House of Cornelius and the law

redeemed2014 · May 29, 2016

The Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry was to the Jews with very minimal exception to a couple gentiles. The Lord Jesus Christ came declaring the gospel of the Kingdom. Once he became the perfect sacrifice he revealed to Paul the mystery of the secret. That mystery was the gospel of Christ given to Paul by the ascended Lord. What the Lord Jesus Christ said during his earthly ministry is profitable but it is directed to Jews under the Law. The Lord could not have been talking about gentiles in the age of grace because it was kept secret from the beginning. Which He had not revealed to anybody but Paul and Paul then revealed it to us.

simplifiedtruth · May 29, 2016

Grace777x70 said:

2 Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Some things are hard to understand about Paul's writings if you are unfamiliar with the scriptures, which many unstable and unlearned people twist to their own destruction by teaching we are not to obey the law.

You must understand the bible does not contradict itself, and Paul is not trying to make you think that either. He is speaking to those who know the law.

Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3So then if, while herhusband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.God's Law is Holy7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

The mystery of the gospel is that the house of Israel which were given a divorce could remarry and come back to God because they were freed from the law that says you cannot remarry the same person after a divorce, it is abomination. The law says when a husband dies the wife is free from that law and can now remarry. This is what Paul is talking about here. The house of Israael remarrying God when Jesus Christ was dead, buried and resurrected which made it possible for them to return according to God's own law.

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25Whom 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; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

You seem to be confused when Paul is meantioning "Law" in he's letters. As you can see we DO NOT make void the law thruough faith, but we Establish it. You need to take Peter's warning that some things in Paul's letter are hard to understand which people twist to their own destruction by teaching lawlesness. I know where you are coming from, but it really is confusion. You must look at the Truth from the whole perspective and try to understand what Paul is talking about and then you will see that peoples assumption that we are not to observe God's laws are wrong. Shalom.

redeemed2014 · May 29, 2016

simplifiedtruth said:

2 Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Some things are hard to understand about Paul's writings if you are unfamiliar with the scriptures, which many unstable and unlearned people twist to their own destruction by teaching we are not to obey the law.

You must understand the bible does not contradict itself, and Paul is not trying to make you think that either. He is speaking to those who know the law.

Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3So then if, while herhusband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.God's Law is Holy7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

The mystery of the gospel is that the house of Israel which were given a divorce could remarry and come back to God because they were freed from the law that says you cannot remarry the same person after a divorce, it is abomination. The law says when a husband dies the wife is free from that law and can now remarry. This is what Paul is talking about here. The house of Israael remarrying God when Jesus Christ was dead, buried and resurrected which made it possible for them to return according to God's own law.

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25Whom 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; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

You seem to be confused when Paul is meantioning "Law" in he's letters. As you can see we DO NOT make void the law thruough faith, but we Establish it. You need to take Peter's warning that some things in Paul's letter are hard to understand which people twist to their own destruction by teaching lawlesness. I know where you are coming from, but it really is confusion. You must look at the Truth from the whole perspective and try to understand what Paul is talking about and then you will see that peoples assumption that we are not to observe God's laws are wrong. Shalom.

Are you a Jew or Gentile?

Grace777x70 · May 29, 2016

What is the Law Written on Our Hearts?

Six-hundred years before Jesus came, the prophet Jeremiah spoke of a new covenant that God would make with his people:

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” (Jer 31:33-34)

What is the law that God writes on our hearts and minds? Here are three things it is not:

It is not the law of Moses. As we saw in the last post, if God wrote the Ten Commandments on our hearts then Jesus died for nothing.

It is not a new and improved version of the law. It is not the new commands of Jesus or the New Testament. We cannot please God by keeping a new law any more than we could please him by keeping an old one.

It is not the knowledge of right and wrong that was bestowed upon us – against the Lord’s wishes – by Adam.

So what is this law that the Lord writes on our hearts and minds and embeds in our very being?

It is Himself.

Let’s look at three things the New Testament says about the new law in our hearts.

1. The law of love

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)

Under the old law covenant, love was demanded from you. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.”

But under the new covenant of grace, love is given to you – “As I have loved you” – and out of the overflow of Christ’s measureless love we are able to love others.

How does it happen?

God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Rom 5:5)

God abundantly pours his love into our hearts by giving us the Holy Spirit, a.k.a. the Spirit of Christ. Do you see the difference between the old and new?

Under the old, the law was a rule for weak men to obey. Under the new, the Law is the Spirit of Christ given to us, loving us, and loving others through us.

Under the old, you loved others because you feared punishment. But under the new, you love because a Lover lives in you and it is his nature to love.

Under the old, you had to make an effort to obey. But under the new you have to make an effort to disobey. It’s a whole new way of life.

2. The law of the Spirit of life

It’s important that you understand the difference between the old law (a written code you can’t keep) and the new Law (Christ himself, living in you). Try and live by the old laws, as Paul did, and it make you miserable:

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? (Rom 7:24)

Paul couldn’t keep the old law no matter how hard he tried. He needed a new law and that new law is a Who:

Who will rescue me…? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 7:24-25a)

Do you see? The old law is a what; the new law is a Who. The old law ministers condemnation and death (2 Cor 3:7-9), but the new “law of the Spirit gives life” (Rom 8:2).

For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor 3:6)

Who gives life? Not a set of rules, but the Spirit of Christ within you. The new law is a Who.

3. The perfect law of liberty

James wrote of “the perfect law that gives freedom” (Jas 1:25), which can be contrasted with the law of Moses that binds (Rom 7:6). What is the perfect law that gives freedom? Well, what is the implanted word that can save you (Jas 1:21)? It’s not the Ten Commandments or the Bible. It’s Jesus, the living Word who sets us free.

The perfect law of liberty describes what Jesus has done (perfectly fulfilled or completed the law) and the fruit he will bear in our lives (liberty) if we trust him.

