BibleForums Christian Message Board
Bible Talk => Theology => Topic started by: Betho on October 21, 2023, 11:37:01 PM
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The question of whether the law can give life is a complex theological issue, and different parts of the Bible seem to present various perspectives on this matter.
1. Ezekiel's Justice: In the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Ezekiel, there are references to justice associated with obedience to God's statutes and the observance of His rules. However, it is essential to recognize that this justice is within the context of the Mosaic Law. Within this framework, justice could be achieved through the fulfillment of the commandments and regulations of the Law. While it can bring a form of justice, it does not necessarily grant eternal life.
2. Transformation of Job: Although Job was initially considered a righteous man in the Old Testament, his story also illustrates a deeper spiritual journey. He was proud of his self-righteousness, thinking that his obedience to the law made him blameless. But as the story unfolds, he comes to understand that justice is not limited to legalistic obedience but involves a deeper relationship with God. His understanding evolves, and he recognizes his limitations. The law, as seen in Job's case, does not grant life in the ultimate sense.
3. Paul's Perspective: The writings of the Apostle Paul are fundamental to understanding the relationship between justice and the law. He argues that, while there is a form of justice found in the law, it is not sufficient for the salvation and eternal life of all. In passages like Philippians 2:15, 3:6, 3:9, and 1 Thessalonians 3:13, Paul discusses the concept of "blamelessness" in the context of the law. He himself was a zealous Pharisee who believed in the righteousness of the law, as he states in Philippians 3:6. However, he recognizes the limitations of the law and that true justice is found in faith in Christ. In Galatians 2:21, he emphasizes that God's grace would be nullified if justice were entirely achievable through the law, implying that the law, while sufficient to lead some to a form of justice, is imperfect when it comes to bringing all of humanity to perfect righteousness and eternal life.
4. Jesus' Encounter with the Rich Young Ruler: The story of the rich young ruler in the Gospels illustrates the idea that mere observance of the law may not be enough for something beyond eternal life. Jesus challenges the rich young ruler to go beyond legalistic observance of the law and to give up his worldly possessions to follow Him and attain, beyond eternal life through obedience to the law's justice, treasure in heaven. This demonstrates that a higher level of commitment is required than merely following the law to achieve a reward. It suggests that the law, while valuable, cannot, by itself, grant life in its fullest sense.
5. New Covenant: The concept of a New Covenant is also crucial for understanding the shift in perspective. Hebrews 8:7 highlights that the first covenant was not without flaws, leading to the need for a new covenant. The New Covenant, according to Christian theology, is based on faith in the atonement of Christ rather than strict adherence to the Mosaic Law. It signifies a shift away from the idea that the law alone can grant life.
Can the law grant eternal life?
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It isn’t complicated at all.
No
The Law cannot give eternal life and was not designed to do so
Faith has always been the means of salvation, predating the Law
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Apart from the incident with the rich young ruler, can you point to any part of the four gospels where Jesus is asked how to obtain eternal life?
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Apart from the incident with the rich young ruler, can you point to any part of the four gospels where Jesus is asked how to obtain eternal life?
John 3 is a great place to learn about eternal life.
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Which part of John 3 shows a person asking Jesus how to obtain eternal life?
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Which part of John 3 shows a person asking Jesus how to obtain eternal life?
The whole chapter concerns teaching and based on what Jesus is teaching, we know Nic has inquired about eternal life. Nic didn't talk about religion or politics of the times, he focused on what Jesus and His ministry is all about = faith/belief and eternal life. The miracles were the evidence Nic held to as proof that Jesus wasn't any con artist/charlatan. Nic believed that Jesus came from God. It's here that we (Nic) first learns of being "born-again."
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The bronze serpent, mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Numbers, chapter 21, verses 4-9, represented a symbol of healing and liberation. The story describes how the Israelites, while in the wilderness, began to complain and murmur against God and Moses due to the difficulties they were facing, including being bitten by venomous snakes.
According to the narrative, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and raise it on a pole. He told the people that if anyone was bitten by a venomous snake, they could look at the bronze serpent and would be healed. The act of looking at the bronze serpent was an act of faith and obedience to God's instructions, and healing was granted as a result.
The bronze serpent, therefore, was an object of veneration, a symbol of faith and trust in divine intervention for healing and liberation. In the context of John 3:14-15, Jesus was using this story as an analogy to illustrate that, in the same way, He would be "lifted up" (a reference to His crucifixion), and those who looked to Him in faith would be spiritually healed and receive full and eternal life, just as it was done in the time of Moses. Therefore, the bronze serpent in Moses' story was a symbol of healing and salvation.
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John 3 is a great place to learn about eternal life.
Jesus explained about being born again and entering the Kingdom of Heaven to attain Eternal Life. This is not the same path to attaining eternal life through the Law.
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The only part of the John 3 narrative where Nicodemus asks a question is when he enquires as to what 'born again' means.
He does not ask how to obtain eternal life, regardless of what Jesus says in this section.
