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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The key to understanding the relationship between the Christian and the Law is knowing that the Old Testament law was given to the nation of Israel, not to Christians. Some of the laws were to reve...
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Nathan Toronga
Supporter
A one-word answer is "Yes". The Law is a reflection of God, and was there BEFORE Moses, hence ".....Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws". Genesis 26:5 KJV. This law is in HEAVEN as we speak today. Revelation 15:5 and Revelation 11:19. Understand this: there is no grace if there is no sin. And there is no sin if there is no law. And there is no law if there is no God. Thus, this is the sequence: God -> Law -> Transgression (by man) -> Atonement (death of the innocent in the place of the guilty - done by Jesus) -> Grace (second chance for the spared sinner to abide by the requirements of the law). This is best illustrated by Jesus in the parable of the fig-tree in the vineyard (Luke 13:6-9). The fig-tree was given the fourth year (wherein it was supposed to be cut down), so that the following year, it would meet the Owner's expectations. Dear friends, how much sense does this make to you: A man is convicted of armed robbery. He's sentenced to death. The Judge's Son offers Himself to die for this convict. The convict's set free. Two days later, he's back in business, committing armed robbery. Because, he reasons, I was set free from the law of armed robbery. I should be dead but someone took up my place. How much sense does this make to you? Naught, zilch! "Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law". Romans 3:31. See also Romans 6:15-18 and Romans 1:5. For the record, the real quarrel is on the 4th Commandment, and dietary laws, which people prefer to neglect at all costs. Now, the Sabbath law was observed by Jesus, the apostles (and Paul, who was especially recorded several times), and Paul attended with Gentiles! Misquoted Scripture supposedly justifying lawlessness: 1. Colossians 2:16 'Do not let anyone JUDGE you with regards to.......' This must be read together with (a) 2 Peter 3:14-17 (b) John 8:7 (c) James 4:11-12 (d) Matthew 7:1 All these verses, rather than promoting sin (1 John 3:4 KJV), are simply telling the believer that he must not subject himself to judgment, nor judge others. Period. Nothing more, nothing less. 'Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.' Galatians 3:25. 2. Galatians 3:1-3. The central theme here is that no one will be declared righteous by observing the law, and none can achieve salvation via the route of the law. See Romans 3:23, Romans 3:20, 2 Chronicles 6:36, 1 John 1:8-10. Hence, we cannot observe the law so that we can get saved. Rather, we observe the law BECAUSE we are saved. 1 John 3:9, 1 John 2:4, 2 Peter 1:19-21, Romans 5:8, Acts 17:30. 3. Acts 20:7 NIV. People have tenaciously clung to this verse in order to justify violating the seventh-day Sabbath. 'On the first day of the week, we came together to break bread.' (See also Acts 2:46). Bread was broken ANY day, and mostly in homes. This was what they had gathered to do. It was NOT a Church service. Moreover, this was at the end of the Sabbath (because the biblical day runs from sunset to sunset following). Paul took advantage of the bread-breaking gathering to 'speak' to the people. And went on until midnight. This was a home gathering, to break bread. It was not the institution of an alternative day of sacred assembly. 4. 1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV 'On the first day of every week, EACH ONE of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, SAVING it up, so that WHEN I COME no collections will have to be made'. (used to justify sunday observance rather than the Sabbath) Please note: people were to stock their offerings weekly, at home. Then, when Paul arrived, ON THE SABBATH, for that was the only day they met at Church (Acts 13:42-45), they would not have to waste time deciding how much they wanted to give. All the misquoted Scriptures will only backfire, for 'Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever' Hebrews 13:8. Conclusion: Yes, the SAVED observe the Torah. Bless.
Jason Dalrymple
Supporter
"If you love me keep my commandments". "Love is the fulfilling of the law" "so the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." We do not keep the law to be saved, we keep the law because we are saved! "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to Gods law; indeed, it cannot." Therefore "Those who are in the flesh CANNOT please God" Rom 8:7,8 BUT..."God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do (make us clean). By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for a sin offering, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteousness requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Rom 8:2-4 The law is at the very foundation of heaven, happiness, and Gods government. However we could not fulfill the requirements of this law because of our human nature weakened by sin, nor could we make atonement for our past sins, this is why Jesus came to not only pay our past debt but to through His blood "equip us with everything good that we may do His will" Heb 13:21 We cannot in and of ourselves keep the law, but if we "by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body (sin) we will live" Rom 8:13 This is how God can be just, and the justifier (pardoner) of those who believe in Jesus. God is just (thank You Lord), and He does not change. The requirement for happy peaceful living is still the same as it always has been. He did not lower the standard for dwelling with Him, but rather gave us the power to reach the standard! And even when we have the character of Christ perfectly reproduced in us we still are not justified in His sight, it is only through the blood of Jesus that we are justified. We are saved by grace! This does not however negate the law. In fact the very language of the new covenant states that He will "put my laws on there hearts, and write them on their minds" Heb 10:16 Will this not shape our life's? Do we "presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that Gods kindness is meant to lead us to repentance?" Rom 2:4 If the law is indeed done away with than how de we know what right and wrong are? Everything is a grey area. Your definition of right and wrong could be different than mine, who's right? "Oh, well God will just judge us according to what we believe" some might say. God is not mocked! And He is no respecter of persons. God has given us the definition of right and wrong. There is no saving power in the law, it is merely how we can know for sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt what is right and wrong. "And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the WILL of God abides forever" 1 jn 2:17 This makes it seem pretty important that we know what his will is. If we know God/Jesus and have a true appreciation for what they have done for us than we will want to do the things that please them. How do we know what pleases God? "For this IS the love of God, (love for God) that we keep His commandments" 1Jn 5:3 "If you love me keep my commandments" says Jesus. True love (love is the fulfilling of the law) for God and our neighbor is shown when we: 1. Make God first in our life, 2. Don't try to bring God Almighty down to our level by making an image and worshiping it as god, 3. don't profess to be followers of God when we are really followers of our flesh 4. take time, (that God not man, has made holy) and spend with Him and in the furthering of His kingdom, 5. honor our parents 6. don't hate anyone, or murder them 7. do not lust after anyone, or commit adultery 8. do not steal from anyone 9. do not lie 10. do not want something that is not ours The first 4 show us exactly how to show love to God, and the last six show us exactly how to show love to our fellow human beings. The sacrificial law was to point to Jesus, it is no longer needed or applicable.
Meluleki Maphosa
Supporter
There are few topics that present such opposed views as this one! I propose a radically different approach to the subject. Reading through the responses above one can summarise them simply into 2 views, one that says we are no longer under the law and extensively quote from the writings of Paul. The other maintains that we are still required by God to keep the law (all of it as enshrined in the 10 Commandments). I am going to approach it from the point of view that God never changes. He is Omniscient (sees the end from the beginning) Using this logic one is tempted to ask: If our God is indeed God and Omniscient why would He institute a Convenant and later realise that this is not working and then change it and say "Sorry about that the first one did not work out try this New Convenant, I am sure this one is going to work"? Would you trust in such a God. God says I change not I am God! Unfortunately some of the arguments I see above are reducing God to the human level. We argue that God put a plan in place for man to be saved. But becaue it failed miserably in the Old Testament, He then thought of a new one and decided to write the lwas in their hearts instead of tablets of stone. Infact he then said the problem is the law let me do away with it completely! The effect of these statements is to accuse God of being unfair to all those people in the Old Testament! We are in fact better than God because we can see how unfair God was! I am sorry my Christian friends I submit that this kind of thinking is faulty if down right unchristian. Let us let God be God and we obey Him. Let us not presume to think for Him. Another issue that I want to present in my thesis is that we quote Paul so extensively everytime we argue about the law and the Sabbath. Isn't it dangerous that we quote one author at the expense of 90% of all other scripture? One principle of biblical understanding is that all scripture is harmonious and does not contradict each other. Wherever there appears to be a contradiction we are the ones who are failing to understand scripture. The arguments presented by others are contradictory to other parts of the Bible that we need to take time to pray for inspiration to understand these passages. Remember that even Peter admitted that a lot of people were failing to understand what Paul was saying in his books. I must say that those that are advocating for the law are also arguing that the law will not save us. If i understood them correctly, they are saying the sequence is that the law points out your faults (sins) and points you to Jesus for grace. Once "declared" righteous, you are saved. One thought that struck me was that if the law is a mirror to show me my filth, if there was an enemy of mine who wanted me to remain filthy to the end, they would simply take away the mirror! That way I am guaranteed to remain filthy still. This is food for thought. Are you going to tolerate such an enemy? In conclusion it seems to me that the law is not the central issue to this debate. We have established that God does not change and nothing takes Him by surprise. If God said you shall keep this commandments and later Jesus said If you love Me keep my commandments we shall do well to obey. The central issue is obedience to God rather than the clever arguments of man. Another critical thought is that we should never dare to seperate the bible into 2, the old new testaments. Jesus himslef read form there, Paul, Peter and all the apostles they based their sermons from there. The reason why we argue so much about the law is because we are seperating the 2 from each other. Finally please mediate upon Heb4:2 "For this same gospel that is preached to us was the same gospel that was preached to them....". God does not change He not give different standards to different people at different times.
