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And yet we read...
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Notice God's Commandments are not burdensome. Here is who bound the burdens on people...
Mat 23:2 saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
Mat 23:3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Who is the antecedant of "they"? The scribes and Pharisees.
Seems to me you got that one backwards.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Notice God's Commandments are not burdensome. Here is who bound the burdens on people...
Mat 23:2 saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
Mat 23:3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Who is the antecedant of "they"? The scribes and Pharisees.
Seems to me you got that one backwards.
If you don't understand Christ, it doesn't matter...
Mat 19:16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
Mat 19:17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Mat 19:18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,' 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 'YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,' 'YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,'
Mat 19:19 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER,' and, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "
Mat 19:16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
Mat 19:17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Mat 19:18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,' 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 'YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,' 'YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,'
Mat 19:19 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER,' and, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "
It tells you right in that verse that it is a heavy burden.
Do what they say, not what they do.
What they say to do is a heavy burden that they do not move themselves.
What do they say? They sit in Moses seat. They say do what the law says.
1 John 5 is talking about the new birth. For someone who has been born again of the spirit, the result is love. The fruit of the spirit.
For someone who has been given the gift of love, are the commandments burdensome? no. Love that is given by God fulfills what the Law demands.
Its you who have it backwards that think that keeping the law is easy.
Romans 7:7-24
[SUP]7 [/SUP]What 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.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
[SUP]19 [/SUP]For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
[SUP]23 [/SUP]But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Do what they say, not what they do.
What they say to do is a heavy burden that they do not move themselves.
What do they say? They sit in Moses seat. They say do what the law says.
1 John 5 is talking about the new birth. For someone who has been born again of the spirit, the result is love. The fruit of the spirit.
For someone who has been given the gift of love, are the commandments burdensome? no. Love that is given by God fulfills what the Law demands.
Its you who have it backwards that think that keeping the law is easy.
Romans 7:7-24
[SUP]7 [/SUP]What 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.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
[SUP]19 [/SUP]For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
[SUP]23 [/SUP]But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
So then there was no need for Christ to be sacrificed?
We should all just keep the law in order to have eternal life?
You are completely correct that if you don't understand Christ it really doesn't matter.
Christ says Keep the Law, Be Perfect like God is Perfect.
When you find you can't carry this VERY HEAVY BURDEN you come to Him and He carries it for you. The Lord Jesus Christ gives you, as a gift, the things you can't attain for yourself.
Galatians 3:24 [SUP] [/SUP]Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
We should all just keep the law in order to have eternal life?
You are completely correct that if you don't understand Christ it really doesn't matter.
Christ says Keep the Law, Be Perfect like God is Perfect.
When you find you can't carry this VERY HEAVY BURDEN you come to Him and He carries it for you. The Lord Jesus Christ gives you, as a gift, the things you can't attain for yourself.
Galatians 3:24 [SUP] [/SUP]Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Same guy that wrote that wrote this:
Romans 3:31, "Are we then doing away with the Law through the faith? By no means! Rather, we establish the Law!"
Romans 7:12, "Therefore the Law is holy, and the commandments are holy, and just, and righteous."
Acts 24:14, "But I confess this to you, that after the way which they call heresy--so I worship the Father of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets."
Romans 3:31, "Are we then doing away with the Law through the faith? By no means! Rather, we establish the Law!"
Romans 7:12, "Therefore the Law is holy, and the commandments are holy, and just, and righteous."
Acts 24:14, "But I confess this to you, that after the way which they call heresy--so I worship the Father of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets."
Certainly we need to take all Scripture into account when forming our view, I have a rule, to believe something I need to be able to prove it to myself using only Scripture not adding or taking away, not ignore certain verses or isolating others, but considering all Scripture instead of getting carried away because I misunderstand one verse and filtering every other part of the book through that one verse.
Do as they say? When they sat in Moses seat they were teaching the Law. What they did was bind extra burdens on people...
Mat 23:5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.