The only place in the four gospels where I can find a person actually asking Jesus how to obtain eternal life is the section with the rich young ruler.
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Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God So Loved the World
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
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And if he had said that to the rich young ruler, it would have been significant.
However, he didn't and he said something quite different.
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The only part of the John 3 narrative where Nicodemus asks a question is when he enquires as to what 'born again' means.
He does not ask how to obtain eternal life, regardless of what Jesus says in this section.
The only place in the four gospels where I can find a person actually asking Jesus how to obtain eternal life is the section with the rich young ruler.
Is there a point?
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And if he had said that to the rich young ruler, it would have been significant.
However, he didn't and he said something quite different.
What about the rest of scripture?
Everyone does know that the gospel writers did not write down every word Jesus said or on which occasions he farted.
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Jesus did not refer the rich young ruler to the rest of scripture.
He gave a fully understandable answer to a fully understandable question.
What the Christians are saying, with the exception of groups like the Franciscans, is that his answer was false.
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John 3 is a great place to learn about eternal life.
Jesus explained about being born again and entering the Kingdom of Heaven to attain Eternal Life. This is not the same path to attaining eternal life through the Law.
The Law is not a path to eternal life. The Law helps to inform man (first the Israelis), about sin (how it kills eternally/separates man from God) so that "by faith" those who believed in God, can have eternal life.
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Jesus did not refer the rich young ruler to the rest of scripture.
He gave a fully understandable answer to a fully understandable question.
What the Christians are saying, with the exception of groups like the Franciscans, is that his answer was false.
No they aren’t
Jesus did t answer his question because Jesus knew the man was a slave to stuff and that his religious keeping of part of the law was his idol.
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And if he had said that to the rich young ruler, it would have been significant.
However, he didn't and he said something quite different.
The Gospels are not a bunch of isolated facts where one part is different from another part. The Gospel, which is detailed over four books, is a single whole teaching (full context). Meaning, instead of setting what is learned on one day of Jesus' ministry, apart from or against another day of teachings, one must study to find how they compliment each other and result in a contextual understanding of "The Gospel."
IOWs, what did Jesus teach about eternal life over 3.5 years of teaching? What He taught about the rich young ruler does not counter what He taught to Nic. Each teaching and the many more teachings found throughout four books (The Gospels) during 3.5 years of teaching, all come to a single understanding concerning eternal life.
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Jesus did not refer the rich young ruler to the rest of scripture.
When a kid asks if it is allowed to squeeze the cat and you say no, should you also tell the kid it is not allowed to kick the dog?
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Can the law grant eternal life?
Kind of a strange question.
The bible's laws are terms of a covenant between God and the Jewish people. No place in the Pentateuch does God promise "eternal life" for following them, or indeed, discuss "eternal life" at all.
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The fact that Jesus's instructions to the rich young ruler are not the same as the instructions Christians believe he gives to others is a problem for the Christians. It does not change the fact that Jesus clearly describes a set of instructions for obtaining eternal life to a person who has asked for one.
Those instructions were:
Keep the commandments.
Sell all your possessions.
Give the resultant proceeds to the poor.
Easy to understand? Yes.
Difficult to do? Yes.
Impossible to do? No.
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The fact that Jesus's instructions to the rich young ruler are not the same as the instructions Christians believe he gives to others is a problem for the Christians. It does not change the fact that Jesus clearly describes a set of instructions for obtaining eternal life to a person who has asked for one.
Those instructions were:
Keep the commandments.
Sell all your possessions.
Give the resultant proceeds to the poor.
Easy to understand? Yes.
Difficult to do? Yes.
Impossible to do? No.
I emphasize that the "cherry on top" is the context of Jesus' encounter with the Rich Young Ruler described in the article. It is true that Jesus also discussed the topic of Eternal Life with another Jew, Nicodemus; however, this encounter was outside the context of the Law. In John 3, Jesus explained about being born again and entering the Kingdom of Heaven to attain Eternal Life. This is not the same path to attaining eternal life through the Law.
Furthermore, the article also mentions the bronze serpent, found in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Numbers, chapter 21, verses 4-9. It represented a symbol of healing and liberation. The story describes how the Israelites, while in the wilderness, began to complain and murmur against God and Moses due to the hardships they were facing, including being bitten by venomous snakes.
According to the narrative, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. He told the people that if anyone was bitten by a venomous snake, they could look at the bronze serpent and be healed. Looking at the bronze serpent was an act of faith and obedience to God's instructions, and as a result, healing was granted.
The bronze serpent, therefore, was an object of veneration, a symbol of faith and trust in divine intervention for healing and liberation. In the context of John 3:14-15, Jesus was using this story as an analogy to illustrate that, in the same way, He would be "lifted up" (a reference to His crucifixion), and those who looked to Him in faith would be spiritually healed and receive full and eternal life, just as was done in the time of Moses. Therefore, the bronze serpent in Moses' story was a symbol of healing and salvation.
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Can the law grant eternal life?
Kind of a strange question.
