Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
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: Are Positional and Practical truths true |
Bible Note: You seemed to miss the point of my post. You said that our only duty was to know God/Christ better. I listed about 10 different verses which are clearly commandments in the New Testament of what a follower of Jesus Christ is to do. No, it is not done under our own power, but they are marks of a true believer. I have really gone down this road before on this thread, and (no offense) I think that a lot of this discussion could be eliminated by you going back and reading my response to your arguments. To briefly sum up, however, let me bring up a few things to clarify: 1. We are saved by grace, through faith, apart from works. This is the basis of our salvation, and it is completely a work of God (Ephesians 2:8,9). 2. We are saved for the purpose of glorifying God through our good works (Ephesians 2:10). 3. Law has never been a means to make one righteous, since all it does it shut man up under sin (Galatians 3:22) and reveal God's perfect standard for us (Psalm 19:7). The Law, while being perfect in itself, has never made anyone perfect (Hebrews 7:11, 18, 21). 4. The good works which God empowers us to do for His sake are marks of our new life in Christ. A "faith" that does not demonstrate itself in works over time is a dead faith, which does not save (James 2:14-26). Therefore, we are not saved BY works, but we are indeed saved UNTO good works. Are these works, accomplished by God in us and through us, contrary to God's law? I will extend the challenge to you that I did to others. Please show me ONE God-honoring work that we can do which is not in keeping with God's moral law. Paul, Peter, and James did not consider the law useless for the Christian. Not considering the Law obsolete, they preached the Law to believers: "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." --Romans 13:10 "If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,' you are doing well." --James 2:8 "Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law." --Romans 3:31 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH." --Ephesians 6:1-3 "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.'" --1 Peter 1:14-16 [Contrary to your ripping the OT reference out of its context, the "shall" here is not a declaration that we are to "claim," but rather a commandment for how we are to live our lives...i.e. "all your behavior." Please pay attention to the words around it and all becomes quite clear.] Lastly, we have the example of Christ Himself. How did He describe His perfect life? As "fulfilling" the law rather than "abolishing" it (Matthew 5:17-18) We should absolutely see Jesus as our example, but that example he set for us is complete and perfect obedience to the moral law of the Father. As Christians we still sin? What is sin? "Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness." --1 John 3:4 Sin is lawlessness. Sin is a lack of conformity to the law of God or a transgression of the law of God. Romans 3:20 tells us that it is precisely by the law that we know what sin is. The law may be written on the hearts of all human beings... "For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them" --Romans 2:14-15 ...but it is in perfect keeping with the written standard of behavior found in the Old Testament. Therefore, we know what sin is because of the moral law of God. That includes believers. NT sin is the same as OT sin because it is not in keeping with God's law. Adultery and stealing and murder and lying and idolatry and dishonor toward parents are still sins, because they violate the will of the Lawgiver. The law will forever reveal the character of God and the character of humanity in our continual falling short of it (James 2:10), causing the believer to contantly rely on God's grace and forgiveness. Law and gospel are interwoven throughout both Testaments, and the proper understanding of both and the uses of both is key to understanding Scripture. --Joe! |