House of Cornelius and the law

Grace777x70 · May 28, 2016

The love of Christ in us fulfills all the law - no matter what it is...including Lev 18:23..."dog gone it!"

1 Timothy 1:8-9 (NASB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

[SUP]9 [/SUP] realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers

Acts 15:24 (KJV)
[SUP]24 [/SUP] Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

It didn't take long after Acts 15 for the true gospel of Christ alone to be watered down by people saying we need to keep the law. Paul encountered in when he went next to Jerusalem...there were thousands of Jewish believers that had gone back to the law.

Acts 21:20-21 (NASB)
[SUP]20 [/SUP] And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;

[SUP]21 [/SUP] and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

Titus 3:9 (KJV)

[SUP]9 [/SUP] But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

This is my last post on the law...I'll trust the Holy Spirit in people to lead them into the truth about Christ alone for life.

redeemed2014 · May 28, 2016

Grace777x70 said:

Amen! Also I just want to add the book of Galatians, Paul was writing to them because they went back to the law perverting the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:6-7 Paul marveled that they were quickly removed from the grace of Christ to another gospel.

That other gospel was the gospel of the Kingdom, which was preached by the Lord Jesus Christ, In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Most people that try to keep us under the law will only quote from those 4 books and half of acts, which was the gospel of the Kingdom and not the gospel of Christ by which we are saved. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 we are told that belief in THE GOSPEL of the death, burial, and Resurrection of our dear Lord is what saves us.

For the ones that try to keep us under the law there is also a stern warning in Galatians 1:8 about preaching a different gospel then what Paul revealed to us which was revealed to him from our ascended Lord.

Have you ever wondered why the Lord would allow the temple to be destroyed in 70AD? Was it possible it was to keep us from being subjected to the law because we can no longer fulfill the law without the temple?

Grace777x70 I know its hard to try to convince people that they are no longer under the law, but brother please remember you are planting seeds and whether you realize it or not you are a big part of winning souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. I also feel like I am banging my head against a wall telling people about grace, that feel they are still under the law. But I sure am glad that when I was on the other side somebody was banging there head against a wall. Please keep planting those seeds!

God Bless

PurerInHeart · May 28, 2016

Easy- only Christ's blood saves us from our sins. But for the people in the Old Testament, Christ hadn't died yet, but they were still saved, why? It's because to God time is irrelevant. Christ died once for all- all who were in the past who obeyed God, and all who were in the future who would obey God. So their sin debt was postponed until the cross, and Cornelius' sin debt was postponed until baptism, until he came into contact with Christ's blood. Meanwhile, those in the Old Testament still had to live out their lives, and it is the same with Cornelius. God was showing that He knows who will be His people, even though it is not official until one comes in contact with Christ's blood. Because God knows before judgement day who will be saved, He knew before creation.

simplifiedtruth · May 28, 2016

redeemed2014 said:

-Acts 10:1 Introducing Cornelius.

Cornelius was a Gentile

-Acts 10:9-16 Peter was given a vision.

Acts 10:14/28 Shows that Peter was a law abiding Jew

-Acts 11:12 Six Jews went along with Peter to Caesarea.

6 Jews plus Peter = 7 Jews (Number of Completion)
Cornelius was the 8th man (Number of New Beginnings)

-Acts 10:34 Peter starts his sermon to the house of Cornelius

Whosoever believeth in Him shall recieve the remission of sins -- Acts 10:43

-Acts 10:44 Holy Ghost fell upon Cornelius while Peter yet spake

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

-Acts 10:48 Peter commanded them to be baptized

Holy Ghost has already fell upon Cornelius

Acts 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

In Acts 11:3 we read that Peter had to defend his ministry to Cornelius because they were uncircumcised (gentile).

After studying the house of Cornelius how can some say that we still must do works/follow the law to gain salvation. Cornelius was a gentile not part of the abrahamic covenant, so he was not under the law and nowhere do we read that he was following the law. He was uncircumcised, unbaptized, and a sinner. We read in Acts 10:25 that Cornelius fell down at Peters feet and worshiped him, that makes him an idolater. Nowhere between the point of him worshiping Peter to the time that the Holy Ghost fell upon him did he repent of that sin. Cornelius was saved after hearing the Word and believing. At that point all he had to do was believe in who Jesus Christ was. This was the transitioning point from law to grace. After this Paul reveals the mystery of the secret by which we are saved.

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

What was the gospel that Paul gave to us:

1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1 Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Believe in the death, burial, and Resurrection of our dear Lord. You cannot obtain salvation on your own the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the law, because we could not! This does not mean that we can run around like we live on skid row. The law is still perfect because it is the mind of God and he does not change, all scripture is for instruction in righteousness. But our righteousness's are as filthy rags, we can not count on our righteousness but only His!

