Right and His Commandments are faith and love... Not legalism ...
Ro 7:6 But 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.
Lemme see here, Mitspa says the Commandments are faith and love and that is true but only half of the story...
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
He also includes in that the Ten Commandments.
Paul concurs...
Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
but you call this legalism.
Legalism is the teaching that keeping the Law will EARN one salvation. I have posted this probably hundreds of times but here goes again...
One hundred lifetimes of one hundred years each will not earn eternal life. Eternal life is a gift. Justification is a gift.
Does God expect a person to keep the Commandments?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Why? The definition of sin is...
1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
God wants His children to refrain from sin. When we sin, our only recourse is to go to the Father through the High Priest and ask for mercy and grace. God grants forgiveness by the application of Christ's sacrifice in our stead.
Sin requires blood...
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
When we sin, someone's blood must be shed. Christ voluntarily shed His blood in our stead, so when we sin we need the sacrifice of Christ to remit that sin. So, is that a license to sin?
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
To no longer strive not to sin, to allow sin (the transgression of the Law) to become common place with us, puts us in a dangerous category...
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Should we strive not to sin?
2Ti 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Paul thought so.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Christ thought so too.
