Fig leaf Christianity

[Gideon300]

There do appear to be distinctions in the Pentateuch. The ten commandments would be 'categorical law', the foundations of societal harmony. The rules that follow these in Exodus read more like judicial guidelines. And then there are the levitical regulations which deal more with the maintenance and continuation of the nation's relationship with God. But some passages aren't so clear cut (and there are probably parts that can be categorised in other ways).

But it foreshadowed the Christ, it echoed the One who was to come - as you already know. When I open the feasts, for example, in Lev 23, I see God's timeline in human history. I see God's promises in Christ.

When I read God commanding the Israelites not to sin, I hear God telling me that He's empowering me not to sin. I hear the commandments as promises - written within, empowered by the Holy Spirit, fulfilled in Christ in me.

We don't follow the external written code that condemns and kills - we live in the promise and walk in the fulfilment. We're no longer sinners, we're saints - obedient to God through the presence of the power of the resurrection (and don't forget the ascension, of course ).

Sorry - going on a bit. It's a shame that we don't get high on the fulfilment but have to deal with the idea that we're gathered round Moses at Sinai all over again.

Could not agree more. John 5:39
"You diligently search the Scriptures because you think to have eternal life in them, and these are they bearing witness concerning Me...." (Berean Literal)

We are saved according to God's foreknowledge; predestined, called, justified and glorified. And that to be conformed to the image of God's Son - not the Law. (Romans 8:30)

Don't worry about going on a bit. What you have to say is worth hearing. I can't say the same for every poster here.

 

[Nedsk]

Could not agree more. John 5:39
"You diligently search the Scriptures because you think to have eternal life in them, and these are they bearing witness concerning Me...." (Berean Literal)

We are saved according to God's foreknowledge; predestined, called, justified and glorified. And that to be conformed to the image of God's Son - not the Law. (Romans 8:30)

Don't worry about going on a bit. What you have to say is worth hearing. I can't say the same for every poster here.

You folks really can't keep things straight in your minds can you? You want to use law interchangeably with works. It's intellectually and theologically weak to do so.

BTW "...going on a bit." doesn't make someone right. Please tell us you recognize that.

 

[Soyeong]

Obedience what? To the letter that kills? I obey the leading of the Life of Jesus in me. He does not lead me back to bondage to the law that caused my downfall in the first place. The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets me free from the law of sins and death.

David is such a wonderful example. Psalm 119, he hid God's word in his heart so that he would not sin. That is so far fetched that I do not believe David realised what he was saying. Psalm 119 refers to Jesus, a messianic psalm. David? He was a murdering adulterer who neglected his family. Sure, he was forgiven. That is not the point. The law had no power to change David even though he agreed with it 100%. We need new life and a new covenant. If obeying the Law was enough, Jesus died for nothing.

Obedience to the Law of Moses, which leads to life. In Luke 10:25-28, Jesus affirmed that the way to inherit eternal life is by obeying the greatest two commandments. Jesus set a sinless example for us to follow of how to walk in obedience to the Law of Moses, so that is also the way that we get to live when he is living in us. We have been set free from the law of sin and death in order to be free to obey the Law of Moses. The reason why we should obey the Law of Moses was never in order to become changed as the result, so that is still irrelevant. The New Covenant still involves Following the Law of Moses (Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:26-27).

Except its not even possible. How about burning the house down if they get a contagious illness? I don't know if insurance would cover that. And arson is a criminal offence. Animal sacrifice? OK, I eat beef every week. Does that count? Some like to differentiate between the Levitical law and the 10 commandments. I see nowhere that the Bible directly states that. I know one thing for sure. Self righteous legalists are miserable and will only be content when they make everyone else miserable as well.

Many of God’s laws have conditions under which they should be followed and there is no sin in not following laws that don’t have their conditions met. For example, there was no sin in Jesus not obeying the laws in regard to giving birth or having a period. Likewise, we are not required to follow laws in regard to Temple practice when there is no Temple in which to practice them. The Law of God was not given for the purpose of teaching us how to become self-righteous legalists, so you completely misunderstand the goal of the law. If you can’t understand why someone might be motivated to buy a plot of land in Israel so that they can get to obey the command against harvesting the corners of their field, then you are missing the whole point. Again, so you affirm or deny that Psalm 19:7-11 expresses a correct view of obeying the Law of Moses?