The role of the law in the covenant. Galatians.

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gotime

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2011
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#1
Many have missed some very important points about the 10 commandments. lets examine what Paul says about them in Galatians.

Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Paul makes the point that Abraham was made righteous by faith in Gods word. And that this same faith would be for the seed of those who come after Abraham through Isaac. Notice what God says of Abraham to Issac before confering or passing the promise on to Him.


Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.



So God makes the point that Abraham obeyed the laws and statutes of God. He was literally made righteous by faith in Gods word.

Now lets get to what Paul says about the law concerning the covenant.


Gal 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

So Paul makes the point that a mans covenant can not be added to or taken away from when it is made.

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Then he reminds us of the promise/covenant that god made with Abraham and this of course as seen above was by faith. Now notice what Paul does with bringing the law in the next verse:

Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

The point is most clear, Paul is saying the law that came in the time of Moses can not change the promise/covenant. In other words the law given by God through Moses does not edit the fact that the covenant made with Abraham and his seed including Israel was a faith covenant not a works covenant.

Meaning that when God added the law it did not change anything. The promise still stood and the covenant still stood. This was not a new covenant with Israel but the covenant with Abraham who obeyed Gods law because of his faith in Gods word.

Paul here destroys this notion that God gave a works based covenant to Israel. For if God did that then he would indeed have nullified the covenant he promised to Abraham and his Seed.

One might well ask then what then is the point of the law being given if it neither adds or takes away from the promise of faith?

Notice the next verse:

Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.


It was added because of transgression. one might then rightly ask what is transgression and the bible tells us:

1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Transgression is breaking the law so the law was added because people were breaking it and this is sin. So it was added because of sin. Paul puts it this way:

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

So we see that the law was given because people were sinning and it was designed to make them aware of their sin and need of salvation which only ever came by faith from Able to this day there has only ever been one method of salvation.

They should have seen their sin and thus realised their need of faith in Gods promises. This was the point.

It should be noted also that in order to be transgressing it the law had to preexist the giving of it to Moses.

As we have seen Abraham who was of faith did indeed keep Gods law and statutes and judgements and obey His voice. The law was added because of sin, and sin existed from Adam to this day and sin is the breaking of the law.

notice these next words:

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

For all have sinned and fall short of Gods glory. So this law was given so that the promise by faith given to Abraham might be given to all who believe. Notice the next verse:

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

was there only faith after Jesus came after the law? Paul has already shown that Faith existed before the law was given. and what can we say of Hebrews 11 which states the men of Faith beginning at Able. So we know that Paul is not here saying that there was not faith until Jesus came. but rather the context clearly shows that faith had been lost during the time of Israel. Between Abraham and Issac and Jacob to the time of Jesus Faith had been lost. And where there is not faith in God there is no salvation but rather a law that shows sin and all have sinned and thus that law brings only news of an impending death.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The law served its purpose in showing sin and thus a need for saving. But Christ brought that lesson clear. This is not to say that faith only came after Jesus. To the audience this would seem so and is right to say as they in their life had only known law before this. But as mentioned Abraham lived by faith and so did Noah and Abel and many others who discovered trust in Gods word.

God did not give a different method of salvation, but rather those who heard it did not mix it with faith as it is written:

Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Notice Paul says it was the same Gospel preached to them. not a different one. The problem was they did not have faith who heard it. The issue was them not what God had said. The promise was the same as given to Abraham and they were part of His seed. The oath confirmed in Christ.

Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Notice the Gospel of faith was preached to Abraham. It was always by faith. The law did not change that fact. It was not works God gave to Them but they in their unbelief tried to work for their salvation. as it is written:

Rom 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

The Gentiles who had faith actually became obedient to the law just like faithful Abraham. But Israel failed because they tried to do it themselves.














Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

But to the Gentiles who like Abraham had faith and was said to obey the law so Paul says of the Gentiles:

Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

The Gentiles who did receive the law by faith do by nature the very things contained in the law, In other words like faithful Abraham they kept the law because by faith it was written in their heart.

Faith does not take the law away, it establishes the law Just like those Gentiles and Abraham who lived by faith in the word of God:

Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

One could keep going but hopefully this will clarify some things for people. blessings.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#2
Thank God that we have died to the Law SO THAT we could be joined to Another - Christ Himself. ( Romans 7:4-6 ) We have been released from the law and are NOT under the law anymore but grace. Romans 6:14

The 10 commandments are in that Law that we have been released from as Paul clearly shows here that coveting is in the law written in one of the 10 commandments.

( This is the very same Law that Paul was talking about having died to, been released from in verse 4-6. )

Romans 7:7 (NASB)
[SUP]7 [/SUP] What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET."


To our natural minds when we hear that the Christian is released from the law, have died to the law and we are not under the law but under grace only - we immediately think.."Does that mean we can go and murder someone now?"