Ezekiel Kimosop
Supporter
DO CHRISTIANS HAVE TO OBEY THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW? By Ezekiel Kimosop Do believers have to obey the Old Testament Law? Put differently, this question can ask: Are believers bound by the Jewish law in its entirety? My answer is an emphatic No! Now let us examine the scriptural position. Christ indeed consummated the Law because he clearly declares in Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." The Greek word for "fulfill" means to render full or to complete. This means that Christ came to give divine completeness to the Law which was hitherto temporal, incomplete, ineffectual. The law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) therefore triumphs over the Jewish Law. Why? Paul teaches in Romans 8:1-3 that the Law of the Spirit of life has freed us from the law of sin and death. This is a demonstration of the substitutionary power that Christ brought. He legally repealed the Law in its entirety so that henceforth His law took its place and exclusively reigns in our hearts. In Hebrew thought the idea of release or freedom is associated with the freeing of men who were in legal bondage, a condition of servitude. The bondman had no liberty from his master till either of two things happened: First, upon the redemption of the debt on which his bondage was pegged. The second window of opportunity could only come on the Year of Jubilee when all debts were cancelled and bondmen released and every man was restored unto his land (Leviticus 25:10-17). Jesus accomplished both dimensions of the law. He paid our legal debt on the Cross and proclaimed our Jubilee once and for all. When Paul speaks of the law of the Spirit of Christ granting us liberty, he clearly understood that nothing was owing on the previous debt on which our spiritual bondage was established by reason of the sin and disobedience of Adam. Jesus has therefore fully paid for our release from the demands of the law and no believer is obliged to serve under its grievous yoke for in so doing we shall have regrettably fallen from the grace of Christ back to the bondage of the Law (Galatians 5:4). Why does Paul relate the Jewish Law to sin and death in Romans 8:1-3? The Law pointed to the sin or trespass but had no real cure for our sinful condition. We were bound to break the law over and over again because the law did not reform the heart to obedience. It only prescribed the sanction for sin. Christ alone has the cure for our sinfulness (cf. Jeremiah 17:9). James teaches that when sin matures it gives birth to death. This is because the wages of sin is death (James 1:13-15, Romans 3:23, 6:23). The Law hopelessly held its adherents captive [just as a jailor does a prisoner] until Christ. Jesus brought the true freedom by his atoning death. He set the prisoners free [Isaiah 61, Luke 4:18-19], and proclaimed our final release from the bondage of the Law. The only section of Jewish law that was carried into the New Testament is the moral law which governs our relationships with man and God. The Ten Commandments do apply to us only to their moral extent and no further. The commandment on the Sabbath is a ritual that has been fulfilled in Christ. Believers are not bound to keep the Sabbath or any other Jewish ritual such as Passover, Feast of Shelters or Feast of Taberbanacles. We have entered the true Rest with Christ because He has fulfilled the divine works required by God. We are not even bound by the circumcision rite or indeed any other ritual except to adore and worship Christ who redeemed us by His blood. It is therefore superfluous for a Bible teacher or any church denomination to seek to return believers back into legal bondage by insisting that the Jewish ritual laws [or sections thereof] are binding on us in Christ (see Galatians 5:1-15). Church worship services can be held during any day of the week. Most Christians worship on Sunday out of convenience
Dan Rivers
Supporter
The Apostle Paul did and said all he could to inform us that we are not under the Law. In fact we are cursed if we attempt to follow the dictates of the Law... Gal 3:10 NIV - "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do EVERYTHING written in the Book of the Law."" Whom among you can do EVERYTHING written in the Book of the Law? Christians are not under the law. Christ fulfilled the law Matt 5:17, Rom 10:4, and began the covenant of Grace at the cross...the Holy Spirit was not made available to believers until after Jesus' sacrifice on the cross...John 7:39 Rom 6:14 NIV - "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." Rom 5:13 NIV - "To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law." That's also why the Apostle John wrote: 1John 3:9 NKJV - "Whoever has been born of God DOES NOT sin, for His seed remains in him; and he CANNOT sin, because he has been born of God." And the reason we are able to do what is pleasing to God is because we now have the indwelling Holy Spirit in us, guiding us in our daily walk and making us able and willing to do all things that are pleasing to God... Phil 2:13 NLT - For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. As I said above Paul wrote tons of scripture about this...Paul IS the Apostle to the Gentiles...Rom 11:13, Gal 2:8, Acts 9:15...Mysteries unknown to anyone were revealed to him...Eph 3:2-4, Gal 1:12, etc...so please read his writings and pray for understanding and be freed from the bondage of the Law... Because the surest way to FALL from Grace is to continue to follow the Law... Gal 5:4 NIV - "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." The only command that Christians are to follow is the NEW command given to us by Jesus himself. A command that he says is NEW because it does not exist in the Old Testament or anywhere else. That command is...Jhn 13:34 NLT - So now I am giving you a NEW commandment: Love each other. Just AS I have loved you, you should love each other. Yes this command does not say, "...love your neighbor AS YOURSELF" it says, "...love one another AS I (Jesus) have loved you" That is totally different and NEW! Following the Law meant you had to do it all for the Lord, under Grace the Lord has done it ALL for us! All Glory and Praise to the Lord!
Casper Mcconnell
Supporter
Yes of course we do as Jesus also did, not bound by letter legalism as the Pharisee lawyers but like the law giver who knew and loved the purpose and spirit of Gods rules. So why did God give so many rules? A father who loves his baby son will give gentle guidance, then as he grows up will discipline. This teaches his son who the father is, his likes and dislikes, gives an inner knowledge of righteous thought and actions. God did this as He lived among Israelites for generations till they got to know lots more of the character of God. First the covenant with Abraham. Search this out, it is the promise to Abraham than Christians depend on for our adoption as Sons and daughters of the kingdom. That includes the tithes of Abraham to. Next the Moses law and covenant. This is a special promise exclusively to Israel e.g. "honor parents to live long on the land I give" These teach us food hygiene and fair play. Not our laws? Christ fulfilled these laws of sacrifice by telling us to give far more than was demanded by Moses. Cut your penis becomes circumcise your heart. Give tenth becomes All is mine to bless extravagantly. People will try to quote Jesus as canceling the old law by saying "love God with heart mind and strength and neighbor no less than self" but this IS the old law Deuteronomy 6:5. Jesus wants us to know and love that law just as David did. Lord write these Your laws on my heart that my feet will not depart from Your ways
Christopher Crocker
Supporter
This exact question was asked and answered already. We have the entire event recorded in Acts. There is no debate about it. Acts 15 is all about this issue. Paul and Barnabas, in Acts 14, were speaking in Antioch. Verse 27 - "And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles." This leads us to the very question asked here. Beginning in Acts 15:1 we see - "But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”" Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to discuss this issue, and in verses 4 and 5 - "When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” " After some stories by Peter and Paul in a fantastic chapter I highly recommend reading, it is decided the answer to this question is an emphatic NO. Acts 15:19-21 - "Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” Later, this is reiterated in Acts 15:28-29 - "For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” Fellow Christians, Scripture is clear. We do not need to follow the law of Moses recorded in the Old Testament. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
JD Abshire
Supporter
WE need to read Isiah 64:6 "But we all are as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Have you looked up the definition of "filthy rags" in this context? It is a menstrual rag/cloth, get the picture?. It does not say some of our righteousnesses but ALL are like filthy rags. The only righteousness a person can claim is that which is imputed (laid to his account) by the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit through the new birth. Even so, we are not righteous but declared righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Christ, although totally without sin was made to be sin or a sin offering for us that we might be declared righteous in him. To suggest that a saved individual must keep the law is to practice Judaism. They tried to keep it but as Paul stated in Romans 10:2-4 " "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Galatians 3:1 "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" Galatians 3:2 "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" Galatians 3:3 "Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Galatians 3:4 "Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain." Galatians 3:5 "He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" Galatians 3:6 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Galatians 3:7 "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham" If you are basing your eternal security on works or your ability to keep the law, you are dead in your trespasses and sins and will spend eternity separated from God. Question: My dog does not drink, smoke, chew or run with dogs that do. Does that make him a Christian?
Ken van Zyl
Supporter
Mat 5:17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill. Mat 5:18 For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled. Acts 3:22 quotes what Moses said about the Prophet that would come after him. The new prophet would be like him and tell people God’s will and Laws. In Acts 3:23 it says that those who do not listen to this prophet will be destroyed from among the people. This prophet being alluded to is Jesus. In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus tells us that all power in the universe is His and that we are to teach in His name the commands He gave and to teach people to follow them. Hebrews 1:1-2 says that God spoke by the prophets in the past and by His son in these days, showing Jesus to be the Prophet like Moses referred to earlier, since that is the case we should follow the commands of Jesus, as He is the Ruler of all things. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to destroy Moses’ laws but to fulfill them. Moses’ laws established the relationship between God and man while Jesus’ teachings built further on these and brought them to fruition. Until we come to truly know and understand God’s truth in Jesus, we find our guidance in the laws of Moses. Once we have come to truly know Jesus’ commands and commission we come to rely on them and no longer on the laws of Moses. Once we have accepted Jesus’ truth in our lives we find our guidance in Jesus which will by of itself keep us within the constraints of Moses’ laws. Though they are still in force, we no longer find ourselves bound by Moses’ laws since we found the truth in Jesus. Jesus did bring a new truth, a new way of serving God, a new way of being obedient to the will of God. It was not possible that people under the law of Moses could keep all of the thou shalt and thou shalt nots so He installed a new way a new covenant the law of grace that has a perfect sacrificial lamb - Jesus - who takes away the sins of the world. * Rom 8:3-4 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ** Rom 3:21-25 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. The question of obeying the Old Law, or the Law of Christ; you cannot obey both. Jesus fulfilled the Old Law and we read in Col 2:14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross." The purpose of the Old Law was to point out what sin is and to show us that we are sinners. Rom. 7:4 says we have become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that we should be married to another...verse 6 says "but now we are delivered from the law, that being dead therein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." We are not under the old law or the Law of Moses, we are under the Law of Christ.
Bruce Lyon
Supporter
Notice: A Hagar B Mt. Sinai C slavery D the present city of Jerusalem D´ the Jerusalem that is above C´ freedom B´ (Mt. Zion) A´ our mother. Notice what Paul says in Galatians: Galatians 1:6-7: ¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. How did they pervert the good news message of Jesus? These Judaizers wanted to bring Gentile believers under the law of Moses and thus bring them under the curse of the law - for if you don't keep all of it perfectly you are under a curse. Paul now says something radically in opposition to nail the Judaizers when he says: Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Paul went up to Jerusalem by revelation to confront those who wanted to insist on Gentile believers being circumcised and be brought under the old covenant, and he says he went up because - Genesis 1:4... because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Notice he says that there were those who wanted to bring the Gentile believers into bondage - bondage to the law of Moses and take them out of the liberty that they had in the lord Messiah Jesus. Notice his important words in the following verse: Galatians 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Notice what Paul says here: Galatians 1:19-21 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ - the anointed one: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Do we not realize that when we were bapised we show that we died with Jesus and when we came up out out the water we were introduced to newness of life - resurrection life - the life of the coming new age! If I am crucified with the anointed one - Christ the law can have no power over me, therefore I am dead to the law. Notice what Paul says here: Galatians 3:11-14: But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith - the one who is righteous by faith shall live. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them [and if he does not he is under a curse]. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. I have tears in my eyes as I write read these verses about the anointed one Jesus becoming a curse for my sins in order that I might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Amazing Grace. Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise [the promise to inherit the world, to co-inherit and co-rule the world with Jesus the Messiah]. This is our awesome future, it is our present hope. What an awesome future we have in Jesus our lord and savior. May we live out our lives reflecting him
Shantkumar S. Kunjam
Supporter
Do Christians have to obey the O.T. laws? This question can be answered a bit differently also. Christians do not have to obey any law, including the O.T. law. The Christians are new creation made after the image and likeness of God in Jesus Christ. Hence Christians live the law of God habitually by the power of the Holy Spirit. Christians are people of the New Covenant where God has promised to write His law in their hearts (Jer. 31:31-34; and read the commentary on this in chapters 9 and 10 of the book of Hebrews). They are not told by external law codes how to live a godly life. They habitually know and know by the inner guidance of the Holy Spirit how to live a godly life (Is. 30:21). Law codes are given, not for the godly people, but for the ungodly people (1 Tim. 1:8-11). For example, if someone goes to somebody's house and finds that no one is home, though the house is open. He calls the people of the house loudly but no one answers. He notices that many valuable things are kept in open. Will that person do stealing? If that person is not godly then he will have option of stealing or not stealing. Perhaps because of the fear of the law he may not steal, but if the covetousness overpowers him then he will steal. But a born-again Christian will not steal, rather he cannot steal because that is against his godly character, and even if he is overpowered by covetousness for a moment and steals, then the Holy Spirit will not let him be in peace until he has gotten rid of that stealing (1 Jn. 2:1-2). The Psalmist in Ps. 32:8-9 gives an example of two kinds of people. In v. 8 the godly people are pictured who do not need outside code to live righteous life, but v. 9 pictures unruly and ungodly people who need outside code and control. So the question arises, Do born-again Christians need to read and meditate on the Bible? And the answer is emphatic, Yes. They read the Bible not as book of codes of conduct, not simply as reference book, but to commune with God by prayerful reading, to sharpen their godliness, to keep themselves tuned with God in life and for all the things they have to do (2 Cor. 3:17-18; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). Let me give just one more example. A piano player first consults books and tutors for learning to play piano. But once he has learned the basics he does not need those first books. Later on he completely leaves behind all the books and tutors. But he still practices when he has to perform and practices to sharpen his skill. So our question, Do Christians have to obey the O.T. law? Yes, but not as a means to earn favor of God or of the society, but because they are God's people. Even they keep the O.T. ceremonial laws, not as external rituals but they keep the spirit of those laws. They sacrifice their own body (Rom. 12:1-2; Phil. 2:17), they offer sacrifices by bringing others to Christ (Rom.15:17), they offer sacrifices of praise and good works (Heb. 13:15-16), they offer sacrifices of helping fellow Christians (Phil. 4:18), etc. In this way we born-again Christians are to keep and obey the O.T. law.