The bible's laws are terms of a covenant between God and the Jewish people. No place in the Pentateuch does God promise "eternal life" for following them, or indeed, discuss "eternal life" at all.
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Mattews 19:16-17 KJV
In this verse, Jesus is responding to someone who inquires about how to attain eternal life. Jesus indicates that the key to eternal life is the observance of God's commandments. Therefore, according to this verse, obedience to the commandments is seen as important in the pursuit of eternal life. However, Jesus offered the option of perfection and reward to the rich young man, while the path with Nicodemus is to "be born again" and enter the Kingdom of God to achieve eternal life, which is the main theme of the Gospels. One does not negate the other. While the first deals with eternal life for the circumcised descendants of Abraham, the other deals with making non-circumcised individuals also children of God.
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How many of you are there that keep coming here and posting Johnny One-Note.
Or do you keep just making up new accounts like we are dense?
Have you sold everything you own? Clearly not, unless you are using a public access computer to post this.
Bigger question. Two in fact.
1. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God himself, deity, eternally existent and co-existent with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit for all eternity?
2. Do you believe that the entirety of the New Testament and Old Testament writings are equally valid and powerful and truth of very truth, not just the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospels?
3. Since you have violated at least one of the Ten Commandments (unless you claim that you haven't), on what are you relying for forgiveness for your sins?
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The fact that Jesus's instructions to the rich young ruler are not the same as the instructions Christians believe he gives to others is a problem for the Christians. It does not change the fact that Jesus clearly describes a set of instructions for obtaining eternal life to a person who has asked for one.
Those instructions were:
Keep the commandments.
Sell all your possessions.
Give the resultant proceeds to the poor.
Easy to understand? Yes.
Difficult to do? Yes.
Impossible to do? No.
An extraordinarily simplistic view of Scripture.
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The fact that Jesus's instructions to the rich young ruler are not the same as the instructions Christians believe he gives to others is a problem for the Christians. It does not change the fact that Jesus clearly describes a set of instructions for obtaining eternal life to a person who has asked for one.
Those instructions were:
Keep the commandments.
Sell all your possessions.
Give the resultant proceeds to the poor.
Easy to understand? Yes.
Difficult to do? Yes.
Impossible to do? No.
There is no problem.
Will the rich young ruler have eternal life when he squeezes cats, kick dogs, watching porno, etc?
Another example for Matt 25 -
The Final Judgment
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,6 you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Looks different than the young rich ruler, but isn't. It's and/and not or/or.
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What a number of the Christians here fail to notice is that, when Jesus of Nazareth was alive and doing what he believed was his public ministry, there was no such thing as the gospels or the rest of the New Testament. What would the rich young ruler have cross-referenced anything with, even if he had been instructed to?
Jesus could always have said something along the lines of 'There's no way you could possibly have kept all of the commandments', but he didn't.
Here is an example of a person being given, if this part of the gospel account is historically accurate (it is not necessarily so), a clear and unambiguous set of instructions. To call them anything else has serious ramifications when it comes to how much meaning there is in any other words Jesus is alleged to have said while he was alive, including the sayings that most agree are historically accurate.
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And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Mattews 19:16-17 KJV
In this verse, Jesus is responding to someone who inquires about how to attain eternal life.
Again, the Pentateuch does not mention "eternal life" at all. The laws are kept as part of a covenant between Israel and God.
While the first deals with eternal life for the circumcised descendants of Abraham
Again, no place is "eternal life" promised. And it's not all of Abraham's descendants that are obligated to keep the law as part of a covenant with God. It's only his descendants via his grandson, Jacob.
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What a number of the Christians here fail to notice is that, when Jesus of Nazareth was alive and doing what he believed was his public ministry, there was no such thing as the gospels or the rest of the New Testament. What would the rich young ruler have cross-referenced anything with, even if he had been instructed to?
Jesus could always have said something along the lines of 'There's no way you could possibly have kept all of the commandments', but he didn't.
Here is an example of a person being given, if this part of the gospel account is historically accurate (it is not necessarily so), a clear and unambiguous set of instructions. To call them anything else has serious ramifications when it comes to how much meaning there is in any other words Jesus is alleged to have said while he was alive, including the sayings that most agree are historically accurate.
You assume a lot from silence. Jesus doesn’t say not to rape or behead people either
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Again, the Pentateuch does not mention "eternal life" at all. The laws are kept as part of a covenant between Israel and God.
The concept of eternal life is found in Daniel 12:2, so it would be appropriate for a zealous follower of the Jewish commandments to inquire of Jesus about how to attain eternal life.
Again, no place is "eternal life" promised. And it's not all of Abraham's descendants that are obligated to keep the law as part of a covenant with God. It's only his descendants via his grandson, Jacob.
It is true that the concept of Eternal Life, initially associated with humanity in Genesis 3:22, appears to have been explicitly attributed to God alone, as seen in Deuteronomy 32:40. However, God's precepts remain an essential part of human life, as evidenced in Psalm 118:93.
