Do We Have To Keep The Law?

[eternally-gratefull]

Uh dude, I think you missunderstand the law, See the law is in place to keep the peace,
like don't steal don't murder, etc.. The law is there to show us we are all sinners.
Even if you are under grace, if you kill someone you are going to prison, if you steal your going to jail probably getting an order to make restitution. Grace frees us from the law in the sence that we live according to the Fruit of the Spirit, Love joy peace, long suffering, etc.. It's through grace we no longer have need of the law in our lives, how ever it does not make the law void.

Under the law we are required to pay for our sins, thats why the whole world will stand guilty before God on Judgement day.
It's under grace that God forgives us, and the only thing that can cleanse us of our sins is a blood sacrifice.

That is why Jesus had to die for us, if he hadn't been the sinless sacrifice, we would still be sacrificing goats and sheeps blood for our sins. Since Jesus Christ did die for our sins by shedding his blood, that is where our grace comes from, accepting his sacrifice grants our pardon before God. With out Christ their is no hope of Salvation, simply because he is the only way to get saved, He is the only begotten Son of God. Their is no other way to heaven, except through Christ.

lol no you misunderstand the law. 5e oaw was there to condemn us and lead us to christ, after we have come to christ. We are no longer under a tutor.

yes, you commit murder you go to jail, but that law of moses does not determin that the law of the state does.

 

[Ralph-]

I have never been under the old covenant and law that required that...

Yes, you would be required to do that if you were outside of Christ and wanted to be a member of God's people.

By virtue of coming to God a gentile put himself under the literal obligations of the law. That was how one came to God before Christ. Any other way would have been a pagan practice in worship of a pagan god.

, so it would be impossible for that to be sin to me. Christ was under that covenant and law.

Before Christ, by coming to God through any other way than through the law of Moses a gentile would be guilty of not coming to God but of worshiping a pagan god.

That is how all gentiles are under the law. Unless they come to God through the way of faith in God, the only other way to legally approach the true God would be through the Mosaic ceremonial law. So it's clear that the gentile is/was under the law of Moses. And why they are condemned by it.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Yes, you would be required to do that if you were outside of Christ and wanted to be a member of God's people.

No I wouldn't. That way was made obsolete and disappeared. It was written that it was near to disappearing nearly 2000 years ago. It's long gone now.

In calling [the covenant] new, he has declared the former [covenant to be old]. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old [is] near to disappearing. Hebrews 8:13​

There is only one way to GOD now.

 

[Grandpa]

Answer: The simple fact that they were in fact keeping it to be justified.

How do we know? That's what the Bible says.

​

​

Yes. Its the same problem ALL people have who work at the law in their own understanding.

There was nothing stopping the Galatians from telling Paul that they weren't doing it to be justified.

But it is a dumb thing to say. There has to be a reason to do it. Paul knew it. And people that are honest with themselves know it.

I know that you are trying to slant law keeping in the only way you know how to understand it by using the phrase 'working at it', but the answer is easy: Christians who have faith, and walk in the Spirit uphold the law. Faith upholds the law-Romans 3:31. We uphold the law when we walk by the Spirit.

I've asked you several times why you work at the law and you seem to have been at a loss.

If you know how I understand something why don't you clear it up?

Your difficulty comes from the fact that you are only capable of understanding upholding the law as a person trying in their own strength without aid of the Holy Spirit to keep the letter of the law for the purpose of justification. You are the victim of a church that literally can not understand upholding the law any other way.

What's the difference between Jews trying to keep the 10 commandments and you trying to keep the 10 commandments???

 

[Grandpa]

Originally Posted by Grandpa
'But we don't do it to gain salvation...'

Then why do you do it? Why don't we focus more on what gains us salvation and less on what gives us "extra credit" or whatever reason you do the extra stuff.​

Christians can't help themselves. For GOD has said, I will put my Laws in their hearts and write them in their minds. Declared to be the epistle of Christ.... written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. So Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ (HIS Word; the Law) again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word (Christ; HIS LAW) is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart (that we do it): that is, the word of faith, which we preach. Christ in us the hope of glory. A new and living Way; the Veil; that is to say His flesh; the Body of Christ; the Temple of GOD. For it is HE that works in us both to will and do HIS good pleasure. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the (engrafted) word (that which is in our hearts and minds), and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
(Heb 8:10; 2Co 3:3-5; Rom 10:6-8; Jas 1:21-22)

I was talking about the 10 commandments.