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do. (Jas 1:25)

Look into the mirror of Moses’ law and you will be miserable, for it exposes all your faults. But look into the perfect law which is Jesus and you will be blessed, for it reveals his righteousness.

“Don’t just listen but do what it (the perfect law of liberty) says” (Jas 1:22). In other words, allow the Spirit of Christ to convince you that in him you are righteous and holy. Don’t walk away from the perfect law and forget who you are in Christ. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Look intently with an unveiled face and be transformed into his likeness.

The Law written in our hearts is Jesus

Jeremiah said those who had the new law written on their hearts would know the Lord and would no longer need others to teach them. This is describing your union with Christ. One with the Lord you have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). His Spirit dwells in you and teaches you all things (John 14:26).

The law of the Lord written into your members is your Father’s spiritual DNA. It is the seed of God birthed in you by the Holy Spirit. It’s Jesus himself.

How do you know he’s there? Because you are a new creation with new hopes and desires. You no longer want to sin. Your desire is to love God and others and that desire has nothing to do with old rules written in stone.

Christian, you are who you are because Christ lives in you. He is the new law written, by God, in your heart and mind.

Here is the website for this article. It has a comment section at the bottom where people can ask questions.

https://escapetoreality.org/2015/04/23/what-is-the-law-written-on-our-hearts/

peacenik · May 29, 2016

redeemed2014; said:

A Christian is not a Gentile.

See Ephesians 2:11 + Galatians 3:29

simplifiedtruth · May 29, 2016

Grace777x70 said:

This is an extreme case of eisegesis: The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants.

You are COMPLETELY ignoring ALL the scriptures that commands us to obey the fathers Laws(Torah)! You seem to have made up your own religious doctrine spending an enormous amount of time trying to defend it! The Torah is the divine will of the Father for how we are to conduct our lives. When we are married to Him, He expect us to walk in He's marriage terms which is He's laws. God does NOT change He's will on what is righteous or repent himself on what he has established as divine Truth(Malachi 3.6). Jesus himself IS the Word of GOD in the flesh! In Jeremiah the word "law" is the TORAH. The Spirit and the Law agrees together! When you hear the Law which is God's divine will and standards your Spirit man takes delight in it(romans 7:22). The reason no man would need to teach us is because we would be taught all Truths and understand the Truth by the Spirit of the Father Himself (John 14:26). The main reason for the Father giving us the Holy Spirit is because we have been led astray and we need HELP to come back to him again, hence the power to cast out demons, understand doctrine, healing, prophesying. It is to help us overcome the Evil one and live according to He's divine will to overcome Sin, which is the transgression of the Law. So we can be Free and live Holy lives. If you feel miserable by hearing God's law's then that is called CONVICTION which is another job of the Holy Spirit so you can turn from your wicked ways. You seem to follow your own book of the law and ignoring scriptures which contradicts this law. Jesus came to save He's people from their sins! Without the law there is nothing to repent for! You then have no standard and don't know established Truth to separate evil from good when tempted or not knowing.

If Paul was against establishing the law, why did he say establish it (romans 3:31) ? If Paul did not believe in keeping the Law then why did he keep it (romans 7:25)? If Paul did away with the law then why did he say he believes in all of the law and the prophets(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:

There is only One Lord, one faith, and one baptism! (Ephesians 4:5).
Jesus Christ is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever! (Hebrews 13:8)

Now the scriptures I am posting here is Gospel Truth and there is only ONE gospel. God is not the author of confusion.
You need to repent and stop ignoring these scriptural Truths by making up your own doctrine.

1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

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.

Matthew 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

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. 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.

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 14:12 12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 22;14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Luke 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueththerein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Luke 3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Grace777x70 · May 29, 2016

The Greatest Law Preacher

"Don’t stray too far from the red letters,” is a piece of advice often given to new preachers. It means, stay close to the teachings of Jesus and you can’t go wrong. It sounds good, but it’s actually bad advice. Everything Jesus said was good and wonderful, but not everything He said was meant for you.

Read the red letters of your Bible and you will find both stories of unprecedented grace and merciless declarations of law. Mix these messages and you will end up confused and double-minded.

The solution is not to balance law and grace – you can’t – but to filter everything you read through the finished work of the cross. To make sense of what Jesus said, you need to understand what Jesus did and why.

Jesus lived under law

Jesus lived at the crossroads of two covenants. As humanity’s representative He came to fulfill the old law-keeping covenant in order that we might relate to God through a new and better covenant forged in His blood. Since the new covenant could not begin before He died, Jesus lived all of His pre-cross life under the old covenant of the law:

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Gal 4:4-5)

Jesus was born under law, circumcised by law, and presented in the temple according to the law. Every Jewish person that Jesus met was also born under law. We need to keep this in mind when we read the red letters of Jesus.

What law did Jesus preach?

To those under the law, Jesus preached the pure and unadulterated Law of Moses. When religious people came to trap him with theological puzzles, Jesus would respond with, “What did Moses command you?” (Mk 10:3).

If someone asked, “What is the greatest commandment in the law,” Jesus would provide an answer from the law (Mt 22:36). In His law-keeping ministry, Jesus honored the Law of Moses:

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. (Mt 23:2-3)

Since the law-teachers often made Jesus angry, we might conclude that Jesus was opposed to the law. He was not. Jesus had no problem with what the Pharisees were preaching. “Do everything they tell you.” What really burnt His toast was their hypocrisy – they weren’t practicing what they preached:

Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. (Joh 7:19)

Why did Jesus preach the law?

Like every grace preacher, Jesus esteemed the law and the purpose for which it was given. The law was given to silence every mouth and hold the whole world accountable (Rms 3:19). The purpose of the law is to make us conscious of sin and reveal our need for a Savior.