Christine LaRocca
Supporter
Hello. The Book of Galatians was written to those who were not understanding what grace is and to those who insisted we keep the law. (It is impossible for anyone to keep the law, even after salvation.) They were adding law to grace. Paul wrote to them, "Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." (Galatians 3:24, 25) The law was given so that man would understand what sin was. Jesus became sin for us. Jesus Christ fulfills the law. Jesus Christ commands us, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is no other commandments greater than these." (Mark 12:30, 31) In John 14, Jesus reminds us that love is equal to obedience. Paul states "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!" (Romans 6:14, 15) Furthermore, "For by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's (Jesus') obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 19-21) I found another wonderful verse, after I signed off last night. Listen to this. Paul is speaking: "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." That is a great summary of what we are discussing.
Gerritt Schuitema
Supporter
I'm a little late to this, and no doubt there is good material above. But I hope this sheds some light, as this will be very short, and it is not from me. Perhaps, a new perspective and a way no one had thought of it before. God bless this to all our souls: "The fact that morality or duty, what he calls the law, never yet made a man happy in himself, or dear to others, is shocking but undeniable. We do not wish to be, or to live among people who are clean, honest, or kind as a matter of duty. We want to be, and associate with people who like being clean, honest, and kind. The mere suspicion that what seemed like an act of spontaneous friendliness or generosity was really done as a duty, suddenly poisons it. Morality is only healthy when it is trying to abolish itself. The whole purpose of the gospel is to deliver us from morality." - Lewis on Tyndale 'Christ is the end of the law' - Rom 10:4 "Christ didn't come to make immoral people moral, he came to make spiritually dead people, alive." - Piper
Emanuel khangale
Supporter
To understand this issue better, let’s start by looking how God relates to mankind in different ways at different times, the bible calls it administration/dispensation). In the bible we have many administrations which come from God who does not change (Mal 3:6) but he changed the way he related with mankind. Thus, it is often the case that failing to recognize dispensational distinctions leads people to doggedly continue to practice aspects of the law administration that are no longer required. When it comes to Animal sacrifices, everyone agrees, but when it comes to other laws in the Old testament, there is a great confusion. Examples include the necessity of water baptism for salvation, the necessity of good work, the necessity of tithe, etc. Recognizing that the church of the body of Christ is a different entity from either Jews or gentiles makes it easier to understand what the commandments of the lord are for the church As dispensationalists, we Honour the Bible as the word of God, which cannot contradict itself. Nevertheless, realize that the whole bible cannot apply to us. We cannot be commanded to both sacrifice and not sacrifice, and to both circumcise and not circumcise. We cannot be allowed more than one wife (Exodus 21:10; Deut 21:15) and only one wife (1 Cor 7:2) at the same time. It cannot be a capital crime to break the Sabbath (exodus 31:14 and 15: numbers 15:32-36) And at the same times to be a crime at all (Romans 14:5 and 6; Col 2:16). There is no question that God has changed the rules man is to live by, but which and when? The real value of dispensation is that it helps to clarify and resolve what would otherwise be unresolvable contradictions. My answer to the question is NO we are not to obey old testament law because we are not in the dispensation of law but we are under the dispensation of grace (Romans 6:14), for sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace, in (Romans 7:1-6) verse 6. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the spirit and not in the old way of the written code, because we are in Christ and Christ in us. Romans 10:4 for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. (Mat 5:17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Indeed Jesus fulfilled the law by doing what the law requires for us to do and he became the righteous of god by keeping the law perfect. (2 Co 5:21). Of course Jesus did not destroy the law but if you are a born again Christian you are a righteousness of God because righteousness is a gift for god (Rom 5:17). For, if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) and the law is not for righteous people 1 Ti 1:8-10. "The scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus". Gal 3:22-26 Why was the law given at the first place (Gal 3:19) wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Did the seed come? Yes (Gal 3:16) now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ.
Tega Edafiogho
Supporter
Should a Christian follow the Old Testament? The short answer is No. The mere fact that there is a old and a new mean that there are differences. Because the two are not continuations, they don't mix. If you follow the old you cannot follow the new. Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. (Luke 5:36-38 NKJV) In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. -Hebrews 8:13 KJV What part of 'you are not under the law' don't people understand? Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. -Romans 3:19 KJV For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. -Romans 6:14 So what part of the law has been changed? 1. Animal sacrifice - There is no argument in Christianity about this, it is clear that we are not to offer animal sacrifice because Christ is our sacrifice (John 1:2) 2. The Sabbath - It was forbidden for anyone in the OT (Old Testament) to work on Saturday, you were put to death if you did. Some Christians are willing to fight and die for the Sabbath, but they don't keep it. There is not just a Sabbath day but also a Sabbath year (Leviticus 24:5), these Christians don't even know there is a Sabbath year they aren't keeping. Leviticus chapter 25 is dedicated to explaining the Sabbath year, during the jubilee Sabbath year all debts are to be annulled. Someone argues "but it is one of the Ten Commandments!". The sabbath is a shadow. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17 NKJV) Now I go to church on Sunday because it is resurrection day (Matthew 28:1) and that when the first century church (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2) not first century Jews. Jesus himself customarily went to the synagogue on sabbath (Luke 4:16), but he did not "keep" the sabbath (Matthew 12:5-8, Mark 2:23-28). No verse of the NT (New Testament) command us to keep the sabbath. 3. Circumcision - Luke 12:3 commands circumcision on the eighth day, Christ was circumcised on eight day (Luke 1:59). Acts 15:5 the Jews wanted circumcision but in Galatians 5:2,6 Apostle Paul counters this. 4. Dietary laws - Leviticus chapter 11 gives a long list of animals you must not eat. Now in the New Testament what meat you eat does not matter in Acts 10:10-15. Telling people not to eat meat that God declared clean is wrong, 1 Timothy 4:4-5 declare that all animals are clean and sanctified. So eat pork, shrimps and lobster if you want, and give thanks to God. 5. Using Matthew 5:18 - For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. -Matthew 5:18 KJV The question is when would all be fulfilled? Jesus said in John 19:30 "it is finished" this is where Christ fulfills the law. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. -Romans 10:4 KJV
Benjamin Gorwell
Supporter
The answer hangs on a distinction between the 'letter' and the 'spirit' of the Law. The 'letter' is what the Old Testament Law literally says, but the 'spirit' is the intention behind the Law. Christians are expected to obey the spirit, not the letter. Here's an example. Deut 19:14 says 'Do not move your neighbor's boundary stone'. By the letter of the Law, that command means just what it says. Some Israelites would move boundary stones to steal land (Job 24:2), so God said 'don't move the stones'. On the other hand, the spirit of the Law is found in the context. God didn't want anyone stealing land, whether by moving boundary stones or changing GPS coordinates. So the letter of the law isn't what really matters, except in so far as it shows what God's underlying intentions are. Just because there's no biblical law that says 'Don't change boundary GPS coordinates', it doesn't follow that we can steal land by exploiting that 'loophole'. Conversely, we can 'break' the letter of the Law as long as we keep the spirit. For example, if my neighbor inherits part of my land, I'm perfectly entitled to move boundary stones to reflect the inheritance. Jesus 'broke' the letter of the Law when he healed a man on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6), and he and his disciples picked grain on the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28). Both times, he alluded to the distinction between the letter and the spirit of the Law. We can discern the spirit of the Law by comparing biblical laws and teachings, and distilling specific laws into more general teachings. For example, in the Ten Commandments, there's a law against coveting your neighbor's things (Exodus 20:17), so we can discern that God isn't just concerned about stealing. More fundamentally, he wants us to not covet in the first place. It's the distinction between the letter and the spirit that allows the whole Law to be summed up in the 'Great Commandment' (Matt 22:40), which is the most general statement of the spirit of the Law. Many Christians wrongly assume that the Great Commandment is all we need as a moral teaching. However, the Great Commandment doesn't tell us how to love God or our neighbor. Without further elaboration, the Great Commandment is open to subjective interpretation, which leads to lawlessness. So we need to interpret the Great Commandment (with the Holy Spirit) via all the biblical laws and teachings, distilled into broader underlying principles, and filtered through the New Testament teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Of course, this leaves some room for debate on the right interpretations, but a lot less room than relying on the Great Commandment alone. The distinction between the letter and the spirit allows us to understand why Jesus said 'one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law' (Matt 5:18), yet there are many references in the New Testament to the Law being 'abolished' (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:15, etc). We can understand this to mean that the letter of the Law is dead, but the spirit of the Law is eternal and unchanging. Hence Paul taught that 'He [Jesus] has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor 3:6). The letter of the Law applies to a particular people (Israelites), place (Israel) and time (Old Testament), to an ancient Middle Eastern agricultural society. The spirit of the Law, the underlying principles, apply to all people, everywhere, always. In some contexts, the spirit of the law nullifies the letter of the law, as on slavery (which was allowed in the Old Testament [Leviticus 25:44-46], but is now generally agreed to be contrary to the Great Commandment. This is a good example of the spirit of the law at work, because slavery isn't explicitly banned anywhere in the Bible. Christians had to 'read between the lines' to realize that it was biblically unjustifiable, after much debate and social evolution).
Chantal Dulin
Supporter
Hello everyone, I respect and consider all opinions...they are opinions. The New Testament is Jesus and His Apostles reiterrating in different prose and examples of many many parts of the OT. (ex. DANIEL AND REVELATIONS) The Sabbath "rest" started at creation in the Garden of Eden, was written in stone by God in the 10 commandements for humanity and are still valid today AND we will continue these laws in heaven. Without laws, there is no freedom. In Revelations, it is plainly said in 14.12 and 22.14. There are the Mozaic laws in the OT and God's laws in the decalog, there is a huge difference in purpose between them both. God's laws still stand (as plainly said in these 2 verses - 2 of many). We don't have to do ANYTHING...but for the love and adoration of God through fervant faith we must try and see the Biblical truth. Constantine changed God's laws (Catholicism) and many Protestant churches followed. Let's pray to the Holy Spirit to understand Biblical truth. Sabbath rest, where we praise God (as He asked us to remember and keep holy) is the 7th day of each week (Saturday), then there are other sabbaths during the year for the Jews. Salvation is through faith alone and showing our love and respect is following His 10 written laws and loving and forgiving each other. May God hold us all in the palm if His hand until His return.
Christian Benjamin-Boamah Jr.
