Jesus Came To Fulfill Not To Destroy
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The lake of fire awaits those who violate the law if they never avail themselves of the forgiveness that Christ offers; so there is a penalty there for the one who does not believe in Jesus.
For the one who does believe in Jesus, he is forgiven of past, present, and future sins; therefore the law does not apply to him in the same way that it used to, in condemnation.
What is morally right is Jesus' re-definition of the law where there is any dispute on the matter.
But again, Moses' law is as concerning the regulation of government as concerning sins; and, because God is merciful, He does not institute punishments for someone who divorces his wife, for example.
There is surely a higher law that the one who desires to obey God will follow; the one who desires to obey God will subject himself to a law that is more strict than the law that is laid upon him by the government of Israel.
You have to realize that the law of Moses has to do partially with the way that the government treats sinners.
Apart from the way that the government treats sinners, Jesus showed us a moral relevance that we are to abide by because we are Christians.
For the one who does believe in Jesus, he is forgiven of past, present, and future sins; therefore the law does not apply to him in the same way that it used to, in condemnation.
What is morally right is Jesus' re-definition of the law where there is any dispute on the matter.
But again, Moses' law is as concerning the regulation of government as concerning sins; and, because God is merciful, He does not institute punishments for someone who divorces his wife, for example.
There is surely a higher law that the one who desires to obey God will follow; the one who desires to obey God will subject himself to a law that is more strict than the law that is laid upon him by the government of Israel.
You have to realize that the law of Moses has to do partially with the way that the government treats sinners.
Apart from the way that the government treats sinners, Jesus showed us a moral relevance that we are to abide by because we are Christians.
The law of Moses, even as God gave it to Moses, is spiritual.
In one of the commandments God told us, "Do not steal" and a little later He told us not to even covet.
This indicates that the law is spiritual.
It has an inward application as concerning every commandment that was given to govern the outward conduct of a person.
Jesus re-defined the law according to this principle. His re-definition of the law, however, was already inherent in the law as He gave it to Moses.
Jesus simply taught us what the spiritual application was, in the Sermon on the Mount and in the Sermon on the Plain (Matthew 5-7, Luke 6:20-49).
Since the law is now written on the heart and mind of the New Covenant believer (Hebrews 8:8-10, Hebrews 10:16, Romans 8:7, Romans 8:4, 1 John 5:3, 2 John 1:6, Romans 13:8-10; Romans 5:5; 1 John 2:3-6, 1 Corinthians 9:21), its spiritual application is the primary focus of how it operates within our lives.
The law of adultery, being written on our heart, is now applied to the heart; so that we do not just refrain from committing adultery, we refrain from even lusting for our neighbor's wife. We do not just refrain from killing, we refrain from being angry with our brother without a cause; and we do not say to him, "You idiot," or "you fool".
We do not just refrain from bearing false witness against our neighbor, we come to a place of integrity so that our "yes' is "yes" and our "no", "no".
Then, Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us; and this is the fulfilling of the command, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"; because people had misinterpreted a law that was intended to provide justice for those who are wronged and used it to justify personally taking revenge.
And there are many other things like this.
In one of the commandments God told us, "Do not steal" and a little later He told us not to even covet.
This indicates that the law is spiritual.
It has an inward application as concerning every commandment that was given to govern the outward conduct of a person.
Jesus re-defined the law according to this principle. His re-definition of the law, however, was already inherent in the law as He gave it to Moses.
Jesus simply taught us what the spiritual application was, in the Sermon on the Mount and in the Sermon on the Plain (Matthew 5-7, Luke 6:20-49).
Since the law is now written on the heart and mind of the New Covenant believer (Hebrews 8:8-10, Hebrews 10:16, Romans 8:7, Romans 8:4, 1 John 5:3, 2 John 1:6, Romans 13:8-10; Romans 5:5; 1 John 2:3-6, 1 Corinthians 9:21), its spiritual application is the primary focus of how it operates within our lives.
The law of adultery, being written on our heart, is now applied to the heart; so that we do not just refrain from committing adultery, we refrain from even lusting for our neighbor's wife. We do not just refrain from killing, we refrain from being angry with our brother without a cause; and we do not say to him, "You idiot," or "you fool".
We do not just refrain from bearing false witness against our neighbor, we come to a place of integrity so that our "yes' is "yes" and our "no", "no".