Not Gods Law.

Why do you people try to keep the 10 commandments, the law?

 

[Studyman]

=Grandpa;3568648

What's the difference between Jews trying to keep the 10 commandments and you trying to keep the 10 commandments???

According to you and "many" who come in Christ's Name, the Pharisees were trying to follow God's Commandments.

This is untrue as Jesus clearly points out over and over.

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (No God)

4
For they (Pharisees, not God) bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

I could go on and on, and have before but you can't seem to accept these Word's of the Christ.

There were some Jews who did strive to honor God by obeying Him and His instructions.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

It is important to note that these two knew Jesus when He came just as Jesus promised.

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them,(Like Zechariahs) he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

So this is a perfect example of a Jew who rejected God's instruction and created their own,(Pharisees) and a Jew who Loved and trusted God enough to follow His instructions.(Zechariahs)

One knew Jesus when He came, and one did not.

Zechariahs, or those like minded, did not "Bewitch" the Galatians, the Pharisees did. I think it is an atrocity to preach the Pharisees were trying to get the Galatians to follow the Law and Prophets as did Zechariahs and Jesus and Paul.

This preaching that the Pharisees were "trying to follow God's Commandments" is an insidious lie. Why do you continue to teach it even after you must surely know Jesus taught the opposite?

 

[lightbearer]

I was talking about the 10 commandments.

Not Gods Law.

Why do you people try to keep the 10 commandments, the law?

The Ten Commandments are part of the Law; GOD's Law; Christ the Word. HE and it through HIM has become part of who we are; being implanted in our hearts and minds. Christians can't help themselves. For GOD has said, I will put my Laws in their hearts and write them in their minds. Declared to be the epistle of Christ.... written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. So Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ (HIS Word; the Law) again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word (Christ; HIS LAW) is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart (that we do it): that is, the word of faith, which we preach. Christ in us the hope of glory. A new and living Way; the Veil; that is to say His flesh; the Body of Christ; the Temple of GOD. For it is HE that works in us both to will and do HIS good pleasure. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the (engrafted) word (that which is in our hearts and minds), and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
(Heb 8:10; 2Co 3:3-5; Rom 10:6-8; Jas 1:21-22)

 

[lightbearer]

Christians can't help themselves. For GOD has said, I will put my Laws in their hearts and write them in their minds. Declared to be the epistle of Christ.... written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. So Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ (HIS Word; the Law) again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word (Christ; HIS LAW) is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart (that we do it): that is, the word of faith, which we preach. Christ in us the hope of glory. A new and living Way; the Veil; that is to say His flesh; the Body of Christ; the Temple of GOD. For it is HE that works in us both to will and do HIS good pleasure. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the (engrafted) word (that which is in our hearts and minds), and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
(Heb 8:10; 2Co 3:3-5; Rom 10:6-8; Jas 1:21-22)

Would that be gods law (the law of Christ) or Moses' law (the law given to Israel)?

The answer to your questions is in the post you responded to. There is no difference.

What is it you think Israel and those engrafted in thought when they read the Spirit's paraphrasing through Paul of Deut. 30:10-14?
Or better yet why do you think Paul through the Spirit paraphrased Deut.?

When they read that which is spoken in Romans 10:6-8 what do you think they did?
They looked it up it Deut.
Do you know why?
Because it was and is that which they used as Scripture. So while the Israelis and Romans were reading this letter they would have been reading the Pentateuch and some of the other books from the Old Testament also. Actually with more regard. When they came to this verse they would of seen the similarities to Deut. and would have looked up the verses there and read them in parallel. In doing so they would have tied everything together synonymously keeping everything in harmony to one another.

For the LORD our GOD will circumcise our hearts and the hearts of our seed. For righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ (GOD's commands and statutes written in the Book of the Law. In other words the Word; the Divine utterances. The Word manifested in the flesh; Christ) down from above Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ (GOD's commands and statutes written in the Book of the Law. In other words the Word; the Divine utterances. The Word manifested in the flesh; Christ) again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word (GOD's commands and statutes written in the Book of the Law; the Divine utterances; Christ, the Word manifested in the flesh manifested in our flesh) is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart and in thy hand: (that thou mayest do it) that is, the word of faith, which we preach.

And that my friends would include all the moral code in the Book of the Law and the Decalogue.