Supporter
Whenever we are in doubt, we should ask ourselves, what would Jesus do. I see nowadays some Christians wants to pick and choose the part of the Bible they wish to follow, hence the commandments they wish to obey. Gods commandments are as valid today just as it was given before Sinai and after Sinai. Before the law was given at Sinai, Joseph knew Adultery was wrong, and Cain knew it was against Gods law to murder. Bear in mind, all these paramount decisions were made before the birth of the nation of Israel. The Sabbath commandment was given at creation before they were any Jew. Because Christians nowadays wants to worship on Sunday as opposed to the 7th Day Sabbath(Saturday) as ordained and prescribed by God Himself, we begin to make excuses by saying the Law (the 10 Commandments) are not for us, but only for the Jews. Really! Jesus said If you love me, keep my commandments John 14;15. Its that simple my Christian brothers and sisters. Let's ask God to help us obey the commandments that He wrote, instead of making excuses. They are called 10 commandments for a reason, NOT 10 suggestions to whoever wants to pick and choose which ones obey. Benjamin
Thomas K M
Supporter
Sinai Law or Moses Law was God's covenant with ancient Israel. Christians are not under this Sinai Law (Rom.6:14). Not under law does not mean we ought to sin. Paul answers in Rom.6:15. We have now been made with one in Christ. Serve new with in a new way, the way of spirit and not in the old way of written code. We are under new Law and not under the Moses Law. We are under the new Law of Christ (1Cor.9:21, 1Jn.2:3, Jn.6:28-29, Heb.13:21). We are more than law. Sinai Law has been transcended and superseded by Christ 's Law, which is also God's Law. Sinai law was God's Law until Christ came. (Gal.3:24-25). As God planned, when Christ came, Christ's Law became the Law of all; temporary was replaced by the permanent. Law of Moses was given by Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ(Jn.1:17). Sinai Law exposed everyone as sinners. (Rom.3:19-20). Jesus came and defeated sin. (Heb.9:26). This was not done through a set of regulations. It was accomplished by the finished work on the cross by Jesus Christ (Rom.3:21-26). God' s purpose was all along to open the door of His Kingdom to all humans. This was done by the finished work on the cross by Jesus Christ. He did what the Law of Moses could not do. Humans are able to accept the invitation to go through that door. (Rom.3:21-27). It is not a codified set of regulations. (Gal. 4:22-26, 6:2, Eph. 4:20,6:20, Ph.2:1-8, Col.24:44-47) Neither Christ or Paul contradicts Moses Law. The preordained function of the Law of Moses corresponds with the function of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We came to know what is sin (Rom.7:7). The law was our school master (Tutor) to bring us in to Christ (Gal:3:24). Moses' Law was not made for righteous but for the lawless and disobedient. The Law of Moses was instituted because of the transgressions of ancient Israel. Law of Moses was for a carnal Christ rejecting Israel. Law of Moses gives sin its power. Moses' Law is holy, just and good, but it has no power to save you. We are not under law but under grace, a grace with obligation to obedience. When we receive God's gift of grace He does provide us with a 'bar code" that assures us our entrance into heaven. The label reads 'Jesus Christ'.
Al Mari
Supporter
The short answer is a resounding Yes! But why we have to, for what and how? It was established by Paul that even those who are not Jews follow the Law (Rom. 2:14). Even now, there are non-Christians who believe and love their own God and their neighbors. Their "righteousness" however, is not the "righteousness of God" which are reflected through the Holy Spirit as "fruits of the Spirit". These are the same people who will be rejected by Christ for their "own good works" (Matt. 7:21-23) because they were not "works of the Holy Spirit" that God acknowledges. It is God who chooses what he likes and requires, what is acceptable to him, in spite of how good the works are. Remember Abel and Cain? God chose Abel's offering because it was "by faith"(Gen. 4:3-5; Heb. 11:4) not Cain's. The rest of the Bible shows examples of the precept that God alone chooses what is to his liking, no matter what we think. To start with, everything about our salvation, i.e. becoming a "new creation" members/body of the "kingdom of God", was done not by you or me but by Jesus, the Messiah, the Logos of John 1 and the Creator Elohim in Genesis 1 & 2. It was all a gift by grace and out of love of the Father as in John 3:16. He is the "righteousness of the Law fulfilled in us" (Rom.8:4). The death of man-Jesus (the Creator God) was substitutionary to pay the penalty of human's sin, for mankind to be reconciled to the Father. The goal of his death is reconciliation, nothing more. Had he not been resurrected by the Father, Jesus could have died eternally and we are still "dead in sin" (I Cor. 15:17). But, because of the Father's promise of resurrection and the "faith of Jesus" in him, he was made alive. Having been resurrected to life, we "shall be saved by his life"(Rom. 5:10). Notice, the phrase "shall be saved", meaning future, not yet, or in the process of salvation. But, how are we going to "be saved by his life", his resurrected life? Remember Jn. 16:7, 15:26; 14:16? He was resurrected for this very purpose, i.e., for the promised Holy Spirit to be sent and dwell in us, for us to "be endowed", starting at Pentecost (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; Gal. 3:14). We received this HS not by (our) works of the law but by "faith of Jesus" (Gal. 3:2). Why do we need the Holy Spirit? As circumcision is a "sign", the HS serves as a "seal" to identify us being in the "body of Christ" (Jn. 6:7; 2Cor.1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30). Aside from that, we need "spirit-power" as the "flesh is weak", (Matt. 26:41). We need the Holy Spirit of power to be used by us to express the "fruits of the Spirit" (Gal.5:22-23). The HS gives us "cognition" as to which way to go or do, "conviction" to follow Jesus'(YHVH ELOHIM's) Law, and "affection" for him and whatever is "good", giving us the "mind of Christ" (I Cor. 2:16). That said, according to Paul, "the Law is holy" (Rom. 7:12,v-14,v-23); nothing wrong with the Law and the Covenant. What was wrong was us, the flesh-nature that we have, that is "weak". Remember that in Genesis, YHVH made "man (from dust) after his image", and in the future to be "like him'. But that "clay" was flesh and "weak" so Adam could not be "like him" by his "own works". It has to be by the "faith of Jesus". Adam, not knowing his "weakness", did not "listen and follow" God, so he sinned and was banished from the "garden of Eden". Adam was separated from God and needs to be "reconciled". Having been reconciled by Christ's death, we are now "being saved by his life through the function and power of the Holy Spirit" given to us as promised, to (bring many sons to glory" (Heb. 2:10). Therefore, with the power of the Holy Spirit, follow the Ten Commandments as part of our process of "sanctification" (I Cor. 6:11; Rom. 8:9-11; 15:15-16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; 2Thes. 2:13; Titus 3:4-7; I Pet. 1:1-2; 2:9-12; John 17:17; Rom. 6:19-22; 8:5-14; Gal. 5:16-24; I Pet. 2:11; Rom. 2:6-7). With "eyes to see, let him see; ears to hear, let him hear" the truth.
Martha Huntley
Supporter
Our Bible study class gave me an excellent insight into Old Testament laws and how they relate to New Testament Christians. They made the point that there are three kinds of OT law: the moral law; the ceremonial law; and the civic law. Moral law is always relevant and is summed up in the 10 Commandments and in Jesus' great two commandments, to love the Lord (the sh'ma) and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The ceremonial laws of sacrifices, cleanliness etc. Are no longer relevant because they have all been fulfilled in Christ who made the perfect sacrifice once for all, and thereby cleansed us from our sins. The civic laws were for the Israelites as a group and as a nation - we must obey the laws of our own nation and such laws that are for the common civic good. I found this gave a lot of clarity to the questions of law/grace OT/NT.
John Whittaker
Supporter
Christ is not only fulfillment of the Law, He is the Law. Therefore to follow Christ is to follow the Law; that is, the Moral Law. Christ Himself abandoned the ritual Law. However, we don't have to obey any of the Law because we're saved by Grace. Yet to love Jesus is to be obedient (to the Law) because we want to please our Heavenly Father.
Dawn Irion
Supporter
I think much of the confusion comes from the New Testament using the term "Law" to refer to several different things. For example the "Law of Sin and Death" which refers to the consequences of not keeping Torah, not Torah itself. This confusion has also led to many people having a negative few of Torah, but how can we imagine that Yehovah ever gave us something bad? In fact it is called a delight, making wise, perfect, sure, a joy, wondrous, forever, a fortune more than gold and silver and loved in the Psalms alone. Also in Deu 30:11 Yehovah says it is not too hard to do, countering another lie that the Israelites couldn't keep the Law when in fact they could, but they wouldn't. Just as today, we can but most won't. Both John the Baptist and Yeshua (Jesus) preached repentance and a return to keeping Torah. As one who has endeavored to keep Torah for 5 years now, I can attest that it is not too hard. There are many aspects that don't apply to me (I am not a man or a Levite, for example) but the parts that do apply to me I keep the best I can and TRUST in Yehovah for where I fall short. Keeping Torah does not have anything to do with salvation. It is faith in the Creator Yehovah, the Holy One of Israel, that brings salvation just as it was in the time of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, the Prophets and our Messiah. Just a question - If God had immediately forgiven Adam and Eve and let them back in the garden, would it have been ok from then on for them and all of their descendants to eat of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil"? Would God have rescinded that instruction? Or would He have kept the instruction in place to see if Adam and Eve and their descendants really were obedient to God? Every generation makes the choice to obey or not. If there is nothing to obey, what choice do we have and how can we demonstrate our obedience to the Creator?
Alfonso Ozaeta
Supporter
If by "the Old Testament Law" the question alludes to the Ten Commandments, Scripture is unambiguously clear about what is expected of true followers of Christ. Jesus himself commands true followers to show their love [self-denying choice, in the spirit of willingness, to embrace and fully commit to being in heavenly harmony and in the joyful communion of eternal oneness with God and their fellowmen, in Christ] for Him by keeping His commandments [John 14:15]. More than anyone's opinion, this is a directive from the One who inscribed in stone the Decalogue on Mt Sinai.
EL Mohel Castorena
Supporter
Since when were we able to pick and choose? It is written: You shall not have any other God before me. You shall not murder...etc. Matthew 5: 17 ‘Do not suppose (put into your mind) that I came to throw down (make non effective) the law (Teachings) or the prophets — I did not come to throw down (make non effective), but to fulfill 18 for, Amen (God a trustworthy King) I say to you, till that the heaven and the earth may pass away, one Yod (is the smallest of the Hebrew letters) or one tittle (Accent marking) may not pass away from the law, till (up to that point and appointed time) that all may come to pass. 19 ‘Whoever therefore may loose (Teaches not to do) one of these commands — the least (low in rank) — and may teach men so, (low in rank) he shall be called in the reign of the heaven, but "whoever" may do and may teach, he shall be called great in the reign of the heaven. Pick through the 10 or any of GOD sayings to us (Commandments) you will be low in rank in heaven.
Ariel HaNaviy
Supporter
The short answer is yes, Christians should be obeying the Old Testament Law (although I would take issue with calling it "old testament" in the first place, preferring instead to call it Torah, God's Teaching). To be sure, didn't Paul and the rest of the "New Testament" Jewish followers of Yeshua (Jesus) continue to obey Torah post resurrection? But that was 1st century. However, in the 21st century, much of the Torah cannot be kept because we have no functioning Temple, no priests, no animal sacrifices, and no theocracy ruing over the Land of Israel. What is more, keeping the Torah in the Land of Israel has to be modified when one dwells outside the Land--even if there was a standing Temple. It is my understanding that the errors surrounding one’s relationship to Torah can be corrected once a person resolves the issues surrounding identity and legalism, begins to understand the intended nature and function of the Torah in the first place, and then faithfully applies it to their own lives. Because the Messiah has already come, the Torah is now a document meant to be lived out in the life of a faithful follower of Yeshua, through the power of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), to the glory of HaShem (God) the Father. It should not be presumed that it could be obeyed mechanically, automatically, legalistically, without having faith, without having trust in HaShem, without having love for HaShem or man, and without being empowered by the Ruach HaKodesh. To state it succinctly, Torah observance is a matter of the heart, always has been, and always will be. Because the Torah is written on the hearts of all who truly name the name of Yeshua as LORD and Savior, it is meant to be followed to the best of our ability. We have no reason for fear of condemnation, or the trappings of legalism!
Tony Flores
Supporter
If you are a Christian: " The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Rom: 8:1-11 If you are not a Christian: The righteous requirement of the law is not fulfilled and you are carnally minded and cannot please God and to be carnally minded is death. I believe that if you are a Christian, you will automatically keep the law to the best of your ability with the help of the Holy Spirit in you, although Jesus has already fulfilled that requirement to keep the law. Jesus came to fulfilled the law and not to abolish it. Keep the law: yes, because we are saved. Jesus is the law.
