Calv,One other thing brother, IF the law were still in effect, we'd die by it, that's it's purpose, "With the law comes sin, with sin death". Paul's HUGE admonition to the Galatians, please study Galatians IS THAT THEY RETURNED TO THE LAW. He said "After being saved by faith are you returning to the law", I mean just ask Paul what he thinks of the law, he even says "So is then the law sin"? And answers "by no means, if not for the law I would not know sin". EVERY world Religion lives by a law, one or the other, but still MERIT, one of my favorite sayings was from John Bunyon, he suffered horribly from Scrupulosity (Religious OCD), almost killed himself (Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners), his saying was simple, "MY Righteousness is in Heaven", so what did he mean, he simply meant that there is no righteousness in him, on his best day he violates the law (I think it's Heidelberg, yeah that one), where they go through the commandments, and then show many ways in which we violate each command, man you read that, trust me all self-sufficiency shall fall off, CHRIST IS MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, He didn't merely take the just punishment for my sins, but His righteousness was inputed to us the day we trusted in Him as Lord and SAVIOR, the Spirit applies His righteousness to us, our flesh is dead, but our spirits are alive, RIGHTEOUS, I know if we know our heart it's tough, but it's scripture.
I comment again only because its so dangerous, Paul said to those following the law "you have fallen from righteousness", not lost just not in grace as you are trying to merit Heaven instead of receiving it as a free gift from the finished, once for all finished work of Christ. And what's remarkable is that as we trust Christ, we hate sin! I've tried the exhaustive works life, it's awful, and I sinned more, but by Sola Fide I ended up doing much better.
Luther, when he was a Augustinian monk, brutalized himself, that's what they did, they ate bland food, slept on hard rock beds, they'd beat themselves, even lay naked in the snow, anything to "kill the flesh", he said if he stayed he'd probably have died. Anyways he said "Believing in Christ alone is much harder than all of my days in monkary". They asked Jesus, "What WORK shall we do"? Jesus said "Here is the work of the Father, TO BELIEVE ON THE ONE HE SENT". Please get this in your being.
There is a huge problem with church understanding of galations. Its not that they were wanting to return to the torah that was the issue, it was that they were returning to judaism and their oral law and traditions. This is the main subject both Yeshua and Paul come against over and over (NEVER THE TORAH). When you see "works of the law" it refers to oral law. Here is a verse that point out the problem:
Gal 4:9 But now after you have known Elohim, or rather are known by Elohim, how do you turn again to the weak and poor elementary matters,1 to which you wish to be enslaved again? Footnote: 1See v.3, Col. 2:8 & 20.
Which cross links to:
Col 2:8 See to it that no one makes a prey of you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary matters of the world,1 and not according to Messiah.
Col 2:20 If, then, you died with Messiah from the elementary matters1 of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations: Footnote: 1See v. 8, and Gal. 4:3 & 9.
If you truly believe in Yeshua and His words, you will do what He says:Col 2:20 If, then, you died with Messiah from the elementary matters1 of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations: Footnote: 1See v. 8, and Gal. 4:3 & 9.
Luk_6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Master, Master,’ and do not do what I say?1 Footnote: 1see vv. 47-49, Mt. 7:24-28, Lk. 8:21, John 3:36, Jas. 2:17-24.
Saying that keeping the torah for salvation is true. It is the narrow path to the Father after Yeshua restores you back to covenant. Saying you don't keep it means you are staying in sin, are not repentant, and deserve death.