To me, the question immediately becomes, to which Law do you refer? John wrote 2 commandments for the children of God, to trust Jesus, and love others. Paul taught about the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. There is of course the Covenant of Law from Sinai. Paul also mentions being under the "Law of Christ".
Ezekiel prophesied a time when Israel would be reborn, and would keep all the statutes and judgments. James told Paul that the Jerusalem Christians were very zealous to keep the Law, I'm thinking the Mosaic Covenant. James wrote to the churches only to obstain from blood and things strangled, foods offered to idols, and fornication.
I like to look at all these instances - am I leaving anything out? - and look at which are addressed to whom, as a start.
Much love!
1st Mark, I like you as a brother and person. So if you're a Dispensationalist I cannot state my view without stepping on your toes. I go to a Dispensationalist church, and nobody--I mean nobody, wants to even bring up the subject of biblical prophecy around me. And that includes every pastor we have ever had.
But I'm certainly not hostile to Dispensationalism. I just disagree with it, and reserve my right to state what I think the Bible teaches without getting into any hostile discussions about that. I don't believe you and I have been hostile about much on this forum, regardless of our position.
Where I strongly
agree with Dispensationalism is on the fact that Israel will be physically, literally, and nationally restored--a complete nation (not necessarily every individual faithful to their Christianity). Israel will be, I think, a fully Christian nation in the future, after Christ returns.
That means all Israel is saved as a nation, but not necessarily all saved in the spiritual sense. Salvation of a nation, in the Bible, refers to a political salvation, and that salvation is always dependent on spiritual cooperation with God's laws. For Israel to be completely delivered from her enemies, the vast majority of the population of Israel simply *must* obey the Lord and enter into a lasting covenant with Him! It was that way under the Law, and it is still that way today. But it just won't happen until Christ comes, to separate the sheep from the goats.
The laws of God can be viewed generically or specifically to the Law of Moses. In the general sense, law as a concept is in the NT Gospel. As you indicated, Christ gave commandments to love God supremely and to love one another sincerely. That is law in its truest sense, without reference to its technical definition as the "Law of Moses."
Where I disagree with Dispensationalists is on the often sense that Israel will return to obeying the Law of Moses. There are Scriptures that appear to indicate this, although I don't think that's its literal sense.
I think forms of the Law had to be used in a time when the Law was still in play. Otherwise, the Prophets would've appeared to have been advocating for an end to the Law even while they were still under the Law!
So I don't think Sabbaths will return, or the temple will return, or the priesthood, or sacrifices, or dietary laws, etc. Not only is redemption finished but so are the laws that filled in temporarily until Christ died for our sins.
This is meant to be an explanation, but not an argument. I know there are differences. You can certainly share your views here! I have a lot of respect for you and for your posts, regardless.