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S
These are all good examples of the contemporary definition of legalism as expounded upon from our own readings of the Scriptures (i.e., they are your own phrasing of what you understand from reading the Scriptures, and they overlap with the popular definitions employed today -- nothing wrong with studying the Word and coming to our own conclusions as we sort out these complicated issues). However, I think we can look to the Scriptures for a clear example of legalism in practice. I don't think the Scriptures use the word "legalism" as we think of it today but they do give one explicit example that was heavily debated at the time of the inclusion of the Gentiles and was certainly on Paul's mind when he wrote the letter to the Galatians:
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. -- Acts 15:1-2 (NIV)
We see here that what could be termed "legalism" is the teaching that one must be circumcised in order to become saved. So what's really being said here? Circumcision would convert a non-Jew into a proselyte Jew, so what they are really saying here is that no one can be saved until they perform ritual conversion and become Jewish. This means that Gentiles could not be saved in their non-Jewish state. We can come up with other eloquent definitions of legalism, but in the first century context THIS was legalism in action: requiring non-Jews to undergo ritual circumcision and become Jewish. This is what Paul and others were against and this is, I believe, the core issue driving the intent behind the letter to the Galatians.
The matter is brought up early in the letter to set the stage, so to speak:
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. -- Gal. 2:3 (NIV)
He continues to speak about circumcision throughout the letter and closes the letter on the point:
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. -- Gal. 6:15 (NIV)
And to me, the more interesting thing about this specific example of legalism in the NT period is that circumcision was given to Abraham before the Torah-Law came 400+ years later. So, I see legalism more as an identity issue in the NT context than as an issue tied simply to Torah-Law observance. Much more can be said on the issue, for sure, but I just wanted to add this to the discussion. I posted a more detailed definition of my views on legalism earlier in the thread which goes further into circumcision and keeping the Torah-Law as a means to salvation (as opposed to keeping it out of love and obedience after salvation). What I'm really trying to say is that my thoughts here are not the end of the matter. This was more of a "let's not miss the forest for the trees" type of post reminding us to keep in mind one explicit example given in the NT writings. In fact, there was a whole other thread recently that attempted to document many examples of legalism from the NT writings.
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. -- Acts 15:1-2 (NIV)
We see here that what could be termed "legalism" is the teaching that one must be circumcised in order to become saved. So what's really being said here? Circumcision would convert a non-Jew into a proselyte Jew, so what they are really saying here is that no one can be saved until they perform ritual conversion and become Jewish. This means that Gentiles could not be saved in their non-Jewish state. We can come up with other eloquent definitions of legalism, but in the first century context THIS was legalism in action: requiring non-Jews to undergo ritual circumcision and become Jewish. This is what Paul and others were against and this is, I believe, the core issue driving the intent behind the letter to the Galatians.
The matter is brought up early in the letter to set the stage, so to speak:
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. -- Gal. 2:3 (NIV)
He continues to speak about circumcision throughout the letter and closes the letter on the point:
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. -- Gal. 6:15 (NIV)
And to me, the more interesting thing about this specific example of legalism in the NT period is that circumcision was given to Abraham before the Torah-Law came 400+ years later. So, I see legalism more as an identity issue in the NT context than as an issue tied simply to Torah-Law observance. Much more can be said on the issue, for sure, but I just wanted to add this to the discussion. I posted a more detailed definition of my views on legalism earlier in the thread which goes further into circumcision and keeping the Torah-Law as a means to salvation (as opposed to keeping it out of love and obedience after salvation). What I'm really trying to say is that my thoughts here are not the end of the matter. This was more of a "let's not miss the forest for the trees" type of post reminding us to keep in mind one explicit example given in the NT writings. In fact, there was a whole other thread recently that attempted to document many examples of legalism from the NT writings.
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Galatians 3:2-4
[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?
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Matthew 15:11 [SUP] [/SUP]Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Christ changed everything.
Romans 9:30-31
[SUP]30 [/SUP]What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
[SUP]31 [/SUP]But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
John 16:7-14
[SUP]7 [/SUP]Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Of sin, because they believe not on me;
[SUP]10 [/SUP]Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
[SUP]11 [/SUP]Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
[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?
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Matthew 15:11 [SUP] [/SUP]Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Christ changed everything.
Romans 9:30-31
[SUP]30 [/SUP]What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
[SUP]31 [/SUP]But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
John 16:7-14
[SUP]7 [/SUP]Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Of sin, because they believe not on me;
[SUP]10 [/SUP]Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
[SUP]11 [/SUP]Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
W
That's great, but Galatians is talking about physical circumcision and Christ is talking about washing hands. Which the pharisees were saying was necessary to avoid uncleanliness. However this was not a commandment of God, but a tradition which was added to the Word of God. Jesus clearly condemns them for forcing their unBiblical observances on others and then tells the disciples why that tradition is not a commandment of God.
