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Revelations 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
To love yourself is to be committed to your well-being, and is the same for love of neighbor.I think a better measure is how one loves themselves. "You shall love your neighbor as you love your self."
All are disqualified.
Romans 3:10
As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
All are disqualified.
You are conflating the laws of the old covenant contained in ordinances (which has now passed away), with God's eternal laws, which cannot pass away, but were indeed transferred to Christ, and written in the hearts of those born of Him: that is the promise that is now fulfilled.
THE NEW COVENANT IS THE SPIRIT WRITING GOD'S LAWS IN OUR HEARTS
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 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. 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." --Jeremiah 31:31-34
"For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." --Hebrews 8:7-13
"For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another." --Romans 2:13-15
Can you please point to where the OP said anything about trying to become justified by works of the law?
How can you quote Romans 3:23 and not include it in context?
Thanks!If I had read your excellent post I would not have written mine, which approaches the issue at perhaps excessive length from what I consider an amusing paradox of ecclesiastical history, before attempting to summarize all of what you said here in the closing sentence!
Not in the traditional sense, but in the biblical sense: I believe that, under the new covenant, all believers are priests to God.Are you yourself a minister or member of the clergy? Your post has a homiletic quality.
The Galatians 3 quote is particularly compelling.
Now, let us consider a strange paradox of ecclesiastical history:
In the 5th century, a difference in Christological terminology caused a schism at Chalcedon. In the 11th century, the Chalcedonian churches separated over the issue of papal infallibility vs. the rights of individual bishops within autocephalous synods.
In the 16th century, one of those churches, that being the Roman Catholic Church, was challenged by Martin Luther, and lost control of its dioceses in most of Northern Europe due to the perception of being excessively legalistic.
While three primary denominations emerged (Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican), and two others were spared (Moravian, Waldensian) there was also a “Radical Reformation” which produced denominations like the Anabaptists. Also there was later a schism between Methodists and Episcopalians and the Church of England, which is very complex and not germane, as far as I can tell, but should greater relevance attach to issues like the Jacobite Rebellion, the Non-Juring Bishops, and so on, we have numerous bona fide Anglicans including one who I did with all sincerity endorse for the episcopate, not that I, a non-conformist, have a say, can explain.
Non-conformists included Puritans, the distant descendants of my denominational heritage, the Quakers, and Baptists, as well as English Presbyterians, and I suppose by law, “north of the Border,” as they say in the UK, Scottish Episcopalians after the triumph of full Calvinist Presbyterianism in the Established Church of Scotland, which had the interesting effect of making the British sovereign the Defender of the Faithful, the Head of the Church of England, and a member in full communion with the very different Church of Scotland. But of most interest were the Baptists and Puritans, because they had been influenced by the Radical Reformation in Germany. So in the New World, as it was then commonly known, it was inevitable that the Non Conformists of Britain and those of the Radical Reformation would in course of time converge, in some cases completely, such as the merger of the Evangelical Reformed and Congregational churches to form the United Church of Christ, which if the OP were written to complain about in its present anomic approach to Christianity, or any of the shrinking mainline Protestant denominations that has capitulated to secular values and media pressure on human sexuality, I would support it. However I sense a wider net has been cast.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, a remnant of a revivalist apocalyptic group known as the Millerites was reorganized, under an individual as charismatic as Martin Luther and certainly more prolific an author. This denomination makes strict Sabbatarian and dietary observance of great importance, and of this I have no objection, but apparently, a very small minority of its members, none of whom are known to me personally (I have known hundreds of Adventists and been greatly aided by some) also seem determined to attack the Roman Catholic Church and all non-Sabbatarian churches, including Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches which had nothing to do with the legalism that Martin Luther complained of, not to mention traditional Lutherans, Calvinists, Anglicans and other Protestants who are not Sabbatarian.
The paradox is the legalism that Luther accused the Romans of having, which prompted him to advocate several of the Solas, most notably sola scriptura and sola fide, is exhibited when verses in Galatians which appear to contradict certain aspects of Adventist doctrine are ignored yet the importance of sola scriptura is strongly emphasized, by this vocal anti-non-SDA minority.
