Swordslinger
10-31-2005, 13:43
This is long, but of the utmost importance. Not so much for Salvation in the "hereafter" but for our deliverence and well being today.
Please excuse the spelling and typos. Remember, I have drain bamage. :)
Achieving God's Divine Standard
Matthew 5:17-19
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
The word used here for fulfil is taken from the Greek plēroô (pronounced play-ro'-o) which means "verify, perfect or supply (Strongs #G4137)."
You would think that would pretty much be the end of it, but due to the translators using translating the Greek word, “Nomos”( law) in places that covers both the Laws, Statutes, Judgments, Ordinances, and ceremonial law, it has become confusing to many. Il will try to clear up as many arguments as I can. But feel free to add any and all questions you may have. I don’t know everything, but I am willing to learn. I ask only that YOU be willing to accept the Word of God for what it says, and not some preacher. Be like the Bereans, ok?
Jesus and His followers never said that SALVATION/ REDEMPTION were in opposition to God’s Divine Law. Paul, for many , APPEARS to present a conflict of interest, was actually on many occasions condemning the Babylonia Judaistic corruption by the Pharisees and Sadducees. They denied Christ and they avoided the human concern and care that is summed up in God’s Divine Law, by their particular application. When Christ replied,”….love God with all your heart , soul, and mind,. The second is like unto it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” This was Divine Law: Commandment, Statutes, and judgments (not rituals, ordinances, and ceremonial law) really are concerned with our everyday welfare in every way. It may appear strict in some areas, compared to present day permissiveness, (Satan is the father of permissiveness: witness tempting Eve in the Garden). Divine Law is however, timeless in its perfection. It will work today, just as it did thousands of years ago under King Solomon when Israel was one nation, under God, prosperous, strong and righteous! (Those of you that know me, know that I believe the people who settled this country to be the Israel people of scripture in fulfillment of prophecy. (Hosea 1:10-11, 2nd Samuel 7:10, etc..) The Kingdom of God of Earth, “as it is in Heaven….”
Reconciliation (another word for restoration) is used predominantly in most protestant churches; yet I believe it to be misunderstood. The Reader Digest Encyclopedic Dictionary defines RECONCILE as: 1. “To bring back into friendship after estrangement, and 2. To bring to submission, etc.” Both definitions reflect the idea of a covenant relationship that existed in the past, was separated or estranged is now resuming the covenant relationship. The Old Covenant grounded in Divine Law, is FULFILLED in and by Jesus Christ, the New Covenant for Israel, (Heb 8:8-10) The word fulfill also means, : “To complete a commitment”. That is what Christ did! He became the fulfillment of all of those generation making sacrifices of ritual offerings for their sins, as a foreshadowing of His sacrifice on the cross. His LIVING HUMAN EXAMPLE, always in obedience to Divine Law, was also a fulfillment of that Law! His ultimate fulfillment of Divine Law will be when He applies and enforces it upon the whole earth to subdue and RECONCILE IT!
There is no other way possible.
The modern judeo Christian church world that denies Divine Law as part of the Christian Faith, denies the Christian Movement the essential instructions that build the Kingdom. Remember, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”? Until He comes, if we do little more than pray about the evil conditions, we stand still for them. Take Proverbs for example in chapter 28: 4 and 9:
:4 “They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.”
:9“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”
Jesus came to righteousness (and to destroy the works of the devil, and his children), not a philosophy. That really burned my ear when Bush said, when asked who was his favorite philosopher. If he was a TRUE Christian, he would have used that as a platform for proclaiming Christ as the Living Son of God, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Not some “philosopher”. Paul writes in his epistle to the Saints (Christian Israelites (Rom. 4:1)): in Romans 2:5:
5”But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:
7to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
9There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew (Judahites, Judeans in the area of Judea#2453 in Strong‘s) first and also of the Greek,
10but)glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11For there is no partiality with God.
12For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
13for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.”
With that read, a philosophy exists merely as an attitude of people and requires no commitment to action. Righteousness, on the other hand, requires commitment to action. It is action, deeds, and physical sacrifice to a cause that results in change. What is “change”? REPENTANCE! Christ did not bring the world another “philosophy like the Bahia leaders claim. He was not “just another prophet”! He was and is THE Son of God! He will rule this earth with power and glory. Justice and peace will come over the whole earth. All of the apostles, including Paul, taught that righteousness could only be established through faith with works. James was the most obvious on this subject in James chapter 2:14: “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”
It is very OBVIOUS that righteousness fails, and evil succeeds when GOOD men and women (Christians) do nothing for their country, which is a part of the Kingdom of God! Oh! How many Christians pastors, elders, deacons, and Christian leaders espouse their interest in the welfare of their flock, yet ignore, or are ignorant of THE WAY Christ intended for them to flourish; and that is through obedience to God! The fact that we exercise personal faith in the finished work of Christ is an admission that the commandments, statutes, and judgments are operative, for, as it says in Romans 5:13:
“ For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”
Man’s Law is a Failure!
