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What is the relationship between the law and the gospel?
What is the relationship between the law and the gospel?
What is the relationship between the law and the gospel?
Wait, our keeping Torah to be saved, and God's gracious choice to save us apart from anything we do, are "interchangeable" soteriologies
How so?
Thanks!
--David
What is the relationship between the law and the gospel?
For a better perspective, one should look at the root words involved. "the Law" in Hebrew is "Torah". The 5 books of Moses are called the "Torah". The word means teaching. It is from the root word yara. Teacher comes from the same root.
The problem is many with a western mindset view Torah as "The Law" like the civil law. They find it hard to imagine how David could extoll "The Law" all thru the Psalms. Like delighting in the Law and meditating on it day and night. Torah is not like "law" as we know it. Imagine this.. I delight in the speed limit laws, they refresh my soul. Seems kind of stupid doesn't it?
But if we use english words that more closely expresses Torah, it would come across differently.
Psalms 1:2 (NKJV) But his delight is in the Teaching (law) of the Lord,
And in His Instruction (law) he meditates day and night.
"teaching" and "instruction" has a more feel good flavor to it along with being the true expression of what the scripture is trying to convey, and the Hebrew word Torah reflects. And we wouldn't be having all these debates over the centuries about "the law" versus "grace". They are interchangeable. The Torah is an expression of God's grace. It is the instruction on how to live at a paramount level. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Wait, our keeping Torah to be saved, and God's gracious choice to save us apart from anything we do, are "interchangeable" soteriologies
How so?
Thanks!
--David
Salvation in the Old and the New Covenants for God's people has always been by faith.
It is about believing and following God by faith. Although the process of salvation and forgiveness of sin was different. The Old covenant followed the ceremonial laws of Moses that included the animal sacrifices for forgiveness of sin. God’s people in the Old covenant were saved by the faith they had in God’s Word and following what God said to them. The whole of Galatians 3 and Hebrews 11 are a good read for this check it out. I will just post a few scriptures below to make the point but read Galatians 3, Hebrews 11, Romans and elsewhere for more info.
Gal 3:2,
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:6,
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Gal 3:7,
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8,
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9,
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Gal 3:14,
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Gal 3:16,
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Gal 3:17,
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.
Hab 2:4,
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Rom 4:16,
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Rom 4:17,
As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Rom 4:18,
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Rom 4:19,
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
Rom 4:20,
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21,
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22,
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Heb 11:4,
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Heb 11:5,
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:7,
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Heb 11:8,
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9,
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10,
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11,
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Heb 11:17,
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb 11:18,
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Heb 11:19,
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Heb 11:20,
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Heb 11:21,
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Heb 11:22,
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Heb 11:23,
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Heb 11:24,
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Heb 11:25,
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26,
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27,
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28,
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 11:29,
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30,
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31,
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Heb 11:32, ¶ And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Heb 11:33,
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34,
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Heb 11:35,
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36,
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37,
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38,
(Of whom the world was not worthy they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39,
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
The main difference is that much of the ceremonial laws pointing to Jesus have been fulfilled under the New Covenant because they pointed to Jesus, His life, death, resurrection and ministration as our great high priest and intercessor on our behalf in the heavenly Sanctuary.
In Christ Always!
Sorry, guess I LoveGodsWordA few verses? You just about quoted the entire NT! Just a little exaggeration on my part. Don't take it wrong.
Hi again Copperhead, here's the "short" answerSee, you make my point. Grace was always a part of Torah. It is not a "keeping the law" kind of thing for salvation, it is a following the instruction and teaching of God kind of thing. Did not David, even after committing murder and adultery, both capital crimes according to Torah, receive grace and forgiveness when he acknowledged his sin, turned from that sin, and sought forgiveness? The Torah set the standard for how to lead a fulfilling life, and repentance and grace was always in view.
The only difference is now the Messiah has come. He is the sacrifice to make atonement for violating the Torah. Many aspects of the Torah have not been abrogated as solid teaching. Do we now get to go have sex with goats? Of course not. Do we now get to go out an hop from bed to bed and have as many partners as we want? Of course not. Is murder now acceptable? Of course not. Is theft, lying, coveting, etc now acceptable? Of course not. The standard and teaching of the Torah is still the same. Back then, if one repented of their sin and offered the proper sacrifice, then forgiveness could be obtained. Now we have the perfect sacrifice... the Messiah. And the Torah gives us the standard of how to live Godly lives.
A proper view of Torah never included the idea of a works salvation thing. Repentance and grace were always in view. The religious leadership had perverted things into a letter of the law thing like the civil laws we have to deal with today. Step out of line and you get your chops busted. But that is not how God intended. How we interact with others and with God has never changed. That is why Yeshua chastised the Pharisees and Saducees so severely while at the same time claiming that not one jot or tittle will pass from the Torah till all be fulfilled. And how he said that anyone who teaches even a little child to violate the Torah, it would be better if he had a stone tied to his neck and tossed into the sea. And it is true even back when the Torah was given, as when Yeshua said that all the Torah could be summed up in two commandments..... Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and Love your neighbor as yourself.
Does this sound like a works for salvation thing to you?....
Isaiah 1:17-18 (NKJV) Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
Hi Soyeong, I agree, of course. But we cannot depend on Someone we do not know (and knowing God requires that we be regenerated/born again and justified/saved, yes?). We are created in Christ FOR good works (FOR "following"), not because we follow!The same faith that justifies us also upholds God's instructions (Romans 3:31). Obedience to God's instructions is about depending on Him to guide us in how to rightly live, not about trying to earn our salvation.
Hi again Copperhead, here's the "short" answer
Salvation PRECEDES following!
Hi again Copperhead, here's the "short" answer
Salvation PRECEDES following! (We aren't saved BECAUSE we follow, we follow because we're ALREADY saved) Salvation is by God alone. Soli Deo gloria!
And now, here's the long one (if you dare ):
The rich young ruler asked this question of the Lord in the NT,
“Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” ~Matthew 19:16.
Jesus answered him saying:
"If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments” ~Matthew 19:17
Clearly, that's what was taught and what was required in the OT to be saved, and you know what, the same thing is still taught and required for salvation today
Of course it does. Was not Abraham declared righteous before the Torah? Of course he was. And he was declared righteous on the same basis we are... by trust in the word of the Lord.
Saints obey the commandments because we're ALREADY saved Bob, because we already know the Savior (not to become saved and not to remain saved).Jesus was right ...
"the saints KEEP the Commandments of God - AND their faith in Jesus" Rev 14:12
"what matters is KEEPING the Commandments of God" 1 Cor 7:19
Jesus was not teaching the false doctrine of "have no faith in me - just live a sinless life"
Jesus said "one more thing you lack - sell all that you have and come and join this group of 12 disciples" - Jesus did not tell him "select a different Messiah" or "choose another religion" ... neither did he preach the false doctrine of "reject the Gospel - just continue to be sinless".