Subject: Why ask Why? Why ask Where? |
Bible Note: Hey Doc ... What I see focuses on the other half of the scriptures you're citing. What you have to say is right on the money, but only half correct according to what I see. For example: "If there were no law, there would be no sin (Romans 7:7). Now, day by day, when I do fail, His mercies are renewed morning by morning (2 Cor 4:16). I am reminded each time I fall down that I still need a Savior!" When Paul talks about the law identifying sin, it is precisely his point that we are not under the law anymore. If we are not under the law, sin cannot be identified, and thus we live. If we put ourselves back under the law, sin is revived and we die. Thus: Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. This is one scripture of many, and I will apologize and excuse myself from making reference citations. It's 2:30 am, and I'm typing in the dark. All in all, what I see is that we had the law, and we all needed the law in order to die. Now that we are dead, we are alive again in the resurrection through baptism (water or spiritual is a conversation for another day). But it is not we that live, but Christ that lives in us. Having become dead to the law, we are now free to be saved by the grace of Christ. Having become one flesh with him through marriage, it is not really we that stand before God on the Day of Judgment, but Christ that stands in our stead, because he and we are one person. Hence "we are the body of Christ." This is why it is his righteousness we stand on, and not that of the law. If there had been a law that could have made us righteous, then righteousness would have come by the law. But there was no such law, so our righteousness comes by Christ, by grace through faith. If we try to justify ourselves according to the law, which equates to little more than the deeds of the flesh, then we trade salvation for damnation. Christ is become of no effect to you, whosoever of you are justified by the law. You are fallen from grace. Since our salvation is by grace, to be fallen from grace is a clear indication of a loss of salvation, because we trade the justification of our marriage and oneness with Christ for our own sense of justification under the law, and therein do we perish. The law we are now subject to is brotherly love. All the law and prophets are dependant upon love for their existence; the goal of the Apostles' instruction was love from a pure heart, clear conscience, and sincere faith; there is no commandment we have that is not summed up by love; love fulfills the law; if we love one another, we walk in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in us. In other words, love is the point. Love is the law, and the law means to love. The OT law was designed for a single purpose: To teach the loveless how to love. When Jesus died, the written law that was contrary to us (for the written law identifies and revives sin within us) was nailed to the cross with him, giving us freedom. Freedom to sin? Absolutely not. As you say, we should keep the moral laws. But by what standard? Not by the letter. You'll fail time and again. You keep the moral law (The law of Christ) by the spirit of the law which is love. Love one another as he loved us, and in so doing, you will not stumble. There is plenty that I can say, but these posts are of limited space. What I'm getting at is that the letter of the law is not the point. Love, which is the spirit of the law (or the force that sets it in motion), is what we need to be following. Every command we have must be summed up by love. If it is not, then it is not a real commandment, because such a commandment not founded in love is contrary to scripture. I'll gladly talk about this as much as you like if you're open-minded and willing to take this to conclusion. I don't want to discuss it anymore, however, if the topic is going to be restricted, banned, or anything else, and I don't want to argue with a wall (not to suggest that you are that way). I'll concede to reasonable points, and I'll expect the same from you if we discuss it. Thanks for your reply. Theo-Minor |