Since Sinai, the Jews had had fourteen centuries to learn what the law would teach them – that the flesh is incapable of dealing with sin. However, the law-teachers and Pharisees had ring-fenced the Law of Moses with their traditions and interpretations.

By honoring their traditions ahead of the law, they diluted the law and removed the key to knowledge. As a result, the menace of sin was not fully recognized and the self-righteous weren’t silenced.

If the law had been allowed to do its proper work, the Jews would have been primed and ready for a Savior. Every one of them would have had an experience like the one Paul describes in Romans 7. “Nothing good lives in me. Oh wretched man that I am!”

Live under the condemning ministry of the law and you will inevitably come to this question: “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” If the law-teachers and prophets had done their job, then the entire nation of Israel would have gathered outside that stable in Bethlehem in eager expectation. “He’s here! The Savior has come!” they would have said. “The One who will deliver us from the curse of the law and reconcile us to God has been born. Glory to God in the highest!”

Sadly, it didn’t happen. Since the law-teachers had been negligent, Jesus had to do their job before He could do His own. Before He could save the world from sin, He had to preach the law that made sin utterly sinful.

Before He give Himself as the answer, He had to make sure we were asking the right question. Who will deliver us?

So Jesus became the greatest law preacher of all time. As the prophet Isaiah had foretold, He made the law magnificent. He lifted up what others had knocked down and raised the standard to glorious levels of perfection.

Never again would mankind be without excuse. You want to know what God expects? Just read the Sermon on the Mount. In it Jesus says that God demands perfection and nothing less.

How did Jesus preach the law?

Preaching the red letters of Jesus is a bit like drinking whatever you find in the laundry. If you’re not paying attention – if you fail to distinguish His life-giving words of grace from His death-dealing words of law – then you could really do some damage. Don’t believe me? Then consider these red letters:

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Mat 6:14-15)

This is one of the most-quoted passages in the Bible and it is vintage law. It is a killer scripture. It is not good news. This verse should make us shudder for it says that our forgiveness hinges on our ability to forgive others and we are poor forgivers indeed. Men sin against us repeatedly.

Have we honestly forgiven them all? What if we miss one? And what do we say to those who have been raped and abused? What do you say to a young child who has been molested? “Sweetie, you need to forgive that evil man otherwise God won’t forgive you.” That’s not grace.

That’s the condemning ministry of the law in full bloom. How do you forgive the unforgiveable? You can’t! Then you’re in trouble. The law condemns you as an unforgiver. Now you’re beginning to recognize your need for grace and this is a good thing.

Any time you read a conditional statement from Jesus, you should interpret it as law. “Do not judge and you will not be judged” (Lk 6:37). That’s good advice but it’s also law. To avoid something (judgment) you have to do something (don’t judge).

It’s a blessing you have to pay for. And anytime Jesus makes a threat, you should interpret that as law as well. “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment” (Mt 5:22). That’s bad news for anyone with a brother!

The law is not for you

Jesus came to reveal grace but those who are confident of their own righteousness are incapable of receiving it. They don’t see their need. What they need is the law and Jesus gave it to them in spades. But Jesus’ larger purpose was to give us His life and His righteousness.

So He also told stories about God justifying sinners and shepherds finding lost sheep. Then He went to the cross fulfilling the law on our behalf that He might be the end of the law for all who believe (Rom 10:4).

Jesus’ came to set the captives free and give sight to the blind. The law sets nobody free. But the law does reveal your need for a Great Deliverer.

Here is the website for this article. It has a comment section at the bottom where people can ask questions.

https://escapetoreality.org/2012/01/14/the-greatest-law-preacher/

simplifiedtruth · May 29, 2016

Grace777x70 said:

The Greatest Law Preacher

"Don’t stray too far from the red letters,” is a piece of advice often given to new preachers. It means, stay close to the teachings of Jesus and you can’t go wrong. It sounds good, but it’s actually bad advice. Everything Jesus said was good and wonderful, but not everything He said was meant for you.

Read the red letters of your Bible and you will find both stories of unprecedented grace and merciless declarations of law. Mix these messages and you will end up confused and double-minded.

The solution is not to balance law and grace – you can’t – but to filter everything you read through the finished work of the cross. To make sense of what Jesus said, you need to understand what Jesus did and why.

Jesus lived under law

Jesus lived at the crossroads of two covenants. As humanity’s representative He came to fulfill the old law-keeping covenant in order that we might relate to God through a new and better covenant forged in His blood. Since the new covenant could not begin before He died, Jesus lived all of His pre-cross life under the old covenant of the law:

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Gal 4:4-5)

Jesus was born under law, circumcised by law, and presented in the temple according to the law. Every Jewish person that Jesus met was also born under law. We need to keep this in mind when we read the red letters of Jesus.

What law did Jesus preach?

To those under the law, Jesus preached the pure and unadulterated Law of Moses. When religious people came to trap him with theological puzzles, Jesus would respond with, “What did Moses command you?” (Mk 10:3).

If someone asked, “What is the greatest commandment in the law,” Jesus would provide an answer from the law (Mt 22:36). In His law-keeping ministry, Jesus honored the Law of Moses:

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. (Mt 23:2-3)

Since the law-teachers often made Jesus angry, we might conclude that Jesus was opposed to the law. He was not. Jesus had no problem with what the Pharisees were preaching. “Do everything they tell you.” What really burnt His toast was their hypocrisy – they weren’t practicing what they preached:

Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. (Joh 7:19)

Why did Jesus preach the law?

Like every grace preacher, Jesus esteemed the law and the purpose for which it was given. The law was given to silence every mouth and hold the whole world accountable (Rms 3:19). The purpose of the law is to make us conscious of sin and reveal our need for a Savior.

Since Sinai, the Jews had had fourteen centuries to learn what the law would teach them – that the flesh is incapable of dealing with sin. However, the law-teachers and Pharisees had ring-fenced the Law of Moses with their traditions and interpretations.

