Subject: Raven, do you want ALL the Law? |
Bible Note: Joe, My short answer is that there is law for Christians - the law of love found in Christ. Christ is God and therefore He is the purest reflection of God's moral character. If He is in us, yes, He will reflect God's character - it would be impossible for Him to do otherwise. Love fulfills all the law. My point is that the believer is no longer under any of the Mosaic Law. I believe you agree with that. As new creations in Christ, we should reflect His moral perfection. But it is a result of who we are in Him, not a striving to obtain something to make us acceptable. Therefore, when a Christian sins, he is going against the Spirit of Christ in him and against the new creation he is in Christ. But the Mosaic Law is not the answer. The Law was never given to make men perfect, it was given to show that God alone is perfect and, if we are going to be, we must be united with Him. The Mosaic Law is a negatively-based explanation of the royal, the perfect law of love. If I loved perfectly (as God does), I will worship God alone. If I love perfectly, I will not commit adultery. If I love perfectly, I will not lie. If I love perfectly, I will not steal from others, etc. But because we are not born with this capability to love, God had to state His character as a negative reflection of who His is. That Law, which Paul calls the ministry of death and condemnation, was given to show man his spiritual deadness (separation from the life and love of God) and his inability to be like God. This should force him to come to Christ so that Christ, through the law of love written on our new hearts, can manifest the character of God in us. So the Christian is under law - the law of love. But it is not the Law of Moses. Hope this helps, brother. ChristLifer2001 |