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NASB | Exodus 1:1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; they came each one with his household: |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Exodus 1:1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; each came with his household: |
Subject: Is the Christian under Law? |
Bible Note: Dear Steve, Here are your answers (in brief): 1. See John 16:8-11. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and righteousness and judgement. But notice what the sin is in vs. 9 - the world doesn't believe in Christ. This is why people go to hell. Because they don't accept Christ. 2. I already stated what God wants. He desires a people that have Himself living in them as Adam and Eve did. God has made man in such a way that we are design to 'run on God.' He wants to be our source for life and everything we need and are. And, brother, look at Matthew 5:18, ALL OF IT, Christ says, "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law UNTIL all is accomplished." Did Christ accomplish the fulfillment of the law? If He did, if it is truly "finished" as He said, then He had every right to bring in the New Covenant and make the Law obsolete. As far as the Law goes, Christ did fulfill it. He was not saying that the Law would pass away until heaven and earth do. He was saying that the Law would not pass away until He fulfilled it - until the Law was accomplished. He said, "I did not come to abolish (destroy) the Law, but to fulfill it." Steve, did Christ do it? If He did, and He is our righteousness, then why are you trying to fulfill it? Do you honestly believe that you can? Yes, I am equating the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil with the Law. And, yes, the Old Testament saints you mention did know right from wrong. However, I miss the point of your question. 3. As for Rom 2:20, Paul is using sarcasm on the Jews who felt they were righteous by holding the Law above everything else, including Christ. He says in vs. 17: They rely upon the Law (not Christ) and boast in God saying, "WE know His will, WE are the ones who approve what's essential because the Law taught us. WE are a guide to the blind, WE are a light to those in darkness. WE are the correctors of the foolish, teachers of the immature. WE have the Law, which is the entire embodiment of knowledge and truth." How ludicrous. Christ is the embodiment of all knowledge and truth, is He not? These were the claims of the self-righteous Pharisees, the keepers of the Law. They felt that they had (and kept) the Law so they required nothing else. These were not Paul's claims. Paul said that if he boasted, it would be in Christ alone. Rom 5:20 - The Law did make transgressions increase. Paul solidifies this in Rom 7:7-9. Rom 6:14 - Again, brother, "you are not under law but under grace." Rom 7:12 - I agree 150 percent, the Law is holy, and righteous, and good. But it has done it's job in my life. It showed me as being utterly sinful and that I could never keep it. It showed me my need for Christ. But I no longer need it. I have something better than commandments written on stone. I have Christ in my heart. I need Christ and Him alone. In closing, let me say that I've enjoyed this discourse. But, I have to wonder, did you even read my last post? What do you do with all those Scriptures from Galatians and Romans that say we are not under the Law? Do you dismiss them? What about the marriage analogy Paul uses? Perhaps you misunderstand me. I am not anti-Law. It's not a matter of what OT laws I like or don't like. It's a matter of the fact that I am joined, not to the Law, but to Christ. If I died tomorrow, what bearing would the laws of the United States have on me? None. I would be dead and no longer bound by the laws. It's the same for the Christian. Christ has, through His death and our union with Him in it, caused us to be dead to the law. It's not that I don't like the Law. Indeed, I am thankful for the Law. I agree with what Paul says in Romans 7:7 - I wouldn't have known what sin was without the Law. Steve, the sinner, the unbeliever needs the Law to show him his need for Christ. What I am saying is that, once we except Christ, we no longer need the Law as a tutor. I have shown you numerous Scriptures to support this statement. I'm not making it up. I tried to 'keep the Law' as a Christian for 30 years of my life. And, no matter how hard I tried, it was never good enough. Their was always some area of my life where I didn't measure up, where I fell short. But, then, as a Christian, I came to Jesus for HIS life, not my own. Christ is now my life. Do I still sin? Yes, when I walk after my flesh. But I stand before a holy, righteous God not in my own efforts. I stand by faith in Christ and Him alone. Dear brother, I pray that you will search again the Scriptures that I have shared with you and rest in what your wonderful Lord has done. In Christ, Bill Mc |