This unfortunately reveals that we really don't know about the new creation in Christ yet and that we are learning to live from the life of Another joined to our new hearts. Gal. 2:20

Do we have laws from God now in the New Covenant? Yes - we do. We love the laws that God put on our heart - It is Jesus Himself.

The only "laws" that real Christians have today because we are "dead to the Law of Moses" are these below.

1) the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. - Romans 8:2

2)the law of love - Romans 13:8, 10 : Gal 5:14

3) the law of faith ( the Law is NOT of faith Gal. 3:12 ) - Romans 3:27 and Gal. 3:11, 23

4) the law of liberty in Christ Jesus - James 1:25; 2:12

5) the law of Christ - Himself - 1 Cor. 9:21 ; Gal. 6:2

We don't need to "obey" Lev. 18:23 to not have sex with animals now because the law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus will stop that within us.

We can trust the Lord by the Spirit of God inside of us to lead us now that we are in Christ. Romans 8:14.

The love of God that has been poured in our new hearts by the Holy Spirit will fulfill all the intent of the law by His life being manifested as He bears His fruit in and through us to others.

Read the OT and Old Covenant to see Jesus in them and being all fulfilled by Him alone.

Our life in not in "laws of Moses". They were a shadow of the real thing which is Christ. We live from the newness of the Spirit of the life of Christ within now and not in the oldness of the letter of the law.


We just need to have our minds renewed to the truth of the new creation in Christ now so that we can walk out what already is inside of us because of Christ.

We live now by the life of Christ Himself living in and through us which is why we are dead to the Law.

"For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God". Col. 3:3
 
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Mar 28, 2016
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#3
So God makes the point that Abraham obeyed the laws and statutes of God. He was literally made righteous by faith in Gods word.

I would offer to be careful how the word faith is used. Seeing faith without works is dead. It is "faith works" working together, seeing faith without works has no spirit life to offer.



Abraham was made or created righteous by the faith that comes from God, our faithful Creator, not by the faith generated or created from Abraham's own heart as the seat of imagination that he had towards God. It would be considered dead because it was not from or generated by God not seen. But again towards God, a dead work

That would be to blaspheme the name of Christ, the anointing authority of the Holy Spirit as if it came after Abraham and not the hearing of God's faith that worked in Abraham to both will and do the good pleasure of God. Making the word of God the author and finisher of our free gift of faith. It was Christ's faith work working in Abraham that made the faith of God complete.The same mutual faith of Christ that worked in Rehab making the faith of Christ, as His work in her perfect.

Slowly and prayerfully.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

If so whose faith was it that performed the works? Christ or Abraham ?

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God,(had faith towards God coming from God, the work of God ) and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.am 2:20
 
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gotime

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2011
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#4
The law pointed out sin as the scripture says clearly. Sin is breaking the law. Christ in us saves us from sin.

Those who continue to break the law are still in sin. Those who have died to the law are of the Faith of Abraham in Christ Jesus. They have overcome the world and sin as it is written:

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Faith is not merely a nice sentiment. It is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe in Christ. Salvation from what:

Sin. SIn is breaking the law as John wrote after Faith in Christ had come.

1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.


So if those who are of faith are freed form sin then they must by nature be keeping the law by faith as it is written:

Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Just as the Gentiles who had faith attained to the righteousness of faith. Christ in you the hope of Glory.

If one continues to walk in sin which is breaking the law of God. then one has not been freed and is in unbelief. To have Christ is freedom as it is written:

1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.


and again:

Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Those who sin are slaves to sin. But Jesus the son will make us free indeed. and all we have to do is trust his word on this and it will literally be so by his power.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#5
Thank God that John told us earlier in his letter exactly what those commandments are in the New Covenant that he was talking about in 1 John 5:3. And they are not grievous but glorious!

1 John 3:23 (NASB)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another,
just as He commanded us.

Amen - we establish the law by walking in love as love is the fulfillment of the law. We can trust the life of Christ in us.

We can trust the love of God that is in us. We can trust the law of Christ in us, the law of faith, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. We can trust the law of liberty in Christ and not cause our brother to stumble because we love them.
We can trust Jesus - our life!

We live from a whole new dynamic now and it is under grace and the newness of the Spirit.

The righteous shall live by faith. ( the law is NOT of faith ) We have a better covenant built upon better promises of which the blood of Jesus speaks of better things!

We have a great salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ and a good, loving Father.

 
Mar 28, 2016
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#6
Those who continue to break the law are still in sin. Those who have died to the law are of the Faith of Abraham in Christ Jesus. They have overcome the world and sin as it is written:
I would say not the faith of Abraham in Christ the anointing Holy Spirit of God, but the faith of God in Christ that he worked in Abraham to both will and do the good pleasure of God.