Then, Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us; and this is the fulfilling of the command, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"; because people had misinterpreted a law that was intended to provide justice for those who are wronged and used it to justify personally taking revenge.
And there are many other things like this.
My understanding is that Christ came not to abolish the old law but fulfill or complete it. When that was finished, it could be legally/morally abolished ie: put away. If it was abolished without being fulfilled that would be like a breach of contract in modern terms and that would be wrong but if fully completed then abolishing or putting it away is legal, moral and proper.
Example:
What does it mean to fulfill prophecy? It means it's completed, done. It's not something to look forward to happening because it already happened and it's great! But, it's done and completed and removed from the list of prophecies that are still to come. Fulfilled prophecy becomes history! Fulfilled law becomes history as well. Christ replaced the old law and covenant with a new law and covenant.
A covenant is like a contract and you can't have two at the same time. One must be finished and put away before a new one can be put in place. That's what was happening at the cross regarding the old covenant and law and the new covenant and law. How Christ fulfilled and completed the first law was to live a life that never broke any of the law. Without that being accomplished we couldn't have received the new covenant and still would have been in bondage to the old.
Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Example:
What does it mean to fulfill prophecy? It means it's completed, done. It's not something to look forward to happening because it already happened and it's great! But, it's done and completed and removed from the list of prophecies that are still to come. Fulfilled prophecy becomes history! Fulfilled law becomes history as well. Christ replaced the old law and covenant with a new law and covenant.
A covenant is like a contract and you can't have two at the same time. One must be finished and put away before a new one can be put in place. That's what was happening at the cross regarding the old covenant and law and the new covenant and law. How Christ fulfilled and completed the first law was to live a life that never broke any of the law. Without that being accomplished we couldn't have received the new covenant and still would have been in bondage to the old.
Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
It is still true that the law is written on the hearts and minds of New Covenant believers (Hebrews 8:8-10, Hebrews 10:16, Romans 8:7, Romans 8:4, 1 John 5:3, 2 John 1:6, Romans 13:8-10; Romans 5:5; 1 John 2:3-6, 1 Corinthians 9:21).
We are not under the law as concerning condemnation (Romans 6:14, Romans 7:4, Galatians 2:19, Romans 7:6; Ephesians 2:15-16, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 7:18-19, Galatians 3:25, Galatians 5:18); but we are under the law as concerning obedience (Hebrews 8:8-10, Hebrews 10:16, Romans 8:7, Romans 8:4, 1 John 5:3, 2 John 1:6, Romans 13:8-10; Romans 5:5; 1 John 2:3-6, 1 Corinthians 9:21).
We have a righteousness that is apart from the law that is nevertheless attested to by the law and the prophets (Romans 3:21) that it is righteousness indeed.
This, in that we find that in Galatians 5:22-23, that there is no law that will condemn a man who walks according to the fruit of the Spirit (and not according to the works of the flesh). Therefore, when we bear that fruit, we become law-abiding citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
When we walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us (Romans 8:4).
That being said, if we turn our ears away from hearing the law, even our prayer shall be an abomination (Proverbs 28:9).
And, if we look into the perfect law of liberty, and continue in it, we will be blessed in what we do (James 1:25).
And, therefore, Galatians 4:21-31 (quoted in the above post) is referring to being under the law as a requirement for salvation.
We are under the law to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21) as concerning obedience.
Because, since the love of the Lord is shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5); and this love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:8-10, 1 John 5:2-3, 2 John 1:6) in the sense of us obeying the commandments in the practical sense because we love one another; therefore we are obedient to the moral tenets of holy scripture while we are also not obligated under condemnation to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law.
We are not under the law as concerning condemnation (Romans 6:14, Romans 7:4, Galatians 2:19, Romans 7:6; Ephesians 2:15-16, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 7:18-19, Galatians 3:25, Galatians 5:18); but we are under the law as concerning obedience (Hebrews 8:8-10, Hebrews 10:16, Romans 8:7, Romans 8:4, 1 John 5:3, 2 John 1:6, Romans 13:8-10; Romans 5:5; 1 John 2:3-6, 1 Corinthians 9:21).
We have a righteousness that is apart from the law that is nevertheless attested to by the law and the prophets (Romans 3:21) that it is righteousness indeed.
