No one on this thread has suggested that the law can save anyone. The question is though, if you are not seeking to keep God's law, what reason do you have to suppose that you have Christ?
' Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out emons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practise lawlessness!"' (Matt 7:21-23).
The will of the Father is that we keep His law. If we disregard His law then ipso facto we are practising lawlessness.
N.B. Don't trust the NIV reading of verse 23. It's not 'evildoers,' it's 'You who practise lawlessness.'
Steve
Hello Steve, I have to admit that I am a little disappointed that this conversation has been what appears to me to be a little misleading.
Okay, I would like to ask how you view this passage:
Acts 15
King James Version (KJV)
1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Now in trying to bring the relation of God's will before and after the law was given, meaning the First Covenant, we understand that circumcision is found in both periods.
The phrase "after the manner of Moses" is used here, so we can look at this as these men were trying to impose the "keeping of the Law." Again, I point out that Abraham also was commanded to circumcise, so we have precedence and can view this beyond just the Levitical Economy, but understand it was God's will that this be carried out.
First question would be...are we as Christians to carry this practice out? If not...why not?
See what I mean about the conversation being at cross purposes?
5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Now what is in view here? Is Paul upset that these believing Pharisees sought to teach Gentiles...the law of God?
6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Absolutely amazing...they had to consider it.
What is more amazing is what follows:
7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Sounds good, but Peter would in the future play the hypocrite, and not adhere to what he is saying here.
8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
I cannot understand why it would be thought irreverent to call God by the name which He is given in many places?
Anyway, here we see that in view are born again believers among the Gentiles.
9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
There is neither Jew nor Greek. All are saved the same way, right?
And...drumroll please (lol):
10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
What was it that the fathers nor they could bear?
5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
11But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
My primary point is this, brother Steve: it must be priority that if we seek to teach concerning the Law of God, we do not confuse the matter so that the kind of argument seen here, which technically we might say has both sides saying something that is true, and even embraced by both sides.
A simple "What we are talking about is that as believers we still believe firmly that we are not to murder, lie, steal...et cetera," would have put the issue to rest and from there a study which mught have edified all could have commenced.
Of course both sides believe the above, of course both sides believe that salvation is through the grace of God (we hope), so where does the argument begin? And I will ask that question without comment, my friend.
12Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Now here is an event that is seldom duplicated among Christians (on the forums...lol)...they kept silence, and gave audience...lol.
And if you don't mind, I will skip to the actual passage I originally intended to post, as I am out of time:
23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
Much could be said here, but I will await your response.
28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
As just a last bit of commentary, on my part, I would suggest there is a reason in which it was not decided by the Council to throw in "Do not Kill, Steal, Murder..."
...because it was not decided by the Council. It was made known to them by the Holy Ghost...God.
When the nature of man is changed in the new birth, and, as you have stated, "the law of God is written on our hearts," it is our nature to know these things, and I can guarantee not one person here will say, "I have license to sin."
But, as the OP is misleading, whether intentional or not I cannot say, what the Holy Spirit will provoke within our hearts is a rejection of vague references to keeping the law.
If this had been done, there would have been more unity among those here. That is my belief, anyway.
God bless.