The cry throughout the land is for, “Law and Order!!” People are tired of terrorism, being afraid to walk the streets at night, murder, rape, robbery, pedophelia, drugs, etc.., and blatant abuse in high places. People are tired of our nation coddling of our enemies, even to the point of sending them food and grains while we pay higher and higher prices for food in our own country. People are tired of huge inflation, crippling interest rates (usury), huge welfare rolls which worsen the conditions of all.
Cities, counties, states and the federal government have all failed in their efforts to control crime, and to bring about stable economic conditions. Even so, Americans have no just ground for complaining, for in a TRUE REPUBLIC the people can force their wills on the lawmakers.
The Forgotten Law.
Copies of just, logical and proven laws and policies lie, ignored, almost at the fingertips of any who are interested enough in justice and prosperity to read them. These laws are just as workable and just as biding today as they ever were. They were even in effect before Mt. Sinai. But, the vast majority of Americans have never even heard them, even though almost all have them, and grew up with them, in full, laying in an unread book in their homes. These are God’s Divine Laws, and they are all found in the Bible. These laws are fair, and logical, and with sound reason behind each. They are based on natural law and operate on the principals of cause and effect.
A well known saying here in the good ole USA is, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse,” and it applies just as firmly to God’s Divine Law, as it does man’s law.
Through the Hog Sty.
One of the favorite routes of attack on God’s precepts is though the ole hog pen. I suppose this stems from the appetites of the flesh. Many Christian leaders take Paul’s instructions on brotherly love (Roman’s chapter 14), and ignoring the conditions which prompted its writing, they twist, strain and stretch it beyond recognition in an effort to makes God’s Word appear to be saying that disease ridden swine’s flesh is fit for human consumption. In doing so they usually omit the first 13 verses of the chapter and dwell on the balance of the chapter, which is actually a detailed discussion of one of the points made earlier in the chapter.
Romans 14:13 says, “ Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”
Paul then goes on to point out that the Kingdom of God is not meat (food) and drink; but rather is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. In other words, that our salvation is not dependent on those things we eat and drink, or refrain from eating and drinking, but in the faith of Jesus Christ. This passage is often quoted by those who wish to justify themselves in the eating of pork and other unclean meats which God has declared to be unclean. Certainly, one will not lose his or her salvation by eating pork, shrimp, dog, rattlesnake, mice, rats, possums and buzzards- he or she only eats to the detriment of their own health. But these are not the meats that Paul is referring to anyway. He wrote the same message to the Corinthians in more detail.
The Problems of Idols.1st Corinthians 8:4 tells us, “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.”
Verse 7 brings us to the crux of the matter. “Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.”
In those days there were many idols and many temples to the idols. Some Christians were converts from idolatry, and had a, “conscience of the idol.” Therefore, to them, the eating of of meat that had been sacrificed to an idol was de facto acknowledgment of the idol; while to the Judean or Galilian Christian, who had never worshiped one, an idol was nothing, and he could eat the meat that had been offered to one with no guilty “conscience”. For as verse 8 says, “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.” Let us make note here that in both Romans 14, and 1st Corinthians 8, the word “meat” in translated from the greek word “broma” and litterally means “food”, so these passages are not necessarily speaking of flesh, but food.
Verse 10 explains that if a strong Christian, to whom an idol is nothing, eats food in an idol’s temple. He may be seen by a former idol worshiper who still feels the idol may be a god. He may then decide that if another Christian can eat meat sacrificed to idols, so can he, but when he does so, he violates his own conscience. The strong Christian then has sinned against his weak brother, and against Christ.
Men or Swine?
Having changed to their own satisfaction, “food offered in sacrifice to an idol”, to meats forbidden by The Lord, the advocates of Christian disobedience to God’ divine Law, continue on Peter’s vision on the house top (Acts 10:9-16), placing special emphasis on verse 15, “what God has cleansed call thou not common”. Then, they very conveniently do not quote verse 28 which says, “You know how that it is an unlawful thing (why is Peter concerned about it being a lawful thing are not if the law was put away? He studied at the feet of the Living Christ! He knew what to do, and not to do.)for a man that is a Jew (Judean, Judahite, etc..#2463 in Strong’s) to keep company, or come unto one of another nation: but God has shown me that I should not call any MAN (not hog, rat, or buzzard) unclean.” I find no record that Peter killed and ate any of these unclease critters he saw in the vessel.
Romans 14:14 is much quoted by lawless preachers, but out of context, of course. It reads, “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” They read that and then stand back in their pulpit and say, “See there!!! Right in bible it says hogs, buzzards, rats, and snakes are know good for food, and God’s law is done away brother, lest any man should boast! All you have to do is believe that the unclean is clean, and poof!!! Its clean!!” That fact that men once believed the world was flat did not make it so.
