusted in Him, (and he knows who has and who hasn't) we are justified by His life, death, and resurrection. We can no longer come under condemnation because Jesus fulfilled the law for us so that we can live under grace. We are made perfect in the eyes of God, and He will no longer impute sin to us. Romans 4:1-8 When we live by the law of faith, God does the work in us that we can not do. We can only receive from Him. We have nothing to offer from ourselves. We can only experience the righteousness of God by faith. Not works. As we submit our selves to Him, we wait for the righteousness of God by faith. Galatians 5:5 We have no righteousness in ourselves, our flesh, so our righteousness can only come from him who saved us by grace. If we try to live under the law we sever ourselves from Christ, and lose the blessing of the hope of righteousness in us without the law. The law could not save us. Only Jesus can save us. We can not live the Christian life. Jesus said we can do nothing without Him. But as we submit to his will, He works in us the righteousness of Christ. By faith, not works. We quit working, and He does the will of God in us by faith. The whole Christian life is only by faith. Not works. But when we sin, it has already been paid for by Christ. Where sin abounded, grace much more abounded. But God does chasten those he loves. Not to condemn us, but to bring us back into fellowship with him self. We can never again be condemned no matter what, because Jesus has bought us with His own blood. I like to explain it this way. We were in the devils dungeon in chains. We are waiting our execution, and looking forward to Hell. No way out. We have sinned and we have no way to pay the debt. Then we hear of Jesus, the Son of God who is able to pay the price, we can not pay. He offers to pay the whole price for us to deliver us from the dungeon. He sets us free from the curse of the law forever. He paid the whole price. If He had not paid it all we could not be free from the law. Praise God He did pay the whole price and is the only one who lived a sinless life and could do it. We have been bought with a price we could have never paid. He did it just because He loves us and gave Himself for us. What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bare. He is our righteousness before God. If He had not paid for all sin, we could not be saved. But He paid for the sins of the whole world, but just to those that believe on His name get the benefit. He continues to remove the sin from our lives as we walk by faith, not by works. Only He can do it. A leopard can not change its spots. The flesh can not make the flesh good. Only the Spirit that lives in us can do it as we submit to His will. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works that He has prepared that we should walk in them. Our hope is built on nothing else, than Jesus blood and His righteousness. We need to keep on keeping on in the faith that He will produce His righteousness in us that He promised He would do. We just wait upon the lord and let Him do the work in us by faith. Works salvation never works. We can only live under grace by faith. First John 5:13 These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Any church that says repenting of sin will save you, is living under the law. We can only confess sin. We can not make ourselves good enough to go to heaven by keeping the law. But we think we can.
Kelly Yochum
Supporter
"Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me]." 1CO 6:12 AMP God's grace, gifted to us by faith in His Son, has no limits. Paul is saying, by Faith, ALL THINGS are permissible for the Faithful, but not all things are profitable for life lived in Faith. In other words, can I sin and still go to Heaven? ABSOLUTELY. We are SAVED by Faith. We are not BEING SAVED by our works, or lack thereof. But I am not to allow sin to master me. I am not to "live in it". I am to live like my body is a Holy Temple of Christ. We never "have the right" to gain the Kingdom of Heaven. Rather, we have the right to damnation. We are given the "right" by Jesus Christ, through our faith, from the infinite grace of our Holy GOD and Father, in our belief that Jesus IS The Christ, Son of the Living GOD. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Romans 6:1-6 KJV Sin, even after Salvation, is inevitable while living in this wretched, mortal body of Flesh. Paul was Saved when he wrote this; "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." Ro 7:14-25 NKJV Unless "one" is living in sin, and sin is their master, don't ever count out the Work of The Holy Spirit in you to produce "Fruit". "Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." "If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1Co 3:12-15." NKJV
rogers ward
Supporter
I write this by permission from the Holy Ghost. Those who are under the law will be justified or condemned by the law. Those who are under grace will be justified by faith in Jesus henceforth the dream of the first and second heaven and earth. Those who are saved by the Law are reserved for the First Heaven and those by Christ, the second.
