The Law

[herald]

In Psalm 119, the word, "Word," is used interchangeably with, "law," "commandments," "precepts," "statutes," "judgments," "testimonies."His Word = His law."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. 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." Ezek 36:26,27.When His Spirit is within us, we are empowered by His Spirit to obey His Word - His law. And that is what "walking in His Spirit" is all about. The Holy Spirit will never lead us into sin, or, "the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.We have abused grace:"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." Ga 2:20."What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Rom 6:1."Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.When Moses disobeyed the Lord and struck the rock, God charged him with unbelief. Num 20:12. When the children of Israel disobeyed the Lord, they were not able to enter The Promised Land, because of unbelief. Heb 3:19. Unbelief comes out of an evil heart. Heb 3:12.Disobedience = UnbeliefObedience = FaithRom 16:26 refers to "the obedience of faith.""By faith Abraham...obeyed." Heb 11:8.Jesus said, "Not every one that SAITH, Lord, Lord, shall enter (Rev 22:14) into the kingdom of heaven, but he that DOETH the will of My Father which is in heaven.MANY will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." (lawlessness) Mt 7:21-23."And hereby we do know that we know Him, IF we keep His commandments. He that saith, I KNOW HIM, and keepeth not His commandments, is a LIAR and the Truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth HIS WORD, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby we do know that we are in Him." 1 John 2:3-5.True faith obeys His every Word - His law. It is not what we SAY, but, what we DO."Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have RIGHT to the tree of life, AND MAY ENTER IN through the gates into the city." Rev 22:14.

 

[tim_from_pa]

The Law is God's perfect standard of righteousness and a mirror to who we truly are. If we are inherently righteous, obeying the Law is as natural as a cat meowing. Of course we cannot keep the Law because we are fallen, and it served as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ as Paul taught. In other words, its one of God's dispensational lessons to teach Israel and mankind righteousness, and our inability to keep those standards.Many Christians think the Law is done away with. No, what is done away with is the curse of the Law with Christ being made a curse for us. (Galatians 3:13). With God's Spirit, we will then naturally emulate the spirit of the Law in our hearts as opposed to legalistically following them to gain God's approval.It is important to note that with the "Old Covenant" and "New Covenant" that the "old" was simply the Mosaic Law and the "New" is salvation by grace in Christ. One is flesh and the other is Spirit.However, many people (even some on this forum) seem to think that the OTHER COVENANTS such as the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants were modified or changed because they occurred in the Old Testament timeframe. Actually, these covenants with Israel are in full force yet and ironically, these same covenants were the basis for future grace. In that sense, grace actually preceded the Law, a point that the apostle Paul indisputably stated (Romans 4).

 

[herald]

