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That’s the point. Only Jesus.And just how is one perfect according to the verse you've taken out of context?
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That’s the point. Only Jesus.And just how is one perfect according to the verse you've taken out of context?
Hi EmSw, actually, the Bible has quite a bit to say about that (incl Matt 5:48, of course), because "keeping the Law" means just that, and no one, save Jesus, has ever been able to do that.
St. James could not make that fact any clearer for us if he tried:
James 210 Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law.
Quite frankly, the Pharisees came far closer to "keeping the Law" than anyone else ever has (going so far as tithing their supplies of mint and dill and cummin .. Matthew 23:23), but it was not enough to save them according to Jesus .. Matthew 5:20.
You would like us to believe (as you do) that being 'sort of' obedient to God's laws will save us, that the Cross therefore means nothing and that Jesus' death does not atone for our sins, but the Bible tells us otherwise.
Of course, ANYTHING/EVERYTHING that the Bible has to say to us becomes meaningless if you choose to take a pair of scissors to it and remove all the parts that you don't like/that you don't agree with, IOW, everything (in your case) that doesn't seem to support your works righteousness presupposition. Like Madalyn Murray O'Hair before you (who told us that she was an atheist was because "even the Bible says: 'There is no God'" .. e.g. Psalms 14:1), you can make the Bible say anything you want it to if you're actually willing to go that far (of course, it stops being the "word of God" and becomes the "word of Madalyn" or the "word of EmSw" instead).
I do, of course, but only as understood "in context" with the rest of the Bible (which certainly includes verses like Romans 3:23, as well passages like Luke 1:18-20). To pull verses out of context like you do is to assign your own meaning to them, which gives each of them a completely different meaning than the Lord intended (just like Mrs. O'Hair did when she insisted that the Bible teaches us that, "there is no God" .. Psalms 14:1 .. it says that, but surely you do not agree with her that it means that .. do you ).Why do you not believe what is said about Zacharias and Elizabeth?
The scriptures do not say they were sinless. The scripture says they were righteous. One does not mean the other. Scripture is clear that only Christ was without sin. Perhaps you need to do a study on the word righteous. Zac was stricken dumb for doubting and not believing God. Is that not a sin?Hello St. Worm. Why do you not believe what is said about Zacharias and Elisibeth
Thank you for your long and detailed response. I appreciate it.In Exodus 20:6, God wanted His people to love Him and obey His commands, in Deuteronomy 10:12-11:1, the way to love God with all of our heart and soul is about obey His commands, in John 14:15, Jesus said if we love him, then we will obey His commands, in 1 John 5:3, to love God is to obey His commandments, in Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus summarized the Law as being instructions for how to love God and our neighbor, and in Galatians 5:14, loving our neighbor fulfills the entire Law, so obedience to God's instructions has always been about expressing our love for Him. Love can't go beyond the Law because that it what the Law is essentially about how to do.
Likewise, in Matthew 23:23, Jesus said that faith is one of the weightier matters of the Law, so obedience to God is what it looks like to have faith and what it means to believe in Him. While it is true that Abraham believed God and was counted as righteous, it is also true that Abraham believed God, so he didn't hesitate to obey God's command to offer Isaac. Jesus gave himself to redeem us from all Lawlessness (Titus 2:14), so he is the object of our faith and obedience to the Law is how we express that faith.
In John 5:46, Jesus said that Moses wrote about him, in Luke 24:27, Jesus began with Moses and the Prophets interpreting to them all of the things in Scripture concerning himself, in Hebrews 10:7, the volume of the scroll is written about Jesus, and in Romans 10:4, Jesus is the goal of the Law for righteousness for everyone who has faith, so the Law is all about Christ and how to have a relationship with him based on faith and love. In Philippians 3:8, Paul had been outwardly obeying the Law, but without having a focus on knowing Christ, so he had been missing the whole point and counted it all as rubbish. So the right solution to incorrectly obeying the Law is to start obeying it correctly with the right focus, not to stop obeying God.
Being born again is about dying to living in sin and rising again in Christ to a life of obedience by grace through faith.
I do, of course, but only as understood "in context" with the rest of the Bible (which certainly includes verses like Romans 3:23, as well passages like Luke 1:18-20). To pull verses out of context like you do is to assign your own meaning to them, which gives each of them a completely different meaning than the Lord intended (just like Mrs. O'Hair did when she insisted that the Bible teaches us that, "there is no God" .. Psalms 14:1 .. it says that, but surely you do not agree with her that it means that .. do you ).
The scriptures do not say they were sinless. The scripture says they were righteous. One does not mean the other. Scripture is clear that only Christ was without sin. Perhaps you need to do a study on the word righteous. Zac was stricken dumb for doubting and not believing God. Is that not a sin?