The Greek word translated “unclean” in Romans14:14 is “koinos”, and means, litterally “common, profane, unholy, or polluted.” #2839 in Strong’s. As pointed out before, the apostle was not writing about meats forbidden by God’ Divine Law, but foods that had been offered in sacrifice to idols. In some men’s minds this would profane, pollute or make unholy the food so it could not be conscientiously eaten by a Christian, but it had nothing to do with meats forbidden by God’ Health Laws.
Discrimination Commanded.
Another favorite of those in favor of iniquity, (lawlessness) and, “teach men so” (Mat.5:19) is 1st Timothy4:3-5,”…and commanding to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them that believe and know the truth.” The meats “God created to be received” by then that know and believe the truth are listed in Leviticus chapter 11, and hogs, rats, mice, snakes, lizards, and buzzards are definitely excludes, for God says He did NOT create those things to be eaten.
To continue in Tim. 4. “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” Paul’s argument here is for those who abstain from all meats all together, for he goes on to say that meats sanctified, I.e. set apart, as, for food by the word of God are nothing to be refused. This does not include the hog for he was NOT set apart, or sanctified, for food by the word of God. Rather, he is set apart as Unclean, and Unfit for food, because the swine, like the buzzard is a scavenger. Put here by God to clean up filth, and rottenness.
Wresting the Scriptures.
Of course, spiritually speaking in 1st Corinthians 8:8, “But meat (food) commends us not to God: for neither if we eat, we are the better: neither if we eat not are we worse.” And in Romans 14:17, “For the Kingdom of God is not meat (food) and drink: but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” One doesn’t lose his or her salvation by eating buzzards, hogs and rats- the Law against it was given because God wants His people to be healthy. And the hog is a known carrier of disease, and not just trichinosis, much of the arthritis that is crippling our people is caused by the consumption of pork. So, it seems a bit inconsistent to out hogs flesh into, for assimilation by, the temple of God. (1st Corinthians 3:16-19)
Both Romans14:13 to 15:3, and 1st Cor. 8:1-8 are lessons on Christian love, and are not telling us that God decided He made a mistake when He said the hog is unfit for human consumption. Neither does it appear anywhere in the Bible that Jesus redeemed, made atonement for, or otherwise cleansed swine. Though He did send many demons into one herd of swine. Had He cleansed swine, why do we yet suffer the consequences of sin by eating it, such as trichinosis, arthritis, heart disease, and many others? That in and of itself is enough reason to refuse pork, and is some of the reasons God said it was unfit. Surley the HOG STY route is a very transparent attempt to, “wrest the Scriptures”, which we are told is to the destruction of those doing the wresting, and which destruction may come about by disease.
The Law opposes sin.
1st Timothy 1:9-10 says, “…Knowing this, that the law is not opposed to the righteous, but to the wicked, and disorderly, and sinners; to unholy and depraved; to murderers, fornicators, sodomites, man stealers, liars, and perjurers; and if there is anything contrary to healthy teaching, it (the law) fights against it, according to rectifying the gospel of the blessed God, as I myself believed it.” (Ferrar Fenton Translation.) This then leaves no ground for the righteous to be opposed to the law. The ONLY ones with any excuse to oppose the law are those who commit, or wish to commit, the sins of the flesh.
Yet most preachers teach that the law IS opposed to them, saying that to keep God’s Divine Law is to fall from grace (favor). When your child obeys your rule and instructions, does he fall from favor? Does his obedience to you bring your wrath upon him? Of Course NOT!! This will be explained, keep reading.
Divisions Of The Law.
Of course, such teaching stems from ignorance or as The Christ said, “Ye do err, not knowing the Scripture, nor the power of God.” (Matt. 22:29) Even a cursory study of the law should reveal to anyone that the law is in four divisions: The commandments, statutes, judgments and ordinances, or rituals.
The Commandments are rules for personal conduct, yet also the foundation and basis of the statues.
The Statutes are the laws for organization of the government; the economic laws, that is regulations for business, agriculture, and commerce; foreign relations; crime control; health; social regulations; etc.., etc… In other words, the national civil, and political laws.
The Judgments are in various forms, the most common being the penalty, or sentence, God requires the state to impose on the criminal. There are judgments for the violation of natural laws, which of course, are also Divine Laws. One of the simplest, though not stated in the Bible is that physical contact with fire, causes a painful burn. This is commonly called cause and effect. A close study will reveal that this is the principal applied throughout the Divine Law. Then there are situations in which God, The Lord, YHVH, judges the case and hands down a sentence by Divine Action, as stated in Lev. 26:3-4, 14, 20. “ If ye walk n my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees their fruit. (14) But if ye will not hearken unto Me, and will not do all these commandments……your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.” ( If you are thinking, “Look at America, the land is yielding, the trees are bearing their fruit, and most do not keep His laws.” Then you need to look at the FAT kids walking about who are really starving to death!!! Not because there is no food, but because the food has little or no nutrition, and the brains tell them to keep eating. And thus obesity levels are though the roof, as well as heart disease, and cancer.)
