Bible Discussion Thread Page 2

Hello William. You wrote, "We are called to obey God not to be saved but because we love God and want to please Him." I believe that to be able to truly love God & desire to please Him with our lives, must first require that we accept His Offer of Salvation - i.e. to be saved. If we're not saved through Christ's Blood, how is it possible to truly love God & please Him? History has shown that Israel tried to do this, to love God & please Him being given all the Laws to enable that to happen, even with God's pleadings by the mouths of the prophets. And you know what resulted from all that: they did not succeed, nor was God pleased with their efforts & they suffered.

But under the New Covenant, we read, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." ( Romans 8:3,4). Would you agree that it's the "righteousness of God's Law" within us by His Spirit that now makes us acceptable to the Father? Though I might write to you as one of those "minister wolves", I do so, not to antagonize or condemn, but for consideration of the greater worth of the New Covenant in Christ's Blood over the Old Law that failed because of man's inability to keep it. Anyone who wants to observe the Law to the letter to please God, will always fail & Christ's shed Blood has no efficacy towards his quest. But if any realize that there can be no salvation (& pleasing God) by Law observance, will find the liberty in Christ & the power of His Spirit, to fully meet the righteous requirements of God's Law written in our hearts. If & when we fail (sin), we know that we can find forgiveness, unlike the Jew who was severely punished. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." ( Galatians 5:1).

Hi Chris This is what Paul dealt with all the time because he understood the age of Grace also completed

all the law because the law of Love in Christ it agapeo is above the Written law given to Israel to get them to

taste Gods Original Intent Mathew 22:36-40

Walking by the Spirit fulfills Mathew 22:36-40 includes the

Sabbath no matter which one you pick Colossians 2:16-20. Galatians 3 Whole Chapter IT IS WRITTEN. Sort

of a brief Synopsis. In the Book of Acts they fellowshipped daily house to house and evangelized everywhere

including the temple on their sabbath.

Hello Rick. That's interesting that you mention Colossians 2:16-20. In the sermon this morning, I was directed to Colossians 2:12-15 - verses just before the ones you gave. It came as a confirmation of what the New Covenant in Christ's Blood accomplished: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross". The Law as given was truly "holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good", but it failed to make a man righteous, rather to point him to his inability to keep it & his need of a Saviour.

Galatians 3:19-23: "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed."

And this faith that leads to salvation came after the work at the Cross was accomplished & the Holy Spirit was sent to give those earnestly seeking forgiveness, giving to them God's Grace & Faith to believe ( Ephesians 2:8). The Sabbath might be holy but if the Jewish rigidity of obedience is ascribed to it by Christians under the Blood, then both it & the whole Law nullifies one of the core accomplishments of the Cross: liberty to walk & obey in the Spirit & not by the letter.

Chris When we get either caught up or tied down to legalism mentally we cannot walk in freedom in

Christ Jesus Spiritually. If God new it wasn't good enough to get the inside job done why should we



believe otherwise. This is what Paul fought constantly because of unbelief, this guy many times in the

church epistles said Phil. 4:9, I am your example follow after me as I am of Christ!

Chris This statement blotting out the handwriting of ordinances refers to where in the old testament when a

person went into debt to another individual or declared bankruptcy it was posted on the gates of the city and

made public for all to see. Now if a friend would come by and would look at the note and go and pay the debt

then the note was folded over so people knew the debt was paid in full.

Jesus Christ blotted out by his sacrifice of himself all our past present and future mistakes nailing them

to the cross thereby removing the curse of the law. Basically all after being born again start with a clean slate

so to speak. Our debt or so to speak sin paid in full.

Amen Rick, well written. Yet, the matter of "the cross removing the curse of the law" & "after being born again start with a clean slate", might have bearing on what a believer should do when confronted with the Law in the Bible. Most will 'play safe' & want to obey the Law because it's in the Word after all, & the right thing to do before God. But the Scriptures tell us in Galatians 3:10,13, that the Law which is Holy from God, now becomes a curse to those still under it or those who put themselves there. And that Christ has redeemed us from that curse & by extension, has set us free ( Galatians 5:1).

Maybe, folk haven't thought it through when they say, 'I obey the Ten Commandments' or, "I follow God's Laws". I can understand what they mean, but theologically, it's a dangerous statement, because one cannot be "in Christ" & "under the Law" simultaneously. It's one or the other. If bound to the Law, judgement comes from that position. If bound to Christ, the Law & its curse are removed, we're set free, & we're led in newness of life in obedience & maturing by the Spirit.

Chris This is the reason that everywhere Paul preached followers of the circumcision or the jews would

come after him and talk people out of the grace. The leaders of the law wanted Paul dead.

Amen. Thank you Rick.