The Ceremonial law pointed to the sacrifice of Jesus and was fulfilled. Circumcision is now of the heart, washings are baptism, Jesus, the clean became unclean so that we may be clean. The Sabbath Feast Days were fulfilled:Passover: Our Passover LambUnleavened Bread: He was without sinTabernacles: He "tabernacled among us"...If the Ceremonial law had not been fulfilled, we would, still, sacrifice animals.CEREMONIAL LAW:1. Is called, "the law contained in ordinances." Eph 2:15.2. Was spoken by Moses. Lev 1:1-3.3. Was written by Moses in a book. 11 Chron 35:12.4. Was placed in the side of The Ark. Deut 31:24-26 (to show it's temporal nature)5. Was nailed to the cross. Col 2:14.5. Was abolished by Christ. Eph 2:15.If the Ceremonial law had not been fulfilled, we would, still, sacrifice animals.THE TEN COMMANDMENT COVENANT:1. Is called, the "royal law" Ja 2:8.2. Was spoken by God. Deut 4:12,13.3. Was written with the finger of God. Ex 31:18.4. Was placed inside The Ark. Ex 40:20; Heb 9:4.5. Is to "stand forever and ever." Ps 111:7,8.6. Was not destroyed by Christ. Mt 5:17,18.The Ten Commandment Covenant deals with our character and is used by the Holy Spirit in our on-going process of sanctification. I hope, that, you are not saying, that we can bow down and worship other gods, take His name in vain, profane His holy day, dishonor parents, murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, covet and walk with a holy God? That would be blasphemy.The Old Covenant was the Ten Commandment Law. Deut 4:13; Ex 34:28. It was based upon the promise of the people. Ex 24:7. The New Covenant is based upon the promise of God:"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 I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Jer 31:31-34;Ezek 36:26,27;Mt 26:28;Heb 8:10.WHO is He speaking of? Paul answers, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made, He saith not, And to thy seeds, as of many: but as of one, And to thy seed which is Christ." "And IF ye be Christ's, then are YE Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Ga 3:16,29."Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Ga 3:7."For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter: whose praise is not of men, but of God." Rom 2:28,29.The promises were made through Abraham to the children of promise (Rom 9:6-8), who are justified by faith - whether Jew or Gentile. Ga 3:7;Eph 2:12,13;3:6.The New Covenant is the Old Covenant engraved in our hearts and minds. If we are the children of the New Covenant, He has written, with His own finger, His laws upon our hearts and minds.Jesus took the commandments to the heart: That is why Jesus said, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust, after her hath committed adultery in his heart." Mt 5:28.Or, "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." Mt 5:22.We, certainly, cannot trust in the emotions of our own hearts to determine if we love God and others:"Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her; Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." Pro 7:25-27.What Does the Scripture say about loving God and others?Jesus said, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." John 14:15."He that hath My commandments and keepth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him." John 14:21."By this we know that we love the children of God (Greatest Commandment #2), when we love God (#1) and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:2,3."And this is love that we walk after His commandments." 2 John 6."As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions ("of the law" 1 John 3:4) from us...TO SUCH AS KEEP HIS COVENANT AND TO THOSE THAT REMEMBER HIS COMMANDMENTS TO DO THEM." Ps 103.Covenants have conditions.As I quoted the Scripture, Ezek 36:26,27, when His Spirit is within us, He empowers us to obey His Word - His law."And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation, unto all them that obey Him." Heb 5:9.Even in heaven, the Lord makes quite a statement about His Covenant:"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple The Ark of His Testament: and there were LIGHTNINGS, and VOICES, and THUNDERINGS, and AN EARTHQUAKE, and GREAT HAIL." Rev 11:19.

 

[tim_from_pa]

The Ten Commandment Covenant deals with our character and is used by the Holy Spirit in our on-going process of sanctification. I hope, that, you are not saying, that we can bow down and worship other gods, take His name in vain, profane His holy day, dishonor parents, murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, covet and walk with a holy God? That would be blasphemy.
Don't know where you ever got that idea. I wouldn't dream of it.....The OT Law (ceremonial) was indeed fulfilled in Christ and pointed to the time when that would be fulfilled by Christ. The moral part of the Law is still in effect, e.g. thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, and so forth. I certainly do not know of any new covenant that says these things are OK to do now.The OTHER covenants that I had in mind are national covenants such as becoming a great nation, many nations, many descendants spreading all over the world, an eternal and ongoing monarchy and so forth. These promises were/are unconditional and are not inherited by keeping the Law, but by the working of faith and indeed antedated the Law. In this case, the working faith of the patriarchs in spite of how their kids acted.

 

[herald]

The new creation does not sin:"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil. (If He did not destroy the works of the Devil, He died in vain. He died to set us free from sin.)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.In this the children of God are manifested, and the children of the Devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." 1 John 3.It is when we fall back on the old man, that we sin. Those who abide in His Spirit do not sin.As Paul told Timothy, "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience..." 2 Tim 1:3.We can serve Him with a pure conscience, and trust the Holy Spirit to reveal to us any sin, so that we may repent (change) and be transformed into His likeness.Jesus said, "He that rejecteth Me and receiveth not MY WORDS, hath one that judgeth him, THE WORD that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48.Then, the Apostle Paul says, "For as many have sinned without the LAW shall also perish without the LAW: and as many have sinned in the LAW shall be judged by the LAW. For not the hearers of the LAW are just before God, but the DOERS of the LAW are justified." Rom 2:12-12. (Sounds like Mt 7:21-23)Even though, Abraham is the father of the faithful, he kept the law:"And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.BECAUSE that Abraham obeyed My voice (HIS WORD) and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws." Gen 26:4,5.