The Ordinances, or rituals, WERE the religious laws; the laws of sacrifice, offering and ceremonies, and were referred to by Paul in Romans 10:4 as the, :Law for righteousness”, and in Colossians 2:14, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.” These were the, “law that was added because of transgressions” spoken of in (Galatians 3:19) These are the “law” of which Paul wrote whenever he wrote of righetousness “without the law” as expressed in the King James Translation.
From The Beginning.
Commandments, statutes and laws were NOT first given at Mt. Sinai, but have been in effect since this creation. They had to be inasmuch as the greater portion of Divine Law is Natural law in operation. This is why they, the judgments following, are so easy to understand. Genesis 26:5 says, “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Whoooooo!! Wait a minute!! My preacher says the Law of Moses is done away!!! Nailed to the cross!!! Well, what about the law before Moses, God’s Divine Law? This shows that the Law, predates codification at Mt. Sinai. The Law of RITUALS, which was given 430 years after Abraham OBEYED God’s commandments, statutes and Laws, was added because not all Israel was obedient as was Abraham. Galatians 3:17-19 points out that the rituals (animal sacrifices for one) could not annul the Atonement and Redemption wrought by Jesus Christ, The Messiah, who when he came as the anti-type fulfilled the laws of sacrifice once and for all. For one to return to the animal sacrifice and laws of rituals, is to indeed, “fall from grace” and tread under foot The Son of God, and to count the Blood covenant whereby we were sanctified, an unholy thing (Hebrews 10:29). Today, this is unthinkable, but at the time this was written, it was a very distinct possibility.
New Testament Definitions.
1st John 3:4 gives us the definition of sin. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (Emphasis added) This includes national, as well as personal sin, and account for all the debt, inflation, and crime in our country today. ALL OF IT!!!
On the personal level, consider also 1st John 5:2-3, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” In light of this passage, how does one reconcile lawlessness (iniquity) with the love of God? If any one knows, please tell me. This is a New Testament scripture, brethren. Do you know a better way to show your love for God than to obey? At least try!! How convincing is it to say to the Almighty God, “ I love you, but I will NOT obey your laws.” And does one demonstrate his love to his fellow man by stealing from him, lying about him, bedding up with his wife? Was James wrong when he wrote, “ Show me your faith with out your works, and I will show you my faith by my works?”
By The Command.
According to preachers of the no-law doctrine, the Laws of God have been done away. But Romans 4:15 says, “for where no law is, there is no transgression.” If the law is done away, repealed and annulled, as the preacher of the no-law doctrine proclaim, then the field is WIDE OPEN; ANYTHING is permissible. If sin is transgression of the law, (1st John 3:4) and the law is no more, then sin is no such thing. It is NO WONDER THE CHURCH WORLD IS CONFUSED!!! AN ENEMY HATH DONE THIS!!!! But Paul tells us, “So that sin, BY NO MEANS OF THE COMMAND (that is the law), might be beyond doubt excessively sinful. (Romans 7:13) (Farrar Fenton Translation.)
A Little Help.
The Greek word, “nomos”, meaning law, has various forms which are used in the original language texts. These forms of the word carry different meanings, referring to different phrases, divisions, or application of the law. The translators of The King James Version ignored the different forms of the word in most instances, and translated them all simply as, “law”. This results in what appears to be contradictions, not only from writer to writer, but also in each of the books, and sometimes the same verse. You can pick up on many of these in the meaning of the context, even in the King James. Then, by reading carefully, it becomes easy to see that when the New Testament writers seem to speak against the law, they are actually referring to the ordinances and ritual ceremonies, and when they uphold the law, they are referring to the Divine Law of Commandments, statutes, and judgments. Then all the seeming contradictions disappear and the whole thing become understandable, logical, and much more meaningful.
Farrar Fenton made a translation from the original languages (not just a revision of an existing translation), and in it he has taken note of the different forms of the word “nomos”, and has translated it accordingly. So I give reference to the Fenton translation occasionally. I have posted it here before, but you can read the Fenton online at http://ferrarfenton.com/ and order one from Destiny Publishers. Compare these to your King James, and you will find that this translation does no violence to the text, but do make it consistence and understandable.
Commandments VS. Rituals.
Romans 3:20-21. “ Therefore by the practice of a ritual (animal sacrifices), none can be made righteous; yet, however, a recognition of sin comes by means of law. But now, without ritual, a Divine righteousness is exhibited , attested by law and the prophets.” Compare also to Romans 3:27-28, 31. “ Where then is our pride? It is banished. By what law? By the rituals? NO! but the law of faith. Therefore, we have argued that a man may be righteous by faith distinct from the law of rituals (animal sacrifice)….Then you will say, we destroy the law for sake of faith? Never!! On the contrary we colaberate the law.” (Fenton Translation)
The King James reads this way in verse 31:
“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” This is Paul speaking, the one everyone uses to say, “The law is done away!!”
