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Kilk1

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Hello! Various passages of Scripture suggest we're not under the law, which I understand to be the law of Moses. Do these passages suggest that its commands are no longer binding on us today?

Acts of the Apostles 15 seems to be about circumcision and keeping the law of Moses in general (Acts of the Apostles 15:5). The decision made seems to suggest that the commands of the law itself (e.g., circumcision) are no longer binding, but that we instead must follow a new set of commands.

Galatians 3:24-25 suggests we're no longer under the law just like how a child is no longer under a custodian. Does this suggest that the authority of the law can no longer command us, as opposed to the meaning being simply that the law can't punish us anymore? For example, when a child is no longer under a custodian, the result isn't merely that they can't be punished or condemned by the custodian; it's that they no longer have to obey the custodian as well.

Also, Romans 7:4 says we've become dead to the law. If the comparison of Romans 7:4 is between a husband and wife (Romans 7:1-3), how a wife is under the law of her husband (not just his condemnation but under his authority, right?) until he dies, then would this suggest that once we're dead to the law, we're no longer under its authority, and thus we don't have to follow it anymore (i.e., as opposed to it meaning that we only can't be punished or condemned by it but still must obey it)?

Do these passages suggest that we no longer are obligated to obey the commands of the law (at least some of them), rather than meaning we simply can't be punished by the law but still must obey it. (And again, I'm understanding "the law" as meaning "the law of Moses".)

Note: I'm not advocating for antinomianism: I'm instead asking if we're dead to the law of Moses but now married to Christ (and thus, need to obey Him, not the law of Moses).
 

pasifika

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Not under it's commands or (written code) but Spirit...Romans 7:6
 
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SkyWriting

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Hello! Various passages of Scripture suggest we're not under the law, which I understand to be the law of Moses. Do these passages suggest that its commands are no longer binding on us today?

The "purpose" of the law before Christ was to illustrate to man that it wouldn't work.
Now we are under Grace and we follow Jesus as a volunteer.

Matthew 7:12
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
 
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disciple Clint

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The new covenant has replaced the old covenant.
The New Covenant by Keith Mathison
 
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St_Worm2

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Hello @Kilk1, here is something that may prove to be useful in this discussion. It's taken from one of Dr. Sproul's theology books.

THE THREEFOLD USE OF THE LAW

Every Christian wrestles with the question, how does the Old Testament law relate to my life? Is the Old Testament law irrelevant to Christians or is there some sense in which we are still bound by portions of it? As the heresy of antinomianism becomes ever more pervasive in our culture, the need to answer these questions grows increasingly urgent.

The Reformation was founded on grace and not upon law. Yet the law of God was not repudiated by the Reformers. John Calvin, for example, wrote what has become known as the “Threefold Use of the Law” in order to show the importance of the law for the Christian life.

The first purpose of the law is to be a mirror. On the one hand, the law of God reflects and mirrors the perfect righteousness of God. The law tells us much about who God is. Perhaps more important, the law illumines human sinfulness. Augustine wrote, “The law orders, that we, after attempting to do what is ordered, and so feeling our weakness under the law, may learn to implore the help of grace.” The law highlights our weakness so that we might seek the strength found in Christ. Here the law acts as a severe schoolmaster who drives us to Christ .. e.g. Galatians 3:24.

A second purpose for the law is the restraint of evil. The law, in and of itself, cannot change human hearts. It can, however, serve to protect the righteous from the unjust. Calvin says this purpose is “by means of its fearful denunciations and the consequent dread of punishment, to curb those who, unless forced, have no regard for rectitude and justice.” The law allows for a limited measure of justice on this earth, until the last judgment is realized.

The third purpose of the law is to reveal what is pleasing to God. As born-again children of God, the law enlightens us as to what is pleasing to our Father, whom we seek to serve. The Christian delights in the law as God Himself delights in it. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This is the highest function of the law, to serve as an instrument for the people of God to give Him honor and glory.

By studying or meditating on the law of God, we attend the school of righteousness. We learn what pleases God and what offends Him. The moral law that God reveals in Scripture is always binding upon us. Our redemption is from the curse of God’s law, not from our duty to obey it. We are justified, not because of our obedience to the law, but in order that we may become obedient to God’s law. To love Christ is to keep His commandments. To love God is to obey His law.

