Could it be that one of the great discoveries will be that the early Christians were Torah Observent like Jesus Christ?

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Permalink Reply by John Tyler on May 25, 2011 at 10:50am

Great discussion! I'm on the side of those who are arguing that the Law is there for people who have not chosen Jesus. Most of the OT commands are negatives - don't do x, y or z. Jesus' commands, including the ones he picks from the ten commandments, are all positive - love God, love your neighbour, love each other, make disciples. I no longer need to be told not to treat my neighbours with disdain, because I have chosen Jesus, who tells me to treat them with love.

From the point of view of society, this is an important social lesson. We hear a lot about 'human rights'. My neighbour doesn't need 'rights' if I (and everyone else) have a sense of 'responsibility', in other words, show love and respect.

From the point of view of our relationship with God, there is an important spiritual lesson. According to the scriptures, no one can be saved by the Law and we all fall short of God's glory. I cannot keep to the Law. I'm just a human being. It is impossible. BUT, HANG ON! YEEAAAHH, Jesus has already paid for my human failings!

Of course, all of us in this discussion know this. But what else does the NT say about the Law? If I try to live by the Law, then I will be judged by the Law. If, on the other hand, I live for Jesus, then I will  be judged as one of his own. That's what scripture tells us. The Law has not passed away. It is still there for those who need it. But for everyone who has accepted Jesus' free gift of life the Law is no longer relevant. We have a better way to live, a better vision to guide us and a more certain promise for the future.

Well, that's my thinking, but I hope the discussion can carry on because I'm enjoying the different perspectives. One day we'll all know the perfect answer,  but, till then, I guess we have to follow what the Spirit tells us through our consciences and our reading of scripture. God doesn't always make it easy for us, but he sure makes it interesting!

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Campbell on June 1, 2011 at 2:24am

 

Jesus summed up the entire Torah in Matt. 7:12, “In everything, therefore,treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

 

Paul summed up the entire Ten Commandments in Romans 13:3, “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

 

As far as whether we're still under the Law, Paul explains our glorious release in Romans 7:6, “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”

 

aul goes on in Romans 8 to explain, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

 

Rather than meaning that believers are now “lawless,” being released from the Law means that the lawful Spirit of Jesus dwells in us, and we live through Him, for we died and rose with Him. Hallelujah!

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