Note the clarity of these verses when “the law that was added because of transgressions,” and which was fulfilled by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, is by the use of the proper terms, separated from the law of commandments, statutes and judgments, of which “one jot or one tittle shall no wise pass till heaven and earth pass away”.
Applications.
Now let us consider a few verses, using in place of the word “sin”, the New Testament definition of the word sin as given in 1st John 3:4 which say, “for sin is a transgression of the law”. (King James Version)
1st Corinthians 15:3
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our transgressions of lf the law according to the scriptures;
1st John 3:9
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit transgression of the law; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot transgress the law, because he is born of God.
Mark 1:5 says in part, “ and were all baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their transgressions of the law.”
Try using the New Testament definition of sin when ever you come to the word sin in your Bible, it is quite educational. ;)
Consider Romans 6:15, “What then? shall we transgress the law, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” If we understand the divisions of the law, and the purpose and function of each division, the original meaning of this verse is not changed if it read, “ What then, shall we transgress the commandments, statutes, and judgments because we are not under the law of sacrifices and ceremonies? God forbid!” Of course if we have this knowledge we can read this verse simply as, “ What then? Shall we transgress the law because we are saved by grace? God forbid!”
A Misuse of Grace.
Let us also look at Galatians 2:17. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? (transgression of the law 1st John 3:4) God forbid.” Here we are told that if transgress the law because we are justified in Christ, it makes Christ appear to be a minister of sin, I say “appear” because the acts of man’s transgression can never actually diminish from the finished work of our Messiah, Jesus The Christ. But when any man states that because he is justified in Christ he is free to transgress the law, or to ignore the law, for he is, for himself, making Christ the minister of sin.
Small wonder Christ said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (I.e. live in sin, transgress the law). (Matthew 7:21-23) Every transgression of the law by professed Christians brings reproach upon Jesus Christ, for it shows up Christ Jesus as a minister of sin.
Saved by Grace.
If a man is in federal prison, under sentence of death, and the president pardons (forgives) him he is set free and can never again be called to account for the crime of which he was convicted. He has been cleansed from guilt, before the law, and given life by the favor (grace) of the president of the United States of America. I have a question for those interested enough to read all of this. Here’s the Question: Is this man above the law; can he with impunity, violate the law? Can he rob, rape commit mayhem, sell drugs, or drive a car without insurance, or drive recklessly without fear of arrest or penalty? Certainly Not!!! Even though he was saved by grace (pardoned, forgiven, by the favor of the president) the law still stands, and still applies to him, and any violation of the law finds him again charged as a violator of the law.
The difference, when we apply this allegory to God’s law and grace, is explained in 1st John 2:1-2, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. (transgress the law not) And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” This is the only reason that anyone can ever stay in God’s favor, for, even with the help of the Holy Spirit, that is given to us when we are Baptized, (Acts 2:38) we all find ourselves, at times, in need of an advocate with the Father. He has made this provision because He, is as well as being just, is also MERCUFUL.
Judgments.
If the God’s Divine Law is done away, why are we yet judged as sinners when we ignore the commandments, statutes, and judgments; that is, why do we suffer the consequences of law violation if there be no law? In all fairness, if Jesus Christ put away the Divine Law of God, He must need also to abolish the penalties, but the penalties do still apply from the individual, but the penalties still apply, from the national levels, even to the individual.
I have said this on this board before, as well as PU, but I will give a more detailed example here to make this clear. Lets take ONE law, God’s Law against usury (interest) and see the effects of it. Remember, God’s law is the same as the natural law of cause and effect.
A farmer, is in debt to the bank, and if he doesn’t make his payment on time, he will loose his home, farm etc… He must therefore squeeze his land to get every penny out of it, due to compound interest, the principal keeps going up. He trying to produce the highest yeild, he farms all the way to the fence line. This is against God’s law given in Deuteronomy, and causes the animals to leave (go extinct. How many quail do you see now days?) He also has to farm every year, ignoring God’s Law of letting the land rest every seven years. This causes the top soil to deplete, and the nutrients to be lost from the food. As a result of lesser yields because of top soil depletion, He must now turn to the use of Hybridized plants, which is also a direct violation of God’s Law. This further decreases the nutritional value, and takes away the plants natural pesticides. Then he must turn to the pesticide companies and the hybrid seed companies (How convenient for the banker, he hold the notes on them too) And we see the final product as a very low nutritional value, toxic due to the pesticides, people who are diseased and overweight because the food they eat contains less nutrition than the box it came in. They in turn eat more, because their brain continues to tell the body to eat because it lacks nutrition, but what they eat contains fat (another violation of God’s Law), and MSG that makes them blow up like Fat Albert (I’m dating myself with that one). And guess what, sooner or later the farmer still has to sell his farm, or is foreclosed upon because when there is only a certain amount of money to be made, and the interest keeps going up, he has to give in eventually. Then the farm is sold to someone else, and the cycle starts again. That is just the result of violating ONE Divine Law of God. Cause, and effect!!