Zacharias and Elizabeth by walking in all the commandments and ordinances of God participated in animal sacrifices to cover their sins. Zacharias most likely in his time in the priestly class oversaw the sacrifices of the Day of Atonement yearly (Leviticus 16). It did not mean they were sinless, but they followed the Law and part of that Law were the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly sacrifices.So, I'm wondering what you understand about Zacharias and Elizabeth. Do you think they walked in all the commandments and ordinances of God with blame? Do you think they were not righteous before God?
How did I pull what is said about Zacharias and Elizabeth out of context? I surely believe the Bible when it says they were righteous before God. Since no one else had a son with John the Baptist's ministry, is it pulling it out of context to say their son prepared the way of the Lord?
Zacharias and Elizabeth by walking in all the commandments and ordinances of God participated in animal sacrifices to cover their sins. Zacharias most likely in his time in the priestly class oversaw the sacrifices of the Day of Atonement yearly (Leviticus 16). It did not mean they were sinless, but they followed the Law and part of that Law were the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly sacrifices.
As it says in Hebrews 9:22 "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
All Israel stood before the Temple on the day of Atonement.What you omit is they, Zacharias AND Elizabeth, walked in ALL the commandments and ordinances of God BLAMELESSLY, and you say it was participating in animal sacrifices. This is surely not ALL the commandments, nor ordinances. You have only given one aspect of Zacharias performing priestly duties, and this would not include Elizabeth.
I'm guessing the word 'blameless' is causing you trouble. They walked BLAMELESSLY in ALL the commandments and ordinances of God, not just the sacrifices.
I would have to say the writer of Hebrews did not walk with Jesus during His earthly ministry, or didn't know Jesus at all. If he did, he would have seen many people forgiven of sin without the shedding of blood.
I wonder how many really believe Jesus when He said this in Matthew 9:6 -
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Jesus could have, and did forgive sins without any cross, and without any shed blood.
All Israel stood before the Temple on the day of Atonement.
I have no idea where you are going with this. Tell you what, go look up 'remission', study it, look at it head on, sideways, from below, and even on the back side. When you are sure what it means, tell me what is missing from 'remission' that is included in the atonement.
More:I have no idea where you are going with this. Tell you what, go look up 'remission', study it, look at it head on, sideways, from below, and even on the back side. When you are sure what it means, tell me what is missing from 'remission' that is included in the atonement.
Why did he forgive the sins of that guy in Matthew 9?I wonder how many really believe Jesus when He said this in Matthew 9:6 -
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Remission, Remit Vine’s Expository
A. Nouns. 1. aphesis (859), “a dismissal, release” (from aphiemi, B), is used of the forgiveness of sins and translated “remission” in Matt. 26: 28; Mark 1: 4; Luke 1: 77; 3: 3; 24: 47; Acts 2: 38; 5: 31 (KJV, “forgiveness”); 10: 43; 13: 38, RV (KJV, “forgiveness”); 26: 18 (ditto); Heb. 9: 22; 10: 18. See Forgive, B, and A, No. 1. 2. paresis (3929), “a passing by of debt or sin,” Rom. 3: 25, KJV, “remission” (RV and KJV marg., “passing over”). See Passing over.¶ Note: No. 2 is a matter of forbearance, No. 1 a matter of grace.
Which is directly related to the unilateral covenants God makes with man.
https://www.theopedia.com/covenant
More:
Leviticus 16: NASB
15Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it.
16So he shall make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting which abides among them, because it is surrounded by their impurities. 17No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he leaves, after he has made atonement for himself, his household, and the whole assembly of Israel.
18Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. 19He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.
The Scapegoat
20When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he is to bring forward the live goat. 21Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task.22The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary place, and the man will release it into the wilderness.
23Then Aaron is to enter the Tent of Meeting, take off the linen garments he put on before entering the Most Holy Place, and leave them there. 24He is to bathe himself with water in a holy place and put on his own clothes. Then he must go out and sacrifice his burnt offering and the people’s burnt offering to make atonement for himself and for the people.25He is also to burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.
26The man who released the goat as the scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may reenter the camp.
27The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp and their hides, flesh, and dung must be burned up. 28The one who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and afterward he may reenter the camp.
The Day of Atonement
29This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble your soulsb and not do any work—whether the native or the foreigner who resides among you—30because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. 31It is a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.
32The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest shall make atonement. He will put on the sacred linen garments 33and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the assembly.34This is to be a permanent statute for you, to make atonement once a year for the Israelites because of all their sins.”
And all this was done as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Why did he forgive the sins of that guy in Matthew 9?
In both the OT and NT the remission of sins is in blood. As Jesus indicated:As Vine's notes, remission is a 'dismissal, release used of forgiveness of sins' and a 'passing by of debt of sin'.
Hebrews 9:22 once again. And in Hebrews 9:9-10 we see why. Let's look at the entire chapter for context. The author is comparing the Old Covenant sacrifices with the Sacrifice of Christ:Why would Jesus have to 'die' for sins which have been dismissed and released?
See above but the below explains why.What debt would Jesus have to 'pay' for sins if the debt has been passed?