Results 1 - 4 of 4
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | DocTrinsograce | 125663 | ||
The book of Hebrews is all about the superiority of Christ. Hebrews 11 is known as a "Hall of Fame." Each of these people of great faith received salvation in the same way that we do today (see Romans 4). Yet we can look back at the historical fulfillment of our hope, Jesus Christ. Thus, we have greater reason to persevere! | ||||||
2 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | Country Girl | 126986 | ||
I've been having a rather interesting and stimulating discussion with Kalos and a few others about the applicability of the OT to us as modern christians. I've been using this Book of Hebrews and its discussion on this superiority in contrast to the OT as one of my main supports. Although I have tremendous respect and love for the OT, it all boils down (at least to me) to the fact that there is currently no applicable authority in the OT as it applies to our modern form of worship, God's plan of salvation through His Son or the actual mechanics of running and organizing the church in this dispensation. Thus I've been saying (and have received much flak for it) that the OT is obsolete with its emphasis on the sacrifices of animals, the Levitical Priesthood, allowing men an easy out for divorce, and allowing a man to lust for a women as long as he doesn't commit adultery. This indicates just how spiritually immature mankind was in that dispensation and thus why the OT should be considered obsolete. Again, I wish to emphsize the tremendous value we have in the OT. It shows us like no other resource the tremendous love and patience our God has for all of us mankind. The OT shows the tremendous lengths and great strides our Lord went through to try to get to His children (Jews). This reflects the fact that He really wants to get through to us but NOW He chooses to do so through His Son. I guess my main point is that God wants to give His Son ALL the prominence in this dispensation and thus had the OT nailed to the cross when Jesus was crucified. That's why we as God's obedient children must give Christ the preiminence by worshiping Him on Sunday, the first day of the week and NOT any other day like the Sabbath. Although it's a tough thing for some people to do, in my opinion we should learn to give up our love affair with the OT and put its AUTHORITY on a shelf and move on with modern christianity as described in the NT. What do think about this subject? Blessings to you. Country Girl |
||||||
3 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | Ancient | 126992 | ||
Country Girl, I am in agreement with you. As opposed to the Old Testament being a valid covenant, the New Testament scripture clearly states time and again that we are not under the Law (Law of Moses/Old Covenant). Do we all continue to go to school once we've received the sought after degree? The Law, by comparison, was the professor of Righteousness and Redeption 101. Christ came and gave us our degree. [Galatians 3:24-25] Now we are professors of Perfection and Purity 201. Use math as an example of how the law works and where it falls into our current usage. In practical life, we take basic math, moved up to advanced math, and eventually undertake the difficult tasks of geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. While learning basic math, we struggle to grasp the concepts. We are young, and our minds have trouble wrapping around the idea. In time, though, we learn what our teachers were trying to impart. When our studies lead us as far as trigonometry and calculus, we still use basic math! But basic math is not a thing we think about. It is something that is deeply ingrained, and something we just understand. Half the time I don't even think about why 12 plus 12 is 24 anymore. It just is. I understand why it is, but could no more explain it to a child than I could explain the complexities of why the sky is blue. I just understand it and apply it to the practical application of calculus. It is the calculus I am trying to understand instead of the basic math, in other words. Basic math still has its place, but it is not something I need to focus on in light of the far superior methods of higher calculation. The irony of the Law and the New Covenant of Jesus Christ is that it all worked in the reverse order of my above example. It started with calculus and ended with basic math. We had laws for everything under the sun, including not muzzling the ox, not tripping the blind, not going back for every grape, etc. There were also variables, like "just in case" sacrifices for those that think they "might" have sinned. Defining the full extent of the law was in all ways an impossible task. This is the reason we all failed, just as a first grader would have failed at calculus. Then came Jesus, the amazing mathematician, who looked at the whole thing, knew the pattern inherently, and said, "you know what people, this calculation, when fully solved, equates to 1 plus 1 equals 2." The equation of the Law, represented by the Old Covenant, is equivelent to 1 plus 1 equals 2. Love God with all your mind, heart, soul, and strength plus Love your neighbor as yourself equals the fulfillment of the Law which is the solution to the equation. Now that we have been reduced to basic math, we no longer need to fear error. In all the equations of life, 1 plus 1 is going to equal 2. "This person is doing this to me. What is the solution? I will look to God and love this person as myself, and this is the correct solution to my problem." "Is this thing I am inclined to do a sin? Since I don't know, let me break out my equation breaker. Does this thing go against loving God? Does this thing go against loving my neighbor? Okay then ... Love plus Love equals fulfilled. Problem solved." The Old Testament, in short, has not really gone away, but it is no longer relevent. We couldn't grasp the lessons of the complicated math, so we were given the simple solution to summarize it. Now that we have the answer, this solution is all encompassing, and we have no real need to go back to complicated math, except as a matter of higher learning to better understand the simple but absolute solution to the complicated equation. All scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. [2 Tim 3:16-17] If you put yourself back under the law (i.e. try to solve the equation yourself instead of accepting the simple solution given), you are doomed to failure. They couldn't figure out the solution, and neither can we. Jesus gave us the solution, so let us trust in his math skills. These are my casual thoughts on the subject. If you wish deeper discussion, I'll gladly oblige. There is a great deal more I can say to further support this scriptural truth. Love to you sister, Ancient |
||||||
4 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | Country Girl | 127001 | ||
I like to think of this process with a little more accurate or at least more applicable comparison between our relationship of mankind to our Father to the relationship between an earthly parent and his/her kids. All parents experience the rearing and training necessary in our homes with kids. They start out in diapers but don't stay there for very long. Before you know iti they're running around all over the house, touching and playing with all of our favorite trinkets and treasured possessions on our coffee tables and other easy accessible places in our homes. So we say No, No and lightly slap their hands. They persist and sooner or later we have to learn and re-train ourselves to put things out of their reach. Finally, they grow up big enough to be potty trained and must now learn to pick up their toys. We as parents have to be very specific and tell them over and over again, giving much love and an ocassional spat on their backsides. Then they grow and learn to make up their beds and pick up their clothes. Eventually they take on more and more responsibilities, like mowing the lawn and cleaning the garage for which they expect an allowance. Finally, we see them graduate high school, tackle a real full time job and maybe even go to college. Ah, yes parenting...what a ride. It was so much fun, while it lasted. Now that we're "empty nesters," we get philosophical and talk over the old days. AND think about how our Lord did the same thing with us as his children, all mankind throughout history. Talk about the patience of Job; how incredibly patient our Lord has been. In spite of all the bad history of this planet, as documented both in our Bibles as well as our archeology, we still insist on following the footsteps of the Roman Empire and endanger the very future of this great and wonderful nation. Yet your analogy is also quite good. God does expect us to graduate from the elementary school of the Law of Moses and move on to the truly spiritual world of christianity. Better than that He really wants us to learn to prefer His spiritual world completely by leaving this physical world BUT of course He wants us to do this at HIS timing. It's a difficult thing to grasp and only after much experience, pain and suffering that God allows to temper our attitude so that we do grow up to be a little closer to God's standard as He sent to us, His Son. Thanks for your post and blessings to you. Country Girl |
||||||