Another, not so lengthy example: The commandment say s, “Thou shalt not steal.” The judgment says, “ If a man steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen (because it was used for work) for an ox, and four sheep (because it was raised for food) for a sheep….If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it is an ox or a sheep; he shall restore double. If he has nothing, then shall he be sold for his theft.” Exodus 22.
Take this into modern prospective and look at it. If this thief steals a gun from Nerd or myself, (we use them to hunt for food) then he is ordered to pay back four times the amount that they are worth if he sold it, lets say for dope. If he is caught with it, then he is ordered to pay back twice the amount, or repay with two guns. Now, lets say he steals from Big’n who uses his guns for work. If he sells it for drugs, then he is ordered to repay (pay restitution) FIVE times the amount, (because it is used by Big’n to make a living for his family), or if he is caught with it, he gives it back, plus the cost of another one. Now, lets say this dope head can not pay the restitution, the word says, “he shall be sold for his theft”. What does that mean today? He needs to be put to work, and the money that is due to him for the labor, should go to the ones that he stole it from, until the debt is completely paid. The law has a provision for those that refuse to pay restitution. The offense goes from a misdemeanor to a class one felony. The Death Penalty.
Does that make any sense as an illustration? :) If the laws of restitution were enforces in America today, (and they once were) would it not cut thft, and robbery in all its forms to a minimum? Restitution, even of the bare amount taken, is so seldom required that society and business suffer theft losses of billion of dollars annually. Crooks do the stealing- and we all pay the penalty because the state is also in transgression in not enforcing God’s Divine Law of statues by His judgments.
The Law says, “ Thou shalt not commit adultery.” If the law is no longer in effect, why does sexual promiscuity yet result in children born out of wedlock, in venereal disease with its consequences, of arthritis, blindness, HIV/Aids birth defects, retardation, even insanity, unto the third and even the fourth generation? Would a righteous God abolish the Law, and yet leave the horrible penalties? The preachers of the no-law doctrine say that He did, by their implication. Doe this, then not make Christ a minister of sin and misery? “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written,” (Romans 3:4) This forces the conclusion, then, that each person who shall, “break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so,” is a liar, and himself a minister of sin. God help us!!! There is a lot of that going on today.
Whom will you believe?
Christ said He did not come to abolish the law. Too many preachers say He did. Christ said that those divisions of the law not fulfilled by His own Blood sacrifice would stand, unaltered, till heaven and earth pass away. Those who preach against the law, say the opposite. Jesus spoke of them in Matthew 24:5, “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Indeed these preachers do come in Jesus’ name; they do say Jesus is the Christ; then they preach deception. Remember, the theif comes to steal, kill and destroy. Christ came that you may have life, and have it more abundantly. Whom will you believe, Christ, or the deceivers?
After The Spirit.
If the commandments, statutes and judgments of God are to be kept since the cross, why was it necessary for Christ to die on the cross? Good question huh? First to free us from the laws of ordinances, I.e., the laws of sacrifice, of which The Lord declared in Psalms 40:6-8 that He had no pleasure in them. Hebrews 10:1-12 explains clearly that Christ fulfilled that law so the law of justification by faith might be established. Christ also told us that unless He go away the Holy Spirit would not come. (John 16:7)
Romans 7 explains the futility of trying to obey the law (commandments and statutes) in our strength because of the flesh. Romans 8:1-4, as cab posted earlier explains how the Holy Spirit strengthens believers so they can obey the law. “ That the righteousness of the law (obedience to the law) might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” How can the righteousness of the Law be fulfilled in one who ignores or is in transgression of the law, be he Spirit filled or not?
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” We are told clearly in scripture how to be IN Christ, or to put on Christ. Galatians 3:17, Luke 3:13, John 8:24, Romans 10:9, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Acts 22:16, etc….
That is all I have to say for now. This will no doubt be a “thread killer”. But, I will be happy to take any questions or criticisms. Before you call me a Pharisee, I ask that you do your homework concerning what the Pharisees’ were teaching, the Traditions of the Elders, that became later known as the Babylonian Talmud. They were not teaching from God’s law, but a Satanic perversion that came straight from the mixed multitude of the Babylonian captivity. Once you realize that, then call me a Pharisee if you want, I can take it. :)
But let it be known that I am not one who gives a mere “sound byte” scripture to prove a point. One can do that with almost any doctrine when taken out of context.
