A closer look at Mt.5:17-18
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T
If believers never erred from following after the Holy Spirit, but faultlessly did so, your message might not be so bad.
The believer is called to surrender their life to Christ, easier said than done in the reality of things. God will accept you, even when you Are dead in transgression/sin(Eph2:5) You are made alive with Christ at that point, before any change has taken place in your life. By grace ye have been saved.
You are then a work in progress for the whole of your Christian life. Safe to say, if you suffer from homicidal tendancies, they will immediately be dealt with, for Christians do not go around murdering people do they. God will start with what is most important in your life that needs change, and the list then goes on for the whole of your life. As long as you are following that work in progress, you are not under law but under grace. You, though imperfect in the flesh, are looking to your saviour and being led of the Spirit to live an ever holier life. As long as you are doing that, you have peace, and your sin is irrelevant.
However, in the real world, no one perfectly at all times follows after the Holy Spirit do they. And Paul lived in the real world, so he preached one whole message, and so should those who want to follow his message. When we step outside of being a work in progress, and instead of looking to Christ in our hearts, we instead look to the flesh, and follow after it, we cannot at that point have peace, and say my sin is irrelevant for Jesus died for me. It is not. Example, no believer can commit adultery and take that view, it is utterly impossible. The peace they did have, despite their imperfections they will not now have.
Most believers will immediately regret of what they have done, say sorry to God for what they did, and get back to being a work in progress again. But some, do not do that so quickly, they continue on in a wrong relationship say, they go further and further away from the path they should be on. It is quite correct of Paul to warn such people, if they carried on like that they would not inherit the kingdom of Heaven. And, while they are living like that they can never say: My sin is irrelevant for my righteousness is faith in Christ who died for me.
Hence:
If you are led by the Spirit you are not under law
The believer is called to surrender their life to Christ, easier said than done in the reality of things. God will accept you, even when you Are dead in transgression/sin(Eph2:5) You are made alive with Christ at that point, before any change has taken place in your life. By grace ye have been saved.
You are then a work in progress for the whole of your Christian life. Safe to say, if you suffer from homicidal tendancies, they will immediately be dealt with, for Christians do not go around murdering people do they. God will start with what is most important in your life that needs change, and the list then goes on for the whole of your life. As long as you are following that work in progress, you are not under law but under grace. You, though imperfect in the flesh, are looking to your saviour and being led of the Spirit to live an ever holier life. As long as you are doing that, you have peace, and your sin is irrelevant.
However, in the real world, no one perfectly at all times follows after the Holy Spirit do they. And Paul lived in the real world, so he preached one whole message, and so should those who want to follow his message. When we step outside of being a work in progress, and instead of looking to Christ in our hearts, we instead look to the flesh, and follow after it, we cannot at that point have peace, and say my sin is irrelevant for Jesus died for me. It is not. Example, no believer can commit adultery and take that view, it is utterly impossible. The peace they did have, despite their imperfections they will not now have.
Most believers will immediately regret of what they have done, say sorry to God for what they did, and get back to being a work in progress again. But some, do not do that so quickly, they continue on in a wrong relationship say, they go further and further away from the path they should be on. It is quite correct of Paul to warn such people, if they carried on like that they would not inherit the kingdom of Heaven. And, while they are living like that they can never say: My sin is irrelevant for my righteousness is faith in Christ who died for me.
Hence:
If you are led by the Spirit you are not under law
Did you answer my question? From your long paragraph, I think you are saying "a believer can choose to sin", from your last paragraph, as long as they "immediately regret of what they have done, say sorry to God for what they did, and get back to being a work in progress again"?
If your answer is yes, then aren't you saying what I am saying too? That a believer retains his free will to do "works of the flesh"?
Thus, the difference between our perspectives is that you believe there are eternal consequences for such works of the flesh, they might lose their salvation if they "carried on like that without regretting/saying sorry/and get back to doing good deeds". Many Christians I have met believe that they can lose their salvation if they don't do those things that you have listed when they sin, so that is a common view.
For me, whenever I commit works of the flesh, I will simply remind myself, "I am(still) the righteousness of God in Christ".
God sees me as a spirit and as far as he is concerned, he observes no iniquity in me, like what Balaam realized in that inspiring story in Numbers 23. The blood of Jesus sacrifice on the cross is "that powerful" In the meantime, I reckon myself "dead to my flesh" .
If your answer is yes, then aren't you saying what I am saying too? That a believer retains his free will to do "works of the flesh"?