Holuwadamilarey Hardeloye
Supporter
Yes Christians are not under the law of Moses because the law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. That is, the nature we inherited from Adam and Eve. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed the control of sin over us by the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ as sacrifice for our sins. This is the fulfillment of the requirement of the Moses law which no human can accomplish. Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ,because the life giving spirit has freed us from the power of sin that leads to death. Hence, born again Christians are no longer under the law but under the grace. Please note that you cannot be sinning and ask that the grace to abound. Certainly Not.You have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do, if you are under the grace, but if you go ahead to obey your sinful nature, then you are under the law that will lead to death. This is my understanding of this question. Thanks and God bless.
Joe Spell
Supporter
I good study of the Puritan view "third use of the Law would be most helpful. The antinomian heresy is still alive and well in the misunderstandings of the eternal Law of God and its place in the Christians life. The third purpose of the law is to reveal what is pleasing to God. As born-again children of God, the law enlightens us as to what is pleasing to our Father, whom we seek to serve. The Christian delights in the law as God Himself delights in it. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This is the highest function of the law, to serve as an instrument for the people of God to give Him honor and glory. http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/sproul/threefold_law.html as well a many other sites
Terry Galloway
Supporter
I have read all the answers and comments and didn't notice anyone using some key Scriptures that I believe shine more light. Jesus Himself who is God said that He did not come to do away with the Law but to fulfill it. Read Matthew 5:17-20. Actually the entire Sermon on the Mount teaches the New Covenant that obedience to the 10 Commandments has been lifted to a higher standard-- the Law of Christ as Michael brought up (also read the answer about antinomianism and cheap grace, easy believism too). Jesus addresses every one of the 10 except for the Sabbath keeping which I believe it is because once we are born again every day is a Sabbath by dying to self and from the heart wanting to walk by the Spirit. The Sermon on the Mount really fulfills the Greatest Commandment to love. Also the last words of Jesus before His ascension is the Great Omission instead of the Great Commission if we don't make disciples who want to obey His teaching. I have been told by someone more learned than I that there are 405 Commands in the New Testament. We want to obey Him out of gratitude for His sacrifice like getting baptized as Jesus did (immersion) after being given repentance and the Holy Spirit. When Christ followers were being baptized back in Jesus' time, they were willing to die for identifying with Him. Today we still need to be willing to die for Christ. When He told His followers to take up their cross and follow they understood that as being willing to die a gruesome death. Many have been martyred and many more will be. Until Jesus returns they cry out to God from under His throne "How long must we wait for you to avenge our blood?". Not a popular teaching today, but Jesus is the Judge and Master. Many think of Him only as Savior and not as Lord. Many think Jesus said hate the sin, but love the sinner but it was Ghandi. Jesus warned about hell way more than he talked about heaven. He also talked a lot about money. He gave the bad news before He chose those to receive the Good News. 1 John tells us a lot about who is really saved. Also look at : 1 Peter 4:16-18 and all of 2 Peter but particularly 2 Peter 1:3-11 that says do these things so you will never fall away. Be very careful to have ears that discern false teaching by really knowing what the Bible says. There are many prominent false teachers that as Jude warns us about say that God's marvelous grace us to live immoral lives. Jude and 2 Peter even warn us that even the angels were judged and put in hell for disobedience (sinning) and not submitting to God's authority. All creation (us) will be judged by the Creator. Those who have the Holy Spirit will have a judgment that burns up everything we did on our own and rewards for the works that the Holy Spirit did through us. He is the Potter and we are the clay. We are to be doers of the Word and at war with Satan.