It can be said that the Bible says. “And Judas hanged himself” “…..go, and doeth thou like wise…..”” “….and what thou doest, doest thou quickly” Does this mean the Bible teaches that we should go out and hang ourselves, and dern skippy too? No! Of course not! This is why we must search the scriptures as the Berean’s, and not buy into everything we are told by the mainstream churches. This aint for everybody, there will only be a remnant, where do you want to be in the end?
http://truerepublic.org/pics/71govern.gif
I will also add this. There is no way we can separate the Bible from government if we are to be honest. ;)
Please excuse the spelling and typos. Remember, I have drain bamage. :)
Achieving God's Divine Standard
Matthew 5:17-19
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
The word used here for fulfil is taken from the Greek plēroô (pronounced play-ro'-o) which means "verify, perfect or supply (Strongs #G4137)."
You would think that would pretty much be the end of it, but due to the translators using translating the Greek word, “Nomos”( law) in places that covers both the Laws, Statutes, Judgments, Ordinances, and ceremonial law, it has become confusing to many. Il will try to clear up as many arguments as I can. But feel free to add any and all questions you may have. I don’t know everything, but I am willing to learn. I ask only that YOU be willing to accept the Word of God for what it says, and not some preacher. Be like the Bereans, ok?
Jesus and His followers never said that SALVATION/ REDEMPTION were in opposition to God’s Divine Law. Paul, for many , APPEARS to present a conflict of interest, was actually on many occasions condemning the Babylonia Judaistic corruption by the Pharisees and Sadducees. They denied Christ and they avoided the human concern and care that is summed up in God’s Divine Law, by their particular application. When Christ replied,”….love God with all your heart , soul, and mind,. The second is like unto it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” This was Divine Law: Commandment, Statutes, and judgments (not rituals, ordinances, and ceremonial law) really are concerned with our everyday welfare in every way. It may appear strict in some areas, compared to present day permissiveness, (Satan is the father of permissiveness: witness tempting Eve in the Garden). Divine Law is however, timeless in its perfection. It will work today, just as it did thousands of years ago under King Solomon when Israel was one nation, under God, prosperous, strong and righteous! (Those of you that know me, know that I believe the people who settled this country to be the Israel people of scripture in fulfillment of prophecy. (Hosea 1:10-11, 2nd Samuel 7:10, etc..) The Kingdom of God of Earth, “as it is in Heaven….”
Reconciliation (another word for restoration) is used predominantly in most protestant churches; yet I believe it to be misunderstood. The Reader Digest Encyclopedic Dictionary defines RECONCILE as: 1. “To bring back into friendship after estrangement, and 2. To bring to submission, etc.” Both definitions reflect the idea of a covenant relationship that existed in the past, was separated or estranged is now resuming the covenant relationship. The Old Covenant grounded in Divine Law, is FULFILLED in and by Jesus Christ, the New Covenant for Israel, (Heb 8:8-10) The word fulfill also means, : “To complete a commitment”. That is what Christ did! He became the fulfillment of all of those generation making sacrifices of ritual offerings for their sins, as a foreshadowing of His sacrifice on the cross. His LIVING HUMAN EXAMPLE, always in obedience to Divine Law, was also a fulfillment of that Law! His ultimate fulfillment of Divine Law will be when He applies and enforces it upon the whole earth to subdue and RECONCILE IT!
There is no other way possible.
The modern judeo Christian church world that denies Divine Law as part of the Christian Faith, denies the Christian Movement the essential instructions that build the Kingdom. Remember, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”? Until He comes, if we do little more than pray about the evil conditions, we stand still for them. Take Proverbs for example in chapter 28: 4 and 9:
:4 “They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.”
:9“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”
Jesus came to righteousness (and to destroy the works of the devil, and his children), not a philosophy. That really burned my ear when Bush said, when asked who was his favorite philosopher. If he was a TRUE Christian, he would have used that as a platform for proclaiming Christ as the Living Son of God, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Not some “philosopher”. Paul writes in his epistle to the Saints (Christian Israelites (Rom. 4:1)): in Romans 2:5:
5”But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:
7to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
9There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew (Judahites, Judeans in the area of Judea#2453 in Strong‘s) first and also of the Greek,
10but)glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11For there is no partiality with God.
12For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
13for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.”
With that read, a philosophy exists merely as an attitude of people and requires no commitment to action. Righteousness, on the other hand, requires commitment to action. It is action, deeds, and physical sacrifice to a cause that results in change. What is “change”? REPENTANCE! Christ did not bring the world another “philosophy like the Bahia leaders claim. He was not “just another prophet”! He was and is THE Son of God! He will rule this earth with power and glory. Justice and peace will come over the whole earth. All of the apostles, including Paul, taught that righteousness could only be established through faith with works. James was the most obvious on this subject in James chapter 2:14: “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”
It is very OBVIOUS that righteousness fails, and evil succeeds when GOOD men and women (Christians) do nothing for their country, which is a part of the Kingdom of God! Oh! How many Christians pastors, elders, deacons, and Christian leaders espouse their interest in the welfare of their flock, yet ignore, or are ignorant of THE WAY Christ intended for them to flourish; and that is through obedience to God! The fact that we exercise personal faith in the finished work of Christ is an admission that the commandments, statutes, and judgments are operative, for, as it says in Romans 5:13:
“ For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”
Man’s Law is a Failure!