By honoring their traditions ahead of the law, they diluted the law and removed the key to knowledge. As a result, the menace of sin was not fully recognized and the self-righteous weren’t silenced.

If the law had been allowed to do its proper work, the Jews would have been primed and ready for a Savior. Every one of them would have had an experience like the one Paul describes in Romans 7. “Nothing good lives in me. Oh wretched man that I am!”

Live under the condemning ministry of the law and you will inevitably come to this question: “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” If the law-teachers and prophets had done their job, then the entire nation of Israel would have gathered outside that stable in Bethlehem in eager expectation. “He’s here! The Savior has come!” they would have said. “The One who will deliver us from the curse of the law and reconcile us to God has been born. Glory to God in the highest!”

Sadly, it didn’t happen. Since the law-teachers had been negligent, Jesus had to do their job before He could do His own. Before He could save the world from sin, He had to preach the law that made sin utterly sinful.

Before He give Himself as the answer, He had to make sure we were asking the right question. Who will deliver us?

So Jesus became the greatest law preacher of all time. As the prophet Isaiah had foretold, He made the law magnificent. He lifted up what others had knocked down and raised the standard to glorious levels of perfection.

Never again would mankind be without excuse. You want to know what God expects? Just read the Sermon on the Mount. In it Jesus says that God demands perfection and nothing less.

How did Jesus preach the law?

Preaching the red letters of Jesus is a bit like drinking whatever you find in the laundry. If you’re not paying attention – if you fail to distinguish His life-giving words of grace from His death-dealing words of law – then you could really do some damage. Don’t believe me? Then consider these red letters:

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Mat 6:14-15)

This is one of the most-quoted passages in the Bible and it is vintage law. It is a killer scripture. It is not good news. This verse should make us shudder for it says that our forgiveness hinges on our ability to forgive others and we are poor forgivers indeed. Men sin against us repeatedly.

Have we honestly forgiven them all? What if we miss one? And what do we say to those who have been raped and abused? What do you say to a young child who has been molested? “Sweetie, you need to forgive that evil man otherwise God won’t forgive you.” That’s not grace.

That’s the condemning ministry of the law in full bloom. How do you forgive the unforgiveable? You can’t! Then you’re in trouble. The law condemns you as an unforgiver. Now you’re beginning to recognize your need for grace and this is a good thing.

Any time you read a conditional statement from Jesus, you should interpret it as law. “Do not judge and you will not be judged” (Lk 6:37). That’s good advice but it’s also law. To avoid something (judgment) you have to do something (don’t judge).

It’s a blessing you have to pay for. And anytime Jesus makes a threat, you should interpret that as law as well. “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment” (Mt 5:22). That’s bad news for anyone with a brother!

The law is not for you

Jesus came to reveal grace but those who are confident of their own righteousness are incapable of receiving it. They don’t see their need. What they need is the law and Jesus gave it to them in spades. But Jesus’ larger purpose was to give us His life and His righteousness.

So He also told stories about God justifying sinners and shepherds finding lost sheep. Then He went to the cross fulfilling the law on our behalf that He might be the end of the law for all who believe (Rom 10:4).

Jesus’ came to set the captives free and give sight to the blind. The law sets nobody free. But the law does reveal your need for a Great Deliverer.

Here is the website for this article. It has a comment section at the bottom where people can ask questions.

https://escapetoreality.org/2012/01/14/the-greatest-law-preacher/

Spoiler Alert:

Words of Jesus Christ: Matthew 5:17 17Think 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.

2 Peter 3:14 14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Grace777x70 · May 30, 2016

How Should We Read the Words of Jesus?

Jesus is the greatest preacher of all time. He told stories and preached sermons the whole world needs to hear. The genius of Jesus is that he often preached one message with two punchlines. If you were confident of your own righteousness, you got law, but if you were not, you got grace.

Consider Jesus’ story of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9–14). Both men went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself. His prayer was a résumé. He thanked God that he was not like other men and bragged about his fasting and tithing.

But the tax collector stood at a distance and prayed just seven words: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus ends the story with a bombshell: “The tax collector went home justified before God.”

How does this parable make you feel? Does it fill you with joy or resentment?
Your response to the story is your response to the gospel. If you identify with the sinful tax collector, then this story is good news. Really? He went home justified? That’s the scandal of grace right there. God justifies sinners (Romans 4:5).

Search the parable for evidence of the tax collector’s good works or merit, and you’ll find nothing. Grace is for the undeserving. It’s for those without résumés.

But if you are confident of your self-righteousness, this story is not good news at all. “Wait a second. I fast. I tithe. I am better than other people. Jesus, what are you saying?” Jesus doesn’t mince his words. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled” (Luke 18:14). That’s a hard word for a hard heart. It’s a word that condemns the self-righteous and silences the boastful. It’s a word of law for those who don’t see their need for grace.

Jesus is brilliant at giving people exactly what they need. Consider the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32). Some people love this story, others hate it. I’ve had people tell me, “I feel bad for the older brother. He worked so hard.” They say this because they are working hard.

They are good and decent and can’t understand why Jesus would throw a party for prodigals and not for them. It troubles them that we are inside whooping it up while they’re outside working on their résumés.

The story is real. Every one of us is in it and everyone is invited to the party. Grace is for all. But you’re going to have trouble receiving it if you think of your heavenly Father as an employer. And that’s the whole point. You’re going to have to change your mind about God or you will never enjoy his love.

Words mean different things to different people. If you identify with the tax collector or the prodigal, the words of Jesus are packed with radical grace. You’ll read them with praise and thanksgiving and whoops of joy. But if you identify with the Pharisee or the older brother, his words are extremely unsettling. They are serious words, not fun at all.

Yet if you allow them, the words of Jesus will change you. They will strip you of your religion and reveal your need for grace.

