The Law was our teacher and shows that we need a saviour and shows how utterly sinful we all are (well all except for Christ - who was the only one who lived a holy and righteous life). Romans paraphrased
The problem I feel is a common misconception on reading Paul's writings for instance take Galatians 5 it says in verse 18 ...
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
However, immediately preceding this is these verses...
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. [/FONT]
and after the verse 18 is
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,[a] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[b]drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
So it seems obvious to me that if we follow God's Spirit by nature we will be doing the very things the law requires and thus we no longer need the tutor and thus are no longer under it.
But you can see that if you take just verse 18 out of context that being a Christian would give you licence to sin. Something Paul made very clear in all his letters he was opposed to such a doctrine. Romans in chapter 6
The daft thing is many take these verses out of context and build false doctrines around them. We mustn't be deceived thinking we can carry on deliberately wilfully sinning as in verse 21 it says "
that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Now the other problem is should we keep the whole Law of Moses? Ie does this identify sin for all mankind or has God given extra laws to Israel which are specific to them and them alone.
Well most know the 10 commandments but what is interesting in Deut 5 is that this clearly states it was given to the Israelites at the time and not to the Patriarchs. But wait I hear you say the feasts they should be kept by all well let me put it this way let's take the Passover this points to the Israelites being rescued from the Bondage in Egypt would Noah/Abraham/Adam been told to keep a feast that would have had no significance to them as it happened thousand of years later???
Besides Deut 5 says clearly these were not given to "our fathers"
5 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.
Now God commanded Noah to build an ark does this mean we should all build arks? We are commanded to keep the Lord's supper were the Israelites commanded to keep the Lord's supper in the Mosaic covenant?
Now you might think I am being facetious here I am not I am trying to make a point that although these are all Laws given by God not all laws are applicable to all mankind and all time.
However, there are laws that are never changing these were indeed within the Mosaic law as well - what many call the Moral law ie do not murder, do not commit adultery... We can see this in Genesis for example between Cain and Abel.. God said to Cain that sin was crouching at Cain's door. Just before Cain killed his brother.
Genesis 4 v7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
There are also laws that were given to specific people at specific times. Interestingly these are obvious too as we see in Paul's writings to the Colossians, Romans and Galatians that these were mere shadows but the reality is in Christ...
Let's take Passover again. Jesus is our Passover lamb we don't have to sacrifice at the alter every year as Jesus has done it once and for all. Hebrews.
Now, I am not judging anyone who wants to keep the feasts, or get circumcised etc I am just trying to make a point.
Paul has clearly labelled things that relate to the sinful nature and things that relate to the Spirit so if you are trully born again then you will follow God's spirit submitting to God and thus fulfil the law in Love.
God Bless
Additional note we all do struggle with sin. Submit to God we must want to leave our life of sin and let Christ be our Master.
Additional additional, isn't it interesting who was opposed to Christ. The religious order. I sometimes wonder what God would make of our Churches today. We may not have fallen down on the side of wanting to kill people when they commit sin like the Pharaseed but what we may fall down on is not expressing how much we need to REPENT. You know I believe many Churches do not preach the Gospel which is sad because in a fallen world it is what is needed.
God Bless.
. Thank you again though for commenting.