Summary
1. The church today has been invaded by antinomianism, which weakens, rejects, or distorts the law of God.
2. The law of God is a mirror of God’s holiness and our unrighteousness. It serves to reveal to us our need of a savior.
3. The law of God is a restraint against sin.
4. The law of God reveals what is pleasing and what is offensive to God.
5. The Christian is to love the law of God and to obey the moral law of God.

Biblical passages for reflection:
Psalm 19:7-11
Psalm 119:9-16
Romans 7:7-25
Romans 8:3-4
1 Corinthians 7:19
Galatians 3:24


~Sproul, R. C. (1992). Essential truths of the Christian faith. Tyndale House.
HAPPY NEW YEAR

--David
p.s. - we are not REQUIRED/OBLIGATED to "keep" the Law of Moses or obey the Law of Christ to be saved (because we cannot do so, only He can do so, perfectly). Rather, as believers (who are ALREADY saved), we choose to obey the law because we WANT to do so, because it is a believer's heartfelt desire to please the One who loves us and saved us.

Galatians 3
21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

.
 
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SkyWriting

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The good Doctor is asleep. He hardly mentions Christ in his analysis.

New International Version
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

You have to talk about Jesus fulfilling the law or you've said nothing.
 
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Nova2216

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the law of faith. (Rom. 3:27)
so fulfil the law of Christ. (Gal.6:1,2)

Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Mt 7:21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.


Which law do you speak of?
 
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St_Worm2

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Hi Sky, while I agree with you about the supreme importance of the Lord Jesus fulfilling (keeping) the Law for us in regards to being saved (because salvation would be impossible for us if He did not), if you check out the OP, the topic of this thread has to do with the continuing purpose of the Law (or lack thereof) in the life of a believer (IOW, what the Law's purpose is in the life of someone from whom Christ has ~already~ fulfilled the Law).

So, in reality, the excerpt that I posited here, from one of the sections of Dr. Sproul's theological premier, said ~more~ than it needed to , not less (since the 1st use of the Law, see again below, is concerned with a Christian's salvation).

The first purpose of the law is to be a mirror. On the one hand, the law of God reflects and mirrors the perfect righteousness of God. The law tells us much about who God is. Perhaps more important, the law illumines human sinfulness. Augustine wrote, “The law orders, that we, after attempting to do what is ordered, and so feeling our weakness under the law, may learn to implore the help of grace.” The law highlights our weakness so that we might seek the strength found in Christ. Here the law acts as a severe schoolmaster who drives us to Christ .. e.g. Galatians 3:24.​

When I finally came to saving faith in Christ (35+ years ago now, PTL ), I was so very thankful to Him. I knew that I was without hope on my own because of the very sinful life that I had been leading up until that point in time, and the guilt that I felt because of my sinfulness had become too much for me to bear.
But when I turned to the Lord, the weight of all of that guilt was lifted off of my shoulders because I knew, in that moment, that God had forgiven me of all of it and saved me

I also realized in that moment how displeasing my life as an unbeliever had been to God, and I never wanted to be displeasing to Him like that every again, but I didn't really know (except for things like "do not murder") what the Lord actually considered to be pleasing and/or displeasing. That's when the HS led me to the Bible, and thereby, to the Law, which told me plainly what pleases, honors and glorifies God, and what does not. I also, as a result, became one of the true oddballs out there who actually LOVES the Book of Leviticus

God bless you!

--David
p.s. - if you read what I just wrote, I sure that you can now understand why I consider the 3rd purpose for the Law to be so very important. Here it is again from R.C. .. see below (I did the underlining of certain portions, just FYI).

On final thing first though, Dr. Sproul's theology book, Essentials Truths of the Christian Faith, has FAR more on the Lord Jesus Christ and on Salvation than he wrote in that book concerning the use of the Law. In fact, unlike the subsection called, The Threefold Use of the Law, which is just one small part of a chapter in his book, two of the other ~chapters~ in his book are called, "Jesus Christ" and "Salvation". I believe that this book is extremely useful for most/all believers, so if you don't own it, I would highly recommend buying it!

The third purpose of the law is to reveal what is pleasing to God. As born-again children of God, the law enlightens us as to what is pleasing to our Father, whom we seek to serve. The Christian delights in the law as God Himself delights in it. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This is the highest function of the law, to serve as an instrument for the people of God to give Him honor and glory.