Here is the website for this article. It has a comment section at the bottom where people can ask questions.

https://escapetoreality.org/2013/11/19/how-to-read-jesus/

BibleGuy · May 30, 2016

=======>>> WARNING!!! IRTL SYNDROME AMONG US! <<<=======

Hi there SimplifiedTruth,

I see you've become aware that your critics continue to NOT address MANY objections raised against their position.

They have done that with me too...even claiming that they have answered my position...when they have surely not answered MANY MANY considerations I've repeatedly brought to them (but they continue to ignore).

So, here’s a strategy I'm now seeing used by many people here...

Let's call it the IRTL (I Refuse To Learn) Syndrome.

1. Refuse to answer objections.

2. Claim objections have already been answered (when they haven't).

3. Continue to post the SAME EXACT posting already disconfirmed by others (but keep posting it anyway, especially for the sake of the "younger Christians").

4. Continue to cite sources off-site, rather than address objections raised here on site.

5. Continue to set forth a theological position, yet not even possess the capacity to defend that position against objections.

6. Refuse to provide a ready defense of one's position (even when directly requested to do so).

7. Pretend that one's position is justified by allegedly confirming lines of evidence, when disconfirming lines of evidence are simply ignored.

8. Resort to posting of imagery allegedly illustrating or confirming one's position, when refusing to address disconfirming lines of evidence.

9. Refuse to understand the position one is disputing.

10. Falsely misrepresent the position one is disputing.

CONCLUSION: You can lead a donkey to water....but you can't make it drink!

We have propagandists among us who do NOT seek truth...they merely seek to advertise their position (independent of rational truth-seeking considerations).

We have people among us who choose to not learn.

Is this IRTL Syndrome a fruit of the Spirit?

NO! The fruit includes LOVE.

And love rejoices in TRUTH.

And many here are resistant to truth, as evidence by their IRTL spirit they continue to manifest.

So why strive with those who won't learn?

Jesus warned that “religious” people who intentionally oppose observable Torah portions (Mt. 23:23) are at risk of…Mt. 23:33. Yikes…I hate to even say it…

Again, Jesus reaffirmed the fate of those who cause lawlessness (Torah-lessness, Gr. “anomia”, Mt. 13-41-42) among us.

Again, religious people who oppose Torah (exemplifying Torah-lessness, Gr. “anomia”) will be sent AWAY from Jesus (Mt. 7:21-23).

Again, those disobeying Torah (and teaching others to also disobey Torah) will be called LEAST in the coming kingdom (Mt. 5:19).

Again, Jesus said that all of His PRE-CROSS teachings/commands must be applied to ALL disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:20).

I pray the Father forgive those who unintentionally oppose His commands.

And may the IRTL spirit among us be exposed for what it is: irrational and unjustified rejection of truth.

I remember when someone once told me: "Don't confuse me with the facts..."

I was shocked! But at least that sinner was very friendly and honest about his self-confessed IRTL spirit.

Other religious people among us, however, seek to conceal their IRTL spirit, preying upon others.

There really are people like this...even among us.

Beware of wolves in sheep-clothing, my friends...

in love,
BibleGuy

BibleGuy · May 30, 2016

For example, remember (earlier in this thread, POST #42) when Grace777x70 was so excited about JGIG's post #40?

He recommended that EVERYONE go ahead and bookmark Post #40!

But then, when I gave a 24-point detailed rebuttal (Post #45), he (and JGIG...and everyone else) have yet to provide a response, here, to those detailed 24 objections which strongly disconfirm their anti-Torah position.

Nevertheless, my critics here want to confidently assure me that I'm wrong (despite their refusal to even rationally address my position).

In fact, Grace777x70 even continued to favorably cite JGIG's writings (off-site from here), despite JGIG's (and his) failure to explain to us why they continue to IGNORE the 24 detailed objections I've raised.

This exemplifies the IRTL spirit (post #130) I’ve now identified and exposed.

In case you missed it, here is my rebuttal (again) to JGIG. This is the rebuttal which the anti-Torah folks among us now appear unwilling (unable?) to adequately address.

PLEASE! I request intelligent, reasoned, engaged, loving conversation...not propagandist posting competitions which merely manifest the IRTL spirit described in post #130.

in love,
BibleGuy

==========================================================
Hello JGIG,

Thanks for writing...

Let's take a look at your comments...lots of issues (24 in fact) on the table right now!

1. You wrote: "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. "

My response: Obsolete (Gr. verb "palaioo") but NOT yet passed away! Read again (Heb. 8:13), where it is merely READY (Gr. "engoos") to pass away, confirming that it had NOT yet passed away as of the New-Covenant-era time of the writing of the book of Hebrews.

Therefore, Torah is still in force, even during the New Covenant era, just as the remainder of Scripture also confirms.

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

My response: Keep reading! The law defines sin (Rom. 7:7; also Rom. 3:20; 1 Jn. 3:4). And Paul said we should NOT sin (Rom. 6:15). Thus we should NOT disobey Torah. Thus we should OBEY Torah!

3. You wrote: "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."

My response: Learn from the prophets! Christ comes to RESTORE the Levitical priesthood so that it will be pleasing to YHVH as in former years (Mal. 3).

Moses (Dt. 30:1-8), Ezekiel (Eze. 40-47), Isaiah (Is. 66:21-23), Zechariah (Zec. 14:16-21), Jeremiah (Jer. 33:17-22) likewise GUARANTEE restoration of Levitical Torah.

So let's stop misleading others by claiming the Levitical priesthood was replaced.

4. You wrote: "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."

My response: Do YOU obey Matthew 5:48? Please learn from it.

