Out of Zion...Faith or the Law?

newton3005

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According to Matthew 21:1-5, when Jesus and his disciples were near Jerusalem he sent two disciples to a village to get a donkey with a colt tied to it, in order to fulfill Zechariah 9:9 which says “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Aside from this reference, there is no direct association between Lord Jesus and Zion, although Zion is mentioned in other books of the New Testament. One might wonder if Jesus alludes to Zion as merely a form of optics, with the donkey and the colt being a focus. But the thing is, there is more to Zion than meets the eye, and which may cause consternation and confusion among those who hold that the Law of God has been eclipsed by faith in God through Lord Jesus.

Take Micah 4:2-4 which says, “...For out of Zion shall go forth the LAW, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, rand no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.”

So, when Jesus goes into Jerusalem on a donkey, what is he bringing with him? Based on Micah 4:2-4, he is bringing both the Law of God, and God Himself. Seems that under Micah 4:2-4, which is part of the Old Testament, it is the Law that will humble the nations toward living in peace. And Jesus did appear in order to fulfill the Law and the prophets as he says in Matthew 5:17.

How to construct this? Has the Law out of Zion stopped in its tracks when Jesus declares he will fulfill the Law? Many have accepted that his fulfillment of the Law gives us a new understanding concerning our relationship with God, with that relationship being one of faith as opposed to compliance with the Law. And, it is expressed in Hebrews 6:1 which says to leave the elementary doctrine of Christ. That doctrine is the milk of the Old Testament; it is believed that the Law of the Old Testament is the milk that Hebrews 6:1 refers to.

By what authority is Hebrews 6:1? It is said that the Book of Hebrews is fragmented, to the point where no one knows who the author is, and there is a further belief that a random bunch of people contributed to what is expressed in the Book. And whoever has put the New Testament together, has accepted this Book, in which Verse 6:1 could be construed as a radical idea for some. To wit, based on the translation anyway, Micah 4:2-4 doesn’t say ‘For out of Zion shall come God’; it defers to God’s Law and His Word.

Perhaps Hebrews 6:1 holds that God Himself has come out of Zion. Perhaps those who wrote this Verse sees God’s Law and His Word as the sizzle instead of the steak, so to speak. Which brings to wonder what people love about the steak they’re eating? Do they love the charcoaled broiled taste and the juices and the seasoning that come out as one eats it, or do they merely think of the steak itself that they’re eating? But what is the steak without those things, but just another slab of meat?

We say we love and have faith in God, but what is it about God that we have love and faith in? Lord Jesus is the seasoning, but Lord Jesus himself didn’t say to go beyond the Doctrine he upholds, did he? Lord Jesus never held himself out to be an elementary school teacher, telling us not to go beyond the three R’s. Lord Jesus is more akin to a high school teacher, understanding that without knowing the three R’s it is next to impossible to completely convey the ideas that the three R’s may profess and represent, and enable to be everlasting.

So, Jesus in Matthew 5:17-18 seems to be effectively saying to acknowledge the Law and the prophets as he comes to fulfill them. For how can we consider God’s Grace and love Him if we are not aware of the things He said and what He stands for? In a sense, it’s like realizing on your honeymoon night with your bride that you swore to love, that you know nothing about her.

God in Isaiah 1:18 has acknowledged that we whom he has created, are reasoning people. He could have thrown our reasoning aside and just throw fire and brimstone at us along with His raining manna on the Hebrews in the wilderness, as he so pleases, and herding us like sheep, not saying what this is all for.

I guess the question for the day is, What really has come out of Zion?
 
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BobRyan

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Christ is both the Savior and the Law Giver according to the Bible.

2 Tim 3:16 "ALL SCRIPTURE is inspired by God AND is to be used for doctrine"
2 Pet 1:19-21 "NO scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation but holy men of old moved by the Holy Spirit - spoke from GOD"

Jer 31:31-34 tells us that the New Covenant - writes the LAW of God on the heart AND provides forgiveness of sins.