Romans 3:25 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;

He paid it all! please do not try to fight a fight that has already been won!

God Bless

The gift of God is a marriage covenant where we are obliged to walk our lives in accordance to its terms to the very best of our ability. The law (torah) is for everyone, and gentiles have always been required to keep the same laws when they became a part of Israel. Sin is the transgression of the Law (Torah) and Jesus came to save us from our sins so we could repent and walk in the newness of life in accordance with He's will. If you live lawless you are a willful transgressor and you are falling short of the gospel.

redeemed2014 · May 28, 2016

simplifiedtruth said:

Your very best will not do you are a sinner like me and everybody else! The price of sin is death, fortunately for us that price was already paid. Also every transgression is willful and if you live lawless like you are on skid row, then you probably never had a true faith and belief in the death, burial, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are told that if we do, we will be a new creation, sealed with the holy Spirit until the day of redemption. Works and the law cannot save you our righeousnesses are as filthy rags to the Lord, and the law can only condemn us. Just because we are saved by grace does not mean that I'm saying we can go do as we please that is contrary to the Word of God. What I am saying is that an obedience to the law will not get you in heaven. When the time comes are you going to say, Lord I followed the law and i lived to the best of my ability you owe it to me to let me in?

PurerInHeart · May 28, 2016

simplifiedtruth said:

First, Torah- there were many more laws written after the first five books of the bible. Second, yes it is the same law for the Jews as well as the Gentiles, however in the Old Testament this was done physically, and in the New Testament is done spiritually. Third, there is a difference between 'visiting' sin, and 'living' in sin. For example, if you (purposely) got drunk one time- you sinned. But if you are living as a daily drunkard- you are living in sin. If you had unmarital sex with your bf or gf- you sinned, but if you are shaking up together and being sexually active all the time, without a marriage license, you are living in fornication (living in sin).

(I say drunk on purpose, because it is possible to do so on accident. Let me share with you my mistake... My son and I were waiting for an apartment to open up, but in the meantime stayed with acquaintances. One morning, before school, he asked for some orange juice. I poured him some, and he said it tasted spoiled. I said that I knew they had just bought it yesterday, and it had a good date on it, then went off being busy in the morning rush. He drank a lot of it. Before we left I noticed he was particularly clumsy. He said his stomach didn't feel good. So I tasted the oj, and realized there was strong vodka in it. In the fridge was a bottle of vodka almost empty. I said oh no! I explained it to him. He said, "This is what drunk feels like? Why do people want to feel sick?" I did not know the people we were staying with put that in there.)

simplifiedtruth · May 28, 2016

redeemed2014 said:

You are wrong my friend. Faith without works is dead faith. You cannot do away with repentance. Repentance means to turn from your wicked/lawless ways back to the Father by keeping hes laws statutes and commandments with a good conscience and walking in the newness of life. It is written: A righteous man falls 7 times. The difference with the wicked is he does not care being obedient in the first place.

Matthew 7: 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.(Lawlessness).

James 2:18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

redeemed2014 · May 28, 2016

PurerInHeart said:

The Lord was already Resurrected when Peter was sent to Cornelius, so his sin debt was already paid. You say that Cornelius' sin debt was postponed until baptism. Can you show supporting verses for that because we are justified freely, we received the gift of God eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. If I told you I will only give you a gift if you run 5 miles how then would it be a gift. A gift is something you cannot earn but you receive because the Lord Jesus Christ loves us and died for us while we were yet sinners.

redeemed2014 · May 28, 2016

simplifiedtruth said:

You are wrong my friend. Faith without works is dead faith. You cannot do away with repentance. Repentance means to turn from your wicked/lawless ways back to the Father by keeping hes laws statutes and commandments with a good conscience and walking in the newness of life. It is written: A righteous man falls 7 times. The difference with the wicked is he does not care being obedient in the first place.

Matthew 7: 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.(Lawlessness).

James 2:18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

First: all the scripture you posted here is written to the Jew. Under the Law, and the gospel of the Kingdom.

Second: We are in the age of grace. The verses you wrote and the verses I use contradict each other, We know that the Word is truth and there are no contradictions. If you separate the Jew and the Gentile, the gospel of the Kingdom and the gospel of Christ all the contradictions will disappear and you will see that the Kingdom gospel was stopped for the time being the Lord went to the Gentile with a different gospel given to us by Paul by which we are saved until the age of grace comes to an end. Who is writing and to whom it is written is very important we must rightly divide the Word.

simplifiedtruth · May 28, 2016

redeemed2014 said:

Have you received the gift of the Holy Spirit by fire baptism with the evidence of speaking in tongues ? If not then you have not been obedient to the gospel.