MATTHEW 5:48 Jesus clearly views Pentateuchal Scripture as authoritative and applicable to Christians, as evidenced by His use of Ge. 1:27, Ex. 3:6, Ex. 20:12, Ex. 21:17, Lev. 19:18, Lev. 20:9, Nu. 21:9, Dt. 5:16, Dt. 6:4-5, Dt. 6:13, Dt. 6:16, Dt. 8:3, Dt. 10:20, and Dt. 19:15. Deuteronomy 18:13 shows that people should be blameless/complete/perfect (Heb. “tamim”, LXX “teleios”). Jesus also explicitly affirms that people should be perfect (Gr. “teleios”, Mt. 5:48). People who are “tamim” walk in obedience to the Torah (Ps. 19:7; Ps. 119:1). It follows that Jesus accepts that Christians should walk in obedience to the Torah.

5. You wrote: “Nope. They don't come close to your interpretation.”

My response: What? Read again! Jesus sends religious people AWAY from Him…why? Because they exemplify LAWLESSNESS (Gr. “anomia”, Mt. 7:21-23). The punishment for “anomia” is very severe in Mt. 13:41-42 as well.

So why do you oppose the law, claiming Levitical Torah is replaced?

Please, I don’t want you to be guilty of “anomia”. Stop opposing Scriptural teaching regarding Levitical Torah.

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

My response: Jesus equates God’s word (Gr. “logos”, Mk. 7:13) with Torah (Mk. 7:9). So, when Jesus refers to YOUR WORD (when praying to God, Jn. 17:17), He is referring that which INCLUDES Torah (per Jesus’ own use of “logos” in, for example, Mk. 7:9-13).

So let’s not pretend that God’s “word” in Jn. 17:17 somehow excludes Torah.

Let’s not oppose Jesus’ OWN usage of the term “logos”. Jesus uses “logos” to refer to Torah.

Moreover, Jesus says the Psalms are Scripture (Gr. “graphe”, Jn. 10:34-35) which cannot be broken. And, Psalms require Torah (Ps. 1; Ps. 19; Ps. 119). And Torah requires Levitical sacrificial activity.

So again, we have found Jesus AFFIRMING the perpetuity (not replacement!) of Levitical Torah.

7. You wrote: “Obeying every commandment that applies to you 100% of the time? That is the standard that Jesus sets forth, yes?”

My response: You now agree Jesus taught us to obey all applicable and properly observable Torah? Good!

8. You wrote: “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?”

My response: Why presuppose Levitical/sacrificial/ceremonial Torah is presently observable during this present diaspora?

Have you not read that ALL Torah commands will be observed only AFTER we again return to the land? (Dt. 30:1-8).

Thus we first return to YHVH in obedience to Torah commands (Dt. 30:2), then we return to the land (Dt. 30:5), and THEN we can again fully obey 100% of Torah.

So, obey all Torah that you can right now! Prepare to obey ALL Torah in the future! (Just as Moses prophesied.)

9. You wrote: “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…”

My response: No…Moses said we will return to obey Torah (Dt. 30:2), but not ALL Torah (Dt. 30:8) until after we return to the LAND (Dt. 30:5).

Let’s get that order really clear in our minds.

And we both know that there is no functioning tabernacle, presently, in Jerusalem…so we both know that Levitical/sacrificial/ceremonial Torah is not presently observed/observable.

But that’s no excuse to oppose the abundance of Scriptures which confirm the forthcoming restoration of this Levitical Torah.

And, that’s no excuse to NOT obey Torah portions which ARE presently observable!

10. You wrote: “Again, you err in assigning 'Torah' where a living expression of God's Word is defined:

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).”

My response: You are wrong. The term “rhema” is straight out of Dt. 8:3 (which Jesus was quoting!). Read it in the LXX, and you’ll see! The LXX uses “rhema” (Dt. 8:3) to refer to that which comes from YHVH’s mouth. This is TORAH!

And, there is nothing in Jn. 5:39 that says that “rhema” cannot be used to refer to Torah.

Yikes!

Please correct your error.

Jesus quotes Dt. 8:3 (Mt. 4:4) referring to TORAH…this is how we LIVE, according to Jesus.

Why would you oppose the Torah by which Jesus said we live?

11. You wrote: “And what were they not believing?

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

My response: AND! If we believe in Jesus, then we should OBEY His teachings.

AND, what did Jesus teach?

That our eternal life depends upon obedience to Torah! (Lk. 10:25-28).

That our position in the coming kingdom depends upon our Torah-teaching and Torah-obedience (Mt. 5:19).

That those who oppose Torah (exemplifying “anomia”, lawlessness) will be cast away (Mt. 7:21-23; 13:41-42).

So yes! Please BELIEVE even in the teachings of this Messiah Jesus, Whom God has sent, Who comes to RESTORE even the Levitical priesthood (Mal. 3).

STOP opposing the restoration which our Messiah comes to bring forth.

12. You wrote: “The Psalms require obedience to the covenant in force at the time.”

My response: Jesus said the Psalms CANNOT be set aside. Thus, the Torah-obedient Psalms are STILL in force.

Thus, I use the Torah-obedient Psalms to ADMONISH (Gr. “nutheteo”) you to obey the Torah of those very Psalms, just as Paul requires (Col. 3:16).

And, Heb. 8:13 confirms that Torah persists even during the New Covenant Era.

AND, Jer. 31:33 has TORAH passing directly into the New Covenant.

So, even if you want to (wrongly) pretend that the Mosaic Covenant is no longer in force…the TORAH of that covenant still passes directly into the New Covenant (Jer. 31:33). Thus, you still have not justified your opposition to the Levitical Torah which passes directly into the New Covenant Torah, per Jer. 31:33.

13. You wrote: “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.”

My response: All the covenants (plural! Eph. 2:12) are still in force. No Torah from any of the covenants has been terminated. We participate in these covenants. Thus, we OBEY the Torah of the covenants in which we participate.

