If you read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, I think beginning at chapter five, Jesus gives us 50 new commandments. So yes, the old commandments were nailed to the cross, and now life with Jesus is much better, for example Jesus would have us care for the sick on the Sabbath. I have them somewhere in my notes, just ask if you would like me to post them.
Yes, the commandments of Jesus go deeper to the core of our being, but what Colossians 2 is actually saying which corresponds to Romans 6 is:
Colossians 2:
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was
contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having
nailed it to the cross.
Romans 6:
6 knowing this, that our
old man was
crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Romans 7:13-14
Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not!
But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Galatians 3:
19 What purpose then
does the law
serve? It was added because of transgressions,
till the
Seed (Jesus) should come to whom the promise was made;
and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not
mediate for one
only, but God is one. 21
Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor
to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
What I'm trying to say is that the purpose of the Ten Commandments was to show us our sin. Our old nature was contrary to them. It was a struggle to keep from coveting, Romans 7:7, the only commandment taking place on the hidden depths of our inside, and not just outside.
Sin is the reason why Jesus came. Sin separated us from God in the Garden, and Sin was produced in our old sin nature. Jesus came to take the desire to sin out of our nature/the flesh, making us born again of His Spirit. Romans 8:9, to partake of the divine nature of God. 2 Peter 1:2-4. Thus, no sin, no need for the written law to show us sin. The new divine nature does not sin because of God indwelling us
As much as some denominations would like us to believe what the Reformationists taught - that we will always sin until we shed these bodies, a crippling doctrine of demons that isn't true for a Spirit-filled Christian, but is true for those who adhere to impotent doctrines, and live their lives accordingly. The like this verse in John 5:
John 5:24
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into
judgment, but has passed from death into life.
The doctrine of demons says you can sin and not be judged.
The Spirit that makes us born again with a divine nature, does not sin, making John 5:24 true for true Christians. 1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18. 1 John 3:5.
The eternal law of God that those who had to keep the Ten Commandments with a sinful nature, can now keep the true eternal laws of God of LOVE through Christ. The eternal laws of God from the beginning was to
love God with all your heart, mind and body, and love your neighbor as yourself. The Ten Commandments were based on the eternal law, but couldn't make anyone righteous while the sin nature was still alive. It died when it was nailed to the cross.
SDA believe that the Ten Commandments are written on our hearts. They believe in loving God with all our heart, mind and body, and love our neighbor as ourselves, plus outwardly keeping the 7th day Sabbath. So they also believe the commandments of Jesus 1 John 3:23.
According to Romans 14, we all just need to be convinced in our own mind. Adventists MUST keep the Sabbath because it is what they BELIEVE. They also believe in what they call the "health" laws, though they were never for health, but represented those animals that were separated unto God for sacrifices and offerings. To show the
separation unto God was the sole reason why there were clean and unclean animals. In fact, the unclean animals were said to represent the pagan Gentiles. We Gentiles are no longer separated from God, and the gospel came to us after God stopped the separation. That is also true for animals. We don't need clean animals for sacrifices and offerings, so the purpose for the clean and unclean distinction is no longer an issue due to the crucifixion of Christ. Adventists still keep the distinction for health reasons, and are known to live 10 years longer than those who don't. Not because they eat clean animals, but because staunch SDAs are vegetarians, going back to the Garden of Eden.
So, even though this is a great subject, it cannot separate us from one another. We are all one in Christ.
cc:
@BarnyFife and
@Backlit