James Kirven
Supporter
The question references the Old Testment Law? The question in itself is somewhat improperly phrased. There wasn't just one Law in what we refer to as the Old Testament. There were 2 laws or 2 covenants that had to be kept in what most people call the Old Testament. One (law or covenant) stopped at the cross and one didn't. If there is no law there is no sin. That's what the apostles taught. In no way does obeying the law of God (10 Commandments) because of faith in Christ sin. If you believe keeping the law is what saves you, you are mistaken. You keep those 10 commandments because you love him. Obedience to his commandments is the evidence of our faith and love (1 John ch 2 and 3). The law can not save you, but let me be clear in saying that you are taking an extreme risk in not obeying God's commands presumptuously (Heb. 10 v 26); lets us know that Jesus' blood was not for us to willfully sin. We all agree we are saved by the blood. That precious blood was not for willfully sinning, repeatedly doing what we know is wrong--that's not true repentance; that is saying I'm sorry until the next time I do that again. Jesus told the woman accused of adultery to go and sin no more. What is sin? The transgression of the law (so don't commit adultery any anymore--sin). Adultery can't exist today without a law existing saying it does. If there is no law there is no sin. No sin, no need for Jesus. James 2 states that we will be judged by the Law of Liberty, not the law of bondage. Moses' law was the law of Bondage. It was the law that the Jews said, "Not us nor our Fathers were able to keep (Acts 15). Most Christians believe that it is still a sin today to break any of the 10 Commandments except for one of them. Moses' law and the 10 Commandments were never one law. The Jews had to keep both. Only the law of Moses stopped at the cross because it was impossible to keep. I'm sure many we say we are saved by grace and mercy and I most sincerely agree. Without grace and mercy Jesus has so freely given us, we would not have had an opputunity to repent and be converted into new creatures. We do this through Christ Jesus (we have to believe that there is no other way but by him). The word of God says that the wages of sin is death. Sin is transgressing the law. If there is no law we can't sin, which means that we all are going to heaven because we believe in Jesus while we commit adultery and worship other gods, right? Of course, not. We have to take advantage of the grace that God has given us to overcome sin, like Rev 3 talks about. We know what sin is the same way the apostle Paul knew in Rom 7 v 7. He made that statement after the cross. He also said, "Is the law sin? God forbid!" He wasn't speaking of some new law that had just been created after the cross. Jesus is the only way for us all and we must keep his commandments if we love him. God Bless to all. I thank God to see so many have a concern in the truths of God. I pray that everyone with pure and diligent hearts will soon be on one accord and the he will allow me to be one of them by his grace and mercy. Love to you all.
Michael Tinsley
Supporter
First of all, read Galatians 3:2-27. Those verses explain why New Covenant Christians (except for Jewish Christians) were never under the Law of Moses and are instead under the New Covenant. If you focus on the Law you focus on sin because the OT laws were specifically given by God to make people aware of sin, not to overcome or defeat it. If you are focused on yourself you are not focused on Jesus. The entire Bible tells about Jesus and as New Covenant Christians we are to learn more about Jesus Christ every day so we can be more like Him. We are not to concentrate on sin because Jesus fulfilled all the Laws for us in His death and resurrection which enables us to live by grace through faith and not by works, Ephesians 2:8-9. Focusing on not sinning is work (because its something you do) that takes away from the grace of God and keeps your mind, heart, body, and soul off of Jesus. To say we Gentiles were ever under the OT Laws is wrong because they were given to the Israelites alone. To say anyone has to obey any OT laws is to say that God's grace and Jesus's death and resurrection are not sufficient for our salvation, borders on heresy because you are providing people with information not supported by scripture.
L.S. James
Supporter
Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law? With 613 Laws of the Old Testament called the Mitzvot and 38 Commandments from the four Gospels or 1050 commands via repetition in the New Testament for believers to obey, how else but surely that the just shall live by faith! (Rom 1:17). For in being justified by faith in Christ Jesus, God has imputed His righteousness on His elect even as our sins were imputed on the Lord at Calvary. We give thanks to God for this divine exchange which is the blessed lot of His redeemed in this present age of grace -while it lasts! Maranatha!
Lynda Hickman
Supporter
If we are born again, did we receive salvation through our good works (the law) or by faith? Did we receive His Spirit by works or by faith? If it was by faith in Christ Jesus that we are born again, why go back under the law? If we are walking with Christ by His Spirit, did He come to us because of our good works? Or by our faith? All human flesh wants to justify itself. We pride ourselves in the things we can do. No one is immune to this wretched sin! But, "no one is justified by the law in the sight of GOD" Gal 3:11 The truth is, the OT law is cursed. In Gal 3:10, it says, "cursed is everyone who does not CONTINUE in all things which are written in the book of the law, to DO THEM." That means, if you fail in one jot or tittle, you fail in all & are cursed. But Christ came to redeem us from the curse, as He became a curse in our place. Knowing that human flesh could never meet every jot or tittle of the law as He did, He took the curse, "cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree." Gal 3:13 No one but Christ obeyed all of the law so He alone could be the "propitiation," that is, Christ, sprinkled with His own blood became the offering to GOD for our sin. As many say, He paid debt He didn't owe, for sin He didn't commit, so the debt we owed was wiped away. 1 John 2:2 That was the purpose of His crucifixion, to become the cursed. "For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of GOD IN Him." 2 Cor 5:21 Christ was born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law (Gal 4:4-5) If GOD had wanted humanity to continue under the law, why would He send His only begotten Son to redeem us? Thayer's Greek Lexicon explains the word "redeem" this way: Christ came to free men from the dominion of the Mosaic law at the price of His vicarious death on the cross. If as followers of Christ Jesus we believe in the inerrancy of His Word, His entire Word, OT & NT, if we truly believe that the entire bible we call "The Word of GOD" was inspired by GOD (2 Tim 3:16), if we truly believe that Jesus Christ is the Word & the Word is GOD, then we must set His Word above all else. And that means that every word in the bible was "GOD breathed." I love my red letter bible. But in truth, if 2 Tim 3:16 is true, then every word, cover to cover, OT & NT should be in red! Regardless who the "instrument" was, whether Moses or John or any who came between, every word came from Christ Jesus our LORD, GOD the Son, the Word of GOD. So when I read James 2:10, I hear the LORD saying, "for whoever shall keep the whole law, yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." You either keep ALL of the law, or fail in all of the law. If people want to be Jews, they must remember "he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; & circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from GOD." Rom 2:28-29 Whether Jew or Gentile, the truth in His Word tells us that "a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ", "for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." Gal 2:16 I would say to anyone who wants to live by Mosaic law, remember what is 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." And those who preach circumcision (to become as a Jew) are trying to bring into bondage of the law, those who have looked into "the perfect law of liberty" that is Christ, for our liberty is In Christ. (Gal 5:1-15) To lay aside the liberty that is in Him (Gal 2:4) for the law of sin & death is greatest dishonor that we could pay Him Who died for us! Rom 8:1-3
James Kraft
Supporter
Jesus said, " by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" Paul said," we are not even to mingle law with grace. Obedience to the law just makes us boast in our own righteousness. But if we do the things in the law because we love God and people, then that is true righteousness and it only comes from Christ in us, not from us. But we are not under the law but under grace. While we were yet sinners Christ died for the unGodly. That is you and me. Obedience to the law cannot save you. The law was given to show us we are sinners in need of a savior. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Paul said if anyone puts you under the law for salvation, 'let them be accursed'. Pretty strong words. If we could be saved by obedience to the law, then Jesus died in vain. Legalizers always love laws and rules to follow as it feeds their spiritual pride. Sinners love grace and follow Jesus. 'If you say you have no sin you are a liar and do not the truth'. 'All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.' We are not to trust in our own righteousness. We are to trust in Jesus righteousness that He gave us when we first put our faith and trust in Him. Blessed is the man who is saved without works and whose transgressions are not held against him. But, we reap what we sow.
Don Whitley
Supporter
This seems to me to be much easier than most folks think it is. The Old Law that the Jews were under from the time of Moses was in existence until Christ came and was crucified upon the cross. We call the Old Law the "Law of Moses" because God brought it to the Jews through Moses. The New testament which Christ taught and all are in subjection to it today and until the end of time. As it is today in wills and such, the old law or testament is valid until a new testament replaces it. Then the old law is null and void. The new testament may contain some or many of the same directives as the old, but we are not subject any longer to the old, but only to the new. Ask someone who has been the executor of someone's will how that works. The OT has much good to glean from it. There is the history, there are the proverbs, there are the stories of our heroes, Christ even live under the OT because the church didn't come in to being until the first Pentecost after the resurrection or 50 days later. The NT are the directives that we are to live by today. Nine of the ten commandments are there in the NT. So no, we are not under the Old Law of Moses today! Do you know which one isn't repeated in the NT?
Vimalchandran Somasundaram
Supporter
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. So, if we could follow this commandment perfectly; there would be no need to follow the old testament laws.
Lynn Willis
Supporter
The apostle Paul wrote" “Let me put it another way, the law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:24-26). In Acts, Stephen was “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). It was because of his faith in Christ and not merely his faithfulness to God’s Word that Stephen was chosen by the disciples to engage in important work. If our good deeds or faithfulness in keeping the law made us acceptable to God, we could boast in ourselves. But the gospel points us to a relationship with Him and being made righteous by Him through faith in Christ as modeled by Abraham (Romans 4:1-3). I would also suggest one reads all of Romans 7 but point out specifically: Romans 7:22 King James Version (KJV): For I delight in the law of God after the inward man... For it is our hearts of faithfulness and meekness and love as in Christ that the Lord seeks and recognizes in us through Christ... we ARE forgiven our sins, whereas before, the laws helped us know God we failed to be able to keep them all and still be the sinless lovers of God He wanted us to be... Christ fulfilled ALL the laws for us, thankfully! Plus, as I personally understand it, the Old Testament was between Israel, God's chosen people, and God, not Gentiles... Christ bridged that for ALL mankind... God's free gift for ALL was Christ's sacrifice. Now we ALL can know our Lord God Almighty Creator personally! Halleluyah! So, imho Jesus came and fulfilled the 'laws'... and became for us, our redeemer. He is the way, the truth the life... nothing else matters now as long as we follow HIM faithfully. Faith full, Lynn
Wayne Plunkett
Supporter
My Jewish Friends and those who would bound us Gentiles to the Law, Please note that Isaiah 53 was being fulfilled when both the Scribes and Pharisee REFUSED to believe. The result of this was judicial hardening Rom 11:7-10. Judicial Harding came because of unbelief. History is now repeating itself in the age of grace. If you seek to be JUSTIFIED by the works of the law you have fallen from grace. Galations 5:4... Abraham was declared righteous 430 years before the law. The Law did not or could not bring righteousness or justification...The purpose of the law was to show us our need for Christ. Those who refuse to believe this are deceived just like the Scribes and Pharisees Who missed the hour of their visitation. I beseech you my brothers and sisters to believe with your whole heart that God anticipated these questions and has already answered them. Please turn to Acts chapter 15 and receive the ANSWER THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED. Please do not be like the Scribes and Pharisees or even the Judaisers who were trying to put heavy burdens on us Gentiles that they weren't or willing to lift themselves. This is why Jesus call them hypocrites. Please do not squabble over words that has nothing to do with salvation. Instead seek the greater gift which is love. All the commandments are fulfilled in this one word..
Edward Kiarie
Supporter
The bible says that in Christ the law is fulfilled. In my opinion, the law (command) became a promise in Christ. If we insist on obeying the law, then we are in effect saying that Christ died in vain since we can overcome on our own. If we treat the OT as the promise that it is, then we can go to Him and rest on the finished work of the Cross.