14. You wrote: “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.”

My response: Obsolete…but NOT yet passed away. It is only READY (Gr. “engoos”, Heb. 8:13) to pass away, thereby confirming that it had NOT yet passed away as of the New-Covenant-era time of the writing of the book of Hebrews.

15. You wrote: “The New Covenant is a fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant…”

My response: Yes…but NOT a termination of the Abrahamic Covenant.

AND, have you not read that the Abrahamic Covenant is to be fulfilled IN CONJUNCTION with obedience to the Torah of the Mosaic Covenant? (Dt. 6:10).

Therefore, our participation in the Abrahamic Covenant REQUIRES our participation in the Mosaic Covenant (per Dt. 6:10) as well.

16. You wrote: “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.”

My response: Careful! You keep making this same mistake…

The Old Covenant is obsolete…but NOT yet passed away. It is only READY (Gr. “engoos”, Heb. 8:13) to pass away, thereby confirming that it had NOT yet passed away as of the New-Covenant-era time of the writing of the book of Hebrews.

17. You wrote: “Torah, God's instructions before the Cross, were given to Israel at Sinai in the form of the Law.”

My response: And all Christians are included as fellow Israelites who partake in all the covenants between YHVH and Israel. Thus, all Christians should OBEY the Torah of these covenants in which they participate.

Moreover, AFTER the cross, the Apostles and Epistles continue to uphold and affirm our need to obey Mosaic Torah (e.g., 1 Cor. 7:19; 1 Jn. 5:3).

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

My response: AND, the One God sent COMMANDED that we make disciples of all nations in OBEDIENCE to all of Jesus’ PRE-CROSS TEACHINGS! (Mt. 28:20).

Thus, will you obey Lk. 10:25-28? Jesus says Torah-obedience is sufficient for eternal life, applying Dt. 6 to YOU (see also Mt. 22:37).

HOW is this love for God to be expressed? In obedience to ALL Torah commands (Dt. 6;25), just as Jesus commanded that we obey and teach others to do likewise.

19. You wrote: “Do you live before or after the Work of Christ?”

My response: Nice try! But Jesus COMMANDED that all of His PRE-CROSS teachings be commanded to disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:20).

So, all of Jesus’ Torah-teachings remain IN FORCE.

Jesus taught OBEDIENCE to Mosaic judgments (Mt 23:2-3).

Jesus taught OBEDIENCE to greater and lesser Torah portions (Mt. 23:23).

Jesus sent forth TORAH-TEACHERS (Mt. 23:34, Gr. “grammateus”) to properly represent His ministry.

Torah-teachers do NOT teach termination of the Levitical Torah which Jesus comes to restore!

So please…convert to proper Torah-obedient ministry, consistent with the Torah-obedient ministry which our Messiah authorizes in Mt. 23:34.

20. You wrote: “The whole of Romans 8 does not support your assertion.”

My response: No! The way of the “flesh” and “spirit” are contrasted (Rom. 8:5-9).

The flesh cannot obey Torah (Rom. 8:7).

Therefore, by contrast, the way of the Spirit is to OBEY Torah.

Remember! The Spirit testifies that Torah is written upon our hearts (Heb. 10:15-17), not terminated and abolished and no longer applicable!

That Torah which is upon our hearts should be OBEYED (Dt. 30:14). Paul agrees (citing Dt. 30:14 FAVORABLY at Rom. 10:8).

21. You wrote: “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).”

My response: No! Paul criticizes the Galatians because they seek justification by law without faith (Gal. 5:4-5).

That’s NOT my position!

Thus, you have not even understood my position.

Moreover, when Paul says we are not “under law” (Rom. 6:15), he also says we should NOT sin!

What is sin? Torah-disobedience (Rom. 3:20; 7:7; 1 Jn. 3:4).

Thus, even though we are not “under the law” in the technical sense Paul discusses, we should nevertheless still NOT sin, which means NOT disobey Torah, which means OBEY TORAH!

So let’s obey Torah in faith…just as Paul taught us to do…and just as Paul modeled in his own life.

22. You wrote: “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…”

My response: Careful! Paul criticizes FAITHLESS Torah-obedience…not FAITHFUL Torah-obedience.

Moreover, you’ve got the “spiritual adultery” concept backwards. Spiritual adultery (Heb. “zanah”, e.g., Ex. 34:15-16) refers to those who walk away from YHVH and follows the ways of other (false) gods.

Spiritual adultery is NOT obeying the Torah which is commanded by the Father, Son, Spirit, Torah, Prophets, Psalms, Proverbs, Apostles, and Epistles!

I never said anyone should go “back to the law” without Christ. Of course that would be bad.

23. You wrote: “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.”

My response: No! I’m teaching people to obey the Torah commanded by the Father, Son, Spirit, Torah, Prophets, Psalms, Proverbs, Apostles, and Epistles! This includes the Torah of Moses.

Now, law WITHOUT FAITH stirs up sin and bears fruit unto death.

But now, with faith in the Messiah, we are free from the sin which bears fruit unto death.

Is that an excuse to oppose the very Torah which Jesus applies to us (Mt. 22:37 applies Dt. 6 to us)?

Of course not…

We serve in newness of the Spirit…

And what does this Spirit testify? That Torah is written upon our hearts (Heb. 10:15-17), NOT abolished or terminated or no longer applicable!

That which is upon our hearts should be OBEYED, not ignored as if no longer in force.

24. Do you teach people to OBEY or DISOBEY Lev. 18:23?

If OBEY, then Torah still applies to us.

If DISOBEY, then we've got some SERIOUS problems here…

Which horn of this dilemma will you take?

CONCLUSION: Will you continue to defend your position in light of the two dozen objections I’ve raised against it?

If not, then I urge you to embrace the Torah-obedient faith to which we are called as fellow Israelite participants in the many Torah-laden covenants between YHVH and Israel, just as the Biblical Scriptures declare.