By studying or meditating on the law of God, we attend the school of righteousness. We learn what pleases God and what offends Him. The moral law that God reveals in Scripture is always binding upon us. Our redemption is from the curse of God’s law, not from our duty to obey it. We are justified, not because of our obedience to the law, but in order that we may become obedient to God’s law. To love Christ is to keep His commandments. To love God is to obey His law.
.
 
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SkyWriting

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That sounds good. But none of it is valid.
The purpose of the law was to illustrate how it's impossible for man to keep it.
All of the OT is a testament to mans failure to keep any law. The Jews were the lucky
ones to be used to illustrate that man can't do it. It starts with Adam and the stories
of failure just go on and on.

The second part of the Truth is that our only hope is forgiveness. So instead of the
obsolete written law, it is replaced by Faith that Jesus forgives us our sins (in the New Testament.)

And the entire written law is replaced with it's real foundation, under Grace:

Matthew 7:12
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
 
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Soyeong

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Hello! Various passages of Scripture suggest we're not under the law, which I understand to be the law of Moses. Do these passages suggest that its commands are no longer binding on us today?

In Romans 6:14, Paul described the law that we are not under as being a law where sin had dominion over us, which does not describe the Law of Moses, which is a law where holiness, righteousness, and goodness have dominion over us (Romans 7:12), but rather it is the law of sin where sin had dominion over us. In Romans 6:15, being under grace does not mean that we are permitted to sin and the Law of Moses is how the Israelites knew what sin is (Romans 3:20, 1 John 3:4), so we are still under it and are obligated to obey it. Furthermore, everything else in Romans 6 is speaking in favor of obedience to God's law and against sin, such as Romans 6:16, where we are to present ourselves as slaves of obedience leading to righteousness rather than slaves of sin leading to death.


In Acts 15:1, they were wanting to require all Gentiles to become circumcised in order to become saved, however, this was never the purpose for which God commanded circumcision, so the Jerusalem Council upheld the Law of Moses by correctly ruling against that requirement, and a ruling against requiring something that God never commanded should not be mistaken as being a ruling against obeying what God has commanded, as if the Jerusalem Council had the authority to countermand God.


Someone who disregarded everything that their tutor taught them after they left would be missing the whole point of a tutor. A student does not move on to algebra by disregarding everything that they were taught about addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, but rather their new teacher builds upon what they were previously taught. Now that faith has come we are under a superior teacher, but the subject matter is still how to walk in God's ways in obedience to his law in accordance with what Christ taught by word and by example.


In Romans 6:19-22, we are no longer to present ourselves as slaves to impurity, lawlessness, and sin, but are not to present ourselves as being slaves to God and to righteousness leading to sanctification, and the goal of sanctification is eternal life in Christ, so Romans 7:1-4 should not be interpreted as speaking against what he just said. At no point was the wife set free from needing to obey any of God's laws, and if she were to get married to another husband after the death of her first husband, then she would still be required to refrain from committing adultery. So there is nothing in Romans 7:1-3 that leads to the conclusion in verse 4 that in the same way we have been set free from all of God's laws and are now free to live as slaves to impurity, lawlessness, and sin.

In Romans 7:21-25, Paul said that he delighted in obeying the Law of God and served it with hid mind, but contrasted that with the law of sin that was waging war against the law of his mind, which held him captive, and which he served with his flesh. If Romans 7:4-6 were referring to the Law of God, then that would mean that the way to belong to Christ would to reject God's laws for how to belong to Christ, that the way to bear fruit for God would be by rejecting God's laws for how to bear fruit for him, that Paul delighted in stirring up sinful passions in order to bear fruit unto death, and that he delighted in being held captive, all of which is absurd, but rather it is the law of sin that he described as holding him captive.


The same God who gave the Law to Moses also sent Christ, so there is no disagreement about which laws we should follow. In Matthew 4:17-23, Christ began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, and the Law of Moses was how his audience knew what sin is, so repenting from our disobedience to it is an integral part of the Gospel message. Furthermore, Christ set a sinless example of how to walk in obedience to the Law of Moses, and as his followers we are told to follow his example (1 Peter 2:21-22) and that those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way he walked (1 John 2:6), so Christ spent his ministry teaching his followers how to obey the Law of Moses by word and by example, and there is no distinction between obeying him and obeying the Law of Moses. It is contradictory for someone to want to be married to Christ while rejecting God's laws for how to be in Christ.
 
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St_Worm2

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Hello @SkyWriting, I don't disagree with anything that you just said in post #10 above, but I would add at least a couple of other purposes for God's Law.