Tom howard
Supporter
We are no longer under the law, why should we be thus. Romans 7:6.” But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the 'new way' of the Spirit and not in the 'old way' of the written code.” This is because when Christ died He satisfied all the requirements of the law that The Father gave Moses. The law was given only to show the sinful plight of man, since the fall (Romans 5:20 and Galatians 3:19). It was not given to give life, for had it been given for that reason there would be no need for another! (Hebrews 7:11) To show how deadly the law is compared to the Spirits “new and living “ way, on the very day the law was given, 3,000 souls received death (Exodus 32:28), yet on the very day the Spirit was given, 3,000 souls received life (Acts 2:41). This goes along with, 2 Corinthians 3:6, “…. the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” “Thank heaven for Hebrews 7:11, “..what further need was there that another…” Another what? Another way, that’s what. Because; “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” Hebrews 7:19. This better way was Christ, Verse 22, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.” The law was given only as a means to show us our need for a savior, Galatians 3:24, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Jesus came not only to keep the law perfectly, but also to change the law, to a point that there could not be even the possibility to keep, thus showing even the greater need of help from heaven. For He came saying, Matthew 5:27,28, “You have heard that it was said by them of old time,… But I say unto you,….” He upped the ante, to such a point there can be no doubt that only by the Spirit and only by being born of said Spirit, was there any hope of heaven. Titus 3:5, “ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit;” In the old testament, the law was our bench mark, in the new testament Christ now is, as is stated by Peter, 1 Peter 2:21-25. John is very clear in 1 John 3:22, how to please God, and it is by keeping His commandment’s. Then, to be clear, he states them, Verse 23, which is the same “royal law” that James states, James 2:8. So, Galatians 5:18,” But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.”Why is this so? Because, “For as many as are ‘led’ by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”Romans 8:14. What then is the “Fruit”(end result) of the Spirit? Love, Galatians 5:22. And faith (through which we are saved) works only by this Love. Galatians 5:6. A love that shows Gods true abode in us! 1 John 4:12
Carolyn Hostetter
Supporter
+ It's inciteful to go back and review what I've written in the past. Sometimes I've had new revelations and sometimes I see that I have other thoughts on the subject. I also enjoy reading the other responses again, or anew. This is an addition to the previous response I made. In Deuteronomy 28 and the following chapters, God told of the blessings and curses that would accompany obedience or disobedience of the Law, which includes the 10 Commandments. The Bible, as well as post-biblical history, documents that Israel did not keep the Law because the individuals of the nation were unable to follow its commands. (As Christians, we know we're unable to follow the laws as well.) Because of that problem, God promised that eventually the Mosaic Law would be done away with as a ruling standard for the nation, and a New Covenant would be instituted. Jeremiah 31:31-33 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." The law was written for the nation of Israel who was living in the "world" at that time and not in the Kingdom of God. It was meant to point out man's sinfulness and point the way to salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace, by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is the law by which we are bound now. Christians are not of this world; we're of the Kingdom of God. The law is written on our hearts and I think we intuitively seek to follow it. I think it's inaccurate to say that we have follow the law because it discounts and denies the price our Lord paid to do away with the law and, thereby, sin. Previously written: I've thought about this question a lot because trying to understand pure grace, without mixing it with legalism, has left me with some questions. Here's the way I see the Ten Commandments and the Sacrificial Laws as they apply to Christians today. Scripture has already been quoted for all arguments, so I won't quote Scripture here. God established the Sacrificial Laws in the Old Testament as the rules of worship and a temporary means of atonement; and the Ten Commandments were the moral laws. The blood of innocent, unblemished animals couldn't remove sin, and the Ten Commandments were impossible to follow, and still are. These were all fulfilled by the blood of Jesus Christ (aka the Messiah), and the Holy Spirit living within each born-again Christian. As for the fulfillment of the Ten Commandments: Being saved by grace through faith, we are new creations, and all things are new. The holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ have been imputed to us. We live in God's moral awareness and moral likeness via the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Following the Ten Commandments is automatic for us, we don't even have to think about them. The laws of God are now a part of our autonomic "new-creation-in-Jesus Christ" system because of the Holy Spirit. It goes without saying that if you are a follower of Jesus, you will try to follow moral laws naturally, like breathing, blinking our eyes, eating, etc. We wouldn't say that "we have to follow laws that tell our bodies how to function," would we? We are not "under" the law. They are written on our hearts. Our behavior is governed by who we are, and we are children of the King. We are "in" Christ, not "under the law." To God be the glory! I hope this helps someone. Thanks. Carolyn (This is an edit of my original 2015 answer.)
David Armistead
Supporter
To me, the whole matter is not up for debate. I have read EVERY answer in this post, both for and against and have not seen THE answer to THE question. I've seen reasonable responses for obeying Torah aka commandments, aka instructions, aka laws. The one answer against "gentiles" obeying the law and the scripture used to support it actually does more damge to those against than those for. All one has to do is continue reading and stop using scripture in pieces. Acts 15:19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” Most have only read verse 19&20. The actual answer to the question is in verse 21. Also, I have read through these answers and found that many think it is a "Jewish" thing. Interestingly enough, I went back through the "instructions" and found this tidbit, spoken by God Numbers 15:15 For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord. Kinda like acts 15 and numbers 15 agree. So, with that being said, a resounding YES!...but, not for salvation, but because of it. Every "kingdom" has laws. Of His 613, keep what applies to you. Sabbath included.
Frederick Thomas
Supporter
Deu 4:8 No OTHER nation, no matter how great, has laws so just as those that I have taught YOU today.
Rom 4:15 The Law brings down God's anger(hell); but where there is no law, there is no disobeying of the law.
THE LAW WASN`T FOR THE GENTILES Rom 2;14-15
Their law is their conscience knowing good and evil
And the Jews cannot be made righteous by it.
So lets all joint the Grace Way of getting righteous with God through FAITH
Rom 3:28 For we conclude that a person(every one) is put right with God only through faith(by faith means the Jews and the rest of human kind), and not by doing what the Law commands. (For the Jews)
Rom 3:29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? “(Referring to” that the law is for the Jews)” Is he not the God of the Gentiles also? (Meaning the Law bind God and the Jews only) Of course He is God of the Gentiles also.
Rom 3:29 or is God the God of the Jews only?
If it is of the Law then the Gentiles is excluded of the privilege of having God as their God
Rom 3:29....is He not the God of the Gentiles also?
YES and that’s why, we the gentiles, are included in being put right with God through the” FAITH” system not the “LAW” system for it was not for us.
In God’s plan of SALVATION everybody is of FAITH otherwise it will be some by the LAW and some by FAITH
There is perks in doing your best to keep the LAW
Perks, material blessing for doing certain things (giving to the poor ect..) promised in the LAW.
And we can see that the Jews are blessed by God, and this also is true of any non Jew. Universal principal of God’s re-imbursement, lest He be any mans debtor.
But it can’t perfect you and purify you to see God and enjoy His eternal promises after dead. Eternal life and everything that comes with it, is only achievable by having FAITH in GOD. To belief GOD only, can save you from the purpose of the LAW.
The Gentiles is a LAW unto themselves and God will judge the intentions of their hearts. We all failed.
In the first Adam we fail. In the second Adam we are proclaimed righteous by faith in Christ.
There may be some exceptions like a child died young without having this faith in Christ, and some other instances also. That’s for God to decide for He is not an unfair God.
God has a mission for He said “that all men might be saved”. God have ways and means (turning up the HEAT) to break through to any ungodly person. The all- wise God.
Turning up the Heat in this life
Job 33:20 Those who are sick lose their appetites, and even the finest food looks revolting.
Job 33:21 Their bodies waste away to nothing; you can see all their bones;
Job 33:22 they are about to go to the world of the dead.
Job 33:23 Perhaps an angel may come to their aid--- one of God's thousands of angels, who remind us of our duty.
Job 33:24 In mercy the angel will say, "Release them! They are not to go down to the world of the dead. Here is the ransom to set them free."
Job 33:25 Their bodies will grow young and strong again;
Job 33:26 when they pray, God will answer; they will worship God with joy; God will set things right for them again.
A NEW COVENANT OF GRACE
Deut 5:1-22 About 3,400 years ago, God, through Moses, established a covenant (agreement or contract) with the nation of Israel at Mt. Sinai.
Deut 4:2 With this covenant, God also gave a law as a condition for Israel’s keeping of the covenant.
Jer 31:31-3 This covenant and law was given in preparation for a new covenant and new law that would come through Jesus
John 1:17..”For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth comes through Jesus Christ”
Col 2:14 Since Jesus came into the world two thousand years ago, Christians today are now subject to the new testament law of Jesus. We are now in a new covenant relationship with God through Jesus. This is great news since we are now under God’s grace.
Jesus has wipe out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Jesus said, “behold I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first {covenant} so that He may establish the second {covenant}.” Jesus said that we must now listen to what He says. Obedient believers are now in a new covenant relationship with God. They agree to keep the conditions or the new covenant. God now ask all men to come into an agreement with Him so that we live forever.
The Father Promising His Messiah as a Covenant
I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people. (Isa_42:6)
Once again, multiple promises reveal God's plan and guarantee His purposes. These promises are actually being made from God, the Father, to His Messiah, the anointed King (who is God, the Son). The promises show that the Messiah would be the new covenant of grace for His people.
In the opening words, the Father is describing the call of His Messiah (later referred to as "My Servant" - Isa_49:6). "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness." Also, the Father is promising full participation in His Messiah's mission. "I, the LORD... will hold Your hand; I will keep You." This would be essential, because the Messiah would go forth as a humble, dependent Servant ("My Servant"): "taking the form of a servant... He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Phi_2:7-8).
Then, the Father offers this great promise of Christ's primary role in going forth to earth. "I will... give You as a covenant to the people." Jesus Christ Himself would be given to God's people as His new covenant with them. The new covenant of grace was supplanting the old covenant of law. Yet, it was not just a matter of new terms being prescribed. Rather, a Person was being given, and He Himself would be the sum and substance of the covenant. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... full of grace and truth" (Joh_1:14).
This new covenant of grace that God has for His people is all related to a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. He Himself is the embodiment of all that the new covenant promises. In the new covenant, the Lord promises righteousness. This righteousness is found in a Person. " 'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS' " (Jer_23:5-6). Peace is promised in this covenant of grace. This peace is also found in a Person. "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace" (Eph_2:13-14). Yes, all that the Lord promises by grace is entered into initially, and continually, by a humble, dependent relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, I praise You for Your grace. I rejoice that the provisions of grace are not about performance or procedure, but are about developing a relationship with Your Son, Jesus Christ!
David Sutton
Supporter
We really have to stress the bible propose here. The old law was not perfect. That's why Christ came to earth to fulfill the prophecies of old. He even said that he came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it Matt.5:17-18. And as we know he did just that. So just by that one verse we can see we are not under the law of Moses. Most of the reference to the law in the New Testament is when we still had people under the law being taught thar a better covenant was coming with Christ. As for us though we are not under that law any longer. After the will and testament of Jesus was done. We no longer are bound by the old law of Moses. Common sense though will tell you that there are things in the old law that are godly things. And will be things Christians will obey. We must know that we cannot keep the old as our guide today. If we did look at what would happen, animal sacrifice, worship would be on the sabbath. There is so much difference in worship in spirit and truth today, and the old law worship. When the nails were driven into our savior that old imperfect law was fulfill as Jesus said the reason he came. We are under the new covenant today. You can not mix the two together. That will only cause confusion. The old is for our learning as to how when The Lord speaks he means what he said.
Curtis Reed
Supporter
Walking in love fulfills the law, what else matters? If we are truly spiritual Christians, the concerns of the law will be in the past. Christ fulfilled all righteousness on the cross. Faith in Him and his name is salvation. What more do we need?