Thus, the difference between our perspectives is that you believe there are eternal consequences for such works of the flesh, they might lose their salvation if they "carried on like that without regretting/saying sorry/and get back to doing good deeds". Many Christians I have met believe that they can lose their salvation if they don't do those things that you have listed when they sin, so that is a common view.
For me, whenever I commit works of the flesh, I will simply remind myself, "I am(still) the righteousness of God in Christ".
God sees me as a spirit and as far as he is concerned, he observes no iniquity in me, like what Balaam realized in that inspiring story in Numbers 23. The blood of Jesus sacrifice on the cross is "that powerful" In the meantime, I reckon myself "dead to my flesh" .
T
Did you answer my question? From your long paragraph, I think you are saying "a believer can choose to sin", from your last paragraph, as long as they "immediately regret of what they have done, say sorry to God for what they did, and get back to being a work in progress again"?
If your answer is yes, then aren't you saying what I am saying too? That a believer retains his free will to do "works of the flesh"?
Thus, the difference between our perspectives is that you believe there are eternal consequences for such works of the flesh, they might lose their salvation if they "carried on like that without regretting/saying sorry/and get back to doing good deeds". Many Christians I have met believe that they can lose their salvation if they don't do those things that you have listed when they sin, so that is a common view.
For me, whenever I commit works of the flesh, I will simply remind myself, "I am(still) the righteousness of God in Christ". God sees me as a spirit and as far as he is concerned, he observes no iniquity in me, like what Balaam realized in that inspiring story in Numbers 23. The blood of Jesus sacrifice on the cross is "that powerful" In the meantime, I reckon myself "dead to my flesh" .
If your answer is yes, then aren't you saying what I am saying too? That a believer retains his free will to do "works of the flesh"?
Thus, the difference between our perspectives is that you believe there are eternal consequences for such works of the flesh, they might lose their salvation if they "carried on like that without regretting/saying sorry/and get back to doing good deeds". Many Christians I have met believe that they can lose their salvation if they don't do those things that you have listed when they sin, so that is a common view.
For me, whenever I commit works of the flesh, I will simply remind myself, "I am(still) the righteousness of God in Christ".
God sees me as a spirit and as far as he is concerned, he observes no iniquity in me, like what Balaam realized in that inspiring story in Numbers 23. The blood of Jesus sacrifice on the cross is "that powerful" In the meantime, I reckon myself "dead to my flesh" .
It has been explained that the phrase "Law and Prophets" refers the Scriptures, not the 613 rules that shows us our sins.
The "Laws and Prophets" contains prophecies concerning Jesus the Messiah.
Ephesians 2:14-15 Good News Translation (GNT)
14 For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. 15 He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace.
Colossians 2:14 Good News Translation (GNT)
14 he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross.
Jesus simply abolished the force of the Laws and Commandments on those who believes in him.
1 John 1:8-10 Good News Translation (GNT)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. 9 But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make a liar out of God, and his word is not in us.
Christians do sin from time to time, but God forgives still. We are still fallible human beings.
1 John 5:18 We know that no children of God keep on sinning, for the Son of God keeps them safe, and the Evil One cannot harm them.
We also learn that Christians are not in the habit of sinning continuity.
Gal 5
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Romans 8 King James Version (KJV)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Christians are to choose to walk in the Spirit to avoid sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. 9 But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make a liar out of God, and his word is not in us.
Christians do sin from time to time, but God forgives still. We are still fallible human beings.
1 John 5:18 We know that no children of God keep on sinning, for the Son of God keeps them safe, and the Evil One cannot harm them.
We also learn that Christians are not in the habit of sinning continuity.
Gal 5
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Romans 8 King James Version (KJV)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Christians are to choose to walk in the Spirit to avoid sin.
"I came not to destroy, but to fulfil (ouk hlqon katalusai alla plhrwsai). The verb "destroy" means to "loosen down" as of a house or tent ( 2 Corinthians 5:1 ). Fulfil is to fill full. This Jesus did to the ceremonial law which pointed to him and the moral law he kept. "He came to fill the law, to reveal the full depth of meaning that it was intended to hold" (McNeile).
