reply to post by Neo Christian Mystic
Paul wasn't a lawgiver, he was a Jew refering to the Law of Israel the Torah of God
...And why was he referring to it? -Because it still stands, which is what I have been saying all along, quoting Christ and the apostles who left
absolutely no room for ambiguity on this matter. E.g. where Christ said:
Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy... whoever practices and teaches these commandments
will be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.
Gospel of Matthew 5:17a&19b
As to the status of Paul's writings, it is only ever questioned by those who don't like what he wrote. That is because they have to contend with the
commendations he receives from Christ and the apostles:
In and of himself, Paul was an ordinary person. Yet Paul was chosen by Christ as an apostle (lit.
'sent one' or
'one who has been
commissioned'):
...this man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel.
Acts 9:15b
Do the apostles' writings somehow have lesser status than those of Moses, as you clearly imply?
...God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:20
This is how true Christians, true believers in and disciples of Christ, study what God has revealed and grow in grace:
...they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.
Acts 2:42
Here is the testimony of the Apostle Peter:
...our dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you. He speaks about these things in all his letters, in which are
some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the
Scriptures...
2 Peter 3:15c-16
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
You really ought to simply admit that you don't necessarily accept what Moses, Christ or the apostles wrote rather than teaching people to believe
the opposite of what they said. But then again, you would have to drop the agenda...
It's quite paradoxal that Paul, the very person who says the Law and circumcision is abolished, cite laws in the Torah condemning people to
hell.
No. Paul is not contradicting himself at all. Rather than presuming this you ought to question whether you have understood his teachings.
As has already been demonstrated, the New Testament, including Paul's writings, teaches that the
ceremonial Law is no longer needed as it
consisted of symbols of Christ and what He was to achieve in giving His life for sinners. Circumcision was a sign that tied the initiate to adherence
to all those ceremonial laws about food and clothing and the whole animal-based sacrificial system.
The only aspects of the moral Law - the Ten Commandments and the many others which simply expand on their meaning - which are no longer valid are:
1) the enforcement of the code of legal penalties, as believers are no longer expected to be part of a theocracy, as was the case in O.T. times, where
being a believer largely equated to living as a Jew and living under the Jewish legal system
2) any reliance on fulfilling the moral Law to become acceptable to God, as this can only happen through faith in the Cross of Christ. (This was,
incidentally, the case in O.T. times: the ceremonies, sacrifices and the words of the prophets all pointed forward to the Cross and the Lamb of God
upon it - living by the Law was just supposed to be an expression of that faith - which is why Jesus Christ is the perfect fulfilment of the entire
Jewish religion, in terms of its Scriptures, ceremonies and sacrifices).
The moral Law of God was never set aside. You can only continue to make that claim in the face of unnumbered New Testament passages, many of which
have been laid out in this thread.
The fact is, you reject the teaching of the Scriptures.
I wish to address another issue you raised in a previous post on this page:
Will you enter the Kingdom in your opinion?
As I have already explained using Christ's words, I entered God's kingdom 28 years ago by turning from a life controlled by my natural cravings to
live for God, because I have believed the Gospel and received Christ's promises of forgiveness and eternal life. If He had not wanted his true
disciples to have this confidence He would not have given them these promises.
If I die tonight I will be in Christ's kingdom, because I am, through faith, a forgiven sinner. That's why the Scripture talks about Christians
being filled with inner peace, and joy inexpressible. We have inherited the promises of eternal life! As a gift!
My guess is that if any of us are to enter we will lack eyes and hands and be humbled and even humiliated to the utmost effect. We will wish we
were rather dead than having to live in the light of God. I am a sinner and will need to be pardoned for many things.
If we humbly confess our sins to Him here and now He will accept us there and then, because Christ has borne the penalty we deserve. (That's why the
Jewish legal system was not transferred to the Christian Church.) Now, when we confess our sins, alone with God, the required legal punishment is
accounted to the Cross.
You said you were a sinner and needed pardon for many things. Hold on to that thought... then think about the Cross. Keep on thinking and confessing
in its light, and God will pardon you. Christ's teaching was written down so we could possess that assurance.
What you said about wishing we were dead is the right attitude in God's light. But don't let it keep you from coming to Him now, as it does with
many people. Jesus said:
...everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.
Gospel of John 3:20
Once your burden of guilt has been laid at the Cross this reverses!
Every time a Christian prays he longs for God's light, His holy presence, to draw near.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8a
