Romans Chapter 7

Though I have found SMM to be doctrinally incorrect on a number of Bible issues when his traditions are evaluated "Sola scriptura" I have to agree with him on this point.

And here is proof of just "how clear" the Bible is on the subject of the saints under obligation to "keep the commandments of God".

Instead of “less obedience” to each commandment of Christ the Creator – God calls for “more”.

Instead of “less obedience” to each commandment of Christ the Creator – God calls for “more”. No wonder Paul says --

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.

Yes, lets let the scriptures speak for themselves.

Christ quotes from the 3rd commandment for the statement above.

Christ said that HIS commandment and the Father’s Commandment are one and the same

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.

Christ condemns those who would break the Commandments of God for the sake of man-made tradition –

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)

Why do the Gospel writers take such care to teach us what Christ commanded them?

Notice that John does not try to “divide God” as if God’s commandments are not Christ’s

As for Law and Grace -- Pauls words in Romans 2:13-16 come to mind relative to "justification".

Here the "New Covenant" promise of the "Law written on the heart" is clearly seen.

Is it any wonder that Paul writes

And James 2 tells us to live and act as those "Who are to be judged by God's Law of Liberty".

God is not "calling for rebellion against His Law" as many Christians today "suppose".

Nor is He "abolishing His law" so that only the lost are guilty of breaking it - but the saved can freely transgress and in fact are commanded not to regard it at all. Rather God declares that the name of God is profaned among the wicked by the breaking of His law among the saints. (in Romans 2)

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But some have argued that these saints under persecution keeping God’s commandments are a select few – and not really the larger group – of all Christians – in God’s planning. Is that true?

Isaiah 66 makes it clear regarding the “New Heavens and New Earth” also identified in Rev 20 -- “From Sabbath to Sabbath shall ALL Mankind come before Me to Worship”

How can Christ the Creator call for ALL mankind to honor Sabbath as a day of Worship like that in the New Earth? Surely the Sabbath will NOT be for all mankind since in fact it WAS only for the Jews – correct?

Christ the Creator addresses the point head-on

“The Sabbath WAS MADE for Mankind” Mark 2:27

From the very “making” of Christ the Creator’s Holy Day – it was “made for Mankind”

Ok – so “when did Christ the Creator MAKE it?”

Notice - Christ the Creator gave mankind the 7-day week in Gen 2:3. For it was ” Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made”. A 7-day week - not a 6-day week for mankind. Christ the Creator makes his holy 7th day memorial of His creative action in making mankind – “for mankind” when he MAKES it “holy” – sanctified in Gen 2:3 before the fall of mankind.

When God speaks directly to His people in Exodus 20 and summarizes that same Gen 1-2:3 event notice what Christ the Creator says of His own Holy day – Made Holy at HIS making of this planet and life on this planet – and mankind.

Exodus 20:8-11 summary of the Creation week "event" shows it to have been made holy, sanctified and blessed by virtue of God’s own act of resting – that “alone” is given as the basis for the command. The commandment is in the format “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy…For in Six days God…. Therefore He Blessed, sanctified and made holy the Seventh day”.

Here it is in full as – God framed it at Sinai speaking directly to the People of God, He said

</font>[/QUOTE]To those who enjoy glossing over the details in these texts of scripture I would just say "enjoy!"

In Christ,

Bob

 

ok.

lets look at it this way.

we have been freed from the law of sin and death - we can all agree on this. no? (romans 7)

now Christ has come and has died for our sins and that of the world and rose from the dead DEFEATING DEATH. (i dont know why i capitalized that - maybe it has some significance?)

now we take part in the "perfect law of liberty." i dont fully understand what that means yet... paul says the law is spiritual. it has been written on our hearts - which is part of the new covenant (jeremiah 31:31)

now that we are not under the law of sin and death - Christ demolished death - and now we have the perfect law of liberty - that which is written on our hearts - our conscience testifies.

that's how i see it a little bit...

SMM you said "This also applies in the case where the Civil Authorities tell you not to evangelize in Jesus Name or conduct a non-violent protest at an abortion clinic...

It may be permissible under God... It may even be directed under God... But, if you do it the Civil Authorities will prosecute you..."

nope - their not allowed to prosecute you - isn't it against the first ammendment? (that's what i've heard)

although i know you were probably just making a point with that...

God bless

 

Exactly!

Both the New "Covenant" and the Old "Covenant" have the TEN COMMANDMENT law of God.

2Cor 3 makes this clear. In the Old Covenant (NOT to be confused with the Old Testament) it is EXTERNAL and merely on stone tablets. Under that Covenant the rule is "OBEY and LIVE". Adam was the first to LIVE under that covenant and the first to fail it.

All fallen humanity are merely "condemned" to this very day by that covenant.

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The NEW Covenant as you point out in the OLD Testament has the Ten Commadments - written "ON TABLETS of the Human HEART" (2Cor 3) as opposed to merely being EXTERNAL.

So as James 2 says we are to live and act as those who ARE to be judged BY that "Law of Liberty" that says "Do not steal" etc.

The New Covenant promise in Jeremiah shows how it works - it writes God's LAW in the heart - the NEW creation desires harmony with the perfect sinless Character of Christ! So when we do sin - we come to Him in repentance.

In Christ,

Bob