 

[tim_from_pa]

(herald;59573)
.BECAUSE that Abraham obeyed My voice (HIS WORD) and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws." Gen 26:4,5.
Yes, and by faith.For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.That's the basis for the promises. And the children inherit the promises because of his faith be they saints or sons of the devil. These are racial promises to Israel. And within those promises are the promises of blessings to all nations, and thus the spiritual aspect.Israel has the birthright promises. Judah has the scepter promises from whence came Messiah.

 

[herald]

Again, Rom 16:26 refers to "the obedience of faith.""Even so, faith if it hath not works is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble.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? (Abraham obeyed the voice (the Word) of God.)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 (faith), and it was imputed to him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God...For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2When Moses and the children of Israel disobeyed the Lord, they were charged with UNBELIEF. When Abraham obeyed the Lord, the Scripture records it as FAITH.

 

[tim_from_pa]

(herald;59581)
When Moses and the children of Israel disobeyed the Lord, they were charged with UNBELIEF. When Abraham obeyed the Lord, the Scripture records it as FAITH.
I'm not really disagreeing with you, as I think I'm saying the same thing. However, I would take issue if you were to say that Israel no longer has the national promises because of their unbelief. The Abrahamic promises and Davidic promises are independent of the Law and the keeping of the Law (or lack thereof) does not qualify or disqualify one from having the promises.Maybe God withheld some blessings for a season due to disobedience, but they were still the rightful heirs. My focus in what I'm saying are these other covenants--- not the Law per se.

 

[herald]

Did you know, that, there are 180 congregations in Israel of Messianic Jews?The Lord used me to bring two Jews to their Messiah! I listen to Christian World News, and it is the Christians who are ministering to the Buddhists, the Untouchables, the Hindus, the Muslims. Many of them are coming to Christ! God is pouring out His Spirit all over the world - even in Iran.In order to have His promises, we must, first, obey Him. The disobedient do not enjoy His promises.I come from an extended family of six doctors, one veternarian (and, soon to be, one more doctor), five nurses. Yet, Jesus has been my Healer for forty years. We have seen many miracles, and one man raised from the dead. Isaiah says, that, He carried our sickness and pain. Isa 53. We've, also, cast demons out of a witch, and healed the sick as Jesus said in Mark 16:17,18.

 

[tim_from_pa]

(herald;59607)
Did you know, that, there are 180 congregations in Israel of Messianic Jews?The Lord used me to bring two Jews to their Messiah! I listen to Christian World News, and it is the Christians who are ministering to the Buddhists, the Untouchables, the Hindus, the Muslims. Many of them are coming to Christ! God is pouring out His Spirit all over the world - even in Iran.In order to have His promises, we must, first, obey Him. The disobedient do not enjoy His promises.I come from an extended family of six doctors, one veternarian (and, soon to be, one more doctor), five nurses. Yet, Jesus has been my Healer for forty years. We have seen many miracles, and one man raised from the dead. Isaiah says, that, He carried our sickness and pain. Isa 53. We've, also, cast demons out of a witch, and healed the sick as Jesus said in Mark 16:17,18.
That's good. And you may be from the house of Israel, as these people were destined to bring the gospel to the world. The Messianic Jews are from the house of Judah and as such many are yet blinded.The promises of many nations to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not go to the Jew, but the house of Joseph, and these Israelites became as Gentiles anyway just as Joseph did who was not recognized by his brethren.One day God will put his two nations (or groups) of chosen people together and let all be gathered to the land of Israel again. In the meantime, the house of Joseph especially enjoyed their destiny of becoming many nations whether they were Christian or not.The purpose of the church now is to call out a few to rule and reign with Christ. As amazing as the moving of God's Spirit is now, it will be greater in the millennium when Christ returns to this Earth to rule and reign. This time there will not be any confusion or hindrance to learning God's Word.