Mat 23:6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'
Mat 23:8 But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
Mat 23:9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.
Mat 23:11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Mat 23:13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
Mat 23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
Mat 23:26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Mat 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Didn't really read it did you? It plainly says their additions to the Law were the heavy burdens. John, the Apostle that Jesus loved (was the closest to) says this...
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
That is a misquote. What they do is the heavy burden, Jesus said to do as they say when sitting in Moses seat. You may want to look into that to see what Moses seat really is.
And what did Christ say?
Mat 23:3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
But don't do according to their works. I have heard of selective hearing, but this is selective reading on your part.
1Jn 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
What I John 5 plainly says is to keep the Commandments because that is what love is...
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments."
No, that is not what it says, that is what you wish it said. It says that keeping the Commandments is love. Paul says the same thing...
Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9 For the commandments, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER," "YOU SHALL NOT STEAL," "YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS," "YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
Keeping the last six Commandments is loving your neighbor. Love your neighbor is a summary of the last six.
Yeah, me and John...
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
You want to see a burden? Go out and murder someone. The courts will show you and your family what a burden is. Commit adultery and a divorce lawyer will show you what a burden really is. What did God inspire David (a man after God's own heart) to write...
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
But you claim to know better than David. You and I both put together will not measure up to David...
Eze 37:21 "Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
Eze 37:22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.
Eze 37:23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
Eze 37:24 "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.
In the future, David will be King over all Israel. Just as a side note, it says Israel will walk in all the judgments and statutes you wish to do away with.
Eze 37:25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.
How long? Forever. For David to rule over Israel forever, then He has to live forever. He is not alive, ruling over Israel now...
Act 2:29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Well, you gotta make something up to prove your point, scripture certainly does not. Take a look at verse 7, it says the Law tells us what sin is. Verse 12 says the Commandment is holy and just and good. Verse 14 says the Law is spiritual, it was Paul (and us) who is carnal. Verse 22 says that Paul delighted in the Law of God, it was the law of sin and death that had him on the ropes. In fact Paul says this...
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
You've been listening to the master brainwasher if you think the Law is bad and a burden.
Mat 23:5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.
Mat 23:6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'
Mat 23:8 But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
Mat 23:9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.
Mat 23:11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Mat 23:13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
Mat 23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
Mat 23:26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Mat 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Didn't really read it did you? It plainly says their additions to the Law were the heavy burdens. John, the Apostle that Jesus loved (was the closest to) says this...
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
That is a misquote. What they do is the heavy burden, Jesus said to do as they say when sitting in Moses seat. You may want to look into that to see what Moses seat really is.
And what did Christ say?
Mat 23:3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
But don't do according to their works. I have heard of selective hearing, but this is selective reading on your part.
1Jn 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
What I John 5 plainly says is to keep the Commandments because that is what love is...
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments."
No, that is not what it says, that is what you wish it said. It says that keeping the Commandments is love. Paul says the same thing...
Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9 For the commandments, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER," "YOU SHALL NOT STEAL," "YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS," "YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
Keeping the last six Commandments is loving your neighbor. Love your neighbor is a summary of the last six.
Yeah, me and John...
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
You want to see a burden? Go out and murder someone. The courts will show you and your family what a burden is. Commit adultery and a divorce lawyer will show you what a burden really is. What did God inspire David (a man after God's own heart) to write...
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
But you claim to know better than David. You and I both put together will not measure up to David...
Eze 37:21 "Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
Eze 37:22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.
Eze 37:23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
Eze 37:24 "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.
In the future, David will be King over all Israel. Just as a side note, it says Israel will walk in all the judgments and statutes you wish to do away with.
Eze 37:25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.
How long? Forever. For David to rule over Israel forever, then He has to live forever. He is not alive, ruling over Israel now...
Act 2:29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Well, you gotta make something up to prove your point, scripture certainly does not. Take a look at verse 7, it says the Law tells us what sin is. Verse 12 says the Commandment is holy and just and good. Verse 14 says the Law is spiritual, it was Paul (and us) who is carnal. Verse 22 says that Paul delighted in the Law of God, it was the law of sin and death that had him on the ropes. In fact Paul says this...
