There is a law. Its just not for Christians anymore. Why not?
Because we rely on something much better than the ministry of death.
We rely on the ministry of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
[SUP]22 [/SUP]But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[SUP]23 [/SUP]Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The lawless ones aren't the ones with the Holy Spirit leading them. The lawless ones are the ones who still are trying to keep the law in their own strength and in their own understanding (failing), not submitting to the Righteousness of God.
You know, like the Pharisees.
The Pharisees back then were more like many of the professing believers who deny the entire word of God. They didn't follow God's instruction but made it into their own righteousness by their actions rather than to acknowledge a true change of heart.
Mark 7:13: "And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.” (NLT)
They canceled the word of God....Jesus was speaking of the OT at that moment. Same thing is happening today.
David, Moses, along with the other Prophets of old acknowledged the coming of Christ Jesus, whereas the Pharisees and most of the Jews could not see Jesus in the Mosaic law, or in the Prophets.
As Paul wrote:
2 Corinthians 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
2 Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2 Corinthians 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2 Corinthians 3:14 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.
2 Corinthians 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2 Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Yet, most of the Pharisees didn't recognize HIM, but not all.
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
John 3:2
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus discussed being born again with Nicodemus.
Yet there must have been some doubt as Jesus told him:
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
John 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(Indicating that a "master of Israel should know these things!) The Prophets of old certainly did.
John 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
The disciples were also of Jewish decent and knew the law and prophets, so when Jesus expounded to them all things concerning HIM that were written in the law and prophets, they understood what He spoke of, because they believed in HIM. The vail was taken away.
Since the vail is taken away in Christ, it would seem that believers in HIM would want to know and see the things spoken of HIM from throughout the word. Shouldn't we be able to see Christ in those things now?
Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Peter, who walked and was taught directly by Jesus also explained in Acts:
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Acts 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
ESV, says it like this:
whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
Restoration is:
The action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition.
Jesus showed examples of this restoration, even through restoring sight to the blind,restoring health to the sick, and even raising the dead.
[TABLE="class: vk_tbl vk_gy"]
[TR]
[TD="class: lr_dct_nyms_ttl"]synonyms:[/TD]
[TD]
repair, repairing,
fixing,
mending, refurbishment, reconditioning, rehabilitation, rebuilding,
reconstruction,
overhaul, redevelopment,
renovation[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Seems that believers would want to understand these things.
