Sorry and help please.

[Ariel82]

You grow in Christ and trying to do anything outside of God's will is useless and trivial.

However, God doesn't make zombies and take over your will and mind. He teaches us like a beloved Father training His children to become unique and made to for His purpose, set to His task sitting the Body of Christ.

Do you truly believe that God wants people to remain babes drinking milk always?

Or does He want us to learn, grow and mature in His wisdom to walk with Him and do the task He assigns us to do?

Adam and Eve were suppose to tend the garden of Eden....their job was gardeners and caretakers of all the creatures in Earth.

We each have a purpose for our lives God wants us to grow and be able to do.

 

[Enow]

Sorry, but I keep going in circles with my opinion on the use of the law.

1) Christ saves.
2) LAW does not.
3) Christ makes us righteous to God.
4) the law teaches benefits of tithing etc.
5) following the LAW is wrong.
5) Christ said to give freely (tithing similar).
6) Jesus "do onto others, you'd have done onto you", (kill,steal,rape,lie,sit-in the fence).
7) the things Christ said emulate the law in alot of ways.

So, is following the law for self-improvement of thought and creating good habits, wrong. Because it may be justification. Saying I can make myself or own life better (peace of mind).

If this is true should I just ignore all of the old testament law, even lessons of its benefits etc. And because the old testament is ALL BASED ON THE LAW. I should not read all of the old testament and only read god's word. The words spoken by Jesus ONLY? Then move with those words? And maybe the rest of new testament?

If so, why do nearly all churches explain the old testament through sermons etc?

Thanks.

The Old Covenant is about making yourself God's people by the deeds of the law.

The New Covenant has us believing in Jesus Christ that He has made us His people by faith in Him alone.

The Old Covenant is about doing the best you can in keeping the law in how to follow Him.

The New Covenant is higher than the works of the law by dealing with the thoughts & intents of the heart, but it is not about doing the best we can but trusting Him to deliver us from our bondage to sin & to death by faith in Him as our Good Shepherd alone in helping us to follow Him.

The Old Covenant would require tithing to support the Judaism system of priests and whatever.

The New Covenant requires that the church rely on God to raise up cheerful givers and not tithings nor pledges of givings. It is none of their business what the giver gives if at all, to the churches when he must provide for his own house first, including taking care of the old widows in the family & orphans of the family siblings.

The Old Covenant requires you to keep the sabbath day.

The New Covenant says that because Jesus Christ is in you and your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, you are blameless for not keeping the sabbath day. See why at this link below to Matthew 12:1-8

http://christianchat.com/blogs/enow/10831-why-jesus-lord-over-sabbath-day.html

So Jesus did not do away with the law but fulfilled the law where He is Lord over the sabbath day that you are blameless.

So when you find yourself unable to love your enemies to forgive them, turn to Jesus and He will help you to love your enemies to forgive them, and lead you to live peaceably with all men, even if it means to avoid them, waiting for opportunities to do good to your enemy in the hopes to win them to Christ.

1 Timothy 1:[SUP]14 [/SUP]And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.[SUP]15 [/SUP]This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.[SUP]16 [/SUP]Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

We can only follow Jesus by faith in Him and all His promises to us in being our Good Shepherd, so trust Him today in looking to Him all the time for following Him, and not to yourself in doing the best you can by trying to keep the deeds of the law.

 

[BeyondET]

Much of this is that Jesus taught to FIRST love, then follow all these other things that will come from your desire to see the best for others.

Man teaches to get the best for ourselves by dutifully doing good things for others.

If you will CAREFULLY read most law-leaning posts, you will often find that they are working toward receiving something for themselves. One word you will hear a lot is: "rewards."

Now, to look at it another way, how many people do you think would do for others if the Bible told them very plainly that doing so would never really benefit them at all, but would, instead, assure the others (the ones they are helping) that it would be THEM who got the rewards (Heaven, crowns, robes, jeweled cities... whatever) at the end of our lives?

No doubt Willie, my own thoughts are it's such a joy to see others in joy yet not reaping any of it myself. it's much more satisfying to give than receive.

 

[Dai3234]

Much of this is that Jesus taught to FIRST love, then follow all these other things that will come from your desire to see the best for others.

Man teaches to get the best for ourselves by dutifully doing good things for others.

If you will CAREFULLY read most law-leaning posts, you will often find that they are working toward receiving something for themselves. One word you will hear a lot is: "rewards."

Now, to look at it another way, how many people do you think would do for others if the Bible told them very plainly that doing so would never really benefit them at all, but would, instead, assure the others (the ones they are helping) that it would be THEM who got the rewards (Heaven, crowns, robes, jeweled cities... whatever) at the end of our lives?..... Not us.

By your words your confirming my opinion of totally ignoring the old testament.

 

[Ariel82]

Why would self improvement be against Christ?

The Holy Spirit changes who we were to who God wants us to be. The self is improved not by our own power but Christ's power working within us.

 

[Willie-T]

No doubt Willie, my own thoughts are it's such a joy to see others in joy yet not reaping any of it myself. it's much more satisfying to give than receive.

It doesn't come naturally to me. But, I do feel the psychological benefit when I give up my desires for others. (Even if it only happens kind of rarely.)

 

[Magenta]

Basically my first post is asking is self-improvement against Christ, if so, anything in the Bible except for what he said, should not be read or followed in any way except from apostles etc.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. How would that be against Christ, when it is explicitly instructed we do this?