In Genesis 3:22, the passage relates to the moment when humanity ate from the forbidden fruit, and God expressed concern about the possibility of humans also eating from the "tree of life" and living forever. This initial association with Eternal Life was linked to humans, but the continuation of the biblical narrative indicates that this condition was revoked for humanity.
Deuteronomy 32:40, on the other hand, reaffirms God's absolute control over life and death, emphasizing His sovereignty and authority over eternal destiny. This passage underscores the uniqueness of Eternal Life in relation to God.
However, God's precepts, as mentioned in Psalm 118:93, continue to serve as spiritual and ethical guidelines that steer people's lives. While the ability to live eternally may be exclusive to God, obedience to God's precepts is seen as a path to a life that reflects God's will and draws individuals spiritually closer to the idea of Eternal Life.
So, while Eternal Life may be exclusive to God, obedience to God's precepts remains a crucial aspect of people's lives, connecting them with divine will and guidance.
"Like the dew of Hermon that descends upon the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forever." Psalm 132:3
*** The universal assembly (ἐκκλησία καθ᾽ ὅλης - Acts 9:31) throughout Judea was mostly made up of circumcised individuals.
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What does circumcision have to do with anything?
What is your evidence for your statement about the makeup of the ekklesia? At what point in history?
Circumcised but I’m not Jewish…. Do I count?
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What does circumcision have to do with anything?
What is your evidence for your statement about the makeup of the ekklesia? At what point in history?
Circumcised but I’m not Jewish…. Do I count?
And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Genesis 26:4-5 KJV
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What does circumcision have to do with anything?
What is your evidence for your statement about the makeup of the ekklesia? At what point in history?
Circumcised but I’m not Jewish…. Do I count?
And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Genesis 26:4-5 KJV
I’m not Jewish
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The concept of eternal life is found in Daniel 12:2,
For the third time, the Pentateuch, which has the actual laws that are to be followed, does not mention "eternal life" at all. It does mention rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience, none of which mention "eternal life" either. Keep going.
Daniel 12:2 tells us nothing. It's like Ezekiel 37 vision of the valley of dry bones.
"Like the dew of Hermon that descends upon the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forever." Psalm 132:3
This is a poem. Are you really inventing theology from a poem?
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For the third time, the Pentateuch, which has the actual laws that are to be followed, does not mention "eternal life" at all. It does mention rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience, none of which mention "eternal life" either. Keep going.
Nevertheless you believe in purgatory.
https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/12446-purgatory
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This is a poem. Are you really inventing theology from a poem?
"A song that is said about the depths of the waters of the Lord; my heart did not exalt itself, and my eyes did not lift up, and I did not walk in great and wondrous things beyond me. I did not lay my hand on hidden things, and my soul is tranquil until the precepts of the Law are fulfilled. Thus, Israel will lead to the Lord, from now until eternity." - Targum Ketuvim Tehillim 131
The phrase "Israel will lead to the Lord, from now until eternity" could be interpreted as a poetic expression that suggests that the people of Israel are in a constant spiritual journey toward God and eternity. It is not a direct quotation, but it reflects the aspiration of the Jewish community to follow divine precepts and find their way toward eternity, aligning with the concept of resurrection and the pursuit of eternal life as discussed in Daniel 12:2.
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Nevertheless you believe in purgatory.
I believe in the afterlife too, but it isn't in the bible and it isn't promised as a reward for following the law.
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This is a poem. Are you really inventing theology from a poem?
"A song that is said about the depths of the waters of the Lord; my heart did not exalt itself, and my eyes did not lift up, and I did not walk in great and wondrous things beyond me. I did not lay my hand on hidden things, and my soul is tranquil until the precepts of the Law are fulfilled. Thus, Israel will lead to the Lord, from now until eternity." - Targum Ketuvim Tehillim 131
The phrase "Israel will lead to the Lord, from now until eternity" could be interpreted as a poetic expression that suggests that the people of Israel are in a constant spiritual journey toward God and eternity. It is not a direct quotation, but it reflects the aspiration of the Jewish community to follow divine precepts and find their way toward eternity, aligning with the concept of resurrection and the pursuit of eternal life as discussed in Daniel 12:2.
So, not content to draw theology from a poem, you know head even further into the weeds of obscure references...
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I don't know if this has been mentioned; but I thought that I would bring up this scripture:
Gal 3:21, 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.
Gal 3:22, But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
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The only way a person can obtain everlasting life through the keeping of the law, works, obedience, or personal merits, is if they keep the whole law perfectly from conception into eternity (Galatians 3:10, James 2:10, Matthew 5:48).
This is clearly impossible since we were all born with sin passed down to us through Adam. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Therefore, the only way into the kingdom might be through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:25; Romans 5:1, Romans 5:9).
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That quote from Romans 3 is only referring to Christians. Look at the end of the sentence from the epistle, which you didn't include.
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The only way a person can obtain everlasting life through the keeping of the law, works, obedience, or personal merits, is if they keep the whole law perfectly from conception into eternity (Galatians 3:10, James 2:10, Matthew 5:48).