With the above understanding of verses Rom. 10:6-8; when they read verse four they would have understood it as Christ being the goal of the law for righteousness sake in the putting off the body of Sin through the indwelling of Christ. Being No longer of the letter but of HIS Spirit.
As it is written, "And they two shall be one flesh". The Body of Christ; the Temple of GOD. For it is GOD that works in us both to will and do HIS good pleasure. As Jesus said, "HE doeth work"!

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

It is the exact message that the church needs to hear today. So many people in the church excuse their disobedience in the name of 'all I have to do is love my neighbor as myself'.

Specifically, what law(s) of Moses are not kept by loving one's neighbor as one's self?

Or put another way:

• bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
• treating others as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:10)
• not harming one's neighbor (Romans 13:10)

 

[Ralph-]

now your getting it, i can’t judge you by how well or not well you keep the law, its a false determining factor, because as i already showed, even gentiles livd in a way that they could obey commands.

No, you're not getting it. I asked you how it is that you can judge WHY a person is being obedient to the law, not IF they are and how well they are. How can you judge the motive of a person's obedience to the commands of God as them being focused on 'doing' instead of on 'loving'?

I made the suggestion that you think you can do that because you can only see other people's obedience to the commands of God as the 'doing' of self righteousness, while your own obedience, when it happens, is not you keeping the law but you being focused on 'loving', unaware that if you were really loving others you would be keeping the law too.

That is the twisted concept the church has about obedience these days: The obedient person is 'working the law' trying to earn their own salvation, while the wishy washy, largely disobedient person is actually the one loving people and not trying to earn his salvation. Little knowing that James says if you really keep the law 'love your neighbor as yourself' you'd be keeping all the other laws that are summarized in 'love your neighbor as yourself'.

1. I am not anti law, i am anti taking the law out of context and pushing the law on people outiide its purpose
2. who is excusing their disobedience? I am not excusing anything, wheni do not love others, i sin, i will never excuse my sin, its not an excuse, its a failure, a failure t do what god said.
3. again, i. Have said that love is how we keep the oaw, and now you say i need to focus on love for others... thanks for proving you do not listen to a word people say.

If you what you are saying is true about you, why do you rail against people who keep the law because they believe that faith upholds the law? Can't they be doing it for the same good reason(s) you are?

You've been very condemning of people who keep the law insisting that they are only trying to earn their salvation, but for some reason when you don't sin and obey God it's you loving others as you're supposed to. Can you explain this thinking of yours?

 

[Ralph-]

Specifically, what law(s) of Moses are not kept by loving one's neighbor as one's self?

Or put another way:

• bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
• treating others as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:10)
• not harming one's neighbor (Romans 13:10)

None. And that's the point.

You aren't keeping the law 'love your neighbor as yourself' if you are not, for example, keeping the law about showing favoritism, or not keeping the law about helping a needy brother/sister in need. That is what James is teaching.

James' message is very timely for the church. Today, so many people excuse themselves from the law of Moses saying they don't have to keep it anymore because it's been replaced by two commands 'love God, love others', not knowing that they are not keeping those laws when they don't keep the other laws in the law of Moses (the ones that remain to be literally kept). The two greatest commands are SUMMARIES of the law that the believer was born again to keep, not replacements for the law of Moses.

See, you don't keep the law to love others by just saying you're loving others. You keep it by keeping the other laws of how to love others. This is what James is teaching in his letter (John too). 'Love your neighbor as yourself' is the summary of those other laws, not the replacement of them as the church has been taught to think.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

None. And that's the point.

You aren't keeping the law 'love your neighbor as yourself' if you are not, for example, keeping the law about showing favoritism, or not keeping the law about helping a needy brother/sister in need.

James' message is very timely for the church. Today, so many people excuse themselves from the law of Moses saying they don't have to keep it anymore because it's been replaced by two commands 'love God, love others', not knowing that they are not keeping those laws when they don't keep the other laws in the law of Moses (the ones that remain to be literally kept). The two greatest commands are SUMMARIES of the law that the believer was born again to keep, not replacements for the law of Moses.

See, you don't keep the law to love others by just saying you're loving others. You keep it by keeping the other laws of how to love others. This is what James is teaching in his letter. John too. 'Love your neighbor as yourself' is the summary of those other laws, not the replacement of them as the church has been taught to think.