1) The fact that the Lord Jesus not only came to save us from the ~penalty~ of sin (in the age to come), but that He also came to save us from the ~power~ that sin holds over us (in this life).

In fact, one of the most important ways that we know that we are truly saved is due to the Lord's continual work in our lives as believers (to sanctify us/to make us more and more like Christ, and less and less sinful, throughout the balance of our lives here).

Also, His saving grace was never meant (cannot be used) as a means of removing the threat of Hell (in the age to come) on the one hand, while using it as a license to continue in unrepentant sin/or to sin even more (in this life) on the other

Quite frankly, if someone (who claims and/or even believes that they are a Christian) continues to live a life that is characterized by ongoing, unrepentant sin, chances are more than just good that they are deceived about who they really are/about truly being "in Christ".

2) God's purpose in giving us the Law was also (as R.C.'s article said) for the restraint of evil, to teach us who God truly is, to show believers how to please, honor and glorify Him, and (thereby) to also help us understand (by His power and the HS's guidance) how to live a life that is less and less sinful on this side of the grave.

So, while it is indeed the purpose of the Law is to reveal our sinfulness, and to be a harsh schoolmaster that drives us to the Savior, it has several other purposes in our lives as well.

God bless you!

--David
p.s. - I just used this quote in another thread, but it seems appropriate to use again it again here, in this thread, so here you go.

 
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Kilk1

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These verses definitely seem to suggest that there are laws Christians must follow. Is it that we no longer are under the law of Moses, but we are still under a law--a new one, the law of Christ?
 
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Kilk1

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Romans 6:14-15 does say that sin can't have dominion over us since we're not under law but grace. However, this doesn't seem to mean that the law and sin are the same thing. In fact, wouldn't that contradict Romans 7:7-8? Here, we're told 1) that the law isn't sin, 2) that the law said, "You shall not covet," and 3) that sin took opportunity by such commands, rather than being such commands.

Would you agree that "the law" in Romans 7 is the law of Moses?


Circumcision was required in the law of Moses (Leviticus 12:1-3). In Acts of the Apostles 15:5, some claimed that everyone needed to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. Was their decision that the claim in Acts of the Apostles 15:5 is false?


I think I agree. When you're under a tutor, the things you learned under the tutor can help you later. Our tutor brought us to Christ. Since we're not under the tutor any longer, would this mean that we don't need to keep the commands of the law of Moses (though it informs us) and that instead, we must keep the commands of Christ (Romans 3:27; Galatians 6:1-2; James 1:25)?


But would she still need to obey her now-deceased husband? If not, then wouldn't this mean she's no longer under the law of her (first) husband but now under the law of Christ (Romans 3:27;
Galatians 6:1-2; James 1:25)?

We're certainly not under the law of sin. However, isn't "the law" of Romans 7:6, the law we're freed from, the same as "the law" in the next verse, Romans 7:7?
 
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SkyWriting

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Also, His saving grace was never meant (cannot be used) as a means of removing the threat of Hell (in the age to come) on the one hand, while using it as a license to continue in unrepentant sin/or to sin even more (in this life) on the other

Hell is not a threat or a punishment or even a place.

Hell is the experience of not having God in your life to forgive you.

There is a shadow of Hell, which non-believers experience already,
and it's pretty much like the final Hell....except after death here are
no distractions like wine, beer, or TV.

Hell is silence without end and without distractions. It's purely natural.
While there people are tormented by their past actions and failure to act.
Particularly what they have said while alive.

What people do in their unbelief is up to them. To the limits of local laws anyway.
 
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SkyWriting

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These verses definitely seem to suggest that there are laws Christians must follow. Is it that we no longer are under the law of Moses, but we are still under a law--a new one, the law of Christ?

Matthew 7:12
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them,
for this is the Law and the Prophets.
 
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St_Worm2

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1. Hell is not .. a place.

2. While there people are tormented by their past actions and failure to act.


Hi Sky, I'd like to reply to your post. Unfortunately, I don't understand most of it, so I am unable to

Perhaps you could elaborate a bit further? Not only about what you meant by 1. Hell is not a place and that 2. Hell is a place, but also to give us a better understanding of "while there, people are tormented BY their past actions", rather than FOR them?
Hell is the experience of not having God in your life to forgive you.
Again What do you mean by this, exactly? Where is support for this idea found in the Bible?