One jot or one tittle (iwta en h mia kerea). "Not an iota, not a comma" (Moffatt), "not the smallest letter, not a particle" (Weymouth). The iota is the smallest Greek vowel, which Matthew here uses to represent the Hebrew yod (jot), the smallest Hebrew letter. "Tittle" is from the Latin titulus which came to mean the stroke above an abbreviated word, then any small mark. It is not certain here whether kereameans a little horn, the mere point which distinguishes some Hebrew letters from others or the "hook" letter Vav. Sometimes yod and vav were hardly distinguishable. "In Vay. R. 19 the guilt of altering one of them is pronounced so great that if it were done the world would be destroyed" (McNeile). "
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/robertsons-word-pictures/matthew/matthew-5-18.html
One jot or one tittle (iwta en h mia kerea). "Not an iota, not a comma" (Moffatt), "not the smallest letter, not a particle" (Weymouth). The iota is the smallest Greek vowel, which Matthew here uses to represent the Hebrew yod (jot), the smallest Hebrew letter. "Tittle" is from the Latin titulus which came to mean the stroke above an abbreviated word, then any small mark. It is not certain here whether kereameans a little horn, the mere point which distinguishes some Hebrew letters from others or the "hook" letter Vav. Sometimes yod and vav were hardly distinguishable. "In Vay. R. 19 the guilt of altering one of them is pronounced so great that if it were done the world would be destroyed" (McNeile). "
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/robertsons-word-pictures/matthew/matthew-5-18.html
T
I may not have read the greek or Hebrew, or strongs concordance, but even I do not find the following too hard to understand:
This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.’[b]
17 Then he adds:
‘Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more
Heb10:15-17
In my view, you are far better off coming humbly as a child and relying on the Holy Spirit to lead you into truth, no need to rely on the Aramaic, Hebrew or Greek then, nor strongs concordance!
This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.’[b]
17 Then he adds:
‘Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more
Heb10:15-17
In my view, you are far better off coming humbly as a child and relying on the Holy Spirit to lead you into truth, no need to rely on the Aramaic, Hebrew or Greek then, nor strongs concordance!
T
James 2:10 states if you stumble at just one point concerning the law you have broken all of it.
Love fulfils the law, the bible states that
Some are finding it hard to differentiate between the moral law not being abolished, and at the same time having no righteousness of obeying it. Yet, that is what the foundation of the Christian faith states:
This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.’[b]
17 Then he adds:
‘Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.’ Heb10:15-17
What got abolished was the law with the power to condemn through the penalty for transgression. God did not abolish the facts he does not want the believer to lie, take his name in vain, covet, murder, steal etc
Love fulfils the law, the bible states that
Some are finding it hard to differentiate between the moral law not being abolished, and at the same time having no righteousness of obeying it. Yet, that is what the foundation of the Christian faith states:
This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.’[b]
17 Then he adds:
‘Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.’ Heb10:15-17
What got abolished was the law with the power to condemn through the penalty for transgression. God did not abolish the facts he does not want the believer to lie, take his name in vain, covet, murder, steal etc
Once you are experienced in such discussions with fellow Christians about bible interpretation, you will realized that nobody reads the Bible "as it is written". All of us interpret scriptures based on our own internal foundations, built upon how we were taught by others along the way.
That is why it is important to learn to agree to disagree.
That is why it is important to learn to agree to disagree.
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 2 Cor 3:7
You realized Paul called the 10 commandments as the ministry of death?
You realized Paul called the 10 commandments as the ministry of death?
No Christian is trying to murder or steal when they say they are free from the law. But the point still remains that, when you are not under the Law, even if you do steal and murder, God does not impute that sin to you. God still sees you as sinless. Think of Abraham again and the incident in Genesis when he lied twice about Sarah being his sister, whose dream did God appear in?
That is the blessedness of non-imputation of sin. Unlike you, I have faith in the spirit that all reborn Christians have, that that realization will not make anyone of us goes, "Whoopee, now I can steal/lie/murder all I want!"
That is the blessedness of non-imputation of sin. Unlike you, I have faith in the spirit that all reborn Christians have, that that realization will not make anyone of us goes, "Whoopee, now I can steal/lie/murder all I want!"
T
The ten commandments were the ministration of death and condemnation because no one could perfectly obey the letter of them and therefore be justified/righteousness before God under the law. Believers have a saviour from their sin, they are no longer under the law. Therefore the law cannot condemn them. The penalty of sin, for believers is removed.
The law has been transferred from tablets of stone to tablets of human hearts(2cor3:3) meaning, in your heart you do not want to steal, lie, commit adultery, take the Lords name in vain. You in your heart want to live as God desires you to live. Some appear to believe this is legalism though! Anyway, you cannot be condemned for your imperfections concerning the law in your heart, so the ministration of death and condemnation is removed
The law has been transferred from tablets of stone to tablets of human hearts(2cor3:3) meaning, in your heart you do not want to steal, lie, commit adultery, take the Lords name in vain. You in your heart want to live as God desires you to live. Some appear to believe this is legalism though! Anyway, you cannot be condemned for your imperfections concerning the law in your heart, so the ministration of death and condemnation is removed