Hi,
Thanks for your mail.
I got two messages from you, both with the same attachment on Moses and the
Law of God, one containing the Are you a Protestant or a Catholic, but no
answers.
Here is my reply to your "Law" attachment. Look forward to your response!
John
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"I counsel thee to by of me gold tried in the fire that than mayest be rich,
and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyeslave, that thou
mayest see" Revelation 3:18
>>
An excellent text. There is none so blind as he would will not see. In our
study of the law it is clear that the Bible has a single teaching on the
law. There is one law. This is clearly expressed throughout all of
Scripture. However we are blinded by "tradition" and cannot see this simple
fact. As we have already discovered, it is proving painful and difficult for
some to see the simple Bible truth.
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God wrote the Ten Commandments Himself, first time on the table of stone;
Moses in his anger broke it.
Second time God wrote the Ten Commandments Himself on two tablets of stone.
He ordered Moses to put the testimony into the Ark. Exodus 25: 16; 40:20;
Hebrews 9: 4
Commandments are written on stone tablets, why? Because it shall stand
forever.
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The first part of this is correct - the Ten Commandments were written on
stone etc. However why does the Bible say the Ten Commandments are special?
Not because they are for all people and all times (i.e not because they
alone shall "stand forever"), but because they are part of the covenant made
with Israel. They are called "the words of the covenant" (Deut 4:13; Ex
34:29), and they are the special because they are the actual binding words
of the covenant between God and Israel. This is how the Bible describes the
Ten Commandments. Who should we believe, the words of man "why? because it
shall stand forever" or the words of the Bible "the words of the covenant -
the Ten Commandments" (Ex 34:28).
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Psalm 111:18; 119:44, 142, 152; Psalm 117 Psalm 100:5
God is holy, Word is holy and the Commandments are holy, just and good.
Romans 7: 12
There is a difference between the holy and the common law.
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Ps 111:18 - in my Bible Ps 111 only goes up to verse 18.
Ps 119:44: "give me understanding an I will obey your law"
142: "your law is true"
152: "long ago I learned your statutes, that you established
them to last forever"
Ps 117: "Praise the LORD all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us and the faithfulness of the
LORD endures for ever.
Praise the LORD.
Ps 100:5 "for the LORD is good and his love ensures for ever; his
faithfullness continues through all generations"
Rom 7:12 "the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and
good"
None of these texts refers to the Ten Commandments. They all refer to the
law, which the Bible tells us is good and will endure for ever.
The distinction between a "holy" and "common" law is not Biblical. The
phrase "common law" is not a Biblical term. The Bible sees the covenant
between God and Israel as lasting for ever, for example:
"he remembers his covenant for ever" (Ps 111:5)
When the law is given there is no indication that it would end. For example:
"Be silent, O Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD
your God. Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I
have given you today" (Deut 27:9-10)
"Keep all these commands what I have given you today" (Deut 27:1)
"If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands
that I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the
nations on earth" (Deut 28:1)
"Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today" (Deut 28:14)
So the claim that the Bible teaches a "common law" is false.
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God loved us so much that he gave us his 10 Commandments law, to remained us
all the time not to sin, not to transgress the law.
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God loved us so much that he gave us his Son. That is why we do not sin.
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What is sin? Sin is a transgression of the law. If there is no Law, than
there is No Sin.
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In the Bible, "the law" is usually the TORAH, God's law given through Moses
to Israel, not the Ten Commandments.
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God said " Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my
commandments, my status, and my laws. Genesis 26:5
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We have got a twentieth-century mind-set on law. For the Bible "laws" are
part of a covenant, or agreement. Abraham kept his covenant with God,
therefore he kept God's laws. However the most common use of the term "the
law" are the set of laws God made with Israel as part of his covenant with
them.