And I wouldn’t even care, except so many threads are being posted on certain Theology forums on this site when we have other more relevant matters to discuss, like religious freedom and worship practices in the context of the global pandemic, or the impending schism in the United Methodist Church, or the recent and in my opinion glorious victory of the Anglican Diocese of Fort Worth against its former denomination regarding real estate, which could end mainline denominational denial of real estate to departing conservative parishes where there is no longer a shared bond of faith but in some cases a difference vaster than that between traditional Protestantism and traditional Roman Catholicism,
Also, a central claim made very often, that the traditional Protestants and Catholics and Orthodox ignore the ten commandments has been shown false by @BobRyan , an Adventist who I have great respect for who did compile the catechisms of these churches.
Very informative, thanks.For the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians is not a license to sin but, among many other things, an explanation of the
difference between the exoteric restrictive interpretation of the law of the Mosaic Covenant
and the esoteric interpretation, and an exegesis of that and the lightened yoke of the New Covenant.
There is NT evidence that the Christians assembled on the first day of every week for the Lord's Supper (Ac 20:7; 1Co 16:2; Rev 1:10).Considering one of the commandments that seems to be altered is God's 4th commandment. Found here Exodus 20:8-11. You can clearly see its been altered by peoples actions.
Worshipping God on the first day of the week is not Biblical.
There is no scripture in the entire Bible telling us to keep Holy the first day. The Roman Catholic church takes credit for making this change and people should realize when they go to church on Sunday they are obeying a commandment of the Catholic church, not a commandment of God. Just a few quotes.
It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church.
—Priest Brady, in an address, reported in the Elizabeth, NJ ‘News’ on March 18, 1903.
A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; —she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the Seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.
—Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism; New York in 1857, page 174
Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the Church ever did, happened in the first century. The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday. "The Day of the Lord" (dies Dominica) was chosen, not from any directions noted in the Scriptures, but from the Church's sense of its own power. The day of resurrection, the day of Pentecost, fifty days later, came on the first day of the week. So this would be the new Sabbath. People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th Day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy.
—Sentinel, Pastor's page, Saint Catherine Catholic Church, Algonac, Michigan, May 21, 1995
This is sort of like when your partner who you claim to love asks you to do A, but you choose to do B C and D. While you think its a nice gesture and you're doing more than what was asked, its still not what your partner asked of you. Don't you think God our Creator and Savior has the right to choose the day we worship Him? He did. Exodus 20 8-11, Isaiah 66:23
God's commdmants are not to be altered. When you start tinkering with God's Word is easy to start following someone other than Him maybe without even realizing it. Jesus warned us about this too.
Mathew 15:8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
God bless
To love yourself is to be committed to your well-being, and is the same for love of neighbor.
Father, in the name of Jesus, please remove the veil that covers the eyes of those who are under the law. Please show them the difference between a life of flesh management is not what you have called us to. Reveal to them the New Covenant and what it means to have the hope of Christ in them and not the hopelessness of life under the law. Lead them to the end of themselves so they will learn to trust in you and not their disobedience of trying to a life they cannot live. Show them that the sin issue is over between you and us. Allow them to experience your forgiveness so they can have a relationship with you and not your commandments. Take away the religious pride that deceives us into believing we have found a way to be obedient to your laws and makes us lord over other Christians. Let them see that the law is for unbelievers and not Christians. Lead them into your rest. Show them the light yoke you promised. Thank you for your faithfulness and fellowship to us despite our sins and failures. May you be glorified in all of this. Amen!
There is great danger in forming doctrine by plucking verses from their context:All I'm saying is why not obey the easy way.
Galatians chapter 5 verse 14
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
The archaic Talmudic interpretation of the Torah differs from the modern reformed Jewish practice. The first century AD Gospel of John stated the Jews wanted to kill Jesus for Sabbath violations.
John 5: 8 Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.”
9 Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked.
Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’”
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your mat and walk’?”
13 But he who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.
14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.”
15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.