The Pentateuch, which contains the laws to be followed, never promises "everlasting life" as a reward, nor does it express the idea that anyone is expected to keep the laws perfectly either.
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The only way a person can obtain everlasting life through the keeping of the law, works, obedience, or personal merits, is if they keep the whole law perfectly from conception into eternity (Galatians 3:10, James 2:10, Matthew 5:48).
The Pentateuch, which contains the laws to be followed, never promises "everlasting life" as a reward, nor does it express the idea that anyone is expected to keep the laws perfectly either.
However, that idea is expressed in the New Testament (Galatians 3:10, James 2:10, Matthew 5:48).
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That quote from Romans 3 is only referring to Christians. Look at the end of the sentence from the epistle, which you didn't include.
Which quote (are you referring to something in my post)?
I referenced Romans 3:23 and Romans 3:25.
Or, maybe you are referring to the quote out of Galatians 3 in the post previous?
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Nevertheless you believe in purgatory.
I believe in the afterlife too, but it isn't in the bible and it isn't promised as a reward for following the law.
You are saying that the New Testament isn't a part of the Bible?
Clearly, the New Testament teaches us about the afterlife.
Jhn 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2Pe 1:13, Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
2Pe 1:14, Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
2Pe 1:15, Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
1Co 15:12, Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13, But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14, And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1Co 15:15, Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16, For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17, And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18, Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1Co 15:19, If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1Co 15:20, But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:21, For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22, For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23, But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
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You are saying that the New Testament isn't a part of the Bible?
It is not part of my bible, as I am not a Christian.
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You are saying that the New Testament isn't a part of the Bible?
It is not part of my bible, as I am not a Christian.
Nevertheless it is a part of the Bible for those who are Christians.
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You are saying that the New Testament isn't a part of the Bible?
It is not part of my bible, as I am not a Christian.
Nevertheless it is a part of the Bible for those who are Christians.
Yes and you're banned.
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Yes and you're banned.
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.
Oscar Wilde
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Let's take a look at what transpired between Jesus and someone who asked Jesus an important question about "inheriting eternal life."
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Mt 19:16–26.
This account is also found in Mark 10:17-27 and Luke 18:18-27, and Luke states this person was a "ruler" (Greek: "archon") which under Roman occupation meant he most likely was appointed to as some [chief] magistrate "over" the people.
Another point to consider is both Mark and Luke have him asking what he must do to "inherit" eternal life. Beginning with Isaac on through the generations of Hebrews to Jesus' day when it speaks of "inheritance" it mostly refers to the Abraham Covenant and the promises God gave to Abraham, who specifically asked God for someone "of his seed" to inherit his possessions, and Abraham had great possessions given him of God (Gen. 15.)
After this ruler [of the people] asked Jesus what he would "do" to inherit eternal life Jesus directs him to the Law of Moses (Matt. 19:17), specifically the Ten Commandments (Moral Law.) When the man asked Jesus, "which" commandments Jesus names off the six commandments from the second tablet: "Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" clearly referring to his relationship with other Hebrews. The man then states he has obeyed all these commandments since he was a youth but asked further what more did he lack? Jesus instructs the man and says, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."
In order for the man to be "perfect" (Greek: "complete") Jesus states that, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."
Jesus gives the man three things to "do" and he will be complete/perfect. They are:
1. sell everything you have
2. give it to the poor
3. follow me (Jesus.)
Out of these three things what was it ALSO that he lacked?
Ans. Follow Jesus.
Although he went away sorrowful "because he had great possessions" I believe the man eventually did follow Jesus and he may have been among the three thousand Jews that were born-again on the day of the Jewish Feast of Harvest (Pentecost - Acts 2), or even among the thousands that were born-again "daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47) in the days and weeks and months that followed.
What this conversation reveals to me is the connection between all three Hebrew covenants; Abraham Covenant "inherit"; Mosaic Covenant: "sacrifices for Israel's sins under the Law; and the New Covenant: "following Jesus" (Christianity.)
In Romans 11:26-27 Saul states, "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:26–27.)
and in his letter to Jews and Jewish Christians in the Galatian region:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:4–5.
From our perspective of looking at Hebrew history after the cross we see the joining of all three Hebrew covenants as part of the redemptive history of the Hebrew people. Beginning with the Abrahamic Covenant made between God, Abraham, and Abraham's seed (Genesis 12, 15, and 17), building upon that with the Mosaic Covenant between God and Abraham's seed, a people identified as the children of Israel (Exodus 19:5), culminating in a New Covenant in which Israel's sins are eternally forgiven and remembered "no more." (atoned - Jeremiah 31:34) by God.
The inescapeable fact is Scripture records the God of Abraham saving Abraham and his seed (family) through a series of covenant promises by God culminating in the redemption of the Hebrew people "in the fulness of time" which we now know was done by Jesus Christ, the lamb of God, sacrificed under the substitutional ritual Laws under the Mosaic Covenant. We see that while under the Law, which Jesus directed the man to obey the commandments of God, that his inheritance was not really "seeds as of many," but of one: Jesus, the One Jesus told the man to "follow" and he would be complete, nothing lacking, and his inheritance of eternal life secured.