The unsaved do not have God in their lives, and they lead sinful lives without His forgiveness as a result, but many (most?) feel that their lives are ANYTHING but Hell-like (I know this personally because I was numbered among them prior to becoming a Christian at age 30). The reason that people choose to sin isn't because sinning is Hell-like, it's because sinning is FUN (at least that's how it seems to unbelievers, until they are finally convicted by God about it/have Him in their life so that they can finally see sin for what it really is).

So, unfortunately, I will need to ask you again for a more detailed explanation of what you mean to help me understand, because what you have proposed seems pretty detached from both what the Bible says, and from reality (or so it seems to me anyway).

Thanks

--David
p.s. - Hell .. "is purely natural"! What do you mean by that statement Thanks again
.
 
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SkyWriting

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So lets say you back up your car out the driveway after a night of drinking, and you run over your sister. People ask what happened and you lie about being drunk.

Let's say you die in your sleep that night.
What would be the worst form of hell you can imagine?
- Being scolded for your behavior.
- Being beaten up for your behavior.
- or being in a bare room with no light or windows and the memory never fades.

Hell is like the last one. You are tormented by what you have done and the torment never fades. But mostly about how you lied to cover the act.

If you don't believe in God, then nobody can ever forgive you. The sin remains unforgiven and never fades.

As for unbelievers, unbelievers don't sin. Scripture covers all of this.

Sinners don't have fun. Sinners work hard to cover the pain with distractions. Drugs, drink, sex, violence, all methods to cover the pain of refusing forgiveness. Forgiveness means you have to admit you did wrong.
 
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Soyeong

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In Romans 7:25, Paul contrasted the Law of God that he served with his mind with the law of sin that he served with his flesh, and the Law of Moses is referred to as the Law of God (Nehemiah 8:1-8, Ezra 7:6-12, Luke 2:22-23), so "the law" in Romans 7 sometimes refers to the Law of Moses and sometimes refers to the law of sin depending on the context. The law of sin is not so much a list of commands as it is a principle or an evil inclination that was working without Paul to cause him not to do the good that he wanted to do.

In Romans 7:7, Paul said that God's law is not sinful, but is how we know what sin is, and when our sin is revealed, then it leads us to repent and causes sin to decrease, however, in Romans 7:5, the law of sin stirs up sinful passions in order to bear fruit unto death, so it is sinful and causes sin to increase, so it is working at cross purposes to the Law of God. So verses that refer to a law that is sinful, that causes sin to increase, or that hinders us from obey the Law of God should be interpreted as referring to the law of sin rather than the Law of God, such Romans 5:20, Romans 6:14, Galatians 2:19, Galatians 5:16-18, and 1 Corinthians 15:56.

In regard to Romans 6:14, as law where sin had dominion over us is a law that is sinful, but Romans 7:7 says that the Law of God is not sinful, so these two verses can't both e speaking about the same law. It is the law of sin acting upon the commands of God, so the law of sin is not the commands of God.

Circumcision was required in the law of Moses (Leviticus 12:1-3). In Acts of the Apostles 15:5, some claimed that everyone needed to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. Was their decision that the claim in Acts of the Apostles 15:5 is false?

Either there are correct and incorrect purposes for becoming circumcised, and Paul only spoke against the incorrect purposes, or according to Galatians 5:2, Paul caused Christ to be of no value when he had him circumcised (Acts 16:3) and Christ is of no value to roughly 80% of the men in the US. While God commanded circumcision for the purpose of being a sign of the Abrahamic covenant, He did not command circumcision for the purpose of becoming saved, so the problem with the group who came down from Judea in Acts 15:1 was that they were wanting to require circumcision for an incorrect purpose. They were opposed in Acts 15:5 by a group of believers from among the Pharisees, who wanted Gentiles to become circumcised and obey the Law of Moses, but not for an incorrect purpose. Essentially, it was a debate between salvation by works or salvation by grace, which is why Acts 15:11 ruled that we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will. So the Jerusalem Council made a few arguments in favor of the group in Acts 15:5 and ruled against the group in Acts 15:1, while no one there took the position that Gentiles should not become circumcised and obey the Law of Moses.