John 14:15If ye love me, keep my commandments.16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

simplifiedtruth · May 28, 2016

redeemed2014 said:

You are greatly mistaken friend. There are no contradictions, only errors people have chosen to interpret from the text.
There is only One gospel and One way and One faith to the father, He is the same yesterday today and forever and is not a respecter of persons. God does not have a different gospel for you or anyone else. God has always required the same level of obedience no matter what people you are. What you are saying about a different gospel to the gentiles is unbiblical and wrong. The law is not done away with and there is only one way and one faith for all. And he does not change:

Ephesians4: 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Galatians 3: 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 3: 8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

John 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For 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. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

simplifiedtruth · May 28, 2016

simplifiedtruth said:

Have you received the gift of the Holy Spirit by fire baptism with the evidence of speaking in tongues ? If not then you have not been obedient to the gospel.

John 14:15If ye love me, keep my commandments.16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Acts 5:32 32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

redeemed2014 · May 29, 2016

simplifiedtruth said:

Jew and Gentile alike are saved by the gospel of Christ today.

May I ask,

what gospel did the Lord preach during his earthly ministry and to whom did he preach it?

What gospel did Paul preach who gave him the gospel and to whom did he preach it?

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Just a reminder Galatians was wrote because they were putting themselves back under the law

Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Never did i mention that the Lord Jesus Christ was different but you are comparing before and after the death, burial, and Resurrection.

PurerInHeart · May 29, 2016

redeemed2014 said:

Yeah sure, I'll do that for ya...

1 Peter 3:21 says baptism saves- and indeed it does, because it puts us into contact with Christ's blood- for we are baptized into His death- where He shed it (Romans 6:3). But if we are saved before baptism, that means that baptism does not save, and God is therefore made out to be a liar. Christ died one time for all people who did or would obey God. Obey what? The law of circumcision- done physically in the Old Testament, but spiritually in the New Testament (Read Colossians chapter two- where God performs circumcision of the heart during baptism).

Ok, there is only one thing that saves us- Christ's blood. At some point we must come in contact with it, and it is not official until we do.

simplifiedtruth · May 29, 2016

redeemed2014 said:

Paul taught the same gospel as Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the one who taught Paul himself. Paul talks about the law of sin, law of death, the law of the spirit, law of man, and the law of God in hes letters. Peter himself warned in he's letter that some things in Paul's writings are hard to understand, which the unstable and unlearn twist to their own destruction by teaching lawlessness (transgression of the Torah). Now Paul taught in he's letters the gentiles to obey the law, and he kept it himself. He told us to imitate him. You need to study the subject more. The word does not contradict itself.

Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

Romans 3:31 31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Romans 7:25 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

1 Corinthians 11:11Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

2 Peter 3:14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16As also in all hisepistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked(Lawless), fall from your own stedfastness. 18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

simplifiedtruth · May 29, 2016

Paul Kept and taught the Law.

PurerInHeart · May 29, 2016

simplifiedtruth said:

What I've read so far is taken out of context. For one, Paul went there on the sabbath because that's where the people were that he needed to preach to- because they were still keeping the sabbath. He did not still practice Judaism after he was baptized into Christ. That's like saying if I go to Saint Mary's hospital, that I'm practicing Catholicism.

And the one about the yeast and the festival, he was saying spiritually, not physically. He even explained which spiritual things he was referring to. Jesus used parables all the time- comparing physical things to spiritual things so we'd have a better understanding. Paul was doing the same. Jesus is the Lamb of God- does that make God a sheep? No, because the meaning is spiritual, not physical.

redeemed2014 · May 29, 2016

simplifiedtruth said:

At what point do i state that we can go out and break the law, we are no longer under the judgement of the law! is what I am talking about the Lord Jesus Christ paid the sin debt with his death burial and Resurrection. The Lord himself stated that he did not come to abolish the law but to FULFILL IT! the Lord also said IT IS FINISHED! If you think because you are following the law to get you into heaven you have already fell short. If you broke one law one time in your entire life the penalty is death. And because of Adam you have a sin nature so I'm sure you have broken a law just like me and everybody else. Unless you put your FAITH in the cross work of the Lord Jesus Christ and take the free gift he has given you while you were still a sinner you will fall short.

redeemed2014 · May 29, 2016

simplifiedtruth said:

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Paul revealed the mystery which was kept SECRET since the world began.

How did the Lord Jesus Christ preach these things of the death, burial, and Resurrection during his earthly ministry

Luke 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

Luke 18:32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

Luke 18:33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

Luke 18:34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

The Lord told them but it was hid from them because the mystery was not revealed yet. Paul's gospel is about being saved by the death, burial, and Resurrected Lord which you will not find in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Because it has not happened yet.