It is the point and you've got it entirely backwards. We can love with GOD's love without even knowing the law of Moses. Love is taught and accomplished by the spirit of love, not law. For example, I knew it was wrong to show partiality before I ever knew it was in the law. I knew it was wrong to steal when my heart smote me for stealing from a friend when I was a kid and got caught. We can learn and refine our love by studying the law of Moses, but it is a poor substitute for following and obeying the spirit of love.

 

[Shamah]

Specifically, what law(s) of Moses are not kept by loving one's neighbor as one's self?

Or put another way:

• bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
• treating others as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:10)
• not harming one's neighbor (Romans 13:10)

None. And that's the point.

You aren't keeping the law 'love your neighbor as yourself' if you are not, for example, keeping the law about showing favoritism, or not keeping the law about helping a needy brother/sister in need. That is what James is teaching.

James' message is very timely for the church. Today, so many people excuse themselves from the law of Moses saying they don't have to keep it anymore because it's been replaced by two commands 'love God, love others', not knowing that they are not keeping those laws when they don't keep the other laws in the law of Moses (the ones that remain to be literally kept). The two greatest commands are SUMMARIES of the law that the believer was born again to keep, not replacements for the law of Moses.

See, you don't keep the law to love others by just saying you're loving others. You keep it by keeping the other laws of how to love others. This is what James is teaching in his letter (John too). 'Love your neighbor as yourself' is the summary of those other laws, not the replacement of them as the church has been taught to think.

I don't mean to speak for either one of you, but I believe you are both saying virtually the same thing just from different angles.


Now I know a lot of people that say "just love" make their own standard of that "love" is while ignoring the Scriptural standard.


The way I see it, and I will post Scriptures to support this, is that if we are truly loving, not just claiming it, but really loving we will indeed acts as the Law says in it's true intention or Spirit, in the same manner if we are acting in the true intention of Spirit of the Law we will be loving...


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Mat 24:12, "And because iniquity will abound, the love of the many will grow cold."[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]"iniquity" is: #0458 anomia {an-om-ee'-ah} from G0459[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1) the condition of without law 1a) because ignorant of it1b) because of violating it, 2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Mat 7:12-14, "Therefore, all things you want men to do to you, do the same to them, for this is the (intent of the) Law and the Prophets. Enter in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who go that way. Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leads to life, and few there are who find it." [/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Mat 22:37-40, "Yahshua said to him: You must love YHWH your Father with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Deut 6:5) This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Lev 19:18) On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Romans 13:8-10, "Owe no one any matter except to love (#G26) one another, for he who loves another has filled the Torah. For this, “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 (#G2087 ) command, it is summed up (#G346) up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no evil to a neighbor. Therefore, love is completion of the Torah."[/FONT]


“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]love” is word #G26 - agapé: love, goodwill, Original Word: ἀγάπη, ης, ἡ, Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine, Transliteration: agapé, Phonetic Spelling: (ag-ah'-pay), Short Definition: love, Definition: love, benevolence, good will, esteem; plur: love-feasts.[/FONT]


“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]any”is word #G5100 - tis: a certain one, someone, anyone, Original Word: τις, τι, Part of Speech: Indefinite Pronoun, Transliteration: tis, Phonetic Spelling: (tis), Short Definition: any one, some one, Definition: any one, some one, a certain one or thing.[/FONT]


“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]other”is word #G2087 - heteros [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1) the other, another, other, 1 to number,1a1) to number as opposed to some former person or thing,1a2) the other of two,1b) to quality,1b1) another: i.e. one not of the same nature, form, class, kind, different[/FONT]


