Does Grace replace the law?
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Contradictory to the carnal mind, but not to the spiritual mind. As Paul said, the followers of the law failed to attain to the righteousness of Christ, while those who simply believed did attain to his righteousness. That contradiction is a stumbling block to the carnal mind
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 9:30-33
It being a sign of the convenient with God does not mean that it is not also a sign of having a circumcised heart, which is evident through their obedience to Law of God. Someone having a circumcised heart only refers to them being a doer of the Law of God (Deuteronomy 10:12-16) while someone having an uncircumcised heart only refers to them not being a doer of the Law of God (Jeremiah 9:25). In Romans 2:25-29, the way to recognize that a Gentile has a circumcised heart is by observing their obedience to the Law of God and circumcision of the heart is a matter of the Spirit, which is in contrast with Acts 7:51-53, where those who have uncircumcised hearts resist the Spirit and do not obey the Law of God.
There is nothing about having a spiritual mind that makes it not contradictory. Paul did not mention anything about simply believing. In Romans 9:30-10:4, the Israelites had a zeal for God, but it was not based on knowing Him, so they failed to attain righteousness because they misunderstood the goal of the law by pursuing it as through righteousness were earned as the result of their works in order to establish their own instead of pursuing it as though righteousness were by faith in Christ, for knowing Christ is the goal of the law for righteousness for everyone who has faith. In Romans 10:5-16, Paul referred to Deuteronomy 30 as the word of faith that we proclaim in regard to the righteousness that is by faith proclaiming that the Law of God is not too difficult for us to obey, that obedience to it brings life and a blessing, in regard to what we are committing to obey by confessing that Jesus is Lord, in regard to the way to believe that God raised him from the dead, and in regard to the way to obey the Gospel.
Jesus was sent to the Jews first, then commissioned his disciples to bring to the Gentiles everything that he taught them (Matthew 28:16-20).
Indeed. The Greek distinguishes between newness with respect to time and with respect to quality
3501 /néos ("new on the scene") suggests something "new in time" – in contrast to its near-synonym (2537 /kainós, "new in quality").
There is nothing brand new about the command to love our neighbor because it can be found in Leviticus 19:18, but what is new about the command that Jesus gave in John 13:34 is the quality of the example by which we are to love our neighbor, and indeed the Greek word used in that verse refers to newness with respect to quality. In order to correctly know how to obey the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves we need to know how we should love ourselves, and the answer to that is that we should love ourselves as Jesus loves us, which is therefore also how we should love our neighbor, so Jesus was not giving a brand new command, but was teaching how to correctly obey it as it was originally intended. If Jesus had been giving a brand new command, then he would have been sinning in violation of Deuteronomy 4:2.
The New Covenant that Jesus established likewise is not brand new, but is in fulfillment of Deuteronomy 30, which prophesies about a time when the Israelites will return from exile, God will circumcise their hearts, and they will return to obedience to the Law of God, which is what Jeremiah 31:33 and Ezekiel 36:26-27 are in regard to, and is in accordance with what Jesus spent his ministry teaching by word and by example. In Psalm 119:29-30, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey His law, and he chose the way of faith by setting it before him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation by grace through faith, which means that the Mosaic and New Covenants are covenants or grace and law, along with all of God's other covenants.
Which are those who do not obey Christ's words. It is possible to obey Christ while breaking the letter of the 4th commandment. That's a contradiction that your carnal mind is not able to process because you focus on the letter of the law rather than the spirit, which is the law.
Christ said that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
In Romans 8:4-7, Paul contrasted those who walk in the Spirit with those who have canal minds who refuse to submit to the Law of God.
A system of priorities is part of the structure of the Law of God. For example, God commanded to rest on the Sabbath while also commanding priests to make offerings on the Sabbath (Numbers 28:9-10), however, it was not the case that priests were forced to sin by breaking one of the two commands no matter what they chose to do but that the lesser command was never intended to be understood as preventing the greater command from being obeyed. This is why Jesus said in Matthew 12:5-7 that priests who did their duties on the Sabbath were held innocent, why David and his men were held innocent, and why he defended his disciples as being innocent. This is also why it is lawful to get an ox out of ditch on the Sabbath, to circumcise a baby on the 8th day if it happens to fall on the Sabbath and so forth. This has nothing to with obeying Christ instead of the law, with me supposedly being focused on the letter of the law rather than the spirit, or with your position not being contradictory.
The law of God is the spirit of God, so those who walk according to the spirit are walking according to the law of God.
