How did Jesus end the law without abolishing it?

pastorwaris said:

Dear Brother,

I appreciate the depth of your reflection here and the way you’re keeping the conversation anchored in the Word. You’re right, Jesus’ own warning in Matthew 24:4-5 was not about false religions outside His name, but about those who would come in His name and still lead many astray. That’s why we must handle this question about the Law with great care, so we neither add to God’s Word nor subtract from it (Deuteronomy 4:2).

When Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17), He was showing us a divine transition not from righteousness to lawlessness, but from the shadow to the substance. The Law was like a tutor (Galatians 3:24), pointing us to Christ, and once He came, the purpose of the tutor was fulfilled.

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Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I understand your philosophy here, as it has been promoted by this world's religions since my youth. Before that as well, but I can only speak to it's influence on me, in my life. I don't believe the Bible, if all of it is considered, supports this popular religious doctrine. That is, that the entire Law of God, as given to men through Moses, "Was added" because of transgressions. The reason for my understanding is based on what is written in Scriptures that I reference below.

From the very beginning God created "LAW" and gave to His Human Creation before any transgression existed. In fact, if there is "No Law", then there is "No Transgression", as it is written.

So the popular doctrine that God's Laws which "Define" Sin, Righteousness, Holiness, Judgment, came "because" of Transgressions, is not true, according to Scriptures. But that there "WAS LAW" that was ADDED "Because of Transgressions" is evident, as it is written:

"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."

And that this "ADDED" Law wasn't given until 430 years after God said that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.", as it is also written"

"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.

Therefore, it seem incumbent upon those who have Joined themselves to the Lord, to study to find our exactly "What Law", that Abraham didn't have, that was ADDED because of Transgressions.

I believe it was the Priesthood Covenant "The Law" God made with Levi, AKA, the "Levitical Priesthood". It was through this "LAW" that the people received God's Laws that defined both the righteousness and the wrath of God. And it was through this "LAW" that the people received atonement for their Transgressions.

This "Law", that required men to bring an animal to a Levite Priest for their transgressions, wasn't given to Israel in the day God brought them out of Egypt. As it is also written;

Jer. 7: 21 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. 22 For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

23 But "this thing commanded I them", saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. (I believe God told Abraham the exact same thing)

I have found through study, that Paul was speaking to this Priesthood, that was Prophesied to be temporary from it's inception, that was added after the Golden Calf. There was "NO LAW" which existed before that, that instructed a man to take a calf or goat to a Levite Priest, and Kill it for their sins, prior to the Gold Calf Transgression. The Pharisees had created an entire business of selling animals for Salvation using a twisted and corrupted form of this Priesthood, and had led the people astray. This too is written.

Mal. 2: 4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him "for the fear wherewith he feared me", and was afraid before my name.

(I believe HE was referring to this event.
Ex. 32: 26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the "sons of Levi" gathered themselves together unto him. )

Malachi continued.

6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. 7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye "have not kept my ways", but have been partial in the law.

This entire Priesthood LAW, was a Shadow of the Priesthood "After the Order of Melchizedek". This is the Law that led men to the true "Lamb of God".

This is the Covenant that was prophesied to change, according to the Scriptures.

Jer. 31: 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.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

As you can see, God addressed 2 things in the change of Covenant.

#1. The manner in which God's Laws are received. (No more going to find a Levite Priest sitting in Moses Seat, to hear God's Laws. We have the Oracles of God in our own home, we now sit in Moses Seat)

#2. The manner in which sins are forgiven. (No more taking a goat to a Levite Priest and killing it before a Levite Priest)

So then, given these an many other Words of God, when Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." He came to fulfill the prophesies concerning the end of the Priesthood "After the Order of Aaron", and the beginning of the Priesthood "After the Order of Melchizedek".

God's Definition of Sin, Righteousness, Holiness and Judgment still remains the same.

