- Nov 10, 2013
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There is no effective difference between laws which prohibit theft, murder, adultery, etc., and those same laws which have been codified. Codification of laws simply makes them easier to classify, reference, etc.
When Paul claims that the "law which was added because of transgressions" have been done away with, he can't be referring to the commandments themselves because one cannot transgress laws which never existed in the first place. Furthermore, he points out how this takes place: "Those who walk after the Spirit do not fulfill the lust of the flesh". When there is no sin, there is no necessity to have laws dealing with transgressions anymore. This is the condition under which those who enter into the New Covenent must find themselves.
No one can be under the New Covenant, and continue to sin. The New Covenant only covers sins committed under the Old Covenant.
When Paul refers to "the handwriting of ordinances that were against us", he is explicitly referring to Deuteronomy 31:26 which points out the distinction between the commandments which are INSIDE the Ark which are chisled into STONE, and the laws which are BESIDE the Ark, and are written in a SCROLL. When Israel sinned, the penalty was found in the scroll, but under the New Covenant, no one sins, therefore the scroll is now redundant. No one can be under the curse if they no longer sin. This is only possible for those who have been given a new heart per Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26; Hebrews 8:9,10 All other believers must continue to rely upon Christ's sacrifice to cover their sin until they are given a new heart as well.
Whenever Paul refers to the law being done away with it is always with regards to establishing righteousness(justification), or the penalty, or curse of the law, and that can only come about through Christ's faith operating in the new creature rather than relying upon one's own will or effort. So Christ and Paul are pointing out that there are two ways to carry out God's will. The Old method which entailed relying upone one's own will and effort verses the New method which is relying upon Christ's faith which cannot fail.
When Paul claims that the "law which was added because of transgressions" have been done away with, he can't be referring to the commandments themselves because one cannot transgress laws which never existed in the first place. Furthermore, he points out how this takes place: "Those who walk after the Spirit do not fulfill the lust of the flesh". When there is no sin, there is no necessity to have laws dealing with transgressions anymore. This is the condition under which those who enter into the New Covenent must find themselves.
No one can be under the New Covenant, and continue to sin. The New Covenant only covers sins committed under the Old Covenant.
When Paul refers to "the handwriting of ordinances that were against us", he is explicitly referring to Deuteronomy 31:26 which points out the distinction between the commandments which are INSIDE the Ark which are chisled into STONE, and the laws which are BESIDE the Ark, and are written in a SCROLL. When Israel sinned, the penalty was found in the scroll, but under the New Covenant, no one sins, therefore the scroll is now redundant. No one can be under the curse if they no longer sin. This is only possible for those who have been given a new heart per Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26; Hebrews 8:9,10 All other believers must continue to rely upon Christ's sacrifice to cover their sin until they are given a new heart as well.
Whenever Paul refers to the law being done away with it is always with regards to establishing righteousness(justification), or the penalty, or curse of the law, and that can only come about through Christ's faith operating in the new creature rather than relying upon one's own will or effort. So Christ and Paul are pointing out that there are two ways to carry out God's will. The Old method which entailed relying upone one's own will and effort verses the New method which is relying upon Christ's faith which cannot fail.