That really doesn't make sense to me.
Childeye said: I'm trying to parse the semantics here.
Above I am referring to parsing the semantics that occurred concerning
nothing/something brand New being taught by Christ.
To review, the poster saying nothing new is being taught by Christ, was inferring that the law does not change because God does not change. And I am saying something Brand New is being taught apart from the law in the self-sacrificing Love of Christ displayed on the cross. Both are true. So, I tried to point out the semantical problem causing the misunderstanding by saying, "Nothing is New to God about Himself, but the knowledge of God is always brand New to the ignorant".
That is on the person, not God himself.
I need to love others as myself, and I don't believe people are to be held responsible for being ignorant of God even because I can look back at my own ignorance yet not see my current ignorance. I believe there can be a such thing as a wanton ignorance which would be a separate matter from what I'm referring to. I believe the knowledge of God's Person given to the world is in His son, and that only God can reveal Himself to a person. So, I'll qualify that sentiment with these scriptures:
John 9:39
39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Matthew 11:25-27
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
1 Corinthians 1:27-31
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
I'm sorry you are troubled, but what he taught was the right meaning of the Torah, not what the leaders had made it.
He came to 'fulfill or fill up' what the commandments really meant.
For instance speaking on two of the ten Commandments:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
These two (and there are many examples) are 'filling up' the meaning behind the title of 'Thou shalt not murder' and 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,'.
There's no change, in fact by keeping this understanding it became even harder but Messiah Yeshua was speaking to them about the heart matter, not just the 'letter of the law'.
He's teaching that anger is the same as murder.
Lusting in your mind after a woman is the same as sleeping with her.
Not changed, but defined in the way GOD intended.
I think Jesus is talking about the spirit of the law because the law is spiritual, but I am also flesh and stand guilty under the law. So, I agree with the overall sentiment above in that not getting angry is indeed a deeper righteousness than don't murder. But likewise, the righteousness of God I see revealed in the Christ suffering a cross to save sinners, is a deeper righteousness than what I see revealed in the letter of the law. Therefore, I preach the Spirit of Christ, and not the letter of the law.
That's a rather serious accusation, and I myself believe that He is the Way the TRUTH and the LIFE! He wants us to be like him in keeping all the things the LORD GOD told him to do, that is why he said to 'be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect'.
Respectfully, my sentiment is not an accusation. I indicated that to say the Christ is not teaching anything new, sounds like it's not preaching the Christ. I mean, where does the law teach us to pick up your own cross and forgive those who would crucify you? It's a substantive point and important distinction.
It's nothing new, those who believe they have the faith of Abraham should be aware that Abraham's faith 'proof' is this, the LORD came to him and said:
I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
I'm not Abraham, and I have my own walk to walk just as everyone who is called does. But I'm certain that there is only one faith, even as there is only one God to have faith in. For me, that faith came from hearing the Gospel. And so, I would also add that to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect, it would require knowing the Father as trustworthy, and I know Him as trustworthy in the same Love I see persevering in His Christ on a cross to save sinners.
That's like saying the car was made for man but the man was not made for the car. Doesn't make sense does it?
Well, the car was made to serve the man, and not the man was made to serve the car. But the law is not a car. Therefore, I believe the law is made for mankind, to show all of mankind as sinners unable to keep the law perfectly because of weakness of the flesh. I believe God gave mankind over to the lusts of the flesh so that we would learn the value of the virtues we otherwise would take for granted in vainglory and unthankfulness.
The GOD that does not change knew all things ahead of time and is righteous, meaning while taking that into account he gives all the help he can while still requiring obedience and proper behavior.
You make is sound like he is evil, knowing that his children whom He made in his own image wouldn't be able to do what he asked and he sat back and couldn't wait for them to fail. Nice Father, huh?
I believe God knew the creature would take His Spirit for granted as a matter of circumstance. Satan was very gifted and held a high station as a guardian cherub, yet he fell due to vanity. So, upon understanding the Gospel and acknowledging that I could not keep the law in my fallen state, I instead began trusting in His Grace and Mercy and picked up my cross forgiving all who did wrong to me in all pureness of heart. I then found that my thoughts and speech began to change, reflecting that I am now allowed to walk in His ways, so that obedience is a gift rather than a labor of works performed out of fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
The Messiah is as John wrote:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Messiah is the WORD of GOD, to throw out the Torah is to throw out Messiah Yeshua.
I believe the Word was conceived in God's mind before He spoke, and this is what I take it to mean when John says the Word was with God. I believe God's spoken Word of creation is the expression of His Self, which is what I take John to mean when he says the Word was God. The Christ is the Word made flesh. So, I believe that everything made, seen and unseen, good or bad, testifies to God's Word, including the Torah and the knowledge of sin.