I understand completely what this truth meant for the mainstream religions of Christ and Paul's Time, and how they rebelled against it, working to silence the teaching. I also understand what this means for the mainstream religions of our time, and have witnesses first hand how this world's religious system work to silence the same truth.

It's a fascinating study, one I hope you will consider, even though there is a cost to believing it, as Jesus also tells us.

BelieveItOarKnot said:

I appreciate your expressions. It shows you've spent your time in the Word.

Some interesting observations that maybe you'll profit from:

Satan transforms into an angel of light. Doesn't mean Satan IS an angel of light. What it does mean is that Satan occupies the same seat as mankind. Look at Satan speaking from Peter's lips and being rebuked by Jesus. Think of Satan entering Judas. What we see in these pictures is Satan and devils in mankind. Just as Jesus said is a fact in Mark 4:15. Satan "follows after" where the Word is sown. Just as sure as night follows day.

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Free will is a great responsibility. With it must come a free will choice to limit or place boundaries on the free will. Even God, who clearly has free will, placed boundaries and Limitations on His Own free will. He is a Just, and Merciful God. No one makes Him be Just and Merciful, He places these Limitation of His Own free will because HE knows free will that is unchecked will destroy any kingdom, even His Own.

But we are not "God" with free will, we are mortal human beings with free will. We don't know enough to place limitation on our own free will, we must learn and be shown to freely accept limitations. This undeniable truth is clearly evident in the very creation. A Child has free will to desire, want, crave anything that catches it's attention. But by design, the child is under the instruction of the parent because if unchecked the child will use it's Free will to destroy or harm itself, or others around him. The parent teaches the child to accept limitations on their behavior, for their own safety and well being, and to learn to apply these limitations (Laws) to themselves, even when their parents are no around.

It isn't EVIL that God gave Adam and Eve free will. That is, the free will ability to choose to accept the limitations HE gave them. And also the free will ability to choose to reject the limitations HE gave them. Otherwise it wouldn't be free will.

Many, who profess to know God, claim that "Evil" defiled Eve "From without", not from within, because they say God created her perfect, with no evil. But these men imply in their philosophy that the "ability" to chose Evil, is evil itself. That isn't true. There is something truly Holy about a person denying the lusts of their free will desires, (AKA Lusts of the flesh) and choose instead to freely adopt the limitations the Father Gave them, even when they might not understand them. Eve was created a perfect being with free will, like her creator. She was created with the ability to choose to obey and to choose to disobey. A talking snake, a false teacher, these are just tests to see, as Paul teaches, "Who we yield ourselves to obey".

The desire of Eve to feed her own flesh, or choose her own judgment is as natural as a child wanting to eat dirt. God knew this and therefore God gave her His Limitations. "Do not eat". She already had within her the ability to obey or not obey. She chose the voice of another over the voice of God. Paul said this happened to her, for our admonition, that we might learn not to Lust, after disobedience that she lusted after.

When a man understands this, they understand why Jesus said that nothing form without can defile a man, only from within. And it isn't EVIL to have the ability to choose disobedience, it becomes Evil when we are drawn away by our free will desires, and "Choose" disobedience. The talking snake didn't make Eve choose his word over Gods. That is why God punished Eve, for Eves free will choice, and that because HE loved her.

Studyman said:

Free will is a great responsibility.

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The human will is not completely free. . .can we choose to never sin? . . .we cannot.
Our "freedom" is limited.

Studyman said:

With it must come a free will choice to limit or place boundaries on the free will. Even God, who clearly has free will, placed boundaries and Limitations on His Own free will. He is a Just, and Merciful God. No one makes Him be Just and Merciful, He places these Limitation of His Own free will because HE knows free will that is unchecked will destroy any kingdom, even His Own.

