Bible Discussion Thread

Comments on Galatians Chapter 3:10. “FOR AS MANY AS ARE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW ARE UNDER THE CURSE: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, CURSED IS EVERY ONE THAT CONTINUETH NOT IN ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW TO DO THEM.” I think the whole chapter presents many challenges in understanding correctly our relationship with God and our fellow human beings. If understood incorrectly it can lead to unnecessary pain and suffering, despair, even destruction. Here is what I mean (true story): A young family, with two children; the wife, a musically talented lady in her upper twenty’s, the daughter of a minister of a “particular” church, and the husband, a little older but not wiser. At one point, the young husband feeling “freed from the Law” commits adultery. And of course, since there was no breaking of the Law, (the law being “nailed to the cross”), he did not feel guilty, and didn’t make much of it. But when his wife found out, she decided to divorce him: not because he broke the seventh commandment, but because of “infidelity”… When she told me what happened, and her plans to divorce, I was shocked. I tried my hardest to convince her not to do it. I talked to her about forgiveness in Christ, I asked her to consider the future of her kids without their dad, but to no avail. I finally mentioned God’s commandment found in Matthew 19:6 which says: “… What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” When she heard that, she said: “Brother Daniel, I can’t keep the Law! I’ve got to go through with the divorce; I don’t want to be under the curse of the Law, there’s nothing worse than that! But God will take care of me and the kids…” So, here they were: four people, saved and “free from the curse of the Law”, and very much cursed by the misinterpretation of one bible verse. Now, is this what the Apostle Paul is teaching in verse 10? Absolutely not! Here, in order to build his case against circumcision, the apostle is quoting the text from Deuteronomy 28:15. “… IF THOU WILT NOT HEARKEN UNTO THE VOICE OF THE LORD THY GOD, TO OBSERVE TO DO ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY; THAT ALL THESE CURSES SHALL COME UPON THEE, AND OVERTAKE THEE:” And from verse 16 to verse 68, God pronounces 53 curses against those WHO WILL NOT “observe all his commandments and his statutes”: Thus, (Paul) is implying that if you want to be circumcised in order to be “right with God”, then you need to keep the rest of the “Sacrificial and Ceremonial Laws”. A short overview of the Laws given to the people of Israel by God looks like this: 1. Religious Laws: A) Moral, B) Regarding Tithes and Offerings, C) Sacrificial, D) Ceremonial, A) Moral: a) The Ten Commandments (TTC) b) TTC Expanded B) Tithes and a) The Tenth Offerings, b) First fruits, c) Miscellaneous offerings, C) Sacrificial: a) Sin offerings, b) Peace offerings, c) Burnt offerings, d) Continual offerings, e) Drink offerings, f) Altars, g) Miscellaneous furniture, D) Ceremonial: a) Regarding the Levite priests, b) Regarding the people, c) The First Born, d) The Covenant of circumcision, e) Regarding the Temple/Tabernacle, f) The Feasts, etc. 2. Civil Laws: relating to the rights of the people, the conduct and relations between members of the family and of the community, including the king. 3. Criminal Laws: Same as above Now, the SACRIFICIAL AND CEREMONIAL LAWS make up the body of Law which Apostle Paul calls “the schoolmaster” which pointed to Christ: Galatians 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Today we have no use for circumcision, sin offerings, burnt offerings or any Ceremonial Laws: We have Christ; the Type met the Anti-type. After the Roman Conquest, the Jewish CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAWS had no “teeth”, and they were subject to the Roman Laws. No one could implement any of them, except with the approval of the Roman Governor, including Christ’s crucifixion. So, today the only valid Laws remaining are: The Moral Laws, including the Ten Commandments which Apostle James calls “The Royal Law” ( James 2:8), and Laws regarding the Tithes and Offerings. In support of this Apostle Paul makes the following statements in Romans Chapter 7: (7) “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (12) WHEREFORE THE LAW IS HOLY, AND THE COMMANDMENT HOLY, AND JUST, AND GOOD. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (22) FOR I DELIGHT IN THE LAW OF GOD AFTER THE INWARD MAN: (25) … SO THEN WITH THE MIND I MYSELF SERVE THE LAW OF GOD;” Amen.