Joe cattani
Supporter
In my opinion.Jesus came to fullfill the law, not to abolish it. The law was incomplete, not finished. So what did Jesus bring to the law to complete or fullfill it? The law knew no love, no compassion, no mercy, and no justice. Jesus brought these truths to the law. As a follower of Christ I can no longer seperate them. The law is no longer black or white, it is gray. My motive, not my actions, now condems me. When my mom was dying in the hospital, I told her to go to sleep and when you wake I'll take you home. I knew she just had hours to live. Did I lie? Under the OT law, yes I did. Under the finished law, no I certainly did not. In conclusion, I no longer have to reconcile between the law or what the Holy Spirit has put in my heart. Again these are just my beliefs. You may or may not agree with me. You would be right to believe whatever it is God put in your heart.
Bryan Naidoo
Supporter
the Old Testament law is divided into three sections. We have the spiritual law, the ceremonial law and the moral law. These three laws have been fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The ceremonisl law has been taken care of, there is no more need of any more sacrifices. This law has been fulfilled by the perfect sacrifice of the lamb (Jesus Christ) As for the moral and spiritual law, these laws were perfected by Jesus. We need to know the purpose of the CHRIST was to perfect all the laws. If the ceremonisl law was perfected so was the moral and spiritual law As for the moral law, he said, if you just look at a women you have already committed adultery. Mathew :5:48, reminds us that we have to be perfect even as our heaven fathers is perfect. As for the spiritual law, he makes it very clear, "pick up to your cross and follow me".The Christian is commanded to walk in the spirit. Any person who has chosen CHRIST has chosen "obedience", Jesus is the perfect example of obedience who had perfected the law which was above the law of the Old Testament. Do christians have to follow the law of the Old Testament. The answer is that christians are now governed by a "higher law"
Bruce Lyon
Supporter
When Moses sprinkled blood as we see in Exodus 24:6-8: And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. He at that time was ratifying - placing the people under the old covenant before Yehovah. Hebrews 9:18-20 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood that seals the covenant God has made to you." When Jesus was crucified he shed blood was the ratification of the new covenant that all those who are his are under! The new covenant is sealed by the blood of God's anointed one! Matthew 26:27-28: And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Ac 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Hebrews 10:29 of how much sorer punishment, think you, shall he be judged worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the [NEW] covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Do you see brethren all that the shed blood of God's anointed one Jesus has given to us: We are bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus and yet he calls us brothers and sisters. By his shed blood the new covenant has been ratified and we are to live under it. Jesus explains how to do so in all he has outlined for us to do. The first is to follow the creed of Jesus in Mark 12:28-29. live out the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. Realize that if we do live according to the testimony of the lord Jesus and keep his commandment we have no part in him. We requires that we obey him in order to have salvation, even as James said, "faith without works is dead". Notice: Hebrews 5:8-9: Though he was a Son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, HE BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION UNTO THEM THAT OBEY HIM; John 3:34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him John 6:63 It is the spirit that makes alive; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 14:10 Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? THE WORD THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU I SPEAK NOT OF MYSELF: BUT THE FATHER THAT DWELLS IN ME, HE DOES THE WORKS. The word we are to obey are the words the Father gave Jesus to give to us. Obey them!
Vin Smith
Supporter
...We are not under Mosaic Law (Gal 2:19). Mosaic Law was nailed to the cross (Col 2:14). We have always been under the laws of God as revealed by Jesus Christ in the New Testament--even in Old Testament times. Jesus revealed no new laws during his 3 1/2 year ministry, only further revelations about the "texture" of His Father's Law. Some denominations have tried to be eclectic; somehow mixing in the Jewish Faith with the Christian Faith. In some ways, nineteenth century "denominational start-ups" are quite similar to twentieth/twenty-first century New Age belief systems, cobbled together by religious gurus. God's truth is 100 % consistent throughout the Old and the New Testament. God's Law is irrefutable and unchangeable--however He proclaims individual Covenants to His people as is necessary, and as He sees fit. There are no contradictions here. When seeking to follow the straight and narrow, follow the revelations of Jesus Christ. You will not go wrong.
Ian Watkins
Supporter
Love the L-RD Elohim because He 1st loved you & did what He had to do on the cross.Trust in this God and obey.Love God because God is Love.The 1st command was to love him in Gen. Do that, and the 10 commandments & the admonitions & stuff it says, but not Pharasitical additions to the word, or ceremonial stuff. Trust that God really is love, is loving and expects those that claim him to be tempered /modified etc by same ie Father Son Holy Spirit. We don't have to understand everything. If you see,hear,anything that causes you to question God or his Word, just put it aside.
Melissa Nock
Supporter
Well, the Old testament is the Word of God and it foreshadows Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross. So the law was fulfilled by Jesus, bringing us into the new covenant. Jesus said we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, might, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Love fulfills the law. Those two commandments sum up the law and the prophets. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us is the only way to accomplish this. The Lord wants a relationship, a face to face relationship. Jesus restored that relationship. So yes, we are to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
Roman CIERESZKO
Supporter
To whom, for what time, and for what purpose was the Old Mosaic Law given? - was designed not for all people, but only for one chosen nation, namely Israel, - was given for a definite period, until the Seed (that is Christ) came to whom the promise was made (Gal. 3:19), - was given because of offenses, so that sin by the commandment might become exceedingly sinful (Rom. 7:13), - was given so that the law would guide us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. And when faith has come, we are no longer under the guard of the law, our tutor (Gal. 3: 24-25). Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith (Gal. 3:24). The turning point in understanding the issue of the old law is the cross of Jesus Christ. Before his crucifixion, Jesus fulfilled the law, which he later abolished on the cross (Eph. 2:15) and nailed it to that cross (Col. 2:14). Therefore, it is written that Christ is the end of the law (Rom. 10: 4). The end of the law (Covenant through the blood of animals) also marks the beginning of the period of grace (the New Covenant through the blood of the Son of God). At the end of the grace period, the old law will return to Israel for a short time, then finally pass away with the old earth and heaven. However, Christ's words will not pass away, even though old heaven and earth will pass away. Has Christ given us a new commandment? “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you: that you love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 34-35) This is a new commandment absent in the Old Covenant and the Mosaic law. Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love Me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The Apostle Paul makes it clear that he is under the law of Christ, not the old law of Moses (1 Cor. 9: 20-21). Christ is our priest according to the new order, not the old order of Aaron, so if the priesthood changes, there must also be a change of law (Heb. 7:12). What means this change of an order? It means this: "... that man is justified not by the works of the law, but only by faith in Christ Jesus, and we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified”(Galatians 2:16). Only in the New Covenant we might do that through the power from God in the form of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ enabled us, through faith in Him, to do the works in the form of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The new commandment of love was written with the blood of Jesus on the hearts of believers, not on the tablets of stone. Old Testament believers did not have access to that. Note that Jesus fulfilled the law by the time of his crucifixion, but on the cross he did a very important thing that escaped attention of some: he abolished the law of commandments and regulations (Eph. 2:15), and wiped out, and nailed them to the cross (Col. 2:14). But if the of ministry death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses, because of the glory, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious (2 Cor. 3:7-11). Wherever, whenever we enter the old law sprinkled with the blood of animals, we enter the service of death and condemnation that has passed away, instead of the service of the Spirit and righteousness of the New Covenant which continues and is covered with the blood of the Son of God as the Lamb of God.
Salem Markus Purba
Supporter
The Old Testament law was given by God as a legal and belief system in the relationship of the LORD and his servants; master and his/her servants (Exodus 14: 31; 20: 8); it is a Constitution of the Kingdom of God in planet earth. God has made an amendment of the Old Testament law, that whoever believes in Jesus is not a servant of God, but a children of God (John 1: 12-13; 3: 16-18); that is known as the New Testament law. Since not all of the Old Testament law was amended, Christians/ a believers and followers of Jesus have to obey the Old Testament law as a children of God and a friends of Jesus (Mathew 5: 17-20; John 15:9-17).
Michael Scott
Supporter
All I have to say about this is if we only obey the New Testament all of our faith would be tried. The tithe was established in the Old Testament and it only required a tenth. The New Testament tithe was to give the church all that you had and they redistributed it according to your needs. The bible is a manual for this life. If only the New Testament was important for Christians today then God wouldn't have given us both segments. By saying one part of the bible is more important than the other you are demeaning your Faith in God because the bible is Gods words that he inspired man to write.
Lee Adams
Supporter
In Romans 3:27-31 Paul explains to us that GOD is not only THE GOD of the Jews but also of the gentiles, and that through faith that we do not abolish the law but establish it. We do this through love for Adonai. In Malachi THE LORD states"I am THE LORD your GOD and I DO NOT CHANGE" AND if he did he would have destroyed us long ago. In Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus explains that not one word of Torah will pass until ALL is fulfilled and that will be when the revelation of the Lord has happened. So if one is to ask if we ate to follow Torah I say yes and so does GOD and Jesus I hope this helps, may Adonai bless you and keep you you are in my prayers.
HAKIZIMANA JEAN DE DIEU
Supporter
We have been saved only by the faith not by the law. Think, why did Jesus accept to leave his honor He had in heaven and come in this world until He accepted to die on cross? Romans Chapter 4: 3-5; 7-8, For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. Hebrews chapter 7:12, For it that covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Hebrews 8:7, The pharisees asked to Jesus what they can do to work the works of God and Jesus had answered them:" This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent. It mean we need to believe in Jesus for being saved. He told the pharisees that unless they accept this, they will die in their sins. Nothing we should do for being accepted by God, we are living in righteousness because of Jesus's Grace. Under the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. John Executive secretary WELL OF LIFE CHURCH BURUNDI
Cliff Fleming
Supporter
The Old Testament is the New Contained and the New Testament is the Old Explained. There are not two Bibles. There is but one book and one story. The two laws that Jesus stated about loving The Lord with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself are direct quotes from the Book of Deuteronomy and Leviticus. Jesus stated in Matthew Chapter Five that He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it or show us how to live Torah. Also, the root word of torah comes from the word arrow or target, ie the Torah is a guideline to be followed for a better life. Sure people, Jew and Gentile alike don't have to follow the law, but I think we can say that we should do the best we can to follow God's commandments. Jesus said if you love me you will keep my commandments. If we followed the commandments of God I think we would be living in a much more Godly society where we don't kill children, steal from each other, lie, keep marriage vows, and violate God's other laws or commandments. I think the case that we live in a lawless society and that our ancestors that founded this country who did adhere to God's laws would not recognize our current Godless society.
KEITH SLOUGH
Supporter
The bottom line is are we following CHRIST's Example? Also are we following His teachings? Protestants came from Roman Catholics and simply teach the apostasy of Rome in regard to God's "holy, just, and good Law" (Romans 7:12). Jesus commands us to "live by every word of God" (Luke 4:4). WE ARE NOT UNDER ANY LAW ---- where salvation is concerned. Yet God requires us to obey Him by keeping His law where our relationship with HIM and our fellow man is concerned. The Sabbath and the Feast days are not "Jewish" as God intended for the "strangers" or gentiles to also observe the same laws -- the SAME laws -- He gave the Jews (Exodus 12:49). So we should not "pick and choose" what part of the Bible WE wish to keep -- but live by every word of God -- something most church goers adamantly REFUSE to do. Keith Slough, minister
Sterling Sawyer
Supporter
Let me give a parable from my life. One of my earliest memories was being abruptly yanked back to the curb while someone began spanking my rear and saying loudly, "No, No you cannot play in the street!" Though I did not have the words, I felt that those in power had drawn an arbitrary line in the sand, waited for me to waddle across and then beat me into a grease spot. I think that is often how we feel when the law comes down on us. However, this law did keep me alive long enough that I might grow up. If I went out into the street today, would one of you drag me back to the curb and begin spanking my rear? I hope not. But why? Are cars now made of nerf, or am I now made of steel, or have the laws of physics been suspended? No, in fact, a car can still be fatal if it hits me. The difference is that I am supposed to have matured. I am not sure that is true yet, but with Paul it was true. Paul was able to say, "For me all things are lawful, but not all things are profitable." (1Cor 6.12) Paul knew when and what was profitable to do; like me now knowing when it is good to cross the street. So, the law is for the immature.... unfortunately that is all of us, at least in some areas of our being. To the extent we mature in Christ -- and only to that extent -- we are free from the law. We are now focused on bringing forth Christ's Life, building His Kingdom.