Matthew 15
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”[a] 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 “‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
What Defiles a Person
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides.[c] And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?[d] 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
If Jesus had been telling the pharisees that they could break the actual commandments of God, especially one so ingrained as what is acceptable to eat, they would not have simply slinked away without a response.
When we look at Acts 10, Peter's vision, we see that at that point Peter still considered unclean food to be unclean. Even after following Jesus for years and hearing the explanation of Matthew 15. The vision perplexed him, he did not understand what it could mean until the three gentiles came to him.
Acts 10
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation,[c] for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
And here is the interpretation of that dream in the next chapter:
Acts 11
11 Now the apostles and the brothers[a] who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Matthew 15
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”[a] 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 “‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
What Defiles a Person
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides.[c] And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?[d] 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
If Jesus had been telling the pharisees that they could break the actual commandments of God, especially one so ingrained as what is acceptable to eat, they would not have simply slinked away without a response.
When we look at Acts 10, Peter's vision, we see that at that point Peter still considered unclean food to be unclean. Even after following Jesus for years and hearing the explanation of Matthew 15. The vision perplexed him, he did not understand what it could mean until the three gentiles came to him.
Acts 10
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation,[c] for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
And here is the interpretation of that dream in the next chapter:
Acts 11
11 Now the apostles and the brothers[a] who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
W
Circumcision hasn't been abolished, but it no longer is a physical circumcision. Such works of the flesh will not save a person and trying to be saved by a physical circumcision or any physical work of charity or self inflicted punishment is a different gospel. A circumcision of the heart on the other hand is completely necessary for salvation and to be one of Abraham's spiritual descendants.
The difference is between observing the law by the letter and the Spirit. When it comes to capitol punishment, the people brought the prostitute before Christ to test Him. By that time, God had used Rome to strip Israel's ability to legally stone a sinner. So the people thought it would be a good way to trap Him, if He told them to stone her as God had commanded then He would be breaking the laws of the land and be a criminal. If He told them not to stone her, He would be going against the commandments of God.
What He did was say that He who is without sin can cast the first stone. Well the only person there who was without sin was Him (and He was God) and He forgave her sins. Stoning was how God kept the physical nation of Israel free from rampant sin and pagan influence before the Holy Spirit, now us who are Israel spiritually are still supposed to keep our congregations pure but we do not have to kill people to do it lol. That is the letter of the law, this example shows the Spirit of the law, first is a passage from Deuteronomy and then a passage written by Paul on how to handle willful sinners in the Church:
Deuteronomy 17
On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. 7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
1 Corinthians 5
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
The difference is between observing the law by the letter and the Spirit. When it comes to capitol punishment, the people brought the prostitute before Christ to test Him. By that time, God had used Rome to strip Israel's ability to legally stone a sinner. So the people thought it would be a good way to trap Him, if He told them to stone her as God had commanded then He would be breaking the laws of the land and be a criminal. If He told them not to stone her, He would be going against the commandments of God.
What He did was say that He who is without sin can cast the first stone. Well the only person there who was without sin was Him (and He was God) and He forgave her sins. Stoning was how God kept the physical nation of Israel free from rampant sin and pagan influence before the Holy Spirit, now us who are Israel spiritually are still supposed to keep our congregations pure but we do not have to kill people to do it lol. That is the letter of the law, this example shows the Spirit of the law, first is a passage from Deuteronomy and then a passage written by Paul on how to handle willful sinners in the Church:
Deuteronomy 17
On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. 7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
1 Corinthians 5
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
W
Obviously, any commandments requiring the temple or pertaining to a levitical priest or concerning the physical land of Israel (such as the prohibition on selling land in Israel permanently) and things like that can not be observed, neither by us or those who strive to still observe the law to the letter. Those things actually make up a large portion of the commandments.
W
The majority of the remaining laws given to Moses, besides food and sabbath laws were things like:
They have to do with loving God and loving people. Some of them, like mixing seed, cross breeding and mixing linen and wool in a garment I think have spiritual symbolism for us such as keeping oneself pure but also, God said not to so we shouldn't do it.
I do not think our focus should be on keeping the law, certainly never think that we can earn our salvation by attempting to obey God, but our focus should be on loving God with all our heart, mind and body and loving our neighbor as our self. The problem is, without the law, we do not know the definition of sin and therefor do not fully know God's definition of love. Sin is breaking the laws of God whether physically or spiritually.
Most of the law should be kept naturally by those walking by the spirit and being conformed to Christ. Things like what God created to be consumed by us, we have to read the Word of God for ourselves (we have to be careful to follow what God said, not the traditions of modern day jews, rabbis, pharisees etc). During the time of the apostles, early Christians would go to the synagogues to hear the laws of Moses taught. God doesn't expect us to be perfect or to know everything from the moment we turn to Him but we should atleast start by avoiding things sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality, animals which have been strangled and consuming blood.