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
You've been listening to the master brainwasher if you think the Law is bad and a burden.
The bible says that the Pharisees say and do not do. They place burdens on men that they do not work at themselves.
If the burden was the thing the pharisees did, in adding to the law, then it couldn't be said that they didn't work at the burden that they placed on other men.
. This is a description of the man who is born again.
The problem is not the law. The problem is that the solution given by the pharisees is not the correct solution.
Their solution is the same as your solution. Work at the law.
But you don't give any solution to this working at the law. You don't show how these burdens can be lifted. Because to you there are no burdens.
This is a description of what is given to those who are born again.
It is not a reward for those who think they keep the commandments in their own strength.
You have it backwards. Love causes the keeping of the commands. Keeping the commands does not cause love.
Your explanation of what you think Paul and John are saying excludes what the Lord Jesus Christ does for us and exhalts mens work at the law.
If keeping commands caused Love Jesus would have said "good job Pharisees, keep up the good work". But He didn't say that to the Pharisees. Because keeping commands doesn't cause Love. Keeping commands causes people to think that they are superior to other people who don't keep the same commands as them.
Look at the prayers of the pharisee and the publican. Luke 18
The simple fact is that the flesh cannot keep the law. The flesh cannot keep commandments. The Law is a great burden on the flesh, on people. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could do it because He was born of God.
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
How are you going to do that?
I have a feeling that David knows something that you don't.
I don't wish to do away with anything. Even if I wanted to I wouldn't have any power to do so.
Are you sure those verses in Ezekiel aren't prophesying Jesus Christ and the New Birth?
The law is not bad but it is a burden because in the Law is our Condemnation and Death. If we try to be perfect at the Law it is a work of futility. You can't cause your own flesh to stop desiring what it desires out of your own will power.
What you can do is come to Christ and abide in Him so He can grow spiritual fruit in your life. You can't cause spiritual fruit to grow by your own will power. You have to ask and have faith in Christ.
Galatians 3:2-3
[SUP]2 [/SUP]This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
If the burden was the thing the pharisees did, in adding to the law, then it couldn't be said that they didn't work at the burden that they placed on other men.
. This is a description of the man who is born again.
The problem is not the law. The problem is that the solution given by the pharisees is not the correct solution.
Their solution is the same as your solution. Work at the law.
But you don't give any solution to this working at the law. You don't show how these burdens can be lifted. Because to you there are no burdens.
This is a description of what is given to those who are born again.
It is not a reward for those who think they keep the commandments in their own strength.
You have it backwards. Love causes the keeping of the commands. Keeping the commands does not cause love.
Your explanation of what you think Paul and John are saying excludes what the Lord Jesus Christ does for us and exhalts mens work at the law.
If keeping commands caused Love Jesus would have said "good job Pharisees, keep up the good work". But He didn't say that to the Pharisees. Because keeping commands doesn't cause Love. Keeping commands causes people to think that they are superior to other people who don't keep the same commands as them.
Look at the prayers of the pharisee and the publican. Luke 18
The simple fact is that the flesh cannot keep the law. The flesh cannot keep commandments. The Law is a great burden on the flesh, on people. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could do it because He was born of God.
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
How are you going to do that?
I have a feeling that David knows something that you don't.
I don't wish to do away with anything. Even if I wanted to I wouldn't have any power to do so.
Are you sure those verses in Ezekiel aren't prophesying Jesus Christ and the New Birth?
The law is not bad but it is a burden because in the Law is our Condemnation and Death. If we try to be perfect at the Law it is a work of futility. You can't cause your own flesh to stop desiring what it desires out of your own will power.
What you can do is come to Christ and abide in Him so He can grow spiritual fruit in your life. You can't cause spiritual fruit to grow by your own will power. You have to ask and have faith in Christ.
Galatians 3:2-3
[SUP]2 [/SUP]This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?