Moonlit Oracle
Supporter
The Commandments which were required under the law were essentially easier to follow than the ones under Grace. As under the old Covenant of Moses it was permissible to merely not act out on your thoughts or emotions, if you murdered someone, you were in violation. But because we are now born again into His Kingdom, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and made a New Creation, we are no longer able or tolerate; feelings or thoughts which are violating Kingdom Principles, due to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If you only think hateful thoughts, or look at someone in envy or lust, you are trespassing against the Father's plans, will and heart for you. Which is what sin is. Your heart and conscience is pressed into confession and repentance through His Spirit, to keep you on your path, with loving correction and discipline when needed. It is always needed. Two people can be sitting in silence, and one could be sinning in their heart, and the other one is not. And outside His Kingdom, in this world you are always under the law still and unable to be completely free from sin, because you are not born again and living life as a Citizen of His Kingdom, that can only be done in God's Kingdom, when you literally exchange your citizenship from this world and your life, to that of His Kingdom, and His life, plans and purpose for you.This is a literal, spiritual and legal transaction as well. Which is important for the Father, because there is no dual-citizenship possible, He prefers order and that is why the legal side of things matter to Him, as a real Father as well. That is why His Gospel, of the Kingdom, is so important and the only Truth that sets us free. In all ways possible, many seen and unseen ways. And it can only be revealed in relationship with Jesus, as a true King, because He is more alive than we are. And always wanting to mediate and lead us into His Kingdom and closer to the Father, which can only come through a fully surrendered life, to Him and because of love and wanting to be free from our false and worldly identity, to live a good, whole, healthy and empowered life. For His Kingdom. That is the only reason we are Created. And the only manner in which we are able to reveal to others what kind of King Jesus is, and what His Kingdom is all about. Because without relationship, you have no idea what His Gospel is about, no idea what kind of King Jesus is, and nothing to teach anyone. Because all revelation [only] comes from relationship. If Jesus doesn't trust you, you receive no revelation and teaching, or the ability to be raised into Kingdom Citizenship. Because you, with your life and choices, prefer your own Gospels, teachings and ways of living. While Jesus is more alive than we are and His Gospel is not an option, it's a Mandate. For our own best interest because He loves us. But as long as you go your own way, you are essentially trespassing against the Father's will, mind and heart for you every day, as Jesus exampled how we are to live, with His life and legacy. There is no actual authentic life possible outside His Kingdom. Which is an actual spiritual realm, and a real place, merely not visible yet. But that is why it was His only Gospel, message and teaching. He called us into an impossible lifestyle of healing, deliverance, raising the dead, signs and wonders, seeking for a Kingdom you cannot see yet, those are impossible things for the carnal mind and heart, but through the Holy Spirit and applying our faith, and truly surrendering, we can do the impossible. With Him in relationship every day. Those who seek, shall find. And they will be entrusted with all they need to live their purpose on behalf of His Kingdom. Receive their full inheritance and be a blessing unto others who need Him so dearly. Be blessed. And be free.
Aurel Gheorghe
Supporter
Paul the Apostle writes extensively about the freedom from the law - “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18) and “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Among others, these two texts are the foundation for the much loved teaching that the Ten Commandments (TC) were abolished at the cross, and we are not saved by keeping the law, only by grace. Incidentally, the last part is very true, the law cannot save anyone. Taken out of context these texts can create the impression that the TC are not binding, but most importantly are in contradiction with the rest of the Bible - please read John 14:15; Luke 16:17; Psalm 89:34; Romans 7:12; 1 John 3:15; James 2:10; Matthew 5:17: 5:21, 22; 5:27, 28. Are we then saved by keeping the law? NOT AT ALL! No one can be saved by keeping the law. Salvation comes only through grace, as a free gift from Jesus Christ, received by faith, not by works. The TC is only a mirror pointing out sin in our lives. Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:20. According with Hebrews 11 all O.T. heroes were saved by faith, just like you and me. All who have been saved have been saved by grace (2 Timothy 1:9). Noah found grace (Genesis 6:8), Moses found grace (Exodus 33:17), the Israelites in the wilderness found grace (Jeremiah 31:2); no one was saved by works. Paul is very clear, the law still matter: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15) and "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (Romans 3:31). Imagine a death row inmate who was set free - pardoned. The pardon give him grace, forgives him, he is not under the punishment of the law any longer, but it does not give him freedom to break one single law on the statute books. The forgiven person, living under grace, is under still under the obligation to keep the law. A person who rebelliously breaks God's law, saying that he is living under grace is being deceived (1 John 3:4; Ephesians 5:6; 1 Timothy 1:8-10).
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