Blessings…
BibleGuy

Grace777x70 · May 30, 2016

Galatians 3:10-12 (KJV)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

[SUP]11 [/SUP] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

[SUP]12 [/SUP] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Galatians 3:24-26 (KJV)
[SUP]24 [/SUP] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

[SUP]25 [/SUP] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

[SUP]26 [/SUP] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 4:21 (KJV)
[SUP]21 [/SUP] Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

Hebrews 7:12 (KJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP] For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

James 2:10 (NASB)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

Do not commit spiritual adultery on the Lord Jesus who gave His life for us and go back to the law.

BibleGuy · May 30, 2016

HeRoseFromTheDead said:

Hi there, HeRoseFromTheDead,

Your position is unclear.

Do you believe Dt. 18 or not?

If yes, then you believe that we MUST accept the Torah-sanctioned function of Torah-upholding prophets...in which case you must obey Torah (not oppose it, or pretend it does not apply).

If no, then you do not even believe the Messiah whom Dt. 18 references (Dt. 18:15).

Either way, Dt. 18 does not support an anti-Torah theology.

Furthermore, why imply that Jesus views the Psalms (which Jesus was quoting in Jn. 10) as "not Jesus' law"?

After all, it's logically possible for "your law" to also be "my law".

So, "your law" does not logically entail "not my law".

Moreover, your position neglects Jesus' own view of the Torah.

Remember?

Jesus applies Torah to you (Mt. 22:37 applies Dt. 6 to you!)

Jesus said Torah-teaching and Torah-obedience determines your position in the coming kingdom (Mt. 5:19).

Jesus said greater AND lesser portions of Torah should be obeyed (Mt. 23:23).

Jesus said Mosaic judgments should be obeyed (Mt. 23:2-3).

Jesus was angry at religious people who used man-made teachings as an excuse to NOT obey Torah (Mk. 7:8).

Jesus sent forth Torah-Teachers (Gr. "grammateus", Mt. 23:34) to properly represent His Torah-obedience Torah-teaching ministry.

Jesus said those who exemplify lawlessness (Torahless-ness, Gr. "anomia", Mt. 7:21-23) will be sent away from.

Jesus said those who cause lawlessness (Torahless-ness, Gr. "anomia", Mt. 13:41-42) will be burned up.

Jesus said Torah-obedience is a condition of eternal life (Lk. 10:25-28).

Jesus said that all of these PRE-CROSS teachings/commands STILL APPLY to ALL disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:20).

And if the Psalms were not applicable to Christians, then Paul would NOT require that we admonish others with them...but Paul DID require that we admonish others with Psalms! (Col. 3:16). And Psalms require Torah (Ps. 1; Ps. 19; Ps. 119; etc...)

So why pretend that Jesus did not accept Torah as "His" law?

blessings...
BibleGuy

BibleGuy · May 30, 2016

See Post #131 for a response to Grace777x70 and his approach.
blessings...
BibleGuy

BibleGuy · May 30, 2016

trofimus said:

Hello trofimus,

Dt. 30:1-8 guarantees ALL Torah will again be obeyed by us, after we return to the land.

Do you agree?

If not, then by maintaining opposition to Torah portions, you risk suffering the consequences of Mt. 5:19.

For even though some Torah portions are not observable in this present diaspora, they will ALL again be observable (and observed) in the future, just as Moses has prophesied.

Just trying to warn you...

blessings...
BibleGuy

BibleGuy · May 30, 2016

trofimus said:

Hi again trofimus,

You wrote: "And, btw, there is no YHWH in the New testament, so let us use the word "Lord", as we should."

My response: According to that reasoning, there is no ENGLISH in the New Testament, so let's all ONLY speak Greek as we should!

You wrote: "Dt 6 - to love our Lord God is still valid in the New Testament."

My response: But Dt. 6 says we express this love through obedience to ALL Torah commands (Dt. 6:25).

So, you can't just pick Dt. 6:4-5 and then ignore the context!

That would be terrible hermeneutics.

You wrote: "But not all of the Law is still valid. That legal system has passed out, because it was until the Seed will come."

My response: Gal. 3 never said that the Torah has passed out. You have not justified your claim.

And, Gal. 3 was written by Paul who told us to NOT sin (Rom. 6:15), meaning NOT disobey Torah (Rom. 3:20; 7:7), meaning OBEY Torah!

And Gal. 3 was written by Paul who APPLIES the Torah-obedient Dt. 30:14 passage to us in Rom. 10:8.

And Paul told us to OBEY God's commands (1 Cor. 7:19), not pretend they have passed out.

Where are God's commands contained? The written Torah of Moses (1 Ki. 2:3).

Thus we disconfirm your position.

Paul took a vow to prove he obeyed Torah (Ac. 21), and we should imitate Paul (1 Cor. 11:1; Php. 4:9).

blessings...
BibleGuy

Grace777x70 · May 30, 2016

Here is more information on Hebrew Roots.

Gateways into the Hebrew Roots Movement – An Examination of ‘Identity Crisis’ and Related Teachings of Jim Staley

https://joyfullygrowingingrace.word...y-crisis-and-related-teachings-of-jim-staley/

BibleGuy · May 30, 2016

Grace777x70 said:

Hello all,

HERE--->>> (POST #131) is evidence disconfirming the method and message of JGIG and Grace777x70.

blessings...
BibleGuy

Grace777x70 · May 30, 2016

More clarifying info.

The Hebrew Roots Movement: So What?

https://joyfullygrowingingrace.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/the-hebrew-roots-movement-so-what/

BibleGuy · May 30, 2016

Grace777x70 said:

And, see POST #131 for clarifying info that DISCONFIRMS this method and message of Grace777x70, and also disconfirms the JGIG (Joyfully Growing In Grace) viewpoint at 24 points.

blessings...
BibleGuy

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