 

[88]

Sorry, but I keep going in circles with my opinion on the use of the law.

1) Christ saves.
2) LAW does not.
3) Christ makes us righteous to God.
4) the law teaches benefits of tithing etc.
5) following the LAW is wrong.
5) Christ said to give freely (tithing similar).
6) Jesus "do onto others, you'd have done onto you", (kill,steal,rape,lie,sit-in the fence).
7) the things Christ said emulate the law in alot of ways.

So, is following the law for self-improvement of thought and creating good habits, wrong. Because it may be justification. Saying I can make myself or own life better (peace of mind).

If this is true should I just ignore all of the old testament law, even lessons of its benefits etc. And because the old testament is ALL BASED ON THE LAW. I should not read all of the old testament and only read god's word. The words spoken by Jesus ONLY? Then move with those words? And maybe the rest of new testament?

If so, why do nearly all churches explain the old testament through sermons etc?

Thanks.

****Christ did not do away with the law He fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17-20) ----as we walk in the Spirit seeking to please God we will not disobey God's Word (Galatians 5:16)----anything the moral law of the Old Testament taught---Jesus taught it in a more stricter sense---- ****Old Testament---don't commit adultery----Jesus---don't lust *****Old Testament---don't murder----Jesus----don't hate your brother ****Old Testament---don't covet----Jesus----give... God has written His laws upon our hearts----as we read the Word---both Old Testament and New Testament the Holy Spirit guides us in righteousness and holiness---creating good habits for yourself is good---be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is convicting you of --or blessing you in...Grace and Peace...

 

[Willie-T]

By your words your confirming my opinion of totally ignoring the old testament.

No, I still do many of those things. But the key is my motive.
The OT said to give to the poor..... Why?
Jesus also said to give to the poor..... Why?

 

[Willie-T]

I actually WILL disobey God's OT Law. The Good Samaritan did........ but the Priest and the Levite insisted on NOT violating it.

Jesus violated the OT Law at times (many times)...... but He did so for the betterment and benefit of the humans around Him.

 

[Dai3234]

****Christ did not do away with the law He fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17-20) ----as we walk in the Spirit seeking to please God we will not disobey God's Word (Galatians 5:16)----anything the moral law of the Old Testament taught---Jesus taught it in a more stricter sense---- ****Old Testament---don't commit adultery----Jesus---don't lust *****Old Testament---don't murder----Jesus----don't hate your brother ****Old Testament---don't covet----Jesus----give... God has written His laws upon our hearts----as we read the Word---both Old Testament and New Testament the Holy Spirit guides us in righteousness and holiness---creating good habits for yourself is good---be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is convicting you of --or blessing you in...Grace and Peace...

This point also directs me to only looking at the NT, and ignore the OT. Maybe the NT should have a bigger version explaining these follow on points.

 

[BeyondET]

It doesn't come naturally to me. But, I do feel the psychological benefit when I give up my desires for others. (Even if it only happens kind of rarely.)

I think it's quite ok brother, I can't remember the verse but Jesus says even a small cup full or half a cup something like that is good.

 

[BeyondET]

matt 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward."

 

[Dai3234]

I think most of you are a bit confused, I did not ask about following the law to be saved. I asked is it wrong to follow it for self improvement. It looks like it's not helpful, and the NT might be better for me without the OT.

 

[Magenta]

Jesus gave us a new covenant. Why would you want to follow the older ones?
They were not even given to us.

... one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

[Ariel82]

I think most of you are a bit confused, I did not ask about following the law to be saved. I asked is it wrong to follow it for self improvement. It looks like it's not helpful, and the NT might be better for me without the OT.

At this point in your walk, I agree that you should focus on the teaching of Jesus revealed in the New Testament.

Eventually God may lead you to a deeper study and understanding of the Old testament.

However there is so much wisdom found in the New testament,,

Like the concept of forgiveness and praying for our enemies.

It goes against what the world has taught us, but it's part of God's teaching for us.

 

[Dai3234]

At this point in your walk, I agree that you should focus on the teaching of Jesus revealed in the New Testament.

Eventually God may lead you to a deeper study and understanding of the Old testament.

However there is so much wisdom found in the New testament,,

Like the concept of forgiveness and praying for our enemies.

It goes against what the world has taught us, but it's part of God's teaching for us.

I read it already but didn't see much guidance other than be poor, give everything up, leave home, love god by accepting Jesus and the spirit. Preach. That's about it, and trust in God. Yet I think Paul said carry on where you are? The job and life position etc, conflict not helpful.

 

[FreeNChrist]

I think most of you are a bit confused, I did not ask about following the law to be saved. I asked is it wrong to follow it for self improvement. It looks like it's not helpful, and the NT might be better for me without the OT.

Christianity is not a self-improvement program.

 

[Ariel82]

God doesn't say you have to be poor. Jesus two rich followers were the ones who buried Him: Joseph and Nicedimous (spell check needed).

If you pray God reveals so much truth in His Holy scriptures.

The main one is to pray and trust God. Not men nor our own understanding of scriptures.

 

[Dai3234]

Christianity is not a self-improvement program.

Well accepting Christ is improvement from not. Following his ways, you know it betters you. I've finished here now anyway and will just try and stick to NT, though I'm studying Joshua for RBT Meeting, he, typical. Thanks though.