First of all, James/DD, I was still working on my to Grasshopper when you posted, so I was not aware that you had actually come up with something we could deal with. Now...
Originally posted by Daniel David:
Oh, I almost forgot.
Jesus did away with the law as the means to convict people of sin. As Helen pointed out, the law was given to show people their sin.
Christ knew that the law was going away. So what did Christ say about what would convict the world of sin?
Yep, you probably guessed it:
And when He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will CONVICT THE WORLD OF SIN, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
I love how the Scriptures are so complete and truth is so easily seen in its pages. [/QB]
Well now, how about that? Paul didn't even know that. Read Romans 7. Too bad you weren't around to instruct him, too, James.
The purpose of the law is to expose sin. To define it. The Holy Spirit does not doe that. Rather, He convicts. There is a difference.
What the Holy Spirit does is, in the Greek,
elencho, meaning to rebuke, convict, prove guilty, show fault.
What the law does is to define what sin is. You can be convicted because of the definition of what sin is; and for this the law is necessary. But in the same way we have judges, lawyers, and juries to decide guilt or innocence in regard to the law, the Holy Spirit, acting as the entire judiciary, convicts -- again in regard to the Law. The functions are different and should not be confused.
If the Law was gone, there would be no standard by which to convict anyone of sin.
Now, let's consider your points:
Where did Christ CHANGE the law?
1. Jesus expanded the definition of murder to include even contempt and hate. Mt. 5:21-22
I already dealt with this. This is not a change. This is an explanation. Don't get the two confused. The Jews were big on outward appearances; Jesus was telling them that that was not sufficient.
2. Jesus expanded the definition of adultery to include even lust and remarriage (without argument to the exception clause). Mt. 5:27-32
same as above
3. Jesus revoked the "eye for an eye" law. Mt. 5:38
If you understood the history here, you would not see this as a change. When we look at the cultures of the time, they were all cultures where one man decided the law on the basis of only himself. Thus a cupbearer could be put to death if a hair was in the cup. "Eye for an eye; tooth for a tooth" was a LIMIT on the punishments which could be meted out by the judiciary/priests. The punishment had to fit the crime. In Matt. 5:38, Jesus was not changing the law. That stood. He did, however, raise the standard of behavior where His followers were concerned -- we are to forgive, turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile. We are to do as He did. This does NOT negate the law. The law is the base line. It stays. Asking someone to live according to a higher standard does not change that law.
4. Jesus changed the method and place of worship. John 4:22-24
I do not see anywhere in the Ten Commandments where the place of worship is defined. What change?
5. Jesus did away with the 10 commandments. Mt. 22:37 (Note that the Deut. passage which Jesus quotes says nothing of it being the greatest commandment. It is just as important as the law forbidding mixed clothing materials.)
Jesus did NOT do away with the Ten Commandments here! He stated the basis for them. He stated that rather clearly in saying "All the Law and the Prophets hand on these two commandments." If the Law was gone, done away with, then not only was He lying in Matthew 5, but there was nothing to hang onto those two great commandments! They are a foundatio of nothing!
6. Jesus removed dietary restrictions. Mt. 15:10-11
This is ludicrous to use this verse for this purpose. Jesus was talking about uncleanliness, and its origin spiritually. It is not from food but from the heart. This was in response, by the way, to the accusation that the disciples did not wash ceremonially before eating. This was a Pharisaical rule, having nothing to do at all with God's law. Jesus was putting aside the nonsense the Pharisees were propagating, not changing the Law He established. Reading in context is such a great thing, James!
7. Jesus changed the method of discipline. Mt. 18
And where is the method of discipline you are talking about here? (I am scared to death someone is actually teaching you this garbage in a school; I would much rather you were making it up yourself and it was confined to you!)
8. Jesus did away with divorce as an option for believers (hard hearted Jews could do it in the old covenant). Mt. 19:4-8
Wrongo. Interesting you stopped your reference just before verse 9!
9. Jesus did away with the entire old covenant. Heb. 8:13 (In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.)
A covenant is an agreement. The Law is the Law. Because of Christ we have a new agreement with God, in Christ. However that does not change the Law the Lord established in the first place. He stated quite clearly this would not pass away until heaven and earth pass away. The old covenant was an agreement UNDER the Law. The New Covenant is an agreement IN Christ. The latter far exceeds the former in value, but it does not negate the former until it finally is gone, when heaven and earth are destroyed. You avoided quoting the last part of the verse you referenced, which says just that: "and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear." It has not disappeared yet. It is obsolete. It is aging. It is not yet gone or changed.
It just will be. Later.
10. Jesus did away with the old covenant priesthood. Heb. 7
The priesthood was not part of the law. It was part of the establishment of the theocracy of Israel thousands of years ago. You are getting these things mixed up.
11. Jesus did away with the old covenant sacrifices. Heb. 9-10
This, too, was only for the theocracy of Israel. It is not something all men will be judged by, certainly! The Law itself is for those who are not believers.
Do not mix up God's establishment of a theocracy and the rules He gave them to govern by with the Law established by God for all people who have ever lived, that same law written on the consciences of those who have never heard it -- see Romans 2.