But we are not "God" with free will, we are mortal human beings with free will. We don't know enough to place limitation on our own free will, we must learn and be shown to freely accept limitations. This undeniable truth is clearly evident in the very creation. A Child has free will to desire, want, crave anything that catches it's attention. But by design, the child is under the instruction of the parent because if unchecked the child will use it's Free will to destroy or harm itself, or others around him. The parent teaches the child to accept limitations on their behavior, for their own safety and well being, and to learn to apply these limitations (Laws) to themselves, even when their parents are no around.

It isn't EVIL that God gave Adam and Eve free will. That is, the free will ability to choose to accept the limitations HE gave them. And also the free will ability to choose to reject the limitations HE gave them. Otherwise it wouldn't be free will.

Many, who profess to know God, claim that "Evil" defiled Eve "From without", not from within, because they say God created her perfect, with no evil. But these men imply in their philosophy that the "ability" to chose Evil, is evil itself. That isn't true. There is something truly Holy about a person denying the lusts of their free will desires, (AKA Lusts of the flesh) and choose instead to freely adopt the limitations the Father Gave them, even when they might not understand them. Eve was created a perfect being with free will, like her creator. She was created with the ability to choose to obey and to choose to disobey. A talking snake, a false teacher, these are just tests to see, as Paul teaches, "Who we yield ourselves to obey".

The desire of Eve to feed her own flesh, or choose her own judgment is as natural as a child wanting to eat dirt. God knew this and therefore God gave her His Limitations. "Do not eat". She already had within her the ability to obey or not obey. She chose the voice of another over the voice of God. Paul said this happened to her, for our admonition, that we might learn not to Lust, after disobedience that she lusted after.

When a man understands this, they understand why Jesus said that nothing form without can defile a man, only from within. And it isn't EVIL to have the ability to choose disobedience, it becomes Evil when we are drawn away by our free will desires, and "Choose" disobedience. The talking snake didn't make Eve choose his word over Gods. That is why God punished Eve, for Eves free will choice, and that because HE loved her.

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pastorwaris said:

Dear Brother,

I truly appreciate the depth of your study and the careful weaving together of Scripture to show the reality of the tempter’s presence in mankind. You’re absolutely right, Paul did not shy away from acknowledging that “evil is present” with him whenever he desired to do good (Romans 7:21). This is why he could speak so honestly about the war between the flesh and the Spirit (Galatians 5:17).

But here’s the beauty of the Gospel: Jesus didn’t come just to expose the presence of sin and the tempter. He came to fulfill the Law, not abolish it (Matthew 5:17). How? By doing what the Law itself could never do condemn sin in the flesh through His own sinless life and sacrificial death (Romans 8:3-4).

The Law was perfect, but it could only reveal sin, not remove it (Romans 3:20). In Christ, the righteous requirement of the Law is fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. That means, while the Law’s moral truth still stands, its condemning power is broken for those in Christ (Romans 6:14).

You touched on something vital when you spoke about the “same lump” being made into vessels of honor and dishonor (Romans 9:21). Under the Law, we were all vessels of dishonor because sin lived in us. Under grace, through Christ’s finished work, He cleanses us, fills us with His Spirit, and empowers us to live in a way the Law demanded but could never enable.

So in a way, Jesus didn’t “abolish” the Law. He satisfied its demands, removed its curse, and wrote its moral truth on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10). That’s why Paul could say, “Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). Not the end as in destruction, but the end as in completion like crossing the finish line.

And yes, the tempter still follows where the Word is sown (Mark 4:15), but now, instead of being powerless victims of his schemes, we stand in Christ’s victory, equipped with the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). The Law showed us the battle grace empowers us to win it.

In short: Jesus didn’t throw the Law away. He wore its perfect robe, paid its debt in full, and then clothed us with His own righteousness so we could live free from its condemnation, but not free from its holy standard.

Blessings to you and your family!

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I'm with you all the way, but will uphold the law as a rightful condemnation of sin/evil within everyone.

Cheering only on one side of the ledger is just unnecessary. I'm just as happy seeing evil and sin condemned because the end of those things is meant to come about by inflaming them to their eventual end.