This is as we are revealed in Job . God is of one mind and always does whatsoever His soul pleases for he performs that which is appointed to us ,it is he that does make our hearts soft enough to plant the seed and makes it grow as he forms Christ in us.

A distinction as to whose faith and the direction it come from I believe must be made. Seeing it is there that Satan as the antichrist can get his foot in the door of the church and bring
the abomination that causes desolation in that holy place. .


 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
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#7
It was added because of transgression. one might then rightly ask what is transgression and the bible tells us:

1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Transgression is breaking the law so the law was added because people were breaking it and this is sin. So it was added because of sin. Paul puts it this way:
You were doing so good until you swerved here.

The people couldn't have been transgressing against a law that hadn't been given. They must have been transgressing against something else.

What they actually transgressed against was the Grace of God.

They murmured against His Provision. They rebelled against His Chosen Priest. They didn't have faith in His Word. They no longer wanted to hear directly from God.

So they got law. They were kept under the law until the faith that was later revealed came.


You've really gone through a lot of twists and turns to get yourself back under the law...
 

gotime

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2011
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#8
You were doing so good until you swerved here.

The people couldn't have been transgressing against a law that hadn't been given. They must have been transgressing against something else.

What they actually transgressed against was the Grace of God.

They murmured against His Provision. They rebelled against His Chosen Priest. They didn't have faith in His Word. They no longer wanted to hear directly from God.

So they got law. They were kept under the law until the faith that was later revealed came.


You've really gone through a lot of twists and turns to get yourself back under the law...
You are mistaken friend, I am not under the law at all. Christ is my freedom from sin and the condemnation of the law. In Him I am Justified by his blood and made whole.
 
Feb 28, 2016
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#9
Christ/God, became our sacrificial Lamb, no more do we have to sacrifice animals in order
to make a sweet smelling savor unto our God. He did away with those sacrifices and became
our Holy Saviour for all of mankind, becoming a Living, Human, Sacrifice, in order for us to be
reconciled to God, our living Saviour/Sacrifice...
this is the utmost,un-imaginable Sacrifice that could ever be made for the likes of us, and
as we learn to honor such an unbelievable act of Love/Holiness, we must learn to never negate
His Holy Spiritual, Commandments that He has written upon the hearts of those that
He has called and chosen, names written in Heavenly places, before the world was ever born...
 
Feb 28, 2016
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#10
thank you so much gotime for your God-given-discernment,
it is such a rare thing for people to feel confident enough to
reply in understanding, no matter what others may think...
GBY
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,518
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Australia
#11
The laws of the land today, like not speeding and not doing drugs and, not stealing are enforced by the powers, why?
For our protection.

If they didn't exist than we could speed or steal as often as we wanted and not be guilty, (no protection). This means the law is useless and done away with.
If the law exists and we are held accountable by the powers than the law is enforced. If we go to jail and pay the fine ourself we are working out our own justice by our own works. But if someone else pays the fine and dose the time as a gift than i'm free from the penalty of the law that is pointing out my faults.

Grace is seeing us as perfect even though we are sinners. Justice is payed for by Jesus. Sin = death, Jesus died the death that i deserve.
The law points out sin but Jesus pays the price..

no law = no sin = no need for Jesus.

No law = no need for me to die
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,518
1,045
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Australia
#12
laws written on our hearts
When we harden our hearts we need the written word to point out exactly what is right and wrong.

Most people just know it is wrong to kill, it is just in our hearts to know it is wrong.
But to bow down to graven images and worship images of Mary isn't known to be wrong if you are taught that it is right by
other people.

The law (10 commandments) is an expanded version of love for God (first 4) and love for each other (last 6).
 

gotime

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2011
3,537
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#13
thank you so much gotime for your God-given-discernment,
it is such a rare thing for people to feel confident enough to
reply in understanding, no matter what others may think...
GBY
Thank you for the compliment. Praise God as all knowledge and wisdom that is worth while comes from Him.
 

gotime

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2011
3,537
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#14
Paul understood that By faith in Christ we would be filled with the very life of Christ through the spirit. Thus we would be free form sin by the Power of God.

Rom_1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Peter also testifies of this reality:

1Pe_1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.



2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

When one believes the word of God which God has spoken through his prophets and Apostles, the very power of creation is brought into action in the heart of the one who has faith.
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
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#15
we must learn to never negate
His Holy Spiritual, Commandments that He has written upon the hearts of those that
He has called and chosen, names written in Heavenly places, before the world was ever born...
No one can negate the work of God. Especially the work He has done on our own hearts.


Its just that one word that you put in there that makes me wonder if you really understand. I wish I could have overlooked it and just said 'amen'.