Again, Christ spent his ministry teaching his followers how to obey the Law of Moses by word and example, so following his commands is not distinct from following the Law of Moses. The Son is the exact expression of God's nature (Hebrews 1:3), which he expressed through his actions by living in sinless obedience to the Law of Moses, so he is the physical manifestation of the nature of God expressed through the Law of Moses, or in other words, the word of God made flesh, and the Law of Christ can't can something other than the law of which Christ is the living embodiment. In 1 Corinthians 9:21, Paul said in a parallel statement that he was not outside the Law of God, but under the Law of Christ, so he equated the Law of Christ with the Law of God, which is also the Law of Moses. God is not in disagreement with Himself about which laws we should follow, so the Law of Christ is the same as the Law of the Spirit and the Law of the Father, which was given to Moses.

In Romans 3:27, Paul contrasted a law of works with the law of faith, so works of the law are the law of works, while in 3:31, he said that our faith upholds the Law of God, so it is the law of faith, which is also the Law of Moses. In Psalms 19:7, the Law of Moses is perfect, in Psalms 119:45, it is the law of liberty, and in Psalms 119:1, it blesses those who obey it, so James 1:25 was not saying anything about the Law of Moses that was not already said in the Psalms.

But would she still need to obey her now-deceased husband? If not, then wouldn't this mean she's no longer under the law of her (first) husband but now under the law of Christ (Romans 3:27;
Galatians 6:1-2; James 1:25)?

The Mosaic Covenant is often described as being a marriage between God and Israel, such as with God describing himself as her husband (Jeremiah 31:31), or with Israel's unfaithfulness being described as adultery, which eventually got so bad that God wrote the Northern Kingdom a certificate of divorce (Jeremiah 3:8), yet God continued to call for her to return to Him throughout the rest of the chapter. This raises a significant problem for those who know the law, which is why Paul said in Romans 7:1 that he was speaking to those who know the law, namely in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, it forbids a woman from returning to her first husband after she had been divorced and been with another man, so the only way that the Northern Kingdom could become remarried to God without committing adultery would be through the death of her first husband, so it was a great mystery how God would accomplish this. This is the point Paul was making in Romans 7:4 in that we have died to the law of sin through the body of Christ so that we might be free to belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order to bear fruit for God. So God/Christ is both the first and the second husband and the Mosaic and New Covenant are all about God's marriage, divorce, and remarriage to Israel, which is consistent with the prophesies in Deuteronomy 30 of Israel returning from exile and returning to obedience to the Law of Moses and the prophesies in Ezekiel and Jeremiah of Israel returning from exile and God making a New Covenant where He would send His Spirit to lead us in obedience to the Law of Moses (Ezekiel 36:26-28) and where he would put the Law of Moses in our minds and write it on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).

We're certainly not under the law of sin. However, isn't "the law" of Romans 7:6, the law we're freed from, the same as "the law" in the next verse, Romans 7:7?

In Romans 7:7, Paul said that the Law of God is not sinful, but is how we know what sin is, however Romans 7:5, is speaking about a law that stirs up sinful passions in order to bear fruit unto death, so these two verses can't both be referring to the same law, but rather Paul is transitioning to speaking about the Law of God in Romans 7:7, so the law that we are freed from isn't the Law of God, but rather in Romans 7:23, Paul said that the law of sin held him captive, so that is the law that we are freed from.
 
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Kilk1

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I started typing a response, but it got deleted, so this reply will be shorter. Regarding Romans 7:4-13, I believe the meaning of "the law" is the same all around in this section. It's something that's good and is "not" sin. However, sin takes advantage of the law (such as the command not to covet) to produce covetousness, that it might become exceedingly sinful. I don't see "the law" in Romans 7:7 as meaning something different than it meant in Romans 7:6 or Romans 7:8. Even in Romans 7:5, sin is said to work "through" the law rather than it "being" the law. So in Romans 6, we're dead to "sin" itself, and in Romans 7:4-13, we're dead to "the law" (which isn't sin, Romans 7:7), which sin hijacked.

As for Acts of the Apostles 15, do you believe the apostles would command physical circumcision for both Jews and for Gentiles; they just wouldn't command it for salvation but, rather, for the purpose of being a sign of the Abrahamic covenant?

As for Galatians 3:24-25, I understand you to be saying that the law of Moses and the law of faith are one and the same. However, isn't "the law" of Galatians 3:23 contrasted with the faith, and isn't "the law" in this passage shown to be the law of Moses just a few verses earlier? A few verses before, in Galatians 3:17, "the law" is shown to be that which came 430 years after the promise to Abraham.
 
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