Actually the Big Ten were at the heart of THE LAW of Moses.
???
Actually I've seen little sign that Eccl is changing his stance on THE LAW Vs Grace. But we can hope. I don't think you and I are in complete agreement about the Big Ten, but who is?
I figure "???" is about my saying, "The Mosaic Law written by fleshly hands". None of God's eternal law ever had to be conveyed by anything other than spirit. So even the using of Moses' fleshly hands was significant. It was all a part of God's bringing it down to men's nonspiritual level.
But I have tussled with a badly broken shoulder for a few months now that has not healed properly and the last month I have had severe ankle and knee problems due to infection in the ligament. So I no doubt sound like a mad man at times.
I like your sense of humor. LOL. Speaking about the Sampson remark. LOL.
I know that Jehovah's Witnesses are adamant that the Ten Commandments are a part of the Mosaic Law. And I agree that they were at the heart of the Mosaic Law.
But here is how I differentiate the Ten Commandments from the Mosaic Law: Romans 7:14a "For we know that the law is spiritual ..."
That core of the Law which is spiritual has not died and never will. The core that made that Law spiritual was those Ten Commandments. They came directly from God's finger to the stone tablets. And the fuller meaning of them is what is being written into men's hearts.
The Ten Commandments are actually a summation of the spiritual principles of that Old Law which are summed up by love. That is why Paul quotes them to validate what he says about love fulfilling that Old Law. To say that they are set aside with the rest of the Old Law would nullify Paul's argument.
There are a few keys that need to be remembered.
We need not say we are desiring to again be under that Law and begin practicing that Law to be back under that Law. The mere act of willful sin on our part places us back under that Law and its penalty:
(1) Galatians 5:18 "But
if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
(2) 1 John 3:3-7 "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children,
let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Are there some here on this thread who are unable to see the reverse connotation of this following statement Paul made:
Romans 2:23-26 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
I will write out the reverse connotation for them:
Thou that makest thy boast of grace, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
For the name of God is also blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. (2 Peter 2:2)
For a belief of spiritual circumcision of the one's heart verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision of the heart is made uncircumcision.
Therefore if the circumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his circumcision be counted for circumcision?
Does anyone really believe that 2 Peter 2:2 applies only to those that are preaching the direct keeping of that Old Law?
But to help sooth fear I include the following:
2 Chronicles 33:1 ¶Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
11 ¶Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.
14 Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.