God's law is for unbelievers, not Christians
"We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine .." 1 Timothy 1:8-10
Christians are not under God's law
"So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian." Galatians 3:24-25
Jesus Christ is the end of the law
"For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Romans 10:4
The law is a curse for those under it
"For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.” - Galatians 3:13
The Law cannot justify us
"...knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified." Galatians 2:16
The Law cannot make us righteous
"I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” Galatians 2:21
The Law cannot give us life
"... and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me ..." Romans 7:10
The Law stirs up sin
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law." 1 Corinthians 15:56
The Law is based on Man's self-effort
"What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, but the righteousness that is by faith; however, Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though they could by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone ..." Romans 9:30-32
The Law is a ministry of condemnation and death
"But if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, came with glory so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness excel in glory." 2 Corinthians 3:7-9
The Law has been fulfilled in us
"For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:3-4
Under the Law sin is your master
"For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:14
You cannot mix Law and Grace
"You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Galatians 3:1-3
Once we come to Jesus Christ by faith, the law has done its work. We can now live in a trusting and dependent relationship on the indwelling Holy Spirit instead of trusting and depending on laws designed to manage our flesh.
Grace and Peace
Major Premise: The Bible uses the same terms to describe the nature of God as it does to describe the nature of God's laws,The Bible uses the same terms to describe the nature of God as it does to describe the nature of God's laws,
which is because they are God's instructions for how to testify about His nature, and God's nature is eternal,
therefore all of His laws are also eternal
There are more ways to do what is righteous or sinful that God's law specifically prescribes or prohibits, but God's laws is spiritual in that it has always been intended to teach us deeper spiritual principles of which the listed laws are just examples, and which are aspects of God's nature. For example, God's righteous laws teach us about His righteousness, which can lead us to live in a way that testifies about God's righteousness both in situations that are specifically prescribed by God's law and in those that are not.
God will be glorified, but not by your prayer:Father, in the name of Jesus, please remove the veil that covers the eyes of those who are under the law. Please show them the difference between a life of flesh management is not what you have called us to. Reveal to them the New Covenant and what it means to have the hope of Christ in them and not the hopelessness of life under the law. Lead them to the end of themselves so they will learn to trust in you and not their disobedience of trying to a life they cannot live. Show them that the sin issue is over between you and us. Allow them to experience your forgiveness so they can have a relationship with you and not your commandments. Take away the religious pride that deceives us into believing we have found a way to be obedient to your laws and makes us lord over other Christians. Let them see that the law is for unbelievers and not Christians. Lead them into your rest. Show them the light yoke you promised. Thank you for your faithfulness and fellowship to us despite our sins and failures. May you be glorified in all of this. Amen!
Reminder: The first covenant was the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis, of innumerable seed, and an everlasting possession (Ge 17:8, 48:4).What laws? This is the second covenant. The first covenant is Gods ten commandments. What this means is God's laws are magnified. Sin begins in our hearts, but we are still required to keep the letter.
Which laws is God referring to in the second covenant? Maybe you can show me specifically via scripture the laws we are supposed to obey in both our hearts and minds where God wrote in His new covenant.Reminder: The first covenant was the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis.
Small, but significant, clarification. . .the first covenant with Abraham was a covenant of faith/grace.It is a new covenant, God said He would write His laws in our hearts and in our minds. WHAT LAWS? Does it say “I’ll give them a new covenant, and I'm making a new law”?
It says He will write His laws, Gods laws are only found in Exodus 20 and is the first covenant. So laws from the first covenant (God's 10) are transferred over to the New Covenant with better promises. It's still not okay lie, cheat steal, vain His name or break any of God's commandments. Which is made clear by numerous scripture in the New Testament. Read my OP for just a few.
The new covenant is not a different law. It is the same law written in a different place. The old covenant was salvation by faith because even in Old Testament times they all sinned. So God’s saying, “I'm going to make a covenant with you that you might be saved.” We are going to be saved based on forgiveness and faith. The terms of the covenant are the same. God wants us to be saved from sin. What is sin? Breaking God's law. God is not changing the covenant by saying, “I'm throwing out the law.”
Jesus kept all of His Fathers laws and asked us to do the same. John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
Maybe you stopped reading after the 7th verse but if you keep reading you will see these words from Jesus: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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