1 John 5:3-4 tells us "This IS the LOVE of God that we KEEP His Commandments"

Rom 3:31 "Do we then make void the LAW of God by our faith ? God forbid! In fact we ESTABLISH the LAW"
 
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HTacianas

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According to Matthew 21:1-5, when Jesus and his disciples were near Jerusalem he sent two disciples to a village to get a donkey with a colt tied to it, in order to fulfill Zechariah 9:9 which says “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Aside from this reference, there is no direct association between Lord Jesus and Zion, although Zion is mentioned in other books of the New Testament. One might wonder if Jesus alludes to Zion as merely a form of optics, with the donkey and the colt being a focus. Bu the thing is, there is more to Zion than meets the eye, and which may cause consternation and confusion among those who hold that the Law of God has been eclipsed by faith in God through Lord Jesus.

Take Micah 4:2-4 which says, “...For out of Zion shall go forth the LAW, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, rand no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.”

So, when Jesus goes into Jerusalem on a donkey, what is he bringing with him? Based on Micah 4:2-4, he is bringing both the Law of God, and God Himself. Seems that under Micah 4:2-4, which is part of the Old Testament, it is the Law that will humble the nations toward living in peace. And Jesus did appear in order to fulfill the Law and the prophets as he says in Matthew 5:17.

How to construct this? Has the Law out of Zion stopped in its tracks when Jesus declares he will fulfill the Law? Many have accepted that his fulfillment of the Law gives us a new understanding concerning our relationship with God, with that relationship being one of faith as opposed to compliance with the Law. And, it is expressed in Hebrews 6:1 which says to leave the elementary doctrine of Christ. That doctrine is the milk of the Old Testament; it is believed that the Law of the Old Testament is the milk that Hebrews 6:1 refers to.

By what authority is Hebrews 6:1? It is said that the Book of Hebrews is fragmented, to the point where no one knows who the author is, and there is a further belief that a random bunch of people contributed to what is expressed in the Book. And whoever has put the New Testament together, has accepted this Book, in which Verse 6:1 could be construed as a radical idea for some. To wit, based on the translation anyway, Micah 4:2-4 doesn’t say ‘For out of Zion shall come God’; it defers to God’s Law and His Word.

Perhaps Hebrews 6:1 holds that God Himself has come out of Zion. Perhaps those who wrote this Verse sees God’s Law and His Word as the sizzle instead of the steak, so to speak. Which brings to wonder what people love about the steak they’re eating? Do they love the charcoaled broiled taste and the juices and the seasoning that come out as one eats it, or do they merely think of the steak itself that they’re eating? But what is the steak without those things, but just another slab of meat?

We say we love and have faith in God, but what is it about God that we have love and faith in? Lord Jesus is the seasoning, but Lord Jesus himself didn’t say to go beyond the Doctrine he upholds, did he? Lord Jesus never held himself out to be an elementary school teacher, telling us not to go beyond the three R’s. Lord Jesus is more akin to a high school teacher, understanding that without knowing the three R’s it is next to impossible to completely convey the ideas that the three R’s may profess and represent, and enable to be everlasting.

So, Jesus in Matthew 5:17-18 seems to be effectively saying to acknowledge the Law and the prophets as he comes to fulfill them. For how can we consider God’s Grace and love Him if we are not aware of the things He said and what He stands for? In a sense, it’s like realizing on your honeymoon night with your bride that you swore to love, that you know nothing about her.

God in Isaiah 1:18 has acknowledged that we whom he has created, are reasoning people. He could have thrown our reasoning aside and just throw fire and brimstone at us along with His raining manna on the Hebrews in the wilderness, as he so pleases, and herding us like sheep, not saying what this is all for.

I guess the question for the day is, What really has come out of Zion?

The law has gone forth from Zion. Jesus sent his apostles to teach people to obey it:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...
 
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