That's what I see and how it played out for a Hebrew man and his request of what he must "do" for eternal life:
Follow Jesus. Follow Jesus while under the Law in order to get to the New Covenant which is really the Mosaic Covenant fulfilled by and in Jesus.
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Paul stated that no flesh shall ever be justified by the Law of god, for the Law is perfect, but sinners cannot ever keep it as God requires in order to get saved
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Paul stated that no flesh shall ever be justified by the Law of god, for the Law is perfect, but sinners cannot ever keep it as God requires in order to get saved
To say that people need to be "justified" and "saved" is not in the Hebrew bible, along with "eternal life".
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It would be in the NT new Covenant between Yahweh and Man
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It would be in the NT new Covenant between Yahweh and Man
Right, I get that. But Paul is making a statement nullifying something that the bible doesn't say.
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But then again, Christians believe what Paul wrote is just as much Bible as the portions accepted by the Jewish faith
I see a new reality show…. The battle of the Bibles….
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But then again, Christians believe what Paul wrote is just as much Bible as the portions accepted by the Jewish faith
And it doesn't bother you in the least that he's making a strawman argument?
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Not in context, no.
I take all of the writings as a whole.
Also, Paul was from all accounts a fairly serious student of the Law from the school of Gamaliel. I think his take on the Law is significant due to his proximity to the times and issues expressed in the NT from the time period
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Not in context, no.
I take all of the writings as a whole.
None of the writings promise "justification" or "salvation" for following the law.
Also, Paul was from all accounts a fairly serious student of the Law from the school of Gamaliel. I think his take on the Law is significant due to his proximity to the times and issues expressed in the NT from the time period
He claims.
His "legalistic" arguments do not follow general Talmudic rules. Furthermore, his quotes form the bible come from the Greek version. A student of Rabban Gamliel would be fluent in Hebrew and use that version.
He also claims to be a "Pharisee of the Pharisees". (Acts 23:6) Yet he came from faraway Tarsus, in Turkey. Pharisees were not common even in the Galilee, yet he claims to have come from very much farther, which strains credulity.
And lastly, he claims to be from the tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1). Yet by the first century, people's tribal affiliations were lost to time (with the exception of the Davidic line and the priestly line, knowledge of which persists even into the present day).
Jesus was by all accounts quite popular with the commoners. Yet Paul was not. 2 Corinthians 11:24 "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one". Why would that be?
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Ok
So you don’t like Paul. I get that. I now a lot of professing Christians that aren’t that fond of him, either.
Jesus was not popular enough as to avoid crucifixion with the approval of the Sanhedrin, so I don’t think popularity is a very good criterion for truth.
Paul was not popular with either the Romans or the Jewish persecutors because, oh yes, he radically stood the Law fulfilled by Jesus right on its head and upset the status quo, which was all about the pax Romani and the continuous flow of tax and tribute from occupied territories, including the fragile peace between the Romans and Jews throughout Asia Minor, the land of Israel, and its environs.
We all know how that fragile peace ended
I’m surprised Paul lasted as long as he did.
You will forgive me if I find recitations of or allusions to those historical sources that deny the deity of and Messiahship of Jesus to be less than convincing
We all have to deal with confirmation bias.
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Ok
So you don’t like Paul. I get that. I now a lot of professing Christians that aren’t that fond of him, either.
I don't dislike him. I just don't believe that he was always truthful about his background. The bigger issue with him is that a lot of his musings, which became Christian theology, seem in conflict with what Jesus himself said, let alone what Jewish prophets said.
Jesus was not popular enough as to avoid crucifixion with the approval of the Sanhedrin, so I don’t think popularity is a very good criterion for truth.
Jesus was popular with the commoners. I do not believe that the Sanhedrin tried him for a whole host of reasons (the Sanhedrin never met on the eve of a holiday to try capital cases, confessions were never accepted as evidence, and so on) but regardless that isn't even relevant. Jesus's appeal was that he sided with the commoners against the political powers that be. Paul wasn't even liked by the commoners themselves. Because of things that he said? That certainly should mean something.
Paul was not popular with either the Romans or the Jewish persecutors because, oh yes, he radically stood the Law fulfilled by Jesus right on its head and upset the status quo, which was all about the pax Romani and the continuous flow of tax and tribute from occupied territories, including the fragile peace between the Romans and Jews throughout Asia Minor, the land of Israel, and its environs.
This is exactly the problem that Jesus caused, which is why he was crucified, the common punishment for political rebels against Rome. More than 100,000 Jews were crucified in the first century for rebelling against Rome. So were the followers of Spartacus, for that matter.
You will forgive me if I find recitations of or allusions to those historical sources that deny the deity of and Messiahship of Jesus to be less than convincing
It's not the denial of his divinity that's convincing to Jews. The opposite, the burden of proof was on Jesus to prove that he was the promised messiah. And we find the evidence to be lacking.