So I'll just ask a question. Which commandments are written on the hearts that He has chosen???
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
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#16
You are mistaken friend, I am not under the law at all. Christ is my freedom from sin and the condemnation of the law. In Him I am Justified by his blood and made whole.
If that is the case what happens when you are dead to the law and you no longer observe a saturday sabbath?
 

gotime

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2011
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#17
If that is the case what happens when you are dead to the law and you no longer observe a saturday sabbath?
The verse I assume you have in mind is this one:

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

The first point I would make is who is dead, The law or ye?

The text says we are dead, it is us that dies not the law. Thus Paul said it this way in his letter to the Galatians:

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

It was he who was crucified with Christ. Thus he is also made alive with Christ as he says here:

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Notice that there is a newness of life. so we no longer are living in unrighteousness and sin but in righteousness and obedience as it is written:

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.




So then it is clear that sin no longer is walked in as we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

So if the lusts of the flesh are to sin and sin is the breaking of the law, then to walk in newness of life in the Spirit and be free from sin must be to be in line with the law.

What law then is written on the heart. One need only look to the scriptures to know the answer to that:

Jer 31:31 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: Jer 31:32 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:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

This as seen in Hebrews is the new covenant. But notice it was written to Israel and Judah, and he says I will write my law. Who's law? Gods law. This is a known law to Israel. This can be none other than the law of God given to the Jewish nation of Israel.

Paul puts it this way:

2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Notice that Paul refers to the law on stone as the place its not but on the heart. by the Spirit. What does it mean to have the law on the heart?

Paul tells us here:

Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing

notice what shews that the law is written in their hearts. When they do by nature the things contained in the law.
Simply put the law written on the heart means the person actually does/keeps the law. that is proof that the law is written on the hearts. There is no way of missing this in this text. What law may one ask?

Paul does not leave us to guess which law this is either for only down a little he begins to quote this law:

Rom 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Rom 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

So we know which law it is that Paul says is written on the heart, It is the 10 commandment law of God and we know that written on the heart is seen by them keeping it.

thus it is written of the Gentiles:

Rom 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
Rom 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

there is no question as to what Paul means here. He is clear that if those who have the law do not keep it then they are spiritually uncircumcised. Yet if the physically uncircumcised keep the righteousness of the law then they are spiritually circumcised.

This of course is by faith in Gods ability to create in us a new heart as it is written concerning the new covenant:

Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Notice then that it is God who takes out the heart of stone.

It is God who puts in a heart of flesh.

It is God who cleans us.

It is God who puts His Spirit within us and it is God that causes us to walk in his laws and judgements and actually do them.







So it is that by trusting/having Faith that God will do exactly what He says and can do it, One is made righteous and enabled by the Spirit to keep the law of God. Thus we see that by faith in Christ we are saved from sin not in sin. Sin is the transgression of the law in both old and new testaments. So if one is saved from sin which is not keeping the law, then it will be seen in the life that, that one keeps the law as they are empowered through trusting in the power of the word of God to do exactly what it says he will do.

So to your question in light of Scripture, For me to no longer keep the bible Sabbath would put me out of faith and in unbelief and the bible says:

Rom_14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Remember sin is transgression of the law. It is that same law that says remember the Sabbath which was instituted at creation. It is that law that points out sin and our need of a saviour.

So if I were to put myself back in sin then I would need to be saved, and if I need to be saved then I must not be saved.

But as it stands Gods word is true and powerful and the law is on my heart, I can do no other than obey it shewing that the law is indeed written on my heart. This God has done for me thus I will boast in Christ and Him crucified. Thank God for freedom from the old man.
 
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gotime

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2011
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#18
Ps that same law Paul says this about:

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Notice that it shows what sin is, that includes the 4th commandment.

Notice also that it was to stop how many mouths? "every" not just Jews.

and how much of the world would be guilty? "all" not just Jews.

So then it is sin for anyone not to obey any of the 10 commandments of God.

What does true faith do concerning the law?

Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

as has been seen in the chapter before, that the law written on the heart is seen by it being kept. shewing the work of salvation being accomplished.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 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:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

While the flesh was weak and thus the law only condemned us Jesus condemned sin in the flesh so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us. Praise God.

Thus God is vindicated as fair and just, He is able to forgive and save us from sin.

The carnal mind can not please God because it is not subject to Gods law as Paul says:

Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

The carnal mind can not be subject to the law of God. It is opposed to Gods law and thus sin. But if we receive the Spirit of God we will no longer fulfil the lusts of the flesh. praise God.
 

gotime

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2011
3,537
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#19
I will also make it clear that no one is saved by works of the law. nor can they be. Carnal people can not keep the law it is impossible.

But those who have faith are changed by the power of the creator God. When we trust in his promise we are changed by Christ into his likeness. unrighteous become righteous and do righteousness.

Those who continue to break the law, testify that they walk in the flesh. Those who are changed testify that they walk in the Spirit and that the law of God is written on the heart. This is not the work of men but of God.
 
Jan 25, 2015
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#20
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.