Bruce Schultz
Supporter
Should Christian believers follow the Ten Commandments? No! You may choose to worship on Saturday but it's not required. The Ten Commandments were part of the old covenant which is now obsolete. Don't understand why people are following Reformed Judaism and not Christianity. The Ten Commandments was a covenant God established ONLY with the nation of Israel. Read Exodus 20:22 where God instructs Moses to teach the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel. Not to other nations. Gentiles were never included in the covenant. The Ten Commandments did not exist before Mt. Sinai. They did not exist from Genesis 1:1 to Exodus 20:1. The purpose of the Ten Commandments were to increase sin. Therefore, teaching the Commandments results in increasing sin. The Ten Commandments were only temporary until Jesus came. “Then why the Torah? It was added because of wrongdoings until the Seed would come—to whom the promise had been made. It was arranged through angels by the hand of an intermediary.” Galatians 3:19 TLV The Apostle Peter no longer lived as a Jew. Galatians 2:14 says Peter lives by grace not by laws. “But when I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter in front of everyone, “If you—being a Jew—live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”” Galatians 2:14 TLV The Ten Commandments are part of the old covenant which seized at the death of Christ.
Mark Vestal
Supporter
No. We are no longer under the law, but under the grace of God (Rom 6:14, Gal 3:23, 1 Cor 6:12). It is of utmost importance to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15), the gospel of our salvation (Eph 1:13), that was given to Paul, from the gospel given to biblical Israel (such as the book of John) when studying the bible. Jesus and the 12 apostles were for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, which is not you or I (Mat 10:5-6, Mat 15:24). During God's dispensation of grace (Eph 3:2) there is no difference in Jew nor Greek (Gal 3:28). Believers today are members of the church, the body of Christ (Col 1:24). God now sees Christ in us, and not who we see when we look in the mirror! The sin barrier between God and man was removed by the death of Jesus Christ (Rom 6:22, 2 Cor 5:21). God can now work through us once we've removed ourselves from His path (Col 2:14, Phil 1:6). We can now focus on what we can do for Him once we've stopped focusing on ourselves and our iniquities (Rom 7:22-25). Our apostle Paul received the revelation of the fellowship of the mystery from Christ resurrected (Eph 3:9), which was before kept secret since the world began (Rom 16:25). Had this mystery information been known prior to Christ's death, the princes of this world would not have crucified Christ (1 Cor 2:8). Christ's message to Paul, our gospel, differs from that of the 12 apostles to biblical Israel (James 1:1), who did works under law to prove their faith in 'times past' (Rom 11:6, James 2:24). We who are living during the dispensation of the grace of God (Eph 3:2) are to simply have faith in the finished cross-work of Jesus Christ (Rom 3:28, 1 Cor 1:23). Works for salvation actually put us into debt with God as this shows lack of faith (Rom 4:4). Basically, we don't work in order to be saved, we work because we are saved (Eph 2:10, Eph 4:12). When you’re a passenger in a vehicle, you have faith that the driver will safely get you to your destination. Jesus Christ is our driver, our ‘spiritual vehicle’ (Rom 5:10, Rom 8:32), and the Holy Spirit is our 'seat-belt' (Eph 4:30), that seals our souls until the day of redemption (Eph 1:13)! Since we're unable to find our own way to salvation we need someone who can, a savior. That's what it means to have faith in Christ, belief that He died on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins (1 Cor 15:3), was buried, and rose again (1 Cor 15:4), so that we may have everlasting life (Rom 6:22, 1 Cor 15:22). We are not righteous enough for God on our own merits (Titus 3:5). The REAL good news today is that our belief in what Jesus Christ did on our behalf makes us the righteousness of God (1 Cor 1:30, 2 Cor 5:21). Amen!
Genovive Ozichi
Supporter
I would like to say that I share the same view with Maphosa. Indeed God is one and his word cannot be divided into 2 separate agendas. You cannot take away the Old Testament and the bible remains complete. Jesus who is the central theme of the bible was the Old Testament concealed and the New Testament revealed. My friends, the laws of God are fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. It is summarized in the book of matt 22 verses 37 to 39 and also in luck 10 verse 27..... Which says thou shall love thy god with all thy heart, mind, soul, strength and the second is love thy neighbor as yourself If there is any verse we do not understand in the old testament, it will be wise to see how it is explained or referred to in the new testament using the understanding we now have in Jesus Christ. THANK YOU.
James Fehr
Supporter
When Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to Love God with all your heart, soul and mind and Love your neighbour as yourself and then said that those two sum up all the law and prophets, that is what He meant. With that in mind, you see the commandments in a little different manner. Instead of, Thou shalt NOT kill, it's more like, thou Shalt not kill. When we read the Ten Commandments we often seem to take them as some strong rules of what to do, or what not to do. But when we understand what Jesus meant when He said that Love sums up all the law, it makes sense when He says that he fulfilled the law.
Albert DeBenedictis
Supporter
While Jesus lived during the time of the Gospels, the Jews were under the Law of God that was given to Moses. If Jesus said or did anything contrary to keeping the Law of God, then Jesus would have been sinning against God and the Jews would have been correct in accusing Jesus of blasphemy, and rightfully so. When Jesus told the Jews to keep the Law of Moses, it was because they had strayed from God’s Word and were only listening to what the leaders (the Pharisees and Sadducees) taught them. It was after Jesus died and rose from the dead that the covenant changed. (See Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25). The Law will not be abolished until Judgment Day (The Day of the Lord, or the Last Day, the end of the age, etc.). For those who are without Christ will be judged by the Law (Romans 2:12). What Moses wrote was mainly for the Israelites, because God was establishing a nation for Himself. We learn from the Law what God expected of them. Their focus was to be constantly on God and doing what God commanded. This was the Old Covenant. When the New Covenant began (See Jeremiah 31:31-34), no one needed to keep the Law. The following passages of Scripture indicate when the New Covenant was to come into effect: Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 3:4-11; Hebrews 9:15. The Apostle Paul was not against the Law of God. He was Jewish and was formally schooled (Acts 22:3; Philippians 3:4-6) in the ways of the Law. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” (Romans 7:12) The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 6:15: “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” The Apostle Paul is here clearly stating that Christians are not under the Law but are under God’s grace. In Romans 6:14, the Apostle Paul wrote: “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” The first half of Romans 6:14 states that sin will not be your master. Why? The reason why sin shall not be your master (or have dominion over you) is stated in the second half of the verse. The reason why sin shall not be your master (or have dominion over you) is because you are not under the Law, but under grace (the second half of Romans 6:14). That is the clear meaning of the passage. Notice that the Apostle Paul did not say that the Law of God is sin. It is not the Law that has dominion or Lordship or is master over someone, it is sin and the desire to sin is what has control of someone. If someone is controlled by sin, the Law of God will condemn them. Only those who are not saved by God’s grace are under the Law. Jesus died for our sins (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3) so that we can no longer be held guilty. Being dominated (or controlled) by sin is not being dominated by the Law. If one were dominated by the Law, they would not be sinning. The problem is that people sin against God’s holy Law. Sin is not the Law. Neither Jesus or Paul or any other Apostle wrote anything about changing or deleting the Law of God. The Law is part of God’s Word and is to be studied and honored. That does not mean however, that Christians are to keep the Law of God, except perhaps, the moral portions of the Law, as many of the moral laws are mentioned again in the New Testament (See Romans 1;28-32; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-26; Ephesians 4:21-32). Christians are not to keep the ceremonial laws, which includes keeping the Sabbath Day, as nowhere in the New Testament are Christians told to keep the Law. If the apostles taught that Christians were to keep the law, the Jews would not have caused them so much harm, as described in Acts.
Marvin Reynolds
Supporter
Do we have to obey the Law of the Old Testament? Depends on what section you are looking at. Look at the principle of Exodus 20 where the The Commandments were given and thaat was verbal and heard by all including the rebellious who later died. Now look at Mathew chapter 5 and note the Lords Prayer and you will see that it is the Ten Commandments in a spiritual realm you must follow. That was stated by Jesus. Now look at Acts Chapter 15 and the discussion on relationship of requirements of Jews and Gentiles converted to Jesus. The Old Testament Law was excluded but certain items were pointed out and they sure fit the Ten Commandments for all believers. Now we can admit that the orginal call was vocal on the Ten Commandments with NO restriction on who heard what God said. This applys to Jesus and his statment of the Lords Prayer. Now that a dispute had arrisen on new believers NOT Jews and their relationship with Old Testament Laws makes it clear that it DOES NOT apply to non Jews but it applys only to Jews! Now if you have every Pastored a Church and had Jews in your congregation what I have just said is exactly how they act. They will keep the Old Testament rules for Jews but will ALSO serve the Church activity. Very intereting when you meet one and their understanding of what it taught in the New Testament. Hope this helps it is based on undeerstanding and experience.plus travel all over the world as I have done.
Kilian Kean
Supporter
I think Jesus was pretty clear in the gospels. Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." If you run into a situation where the above two commands don't apply, then the Law in the OT is a good guide from which to draw your conclusion of God's will. Back in college, the subject of dancing came up and whether it was appropriate for believers to dance. Others disagreed with my stance, but I felt that dancing would entice a man to lust after a girl, so I did not participate. Matthew 5:28 is pretty clear about it. I may "love" the girl, but it was not according to a godly intention. What is the motivation behind what you are seeking to do? God judges the heart. The best thing any believer can do is to study to gain a great basic understanding of the Bible as a whole. I know this is very difficult, but in place of listening to music while driving, turn on a MP3 recording of your favorite teacher and get God's Word into you. Spend time reading the Bible or books that pertain to the Bible. When you have a good basic grasp of the entire Bible, decisions become very clear. Lastly, we can't overlook the work of the Holy Spirit. He will guide you in all things. What is He saying to you right now? I always look at life as a two-way street. One direction leads to a closer walk with God, that's the way of the Holy Spirit. The other direction leads to away from God, that's the way of the Devil. Choose which way you are going to go. But understand who is behind the motivation of where you are going. The Holy Spirit will always lead you back to a relationship with God. Conviction is one tool. The Devil will always lead you away from God. Condemnation is one tool. Joshua 24:15 "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Simcha Hannah
Supporter
I refer to Psalm 2. "Let's break their fetters! Let's throw off their chains." It is now 2020 and the USA is in total chaos. Lawlessness reigns. Killings, shootings, lootings, rage, destroying people's businesses and homes. So let us ask one more time. Should God's children obey His Laws or not? Should followers of Jesus Christ obey or not? And if we answer yes, we should obey to experience His divine presence, protection, provision and peace, then the second question is, what do I obey? I have chosen to follow what Jesus obeyed, and Paul and John and Peter. One thing I know, I won't get it wrong if I follow Jesus' walk. I do it for sheer love. I am already saved by His sacrificial death. And I now do what 2 Corinthians 5:15 says. I live for Him, not for me, because He is worthy and deserving of the purest, most obedient life I can possibly live. He set a high standard and I will not lessen it.
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