- Giving your children to be sacrificed to Molek (18:21)
- Making idols or metal gods (19:4)
- Reaping to the very edges of a field (leave some for the poor) (19:9)
- Picking up grapes that have fallen in your vineyard (19:10
- Holding back the wages of an employee (19:13)
- Cursing the deaf or abusing the blind (19:14)
- Perverting justice, showing partiality to either the poor or the rich (19:15)
- Doing anything to endanger a neighbours life (19:16)
- Blasphemy
- Carelessly making an oath
- Mixing linen and wool in a garment
- Cross breeding animals
- Mixing seed in a field
- Sexual Immorality
- Do not Steal
- Do not Lie
- Do not Murder
- Standing when an elder enters your presence
They have to do with loving God and loving people. Some of them, like mixing seed, cross breeding and mixing linen and wool in a garment I think have spiritual symbolism for us such as keeping oneself pure but also, God said not to so we shouldn't do it.
I do not think our focus should be on keeping the law, certainly never think that we can earn our salvation by attempting to obey God, but our focus should be on loving God with all our heart, mind and body and loving our neighbor as our self. The problem is, without the law, we do not know the definition of sin and therefor do not fully know God's definition of love. Sin is breaking the laws of God whether physically or spiritually.
Most of the law should be kept naturally by those walking by the spirit and being conformed to Christ. Things like what God created to be consumed by us, we have to read the Word of God for ourselves (we have to be careful to follow what God said, not the traditions of modern day jews, rabbis, pharisees etc). During the time of the apostles, early Christians would go to the synagogues to hear the laws of Moses taught. God doesn't expect us to be perfect or to know everything from the moment we turn to Him but we should atleast start by avoiding things sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality, animals which have been strangled and consuming blood.
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K
Thanks for your well written posts. There is a huge consensus out there that says our Creator's instructions are hard. I think many are parroting what they've heard, have been brainwashed into assuming that. ..at least that was the case for me until I studied them for myself. Just as Messiah said..Matthew 11:29(KJV)
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
K
So true. It's such peace, and you wish you could tell everybody that don't understand it..it's not a harder life, it's easier. Like Messiah said, it's not grievous. Yeah, there will be hurdles here and there, not a guarantee of life on a silver platter, just the sweetness/precious moments when ya know that ya know..the Almighty Creator has called you to come out, separate yourself and not live like the rest of the world does..and it's Him that gives the grace/power for you to do it, by His power..not ours.
Great thread btw..many insightful posts.
Great thread btw..many insightful posts.
K
I love Sabbath! It recharges my batteries..so to speak, and it keeps me! My work is challenging mentally and physically, no better rest than Sabbath..the 7th day made for man, and has a promise..if we call Sabbath a delight?. What a wonderful blessed gift! [h=1]Isaiah 58:13-14 (JUB)[/h]13 ¶ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy will on my holy day; and call the sabbath the delightful, holy, glorious day of the LORD; and shalt honour him by not doing thine own ways, nor seeking thine own will, nor speaking thine own words:
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and cause thee to eat of the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and cause thee to eat of the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.
W
If it is what Jesus told us to do, and we are aware of it but choose not to do it then we are in rebellion. So the real question is what did Jesus tell us to do? One of the problems with the concept that all of the law was fulfilled and done away with when He was resurrected is this... Then we can say everything He said while He was alive doesn't apply to us. So then we can pick and choose. if I can't look to the life and words of Christ or the law and prophets for an example of how to live, then what the heck lol that is ridiculous. What is left, just Job, Proverbs, Paul and Peter? You can find a surprising amount of the laws of God in Genesis alone, long before Moses. There isn't a contradiction between the words of Christ and the writings of Paul once you understand what Paul is saying. This particular commandment almost always gets rejected or overlooked:
Matthew 23
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Now I do not think that people who truly love and follow Christ to the best of their knowledge, yet are ignorant of everything He teaches because of the multitude of false teachers in this world are damned by any means. But for whatever amount of understanding we have been given, we must live accordingly, to live in willful rebellion would prove we do not love Him and keep us from abiding in Him.
Matthew 23
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Now I do not think that people who truly love and follow Christ to the best of their knowledge, yet are ignorant of everything He teaches because of the multitude of false teachers in this world are damned by any means. But for whatever amount of understanding we have been given, we must live accordingly, to live in willful rebellion would prove we do not love Him and keep us from abiding in Him.
W
Because it is a gift from God to man. Check out this passage which was dealing with the pagans in Colossae and some of which were converting to Christianity and bringing those pagan ideas into the church, who had very strict religious rules which focused on denying themselves things and worshipping angels, trying to judge Christians for eating meat, resting on the sabbath and things of that nature.
Colossians 2
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 2
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
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