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In Leviticus we have law for burnt offerings Lev.1; Law for meat offerings
Lev.2; Law of peace offerings Lev.3; Law of sin offerings and laws made for
the congregation Lev.4; The Law of trespass offerings Lev.5 Etc. The
Ceremonial laws the law of ordinances, Moses had to put outside the Ark and
beside the Ark as God ordered him.Deut.31: 24-26. See that is a different,
the holy 10 Commandments are kept in the ark, the Ceremonial law, Moses law,
Deut.31: 9 were kept outside and beside the Ark.
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The term "ceremonial law" is not found in the Bible, I believe. These two
physical entities are all part of "the law", which is the agreement
(covenant) between God and Israel. The Bible never says the "written" laws
were not part of the covenant, and the Ten Commandments are most certainly
part of the covenant as they are called the "words of the covenant" (Ex
34:28).
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References in the Christian Life Study Outlines and Notes.
"The spiritual message of Leviticus is one of the most important and one of
the most difficult in all the Bible. It contains regulations about diet,
purification of the priest, ritual laws for sacrificial rites, and the
mysterious " scapegoat" which is driven into the wilderness of Azazel!
Looking at the concept of holiness, sacrifice, and atonement, summarizes the
powerful message of Leviticus. God requires the absolute obedience of his
people, this is the meaning of holiness. God demanded total commitment to
him, and required separation from the sinful practices of the world. God was
showing them (Israel) that he claimed them, body and soul, for his holy
purpose of redemption. The worship life of Israel was bound up with the word
"sacrifice". Originally, a sacrifice was simply a gift. A gift to God as an
expression of love and gratitude. However, the offering of blood sacrifice
went beyond the basic idea of a gift. It reminded the worshipper that he
must offer God the costly gift of life, because the "life is in the blood"
Lev.17: 11
In a representative way, the worshiper was offering his own life through the
blood of the sacrificial animal.
The life of the pure and innocent victim was offered in the place of the
sinful and guilty worshipper. This pouring out of the life’s blood of the
sacrificial animal became one of the most important illustrations for the
Christian understanding of the death of Christ. The description of the great
Day of Atonement was used by the Christians as they explained the meaning of
the death of Christ for sinners. As the High Priest entered into the Holy of
Holies, so Christ was the High Priest who entered "once and for all" the
heavenly Holy of Holies, offering his own blood upon the "mercy-seat". The
last element of atonement was the removal of guilt of sin. This was
symbolized by placing hands upon the head of a goat and then driving him
into the wilderness the abode of Azazel, or Satan, the Evil One. For
Christians, this act took place when all our sins were laid on Christ, and
he who knew no sin was made to "be sin" for us. He took our sins away at the
cross, and with his death on the cross he completed our redemption." Colos.
2:14
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The two scapegoats are actually both symbols of Christ. However this is not
directly related to our discussion of the law.
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Ephes. 2:15 But that does not means that we can go on sinning, he gave us
free choice, and we can follow his Commandments or the Commandments of man.
All the people that lived from the time of Adam to the time of Christ and
kept his laws, they would be cheated, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses ,David,
Peter, John etc. They all would call him a liar, if the 10 Commandments
would be done with or canceled.
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The Ten Commandments are part of the covenant with Israel, so Noah, Abraham
and Jacob would not feel cheated. However they had their own covenants and
so their own laws which were part of their covenant.
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My God is not a liar he can not lie. Titus 1:2; Numb. 23: 19; 1Sam. 15: 29;
Jam. 1: 16,17;
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These texts all refer to God not changing or not lying.
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Just before Jesus got crucified, he would explain to his disciples that with
10 Commandments is done with, that with his death everything is canceled.
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Don't understand what you are saying. This doesn't seem consistent with your
position stated earlier.
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John, Peter or James would write about that to the Christians, as it was
written down at the time when the Commandments were given Deut. 6: 1-9;
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This is the "hear O Israel" part of the law. Again, not sure what the
purpose of this is.
