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Conference yukon::christian_v7

Title:The CHRISTIAN Notesfile
Notice:Jesus reigns! - Intros: note 4; Praise: note 165
Moderator:ICTHUS::YUILLEON
Created:Tue Feb 16 1993
Last Modified:Fri May 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:962
Total number of notes:42902

651.0. "Which laws must be followed?" by --UnknownUser-- () Fri Jan 06 1995 19:14

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651.1AIMHI::JMARTINI lied; I hate the fat dinosaurFri Jan 06 1995 19:4715
    For a quick and incomplete answer, The Mosaic law is comprised of civil
    laws and ceremonial laws.  The ceremonial laws, i.e. the various
    feasts, the sacrifices only pertain to the Old Jewish faith.  Jesus
    more or less put an end to the sacrificial system when the curtain tore
    as he died on the cross.  Remember the vale that stood between the
    Jewish people and the Holy of Holies?  That tearing signified that now
    the Holy Spirit was available to all who seeked and accepted the
    messiah.
    
    We know God's example through Jesus picking grain on the Sabbath.  That
    there were reasons and applications for specific laws.  We know through
    Peters vision in acts that all food was declared clean.  I'm sure there
    is alot better explanations but this is the 5 minute version.
    
    -Jack
651.210-minute rushed versionTOKNOW::METCALFEEschew Obfuscatory MonikersFri Jan 06 1995 19:5975
>    My question is, how do Christian's know what laws they must keep and
>    which laws they are allowed to change?

There are plenty of Scripture references on the old law and the new law.
The new law is NOT an abolition of the old law but a fulfillment of it.
For legalists and people who have trouble operating without a prescription, 
this produces pretzel twists in their brain.

To illustrate, though, Jesus said that you have heard 'do not murder' but 
I tell you that if any one hates their brother is already guilty of murdering
him in their heart.  And this guilt is every bit as binding as if you did
the deed.  Similarly, Jesus said, that you have heard 'do not commit adultery'
but I tell you that if anyone lusts after another, they have commited 
adultery in their heart.  The Bible tells us that we are to take every thought
captive.

Next, Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is.  Which commandment
of the law is the MOST important to keep.  Jesus replies that *one* commandment
encompasses *all* the law and the prophets.  Love God with everything you are.

Consider history next.  Creation->the Law->Jesus and fulfillment of the law.
There was a time when the law wasn't given.  Judaism wasn't invented before
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  So, which laws did these people keep and did
anything new come out of the creation of Jewish law?  Certainly, Noah, and
Enoch were well within the fellowship of the godly and faithful.

There are reasons in the Bible that the Law was given, because of man's 
stubborness   Read also that Israel wanted a king instead of having God
as their King.  This is a VERY IMPORTANT parallel to the reasons for the 
Law in the first place.  

The Law is imperfect.  We can even see in American law that some circumstances
will mitigate the black and white text of the law.  But it is given as a
for those who need to be governed; it is not given for those who abide
by the spirit of the law.

What are the reasons for the law?  Are they to ensure that you eat corn row
by row and not around the ear?  Of course not!  Law is designed for community
safety and such things.

>    My question is, how do Christian's know what laws they must keep and
>    which laws they are allowed to change?

There are some things that Jesus reiterated about the law.  And there
are some things that he refuted about (the Levitical) Law.  Healing on
sabbath day was considered work.  Picking heads of wheat was similarly
viewed.  Jesus clarified the spirit of the law, the intent behind the
sabbath day by declaring that it was right to DO good on the Sabbath.
He further clarifies things by declaring to be Lord of the Sabbath.
He created it; He knows for what it is intended.

Legalistic adherence (to any of the laws) BUYS US NOTHING.

The great theme from Old Testament to New Testament is the progression 
out of the former and inadequate (old wine skins) and into the new
covenant (new wine).  The law brought death; Jesus' atonement brought
freedom from the LETTER OF THE LAW - NOT from the SPIRIT OF THE LAW.