This, in that we find that in Galatians 5:22-23, that there is no law that will condemn a man who walks according to the fruit of the Spirit (and not according to the works of the flesh). Therefore, when we bear that fruit, we become law-abiding citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
When we walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us (Romans 8:4).
That being said, if we turn our ears away from hearing the law, even our prayer shall be an abomination (Proverbs 28:9).
And, if we look into the perfect law of liberty, and continue in it, we will be blessed in what we do (James 1:25).
And, therefore, Galatians 4:21-31 (quoted in the above post) is referring to being under the law as a requirement for salvation.
We are under the law to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21) as concerning obedience.
Because, since the love of the Lord is shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5); and this love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:8-10, 1 John 5:2-3, 2 John 1:6) in the sense of us obeying the commandments in the practical sense because we love one another; therefore we are obedient to the moral tenets of holy scripture while we are also not obligated under condemnation to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law.
Let me clarify by saying that we are only truly set free from the condemnation of the law if the love of the Lord is truly shed abroad in our hearts so that it is our inclination to be obedient to the moral tenets of the law inasmuch as they are in conjunction with the love of Jesus Christ dwelling in our hearts.
We don't work to get saved, we work because we are saved.
The obedience is the same, we obey not to get saved, but because we are saved.
We are sanctified at salivation in in the position as joint heirs with Christ,
then the Holy Spirit works in us to bring us up to that position by pointing out our sin,
and if we obey, He takes that sin from us.
This is the 2nd level of 3 levels of our sanctification in Christ.
The obedience is the same, we obey not to get saved, but because we are saved.
We are sanctified at salivation in in the position as joint heirs with Christ,
then the Holy Spirit works in us to bring us up to that position by pointing out our sin,
and if we obey, He takes that sin from us.
This is the 2nd level of 3 levels of our sanctification in Christ.
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1) Positional Sanctification
2) Progressive Sanctification
3) Ultimate Sanctification
Level #1 is our position in Christ at salvation, we are sanctified by faith as sons of the Living God.
Level #2 is our on going sanctification by the Holy Spirit to bring us up to the Level of our position in Christ.
Level #3 is our final sanctification at the resurrection, the mortal puts on the immortal and we become perfect.
2) Progressive Sanctification
3) Ultimate Sanctification
Level #1 is our position in Christ at salvation, we are sanctified by faith as sons of the Living God.
Level #2 is our on going sanctification by the Holy Spirit to bring us up to the Level of our position in Christ.
Level #3 is our final sanctification at the resurrection, the mortal puts on the immortal and we become perfect.
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I Cor. 6:11
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
This is positional sanctification at salvation! It is called past sanctification, were are sanctified by faith.
Rom. 15:16
"That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost."
This is the ongoing sanctification of the believer to bring him up to the level of his position in Christ. You notice here Paul says "being sanctified" by the Holy Spirit.
2 Cor. 3:18
" But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
This is the Holy Spirit transforming us into the image of Christ through sanctification.
And again, Rom. 8:29,
" For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
This again is the sanctification process of the Holy Spirit to conform us into the image of Christ, bringing us up to the position we have been placed by faith.
1Thes. 5:3
" And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Here Paul is speaking of the ultimate sanctification at the "the coming of Christ" which is at the resurrection.
Phil. 3:20-21
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
Here Paul is telling us we will be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
I Cor. 15:51-53
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."
This is our ultimate sanctification when we are made immortal as Christ is immortal, we will be perfect as He is perfect.
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
This is positional sanctification at salvation! It is called past sanctification, were are sanctified by faith.
Rom. 15:16
"That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost."
This is the ongoing sanctification of the believer to bring him up to the level of his position in Christ. You notice here Paul says "being sanctified" by the Holy Spirit.
2 Cor. 3:18
" But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
This is the Holy Spirit transforming us into the image of Christ through sanctification.
And again, Rom. 8:29,
" For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
This again is the sanctification process of the Holy Spirit to conform us into the image of Christ, bringing us up to the position we have been placed by faith.
1Thes. 5:3
" And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Here Paul is speaking of the ultimate sanctification at the "the coming of Christ" which is at the resurrection.
Phil. 3:20-21
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
Here Paul is telling us we will be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
I Cor. 15:51-53
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."
This is our ultimate sanctification when we are made immortal as Christ is immortal, we will be perfect as He is perfect.