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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How do we attain righteousness? | Matthew | Dave R. | 39680 | ||
Hello, Magnum, You and I have been asking Lion similar questions about how it is best to live in the kingdom of God as Jesus described it. I have been pressing Lion about life after the transaction of faith in Christ. Lion is right on all counts, I believe, but he hasn't reconciled the "how to" in sanctification. Not that I have by any stretch, but my sense is, we are missing out (as you described in your post) by not pursuing righteousness because of a static, sort of bar code faith transaction. I know that's not what Lion espouses, but in all the posts I've read from him concerning life after salvation, he gets 100 percent in all the ought tos but waxes anemic on the how to for the ought tos. I agree with you that the Holy Spirit empowers, guides, teaches and motivates us to live according to Gods law. I also believe the law in and of itself will collapse under its own steam if it is obeyed too rigidly. I believe the law, like the kingdom of God, is spiritual and can only be effectively obeyed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It's not hard to draw examples where the Law as delivered by Moses falls down when left to mans interpretation. Just look at how the Sabbath was defined out of existence by those who originally (and I believe sincerely) were doing their best to honor God by keeping it Holy. Eventually, the definitions offered up by men start to overlap and defeat each other. The other side of the coin is a looser interpretation more in the "spirit" of the law that eventually gives in to licentious behavior. Sin affects all aspects of our ability to live under the Law without the forgiveness of sin through our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, through His Spirit, we can live the "good life" (which, contrary to popular belief, is not found at Sears for less) as we purpose to grow in relationship to Him. What do you think? In Christ, Dave R. |
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2 | How do we attain righteousness? | Matthew | Magnum | 39758 | ||
Dear Dave, This is a question I have been asking myself, and studying at length lately. Some of the things I've had to overcome before even starting to look at this questions is some of the teaching and doctorine that I have been exposed to over the years. I have had the pleasure over the last few years to learn under Messianic Rabbi, this has helped me to understand the "Law" in light of the Hebraic teaching and understanding, and not the Greek Hellenisitc slant that started to creep into the early church, starting in the second century. The one thing that I learned is that the word "Law" is a mistranslation of the Hebrew word Torah which means teaching or instruction,quite a contrast to "Law" which carries many negative overtones. The Rabbi pointed out to me it never was G*ds intention to write his "Laws" on tablets of stone, but on the hearts of his children. Notice in Exodus 20:18-20 in verse 19 they said to Moses, "You, speak to us; and we will listen. But don't let G*d speak with us, or we will die." Notice that people didn't want to hear directly from G*d, that way they, If they heard it second hand so to speak they had an excuse for not obeying. And so it is today when people teach against being obedient to G*ds "Law" today. We should want to obey G*d because we love him, not because we have to (Legalism) Jesus never taught against the Torah, quite the opposite he was Torah observant, and came not to fulfill the "Law" but to fill it with his spirit. In Matthew 5:19 Jesus says "So whoever disobeys the least of these commandments(mitzvot/good deeds)and teaches others to do so will be least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven." notice that your salvation is not in jeopardy for not obeying, just your standing in the Kingdom. We don't follow the Torah for salvation,it was never for salvation, G*d has always saved by Grace and Faith(Trusting in him.) The Torah is that mirror we look into, if we dare, to see the areas in our life that we need the help and power of the Holy Spirit to mold and change us into a more Christ like believer. In Yeshua (Christ) Magnum | ||||||
3 | How do we attain righteousness? | Matthew | Dave R. | 39821 | ||
Well said, Magnum. It sounds very interesting to me the learning you are experiencing with the Messianic Rabbi. I would add to your insightful post that any language, as a tool fashioned by man for his purposes, will have a certain slant, especially cultural. Regarding your comment about the Hellinistic slant in the New Testament Greek, I'm confident the Holy Spirit took that into consideration! God bless you, brother. Dave R. |
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