Therefore, you MUST examine the spirit of the law before discarding or accepting
and PRACTICE of law.

The OT to the NT represents coming out of action into attitude, coming out
of practice into principle, coming out of specifics into spirit.  After all,
if you go back to BEFORE the law was given, all you had to go on was a 
personal relationship with God.  And in reality, this is all it has been
THROUGHOUT the history of Israel, before and beyond.

Oh yes, consider Cain and Abel.  What made the difference in the acceptability
of their sacrifices?  Attitude.  God said to Cain, "sin crouches at your door."

The answer is: you are not allowed to change any laws, but some laws may or
may not apply to you, especially if you do right on the Sabbath or some such
activity that SEEMINGLY breaks a law.

Mark
651.4TOKNOW::METCALFEEschew Obfuscatory MonikersFri Jan 06 1995 20:0414
>    So I will just follow the one commandment
>    identified by Jesus in the book of Matthew as the greatest of all
>    commandments.

If you do this, you will not fail.  Now, how does one love God with all
their heart, soul, mind, and strength?  How many of us follow it and live
up to our claims?

I pray that you do, Patricia.  I pray that I do, Patricia.  God is a
rewarder of those who *diligently* seek Him.  And not everyone who says
"Lord, Lord" will enter into the kingdom of heaven.  I endeavor to keep 
the greatest commandment myself to avoid such a tragic disappointment.

Mark
651.5Don't Forget That Second Law!!!YIELD::BARBIERIMon Jan 09 1995 18:238
      Hi,
    
        Just wanted to suggest to not consider one commandment, but
        two.  Love the Lord they God with all thy heart AND love thy
        neighbor as thyself.   Don't forget this second one!  Upon 
        these hang all the laws and the prophets.
    
                                                   Tony
651.6-relationship-TOKNOW::METCALFEEschew Obfuscatory MonikersMon Jan 09 1995 19:2712
>        Just wanted to suggest to not consider one commandment, but
>        two.  Love the Lord they God with all thy heart AND love thy
>        neighbor as thyself.   Don't forget this second one!  Upon 
>        these hang all the laws and the prophets.

I didn't forget it, Tony.  Jesus said, "and the second one is like it"
(the first commandment).  Jesus was placing immediate importance on
it by mentioning it with the first.

You are correct.

MM
651.7The 'law' is not perpetualTOLKIN::JBROWNThe just shall live by faith.Tue Jan 24 1995 14:1059
    The 'law' was never meant to be perpetual after Christ came.  Let's
    look at Galatians 3:16-29.  In a nutshell, it says that the law (all
    613 of the Ten Commandments) came 430 years AFTER the covenant made 
    with Abraham, and it was to continue to be in effect UNTIL Christ came.
    This law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ (vs .24), but 
    after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (the 
    law) (vs .25).  This faith was only revealed after Christ came 
    (vs. 23).  Now we have a new covenant. Please read all of Gal 3.  Here
    are a few highlights:
    
    .16     Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith
    not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which
    is Christ.
    
    .17     And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of
    God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after,
    cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
    
    .18     For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise:
    but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
    
    .19     Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of
    transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; 
    and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
    
    .20     Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
    
    .21     Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for
    if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily 
    righteousness should have been by the law.
    
    .22     But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the
    promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
    
    .23     But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto
    the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
    
    .24     Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,
    that we might be justified by faith.
    
    .25     But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a
    schoolmaster.
    
    .26     For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
    
    .27     For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put
    on Christ.
    
    .28     There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
    there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
    
    .29     And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs
    according to the promise.
    
    
    God's Law is Love.  That's all for now.  More later.
    
    God Bless,
    Janet
651.8TOKNOW::METCALFEEschew Obfuscatory MonikersTue Jan 24 1995 17:528
>    This law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ (vs .24), but 
>    after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (the 

A very interesting way of putting it.  In other words, we have
"graduated" from the school of learning to apply the knowledge 
we have gained to real life situations.

MM