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The Mosaic Law was never intended to provide a way of salvation.
Salvation was by faith in the God that has revealed Himself. Remember, Romans 1 informs us what people know about the Creator. All people are condemned so God can be merciful to all. See verses 19 and 20:
19 For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts. 20 Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day.
God took total responsibility for Adam and Eve's original sin. But, sin has no relationship to eternal condemnation, the LOF. Nobody is sent to hell for personal sins. All sins have been paid for by Christ on the Cross. In fact, God has redeemed all unbelievers, and because sins have nothing to do with eternal condemnation, His redeeming them does not ipso facto mean they are saved.
You can call it original sin or actual sin, the bottom like is that God has provided the way for all people to be saved, in fact, that is God's desire that all people will be saved.
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The question of whether the law can give life is a complex theological issue, and different parts of the Bible seem to present various perspectives on this matter.
1. Ezekiel's Justice: In the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Ezekiel, there are references to justice associated with obedience to God's statutes and the observance of His rules. However, it is essential to recognize that this justice is within the context of the Mosaic Law. Within this framework, justice could be achieved through the fulfillment of the commandments and regulations of the Law. While it can bring a form of justice, it does not necessarily grant eternal life.
2. Transformation of Job: Although Job was initially considered a righteous man in the Old Testament, his story also illustrates a deeper spiritual journey. He was proud of his self-righteousness, thinking that his obedience to the law made him blameless. But as the story unfolds, he comes to understand that justice is not limited to legalistic obedience but involves a deeper relationship with God. His understanding evolves, and he recognizes his limitations. The law, as seen in Job's case, does not grant life in the ultimate sense.
3. Paul's Perspective: The writings of the Apostle Paul are fundamental to understanding the relationship between justice and the law. He argues that, while there is a form of justice found in the law, it is not sufficient for the salvation and eternal life of all. In passages like Philippians 2:15, 3:6, 3:9, and 1 Thessalonians 3:13, Paul discusses the concept of "blamelessness" in the context of the law. He himself was a zealous Pharisee who believed in the righteousness of the law, as he states in Philippians 3:6. However, he recognizes the limitations of the law and that true justice is found in faith in Christ. In Galatians 2:21, he emphasizes that God's grace would be nullified if justice were entirely achievable through the law, implying that the law, while sufficient to lead some to a form of justice, is imperfect when it comes to bringing all of humanity to perfect righteousness and eternal life.
4. Jesus' Encounter with the Rich Young Ruler: The story of the rich young ruler in the Gospels illustrates the idea that mere observance of the law may not be enough for something beyond eternal life. Jesus challenges the rich young ruler to go beyond legalistic observance of the law and to give up his worldly possessions to follow Him and attain, beyond eternal life through obedience to the law's justice, treasure in heaven. This demonstrates that a higher level of commitment is required than merely following the law to achieve a reward. It suggests that the law, while valuable, cannot, by itself, grant life in its fullest sense.
5. New Covenant: The concept of a New Covenant is also crucial for understanding the shift in perspective. Hebrews 8:7 highlights that the first covenant was not without flaws, leading to the need for a new covenant. The New Covenant, according to Christian theology, is based on faith in the atonement of Christ rather than strict adherence to the Mosaic Law. It signifies a shift away from the idea that the law alone can grant life.
Can the law grant eternal life?
No, it just sets the standard and shows us what sin is, versus the true path of God. Here is something which I posted years ago but is a great illustration on how the Law works...
Jesus used parables to explain things plainly so the people could understand, and I was struck as I worked on my fence one morning, by how the fence was like Gods law, and I thought I would share it. Of all the animals, none have given me more grief than my goats. When I first got them, they were a few weeks old and I put up a fence to keep them safe from the various panthers, bears, bobcats and other wildlife that share the woods with us. The fence was more of a marker for the goats as they soon learned to go under it and wander out in the woods were dangers lurked. They got out and indulged in all their little goat desires and ate lantana and other things which wasnt good for them, then at night they would come home through the front gate and lay on the warm hood of my car or the top, causing me great grief. Then I lost some of them from bloating from what they ate and to wildlife, so I did everything I could to save them from the real dangers in the woods. I put a second fence around them so they were in sight of the house so I could go get them if they got out. I sank the bottom of the fence deeper, but they jumped over it. I made the fence higher, so they stood on top of stumps or logs so they could get over it. I told my wife we would have to get rid of the goats because they would not stay within the fence, so she said to let her try.
She went and sat with them and gave them alfalfa hay to clear out their tummys of the bad stuff they had picked up. She talked to them and rubbed their bellies when they were sick and gave them charcoal for the bloating. Soon the goats stopped jumping the fence and waited for my wife in their pen, and let her hold them and clean their fur or between their horns as that is the one place they cant reach. Now they listen for her voice and come running when she calls and sit with her and listen to her little goat stories she tells them.