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Jesus was asked by rich young ruler, "Good Master, what good thing shall I
do that I may have eternal life. And he said unto him, why callest thou me
good? There is none good but one, that is God: But if thou wilt enter into
life, keep the Commandments.!! Matt. 19:16-19; Mark 10:17-21; Deut. 4: 13
why would Jesus cheat this young ruler?
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Jesus is quoting the law (TORAH). He is quite correct, see Deut 28:1-14, if
you keep the law you will be blessed and have eternal life, but see Deut
28:15-68, if you disobey you will be cursed.
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If, with his death, the 10 Commandments would be abolished (done with).
Luke tells us about Zechariah and Elisabeth. And they were both righteous
before God, walking in all the Commandments and ordinances of the Lord
blameless. Luke 1: 6
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Observing the law, like good Jews. They were keeping the covenant, the
TORAH.
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Standard of God does not change, we need to be changed Mal. 3: 6; Many of
the Church people think that they are saved, but they will be lost, because
they don’t do the WILL of the Father. Matt.7: 21-23
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Important quote. The more I hear about it, the more convinced I am that this
unscriptural teaching on the law is dangerous for traditional Adventists. I
seems to unconsciously replace Jesus with the law. Earlier you said God
loved us so much he sent us His 10 commandments, when you should have said
His Son. In another posting Jose said the law was God's perfect expression
of love, whereas sending His Son was God's perfect expression of love. The
Devil is causing the law to replace Jesus in the minds of many Adventists.
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Psalm 40:8 And knowest HIS WILL, and approvest the things that are more
excellent, being instructed out of the law. Rom. 2:18; For not the hearers
of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified
Rom.2: 13;
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Here Paul says "for it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in
God's sight, but it those who obey the law, who will be declared righteous"
(Rom 2:13).
Note that immediately afterwards, Paul says "Gentiles, who do not have the
law" (Rom 2:14), so again we can see that by "the law" Paul is referring to
the TORAH, the covenant between God and Israel. The Gentiles do not have the
law, in the sense that they are not part of the covenant between God and
Israel.
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Many churches teaches today that there is no law, it is nailed on the cross,
it is done with, that’s why we have so much sin, killing, adultery,
stilling, drugs, swearing, etc.
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I don't know if this is exactly what they teach, however the phrase "nailed
to the cross" of course occurs in the Bible (Col 2:14). Whether Gentiles
should keep the covenant between God and Israel is discussed in the New
Testament, and it seems not. It may be that if the TORAH was kept by all
there would be less killing, adultery, drugs, swearing etc, however
Christians usually think the influence of Jesus is important here, rather
than the law.
Paul actually says that law causes sin, which seems to go against your idea
of the law being able to stop sin (Rom 7:7-25).
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James 2: 10,11; Hosea 4:2,6; Do we love the truth and righteousness? Yeas!
If yeas? Do you think that God would cancel - nullify it (done with it)?
No! Psalm 119: 142,172; Rom.10: 3,4; In Matt. 5: 17-19; Christ said "Think
not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled. Are we walking on the ground (earth) today? Do we delight in the
sunshine today? Does the Moon shine at night? Yeas! Then God’s law still
stands and it is binding, stands forever, and is done in truth and
uprightness. Psalm 111: 7-10; Psalm 112: 1;
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These references to "the law" (TORAH) show God's covenant with Israel would
not permit any part of it to be changed. If you break just one part of the
agreement, you have broken the agreenment. One of the texts quoted was Ps
111:9:
"he ordained his covenant for ever"
So Israel, according to these texts, still has a covenant with God. However
see other Bible texts on the New Covenant to put this in perspective.