Jesus can look any of us in the face and rebuke Satan, the tempter who plagues us all. There is never a cause to let up on that side of the ledgers just to make ourselves feel good. I don't want the tempter to feel good. You?

IF we are disciples we are directed to hate others and to hate our own life also, Luke 14:26. Even after doing all we are commanded to do we are again directed to call ourselves unprofitable servants.

In short, a feel good, all is only love, chocolate and cherries is just half a loaf.

There's bigger game to hunt

Clare73 said:

The human will is not completely free. . .can we choose to never sin? . . .we cannot.
Our "freedom" is limited.

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I have found through study that God placed me in a world in which other voices exist, just as HE did Eve. These "other voices" work to diminish God's Word, implying that God Lies to people, and that His Words can not be trusted. You can see this in the story of Eve. We see examples of men surrounded by these other voices, like Noah, and like righteous Lot who was vexed by them every day. Abraham was told by God to walk before Him and be perfect. But the "other voice" in the garden God placed me in, preaches that this same God withheld from Abraham and all men, the ability to do what God instructed him to do

Joshua and Caleb trusted God's Word, and encouraged all those other men around them, who professed to know God, to engage in the battles we face, and overcome, because if God is with us who can be against us. But these "other voices" moved to stone them to death for even considering such a thing. I could go on and on all through the Bible of examples God gave me of this "other voice". Even Jesus was placed in a world with voices, who professed to know God, but worked to convince as many as they could to reject God's Word in favor of theirs. Jesus speaks to this very thing.

Matt. 23: 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

So I am full aware of the teaching of the religious voices of the religious system of this world that God placed me in. And I am fully aware that they, as they have since the beginning, will work to diminish the Words of God, as if HE gives a Command, then withholds from men the ability to obey the command, then punishes them when they can't obey.

The philosophy that God has given me free will to do "everything" evil, wicked and sinful, but has limited my free will by withholding from me the ability to choose HIS righteousness, might be popular among the many in this world who call Jesus Lord, Lord. But God's Word doesn't teach this philosophy at all. So I won't be "Yielding myself" to this voice.

I advocate that a man Trusts God's Word, over the "other voices" in the world God placed us in, like Paul did, and Abraham, and Caleb.

Phil. 3: 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: "but I follow after", if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but "this one thing I do", forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things "which are before",

14 I press toward the mark "for the prize of the high calling of God" (be perfect) (Which is) in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, "as many as be perfect", be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Studyman said:

I have found through study that God placed me in a world in which other voices exist, just as HE did Eve. These "other voices" work to diminish God's Word, implying that God Lies to people, and that His Words can not be trusted. You can see this in the story of Eve. We see examples of men surrounded by these other voices, like Noah, and like righteous Lot who was vexed by them every day. Abraham was told by God to walk before Him and be perfect. But the "other voice" in the garden God placed me in, preaches that this same God withheld from Abraham and all men, the ability to do what God instructed him to do

Joshua and Caleb trusted God's Word, and encouraged all those other men around them, who professed to know God, to engage in the battles we face, and overcome, because if God is with us who can be against us. But these "other voices" moved to stone them to death for even considering such a thing. I could go on and on all through the Bible of examples God gave me of this "other voice". Even Jesus was placed in a world with voices, who professed to know God, but worked to convince as many as they could to reject God's Word in favor of theirs. Jesus speaks to this very thing.

Matt. 23: 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

So I am full aware of the teaching of the religious voices of the religious system of this world that God placed me in. And I am fully aware that they, as they have since the beginning, will work to diminish the Words of God, as if HE gives a Command, then withholds from men the ability to obey the command, then punishes them when they can't obey.

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God's command (i.e., faith) is savingly obeyed only by those to whom he has sovereignly (based on nothng but his will to do so, as unaccountable as the wind, Jn 3:6-8) given new birth (Jn 3:3-5).