When you find Christians affirming these details in the Word of God - do you accuse them of being under the Old Covenant since none of this is in the tiny snippet found in Acts 15 for gentiles?
1. Do not make graven images
2. Do not take God's name in vain
3. Honor your parents
4. Do not murder
5. Do not lie
6. Love God with all your heart Deut 6:5
7. Love your neighbor as yourself Lev 19:18
The New Covenant as we find it in the actual Bible refers to the same commandments - see
Jeremiah 31:31-33
This is missing the forest for the trees. It is not about following the letter of the law, ten commandments or otherwise, and has never truly been about following the letter of the law.
Christ gives a perfect example of just how meticulous God is in affirming His own Word - the Ten Commandments in Mark 7
7 ‘But
in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as
doctrines the precepts of men.’
8
Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the
tradition of men.”
9 He was also saying to them, “You are
experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to
keep your tradition. 10
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; 11 but you say, ‘If a man says to
his father or
his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given
to God),’ 12 you no longer permit him to do anything for
his father or
his mother; 13
thus invalidating the word of God by
your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
Now I think we both agree that the Jews whom Christ was accusing would never accuse themselves of abusing the Commandment of God as they used their tradition to apply minor "tweeks".
But Christ said that such meddling was not allowed. Was His affirmation of the "word of God" as He called it - a problem in your view?
The law clearly demonstrated to us that we cannot be saved by the law because we all fall short.
True. Do you view Christ's affirmation of the Ten Commandments in that example above - as a preaching of legalism or salvation by works??
The *spirit* of the law is in our hearts with guidance by the Holy Spirit. People obey Jesus's teachings out of love for him and to build a better relationship with him. It is a *response* to being saved, and a thank you for what he did for us,
agreed. And Christ''s hammering of the magisterium of his day for daring to infringe even in the slightest degree on the Ten Commandments (in this case "Honor your father and mother") - was pointing to sin in their actions which He said nullified their worship.
and a way to mature in our faith, and not a *means* of being saved
Agreed.
But 1 Cor 6 points out to those 'that have been justified' the error of supposing they can freely enjoy rebellion as if this will not be a salvation problem for them. He says to them "it is already a defeat for you" then adds "be not deceived".
In Matt 18 Christ teaches the lesson of "forgiveness revoked" and we see in that teaching
"I forgave you ALL of that debt should you not have forgiven your brother just as you had been forgiven...
return all his debt to him that he should repay all" Matt 18.
Rebellion can be the path to the loss of salvation.