The purpose of the weekly sabbaths was for Israel to know that God was sanctifying them
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Exodus 31:13
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. Ezekiel 20:12
Israel didn't have the indwelling spirt, so weekly sabbaths served as a necessry reminder. We have the indwelling holy spirit witnessing to us every moment of every day that God is sanctifying us. Thus the righteousness required by the 4th commandment is fulfilled in us who walk according to the spirit knowing that God is sanctifying us.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11
God's character traits are the fruits of the Spirit and the Law of God is His instructions for how to embody His character traits, which is why the Spirit has the role of leading us to obey it (Ezekiel 36:26-27). The Spirit has the role of leading us in truth (John 16:13) and the Law of God is truth (Psalm 119:142). The Spirit has the role of convicting us of sin (John 16:8) and sin is the transgression of the Law of God (1 John 3:4). In Galatians 5:16-23, Paul contrasted the desires of the flesh with the desires of the Spirit and everything that he listed as works of the flesh that are against the Spirit are also against the Law of God while all of the fruits of the Spirit are character traits of God that the Law of God was given in order to teach us how to embody. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact likeness of His character (Hebrews 1:3), which he embodied through his works by setting a sinless example for us to follow of how to walk in the Spirit/how to walk in obedience to the Law of God.
The is not the only purpose of the Sabbath, but if you affirm the truth of what the Sabbath is a sign of, then you should follow Christ's example of keeping the Sabbath holy. To have character trait means to be a doer of works that embody that trait, so it would be contradictory to think that God makes us holy while not making us a doer of His instructions for how to be holy as He is holy.
I'm familiar with the book of Ruth , I'm guessing she converted to Judaism before Boaz married her .
I do keep the sabbath 24/7 by knowing and trusting that God is sanctifying me.
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 1 v 8-11 the law is good if used lawfully…
I’m still going through Romans. Basically the Law was given to show sin and used to condemn. It was literally the”letter” of the law. Jesus in us has become the “spirit” of the law. Even though this deals with salvation (no one could be saved by following the law) and only belief in Jesus could save, it takes Jesus’s spirit (the Holy Spirit) living through us to live out the internal law of what God is telling us to do and obey. Some of the laws are still applicable but we don’t worry about keeping them - dont murder, adultery etc. Even if you break some it doesn’t mean your unsaved. I’m not fully sure how grace works.
I must say understanding Law and grace is vital, read the book of Galatians , Apostle Paul does such a fantastic work of explaining it . He even explains how the Promise of Abraham is not of the law , I learned some things reading Galatians and so will most if done prayerfully, and try not to get stuck on a few verses that support your views, but consider the whole picture Paul lays out so well ! God bless you !
I think this is a wonderful read .
“Turn from sin. Walk in His ways. Follow Him with your whole life. This is the grace that leads to life.”
i would note the difference in the Old Testament lae which came by Moses for example moses taught in the law
“When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.”
Deuteronomy 24:1-2 KJV
It’s important that we notice the contrast between the two covenant words and follow what Jesus taught and not stick to what Moses said Because
“The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”
Matthew 19:3-9 KJV
Note the contrary command Moses says “ if you aren’t happy with your wife divorce her and send her away and she can remarry “
Jesus says “ if you divorce for any reason besides fornication and marries another commits adultery and also whoever marries the divorced woman also is commiting adultery
In other words if we obey Moses command there in the law we would be committing adultery according to Jesus word in the gospel a
The New Testament teaches us more about Gods Will to live upright before him but it’s not Moses law it’s wuote contrary when you look closely just like the marriage and divorce command . The law wasn’t the beginning it came a long time after the beginning because of sin and was temporary until Christ came with his word
“Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. ( Jesus )
The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.”( father SON holy ghost )
Galatians 3:19-20 NIV
God's laws and covenants. Jesus Christ didn't come to abolish the law and the prophets but Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets. God's laws and covenants.
God's laws and covenants. Jesus Christ didn't come to abolish the law and the prophets but Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets. God's laws and covenants. God, Jesus Christ and God's Army of angels watching over us.
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.”
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 KJV
“Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.”
Daniel 9:11 KJV
“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.”
Isaiah 24:5-6, 20 KJV
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt;
which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:”
Jeremiah 31:31-32 KJV
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
Isaiah 65:17 KJV
“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”
Isaiah 55:3 KJV
“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.”
Matthew 11:27-29 KJV
“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
Hebrews 8:6 KJV
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt;
which my covenant they brake,…..
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
….Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Mark 1:1, 14-15 KJV
“ but their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament;
which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.”
2 Corinthians 3:13-15
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
John 18:37 KJV
God's character traits are eternal, so there is a reality that is true about the way to embody God's character traits that is eternally true, that was true before God made any covenants with man, that revealed through God's covenants, and that is true regardless of which covenant someone is under. For example, God's righteousness is eternal (Psalm 119:142), therefore all of God's righteous laws are eternal (Psalm 119:16), so anyone who is the goal of knowing God through embodying His righteousness will consider any instructions that God has given to be cumulatively valid. For example, being a doer of charity was a way to embody God's righteousness before God made any covenants with man, so that is an eternally valid way to know God even for those who are not in a covenant relationship with God. Jesus fulfilled the law by teaching us how to correctly obey it.