“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]summed up” is word #G346 – anakephalaioó: to sum up, gather up, Original Word: ἀνακεφαλαιόω, Part of Speech: Verb, Transliteration: anakephalaioó, Phonetic Spelling: (an-ak-ef-al-ah'-ee-om-ahee), Short Definition: I sum up, summarize, recapitulate, gather up in one, Definition: I sum up, summarize, recapitulate, gather up in one[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1 John 5:2-3, "By this we know that we love the children of Yah, when we love Yah and guard His commands. For this is the love for Yah, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy."[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1 Timothy 1:5, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1 Timothy 1:5-7, " But the goal* of the commandment is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions."[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1 Timothy 1:5-10, “Now the goal of this command is love from a clean heart, from a good conscience and a sincere belief, which some, having missed the goal, turned aside to senseless talk, wishing to be teachers of Torah, understanding neither what they say nor concerning what they strongly affirm. And we know that the Torah is good if one uses it legitimately, knowing this: that Torah is not laid down for a righteous being, but for the lawless and unruly, for the wicked and for sinners, for the wrong-doers and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for those who whore, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else that is contrary to sound teaching.”[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif](goal) is word #G5056 – télos; Greek Dictionary (Lexicon-Concordance) - #5056 telos {tel'-os} from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal)[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]HELPS Word-studies – 5056 télos (a neuter noun) – properly, consummation (the end-goal, purpose), such as closure with all its results.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1 John 4:20, “"If someone says, "I love Yah," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love Yah whom he has not seen."[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1 John 2:3-7, “And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands. The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Yah has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked. Beloved, I write no fresh command to you, but an old command which you have had from the beginning. The old command is the Word which you heard from the beginning.”[/FONT]

 

[Ralph-]

Extraordinary. IT's almost like you're getting off into some form of gnosticism. Because of his sinless nature he could not sin if he broke the law. That's basically what gnosticism is.

Not obeying the literal ceremonial law is not a sin for the the one who is already perfect before the Father that it should be considered Gnosticism to think you don't have to obey those laws because you are already perfected in Christ.

But not obeying laws like 'do not steal' is still sin even for the one who stands perfect before the Father and so it is indeed Gnosticism to think you don't have to do them anymore because you are already perfected in Christ.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Not obeying the literal ceremonial law is not a sin for the the one who is already perfect before the Father that it should be considered Gnosticism to think you don't have to obey those laws because you are already perfected in Christ.

But not obeying laws like 'do not steal' is still sin even for the one who stands perfect before the Father and so it is indeed Gnosticism to think you don't have to do them anymore because you are already perfected in Christ.

How was it not sin for a male in Israel to disobey this commandment?

Three times in the year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: thou shalt not appear before the Lord thy God empty. Deuteronomy 16:16​

 

[Ralph-]

It is the point and you've got it entirely backwards. We can love with GOD's love without even knowing the law of Moses.

Theoretically possible, but don't count on it. Love is a process of maturing into the stature of Christ. James had to remind his audience of believers what the law said concerning love for others.

Love is taught and accomplished by the spirit of love, not law.

Accomplished by the Spirit of love, yes. But as I have pointed out, if how to love was taught entirely by the Spirit James would not have had to use the law (i.e. 'don't show favoritism') to instruct the church about keeping the law to love others.

For example, I knew it was wrong to show partiality before I ever knew it was in the law.

Good. But that hardly means everybody does. James' letter to the church shows it was not this way for these believers.

 

[Ralph-]

How was it not sin for a male in Israel to disobey this commandment?

Three times in the year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: thou shalt not appear before the Lord thy God empty. Deuteronomy 16:16​

Listen carefully. IT WASN'T not a sin for a male in Israel to disobey that commandment. Every fallen male before the appearing of Christ had to obey that commandment.

Only now, for those in Christ, is it not a sin, because in Christ we are like Christ and are not separated from God that we need a law about appearing before the Lord because we are already in the presence of the Lord vicariously through Christ.

Christ does not need a law about the necessity to appear before the Lord in worship. He's already there. Therefore, he's not sinning when he doesn't keep that law literally. Same for us who through faith in him are already there in God's presence too with him.

I know this is going to be hard to digest because the church at large does not know these truths because they have been suppressed by the church. But anyone can learn them for themselves if they would just read the Bible without the blinders of the church on their eyes.

 

[lightbearer]

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Theoretically possible, but don't count on it. Love is a process of maturing into the stature of Christ. James had to remind his audience of believers what the law said concerning love for others.

Accomplished by the Spirit of love, yes. But as I have pointed out, if how to love was taught entirely by the Spirit James would not have had to use the law (i.e. 'don't show favoritism') to instruct the church about keeping the law to love others.

It's not theoretical, it is the way. And I've never said that that the law isn't useful for edification, as James used it. But I do say that it is a poor substitute for following the spirit. The church has tried the law approach for ages, and I'm not impressed.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

[/B]Christ does not need a law about the necessity to appear before the Lord in worship. He's already there. Therefore, he's not sinning when he doesn't keep that law literally. Same for us who through faith in him are already there in God's presence too with him.

Then none of us are sinning when we don't keep the law literally. I am in complete agreement.