Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
I agree completely
The Law and the prophets are fulfilled, by the Lord Jesus Christ. Past tense, Present tense, future tense. Perfect.
All Old Testament prophecy has not yet been fulfilled such as Christ's return for example. In addition neither has Ezekiel 37:16-28, and what Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 24, been fulfilled yet.
That is why Galatians 3:10 says those who work at the law are under the curse. They are beholding their own sin instead of beholding their salvation.
"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." Galatians 3:10
This doesn't mean that we are saved by our own performance to attain salvation. This verse also distinguishes "works" "law" "under" and "curse." It can be said that those who are
servants of Torah are still under a curse. The last part of the verse shows that if we refuse to "act," by our own volition of rejecting Torah, we are cursed. Again that doesn't mean we are saved by our own actions either.
The law doesn't show us our blessing, only the Lord Jesus shows us our blessing. If the law could show us our blessing then the Lord didn't need to save us.
Salvation is truly a blessing unearned by us, and only through Christ. Blessings and cursings are attained by our actions. We are responsible to continue in righteousness after being born again by the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior. The instructions in righteousness are written in the Old Testament where we find the Torah instructions. "All scripture (New Testament had not been written yet) is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
No man is justified by the Law in the sight of God. Why? Because no man can be perfect like our Father in Heaven is Perfect.
I agree completely.
The Law was a curse to us because we could not perform it. Only The Lord Jesus Christ could perform it.
"Christ hath
redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" Galatians 3:13 The definitions of curses are discribed by the law, same as a fireman that issues instructions not to enter a burning house doesn't make him the fire.
The law was never a curse. It is Holy, just and good.
Rejection brings a curse defined in the Torah. Acceptance brings blessing defined in the Torah, but still, our actions do not bring salvation to us. A merciful, graceful, loving God doesn't give instructions telling us to sin so He can bring a curse upon us. If that is the Father Jesus followed, then there would be no blessing though Christ either.
Is sin the curse? Ok. Well what is the power of sin? The law...
"The sting of death is sin; and the
strength of sin is the law." 1 Corinthians 15:56 If the law has no power to save us, it also has no power to force us to sin. As the law diminishes so does sin. When the law increases so does the knowledge of sin. The law makes it clear what sin is, but is not sin itself. God did not give sin to us by the written law. He gave the Torah to define what sin is. Transgressions came before the law what given.
The strength of sin is elucidated by the law.
"For
if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For
he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the
perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:23-25
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Agreed completely, and the law shows us who we are in the flesh.
Thank you for your input but these questions were not addressed specifically.
Did the law hang on a tree, or did Jesus hang on a tree? Of course that can be seen as a leading question so I will say that Jesus became sin for our sakes and Jesus never said that He was the law. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Corinthians 5:21
Was the law a curse, or was Jesus crucified to destroy sin that would bring a curse?