Thanks Bethog.I just did some reading on dispensation. I'm thinking we're making this all more difficult than we need to. As far as the Idea that Israel is different than the Christian church. As in the Jews can still go by the Mosaic law to gain salvation. How can this be true? Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me." John 14:6Also in Romans-3:29-29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. Just by this alone, there is no distinction between Jews or Gentiles. This leads me to believe that there is no more "special promise" or "different promise" that was ever made to any man other than salvation through Jesus.I see the confusion for many here too, But by these below, how is it that the Jews will obtain salvation or special favor by God on their own? That's the "Meat" definately.Mathew 5:17- "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."Also this, Romans 3:31-"Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law." Very interesting is it not?Matt 5:19 "Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."Galatians 3:1-"You foolish Galatians! Who put you under a spell? Was not Jesus the Messiah clearly portrayed before your very eyes as having been crucified? 2I want to learn only one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by doing[a] the works of the law or by believing what you heard?"So, by this and many other verses we get several different doctrines.The confusion seems to me about obedience to God. The questions are, Are we required to obey the Law? If so What is the Law? What if you're disobedient? How is the Law Fullfilled and How do we establish the law?The statement and doctrine most commonly accepted is this, "We are saved by Grace. But if we don't obey the Law we will go to hell"So, we have Calvinism, Amillenianism, Lutheran, Catholic, SDA, etc etc...............It seems clear to me, that, The law was fullfilled by Jesus death and resurection. Why do you think God required so much death and what not in the flesh of man for disobedience? That's our penalty for sin. They had to sacrifice for the remissions of sin. Sacrifice was the attonement, and a temporary way for the burden of the punishment to be resolved, also a prophesy. Matthew 9:13-" but Learn what this means: 'I want mercy, not sacrifices.' I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval."So, here we all wonder what this means. "What? Why are we required to obey?"Mercy to me is, God doesn't want us to die and bear the burden of our sins. By that there is no reconciliation to him. Our penalty is death and destruction, as God was rightly serving out all throughout the OT. God's mercy was also rightly serving out all throughout the OT, a good example is Lot and Sodam and Gomorah, Didn't God tell Lot to leave? Didn't God tell Lot he would destroy those cities?, Did Lot say, "Oh, okay Lord, let me just grab my things." Nope. Lot knew by FAITH, the MERCY of God and Petitioned him, "Lord, what If I find even 1 righteous person, will you spare the cities?" The Lord replied, "Yes, if you find even 1 righteous, I will not destroy them" Even though God knew there was none, he still showed his mercy.So, that is mercy, God took upon himself in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ, the full penalty of our sins. "There is now no condemnation for those in Christ" By that we're not bound by the law, meaning, there is no punishment for those who are in Christ. By us saying, that if we sin, we go to hell, even after professing belief in Christ and his death and resurection for remittance of sins, we are putting ourselves back under the law and condeming ourselves.The reason obedience is required? That is the love of the Lord, to obey his commands" (I know it's in the NT somewhere, I just can't find it right now) The Law is Christ Crucified, the redemption is Christ resurection. Put simply, that's why I put on that post, the simplest answer to the most complicated question.We obey because we believe! We are being conformed to the likeness of Christ, through "The renewal of our mind". The bible is a guide, and a history, and Gods word, a way of God to reveal himself to us. 1 John 2:1- "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"Whew! that took a lot to type. But, by this, we see, (for those that like lists)1: There is no other special promise or any other way for Jews to reconcile themselves to God.2: The law and the requirements there of were fullfilled by Jesus death and resurection3: We are not under the law, and to require that anyone obey as a way to gain salvation or favor, is putting themselves under the law and condems themselves. This denies the power of the Cross and "treats Jesus blood as a common thing"4: We obey, because we believe. We are compelled to obey, and are being conformed in the likeness of Jesus Christ by the renewing of our minds through the Holy Spirit.5: There is no dispensation, as the means of, God does for whoever by whatever.This is what I'm understanding out of all this Dispensational deal. Is there something I'm missing?