If the 12 disciples knew that the Lord was going to be Resurrected on the third day why were they not at the tomb when the stone rolled away! How come Mary thought the Lord was the gardener and did not know that it was the Lord flesh and bone walking upon the earth?

In light of that how can you say that it was not a different gospel being preached by the Lord and Paul. Yes the Lord gave Paul the MYSTERY of the SECRET to reveal to the whole world.

JGIG · May 29, 2016

BibleGuy said:

Torah has not ceased to exist.

As a functioning, valid covenant, however, it is obsolete in Christ and His Work of the Cross, the Resurrection, the Ascension, and His Perfect, Permanent, High Priesthood.

Those who are in Christ are dead to the Law (Rom. 7:4-6).

Christ (of the Tribe of Judah) has been appointed as the Perfect Permanent High Priest of the New Covenant by an oath from God, replacing the Levitical priesthood, again, rendering the Old Covenant obsolete.

Have you achieved perfection yet?

Because that is the standard that Jesus sets forth in Matthew 5. Be ye perfect as God in heaven is perfect. If you don't achieve that standard, well, your own doctrine condemns you.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (from Mt. 7)

41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (from Mt. 13)

Nope. They don't come close to your interpretation.

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word [G3056 - logos] is truth. (from Jn. 17)

Logos refers to the Living Word, Christ, Who is God incarnate, not to Torah, which is merely part of the written Scriptures (G1124 - graphē).

The New Covenant says that we love God because He first loved us. God does not demand that which He does not provide. While love is a command, it's also a Fruit of His Spirit, which He produces in those who are in Christ; we bear the Fruit that He produces (1 Jn. 4, Gal. 5).

We're back to the standard of perfection required of the Law, yes? Obeying every commandment that applies to you 100% of the time? That is the standard that Jesus sets forth, yes?

Tell us, how were the recent festivities in Jerusalem this past April? I hear it's lovely there this time of year! Did you bring your sacrifice to Jerusalem? If Torah Law is still in force, there must be an active Levitial Priesthood through whom you can present your sacrifices and offerings to God, yes? It's not like Levites can't be located today: http://www.templeinstitute.org/red_heifer/levitical_priests.htm

Again, you err in assigning 'Torah' where a living expression of God's Word is defined:

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (from Mt. 4)

The Greek for 'word' in that verse is G4487 - rhēma, which is the living voice, or word, of God, not the Torah, or 'graphe' of God, which is part of the written Scriptures (see above). One could easily couple Mt. 4:4 with

39 You search the Scriptures [G1124 - graphē] because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (from Jn. 5)

And this:

63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words [G4487 - rhēma] I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” (from Jn. 6)

And what were they not believing?

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (from Jn. 6)

The Psalms require obedience to the covenant in force at the time. Torah just means instructions, yes? The instructions about how to enter into and stay in covenant with God are quite different from the Abrahamic to the Sinaitic to the New Covenants.

Context means everything. Before the Cross, for Israel, the Sinaitic Covenant (Old Covenant) was in effect, and obedience to its decrees was mandatory or the penalty was death - yours or that of a substitutional sacrifice, depending on the offense.

After the Cross, the New Covenant, ratified by the Blood of Christ, God Himself in the flesh, is in effect, rendering the Old Covenant obsolete, and is entered into by faith and maintained by our Perfect, Permanent High Priest, Christ Jesus.

The New Covenant is a fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant, fulfilling the pattern of God making the covenant with Himself, with it being an unconditional covenant (unlike the Sinaitic covenant, which has gobs of conditions), and where He holds up the covenant with His Work. We simply enter in by faith.

The entire letter to the Hebrews clarifies and instructs on both the superiority of the New Covenant in Christ (based on better promises) and the obsolescence of the Old Covenant.

Torah, God's instructions before the Cross, were given to Israel at Sinai in the form of the Law.

Torah, God's instructions after the Cross, were given to all mankind by Christ: Believe on the One God sent and love one another.

Do you live before or after the Work of Christ?

The whole of Romans 8 does not support your assertion, and Galatians 5 clearly tells us that your assertion is in error, for if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law (Gal. 5:18).

Those who are in Christ and go back to the Law walk in Spiritual adultery, having died to the Law in order to be joined to Christ:

4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 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. (from Rom. 7)

So you're teaching folks to go back to that which stirs up sin and bears fruit unto death, when those in Christ 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.

It really does not get much clearer than that.

You can read more on that subject in these two articles:

Released/Delivered From the Law and Christ is the End of the Law – Getting Greeky About Romans 7, 10, and Ephesians 2

Romans 7:1-6 and Spiritual Adultery

Grace and peace to you,
-JGIG

House of Cornelius and the law

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