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Paul said in Romans 4:15; because the law worketh wrath: for where no law
is, there is no transgression. What is sin ? 1 John 3:4 sin is the
transgression of the law. If I drive 50 MI/hr at night and street light
turns red, did it save me from accident? No! But it gave me knowledge to
stop. Rom. 3:20 ; Rom.2:13;
James 1: 22-25: The purposes of the Mirror is to show me that I have dirt on
my face, if I say, I don’t like the Mirror, it is done with it, it does not
help me, does it solve my problem? Not at all, the mirror can not clean me,
but I can go to the fountain and get cleaned. The Mirror stays the same, but
I am cleaned and changed. Rev. 21: 27; Rev. 22:14,15; Rev. 14:12; Rev.12:
17; 1John 2:3-6; 5:3; 2Peter 2:21:
Hebr. 10:16,17;
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Only the holy will enter heaven. However what makes us holy? Keeping the
TORAH, or faith in Jesus? "Christ is the end of the law (TORAH) so that
there may be righteousness for everyone who believes" (Rom 10:4)
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Many professed Christians will not endure sound doctrine. 2Tim.4: 3,4;
2Tim.3: 1-7;
Ezekiel 22:26,28; But we know that the law is good, if a man use it
lawfully. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but
for the lawless and disobedient. 1Tim.1: 8-10. We have to accept God’s 10
Commandments law, but not the commandments and doctrines of men Colossians
2:22.
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The Ten Commandments are the words of the covenant, part of the TORAH.
Gentiles are not obliged to obey the covenant with Israel.
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Satan sinned in the beginning, in Heaven he transgressed God’s law, he lied
to 1/3 of angels, he coveted God’s throne, he desired to be God and have his
throne above God’s throne, there is a similarity in the law that he
transgressed and 10 Commandments laws. 1st. Law that he transgressed is thou
shall have no other gods before me. 2nd. Thou shall not bear false witness
against thy neighbor. He lied. 3rd. Thou shall not covet. He coveted God’s
throne. If you sin in one, you are guilty for all. So we now knew that in
the beginning there was commandments to.
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This is all speculation. Who was the covenant with? What was the law? Where
are your texts?
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If Angels were cast out of heaven because they broke God’s law, then we are
not getting in breaking it. Before Mount Sinai Commandments laws, God said
"Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments,
my statues, and my laws". Gen. 26: 5, which are does laws or commandments
that Abraham kept? Is it the same as in Matt.15: 8,9; Exodus 20:1-17;
Rev.12: 17 and Rev 14:12 If there were no 10 Commandments laws, and no
Ceremonial laws?
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No, the covenant given to Israel was not made with Abraham "it was not with
our fathers that the LORD made this covenant" (Deut 5:3). To find out about
Abraham's covenant, read Genesis 17, to find out about Noah's covenant, read
Genesis 9. Or find my posting on "The Ten Commandments and the Covenant" on
the newsgroup.
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John 14: 21-31; John 15:10; John 3:16-21.
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The Gospel of John uses "commandments" to refer to Jesus' new commandments,
and "law" to refer to the TORAH. Check it in any concordance, or see my
earlier postings.
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It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law.
Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I
hate every false way. Psalm 119: 126-128. Praise the Lord!
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The Psalmist is full of praise for the covenant God has made with his
nation, Israel. However God has made a New Covenant now, which no longer
requires the Gentiles to keep the TORAH. Praise the Lord!
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And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the
sinner appear. 1Peter 4: 18
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. Psalm 1
God bless you!
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"Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law"
(Gal 4:25)
When Paul writes this he doesn't mean we can do anything we want - as if we
are not under any moral obligation. What he means is Gentiles do not have to
keep the TORAH. He makes this plain by immediately saying "you are all sons
through faith in Jesus Christ.. there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave not
free, male nor female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ" (Gal 4:26-29)
Why does Paul list Jew/Greek, slave/free, male/female? Because these are
divisions of the TORAH, but in Christ these divisions are abolished.
So your concern that "the law" = "morality", so if we say Christians do not
have to obey the law they do not have to keep any moral code is unfounded.
The Bible teaches the law is the TORAH, the discussions on the law are
simply discussions on whether Gentiles have to keep the TORAH. Read the
Bible like this and it will make a lot more sense.
John