Something happened that changed the goats, I couldnt put my finger on it but on one thing I was clear, the fence didnt save them from the dangers. Did it help, yes as far as it delineated the cleared land of the farm and their little goat pen where it was safe. But somehow the goats changed in their little goat desires and behavior and they no longer wanted to jump the fence and leave the farm, but instead to stay within the safety of the fence and share their happiness with someone who loves them......
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The Mosaic Law was never intended to provide a way of salvation.
That is correct. The Jewish bible or "OT" is about sanctification, not salvation.
"Salvation" in the Christian sense does not exist in Judaism or the Jewish bible.
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I was written that Jesus said "20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
So what did he mean? Perhaps that they had not faith in him, yet they were after purity. If that is the case then the answer is no, as others have said.
But the law is not diminished but made even more full. The laws which we already know in our hearts, but we might hide them when convenient. And then perhaps we do transgress. That is surely why Jesus told people to follow him while he was there with them, because he knew they would likely transgress at some point. Yet there should also be forgiveness of sin as well, if we repent. Repent for the kingdom is at hand, was the main saying, and it is not diminished.
When we break those laws we face the punishment for them. So we shouldn't break those laws if at all possible. Jesus did teach it.
Matthew 5:20
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
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I was written that Jesus said "20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
So what did he mean? Perhaps that they had not faith in him, yet they were after purity. If that is the case then the answer is no, as others have said.
But the law is not diminished but made even more full. The laws which we already know in our hearts, but we might hide them when convenient. And then perhaps we do transgress. That is surely why Jesus told people to follow him while he was there with them, because he knew they would likely transgress at some point. Yet there should also be forgiveness of sin as well, if we repent. Repent for the kingdom is at hand, was the main saying, and it is not diminished.
When we break those laws we face the punishment for them. So we shouldn't break those laws if at all possible. Jesus did teach it.
Matthew 5:20
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
We must be perfected to beyond just the literal to the spiritual or holy. What is called the 'Mind of Christ' and we see more directly what is meant in these texts that can clarify the question.
What many call the Old Covenant...
Jeremiah 31:31-33
“31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Now let’s look at what many call the New covenant in Hebrews 8:8-10:
“8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:"
It was always the same, God wants a true change, a real perfection, true righteousness, where we can come boldly before the throne..
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I was written that Jesus said "20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
So what did he mean? Perhaps that they had not faith in him, yet they were after purity. If that is the case then the answer is no, as others have said.
But the law is not diminished but made even more full. The laws which we already know in our hearts, but we might hide them when convenient. And then perhaps we do transgress. That is surely why Jesus told people to follow him while he was there with them, because he knew they would likely transgress at some point. Yet there should also be forgiveness of sin as well, if we repent. Repent for the kingdom is at hand, was the main saying, and it is not diminished.
When we break those laws we face the punishment for them. So we shouldn't break those laws if at all possible. Jesus did teach it.
Matthew 5:20
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
We must be perfected to beyond just the literal to the spiritual or holy. What is called the 'Mind of Christ' and we see more directly what is meant in these texts that can clarify the question.
What many call the Old Covenant...
Jeremiah 31:31-33
“31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Now let’s look at what many call the New covenant in Hebrews 8:8-10:
“8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:"
It was always the same, God wants a true change, a real perfection, true righteousness, where we can come boldly before the throne..
Thanks for your reply,
Yes that is what the Lord had in hopes for Israel and for all. Yet surely, he knew of their ways. And so the word of Jesus must had been made.
Those times do come and go and in regions they do flourish. Just as the cosmos is vast but as far as we can see the Earth has more abundance of life.
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This is part of what the New Testament says about the law:
“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Messiah.” -- John 1:17.
“...how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain." -- Galatians 4:8-11
"Stand fast therefore, in the freedom of which Messiah has made us free and, be not entangled with a yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1
"You have become estranged from Messiah, you who try to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." -- Galatians 5:4
"But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law." -- Galatians 5:18
"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." -- Romans 6:14
". . .having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." -- Colossians 2:14
"Therefore, if you died with Messiah from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—'Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,' which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?" -- Colossians 2:21-22
“. . .but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. --II Corinthians 3:4-6
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This is part of what the New Testament says about the law:
“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Messiah.” -- John 1:17.
“...how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain." -- Galatians 4:8-11
"Stand fast therefore, in the freedom of which Messiah has made us free and, be not entangled with a yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1
"You have become estranged from Messiah, you who try to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." -- Galatians 5:4
"But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law." -- Galatians 5:18
"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." -- Romans 6:14
". . .having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." -- Colossians 2:14
"Therefore, if you died with Messiah from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—'Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,' which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?" -- Colossians 2:21-22
“. . .but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. --II Corinthians 3:4-6
Gods Law is one of love, for God with all your heart and mind, and your fellowman. Take it out and soon you will find what is meant by "every man did that which was right in his own eyes”, to say nothing of the destruction of society and order....
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Only Jesus can grant eternal life.
Jesus says, "You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of me." John 5:39
Jesus says, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him who he sent." John 6:29