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I'm not BroBob, but welcome to the BB anywho!Originally posted by Heavenly Pilgrim:
Hi Brother Bob,
Thanks for the link. I read all your comments but just glanced at all the references. Very interesting indeed. As time permits, we are bound to have some interesting discussions.
John said, 1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” It would seem more in keeping with truth to say, all have sinned, than to make the law impossible to keep. One might say, all have violated the law, yet that is a far cry from saying the law is impossible to keep. If not one man ever kept the law, that in no wise proves the impossibility of keeping it, any more than if no one has ever climbed a mountain proves that it cannot be climbed.
I guess these might perhaps qualify, but I actually had a couple of others in mind, considering the OP topic, however. Keep watching for any other responses. We'll see who some others might suggest, assuming they happen to agree with me on this.Originally posted by Dustin:
Ed, you mean like Job, or Stephen the first martyr?
And you said..."Do you agree with this statement:
Those whom God chooses are the "whosoeverwills".
I'm not argueing against any of that.Again if we're spiritually dead in our sins, how can we WILL to believe in Christ? If we, by nature, will not seek God, how can we do so without God changing our hearts, and unstopping our ears, and unblinding our eyes? WE cannot make that change, only God can.
"No" to what?"no, and nither is your hypocrisy...."
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. (Gal. 3:19-25, NKJV)
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the[n] two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Gal 4:21-25, NKJV)
Why would anyone set free free in Christ want this at all? "Ah 'on't get it!"desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, (I Tim> 1:7-10, NKJV)
Well spiritually speaking, I think that alot of Christians think that they dont have to actually "do" anything. But the Bible says "we are laborers together with God".Originally posted by Brother Bob:
Can any of you identify with me? I just planted some cucumber plants. I first had to take wheelbarrow and go to neighbors house to get some cow manure (fertilizer).Then I clean out a spot in garden, dug some holes and filled halfway with manure, cover with dirt then put in the cucumber plants. I then put more dirt and topped off with more manure. I almost guarntee their success but waiting on God to give the increase. Oh, I did water them also.![]()
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Instead of “less obedience” to each commandment of Christ the Creator – God calls for “more”.The pre-cross Commandments of Christ the Creator were to be kept by Christ’s followers.
John 14:15 ”If you love Me keep My commandments”
These are the Words of Christ the Creator as He quotes from the 2nd commandment.
But what exactly did these pre-cross words of Christ “mean” to His Jewish followers – the “primary audience” that exegesis would have us consider?
Lets see if we can discover that by looking at some more statements found in God’s Word.
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Matt 5:17-22
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Instead of “less obedience” to each commandment of Christ the Creator – God calls for “more”. No wonder Paul says --Matt 5:27-28 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
So lets see. The law will not change in even the minutest way, till heaven and earth pass. Anyone who breaks the law, and teaches others to do so, will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. Thinking about committing sin is now just like actually committing the sin. Ah, the law has been magnified. Christ came and fulfilled the law, observing all of it’s commands, even in thought, not just action.Romans 3:31 “Do we then abolish the Law of God by our faith? God forbid! In fact we Establish the Law of God”
Christ quotes from the 3rd commandment for the statement above.John 15:10-11 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 14:15 (quoting from the 10 commandments) “IF you love Me Keep My commandments”
Notice that John promotes this theme not only with his recording the pre-cross statements of Christ the hCreator – but also the post –cross teaching.John 12:50
"I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me."
Christ condemns those who would break the Commandments of God for the sake of man-made tradition –I Jn 2:3-4 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Matt 19:17 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Christ’s followers continue to keep the Sabbath commandment after His command that they should “Love Me and Keep My Commandments” John 14:15 (quoting from the 3rd commandment in Exodus 20)Matthew 15:3
And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
Why do the Gospel writers take such care to teach us what Christ commanded them?Luke 23:56
Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Notice that John does not try to “divide God” as if God’s commandments are not Christ’sMatt 28:
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
As for Law and Grace -- Pauls words in Romans 2:13-16 come to mind relative to "justification".I Jn 5:2-3 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Rev 12:17 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev 14:12 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 22:14 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Here the "New Covenant" promise of the "Law written on the heart" is clearly seen.Romans 2
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
And James 2 tells us to live and act as those "Who are to be judged by God's Law of Liberty"."Do we then make void the Law of God by our faith? God forbid! In fact we Establish the Law" Rom 3:31
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Exodus 20:
8 ""Remember The Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 "" Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
11 "" For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed The Sabbath day and made it holy.