The cry throughout the land is for, “Law and Order!!” People are tired of terrorism, being afraid to walk the streets at night, murder, rape, robbery, pedophelia, drugs, etc.., and blatant abuse in high places. People are tired of our nation coddling of our enemies, even to the point of sending them food and grains while we pay higher and higher prices for food in our own country. People are tired of huge inflation, crippling interest rates (usury), huge welfare rolls which worsen the conditions of all.
Cities, counties, states and the federal government have all failed in their efforts to control crime, and to bring about stable economic conditions. Even so, Americans have no just ground for complaining, for in a TRUE REPUBLIC the people can force their wills on the lawmakers.
The Forgotten Law.
Copies of just, logical and proven laws and policies lie, ignored, almost at the fingertips of any who are interested enough in justice and prosperity to read them. These laws are just as workable and just as biding today as they ever were. They were even in effect before Mt. Sinai. But, the vast majority of Americans have never even heard them, even though almost all have them, and grew up with them, in full, laying in an unread book in their homes. These are God’s Divine Laws, and they are all found in the Bible. These laws are fair, and logical, and with sound reason behind each. They are based on natural law and operate on the principals of cause and effect.
A well known saying here in the good ole USA is, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse,” and it applies just as firmly to God’s Divine Law, as it does man’s law.
Through the Hog Sty.
One of the favorite routes of attack on God’s precepts is though the ole hog pen. I suppose this stems from the appetites of the flesh. Many Christian leaders take Paul’s instructions on brotherly love (Roman’s chapter 14), and ignoring the conditions which prompted its writing, they twist, strain and stretch it beyond recognition in an effort to makes God’s Word appear to be saying that disease ridden swine’s flesh is fit for human consumption. In doing so they usually omit the first 13 verses of the chapter and dwell on the balance of the chapter, which is actually a detailed discussion of one of the points made earlier in the chapter.
Romans 14:13 says, “ Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”
Paul then goes on to point out that the Kingdom of God is not meat (food) and drink; but rather is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. In other words, that our salvation is not dependent on those things we eat and drink, or refrain from eating and drinking, but in the faith of Jesus Christ. This passage is often quoted by those who wish to justify themselves in the eating of pork and other unclean meats which God has declared to be unclean. Certainly, one will not lose his or her salvation by eating pork, shrimp, dog, rattlesnake, mice, rats, possums and buzzards- he or she only eats to the detriment of their own health. But these are not the meats that Paul is referring to anyway. He wrote the same message to the Corinthians in more detail.
The Problems of Idols.1st Corinthians 8:4 tells us, “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.”
Verse 7 brings us to the crux of the matter. “Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.”
In those days there were many idols and many temples to the idols. Some Christians were converts from idolatry, and had a, “conscience of the idol.” Therefore, to them, the eating of of meat that had been sacrificed to an idol was de facto acknowledgment of the idol; while to the Judean or Galilian Christian, who had never worshiped one, an idol was nothing, and he could eat the meat that had been offered to one with no guilty “conscience”. For as verse 8 says, “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.” Let us make note here that in both Romans 14, and 1st Corinthians 8, the word “meat” in translated from the greek word “broma” and litterally means “food”, so these passages are not necessarily speaking of flesh, but food.
Verse 10 explains that if a strong Christian, to whom an idol is nothing, eats food in an idol’s temple. He may be seen by a former idol worshiper who still feels the idol may be a god. He may then decide that if another Christian can eat meat sacrificed to idols, so can he, but when he does so, he violates his own conscience. The strong Christian then has sinned against his weak brother, and against Christ.
Men or Swine?
Having changed to their own satisfaction, “food offered in sacrifice to an idol”, to meats forbidden by The Lord, the advocates of Christian disobedience to God’ divine Law, continue on Peter’s vision on the house top (Acts 10:9-16), placing special emphasis on verse 15, “what God has cleansed call thou not common”. Then, they very conveniently do not quote verse 28 which says, “You know how that it is an unlawful thing (why is Peter concerned about it being a lawful thing are not if the law was put away? He studied at the feet of the Living Christ! He knew what to do, and not to do.)for a man that is a Jew (Judean, Judahite, etc..#2463 in Strong’s) to keep company, or come unto one of another nation: but God has shown me that I should not call any MAN (not hog, rat, or buzzard) unclean.” I find no record that Peter killed and ate any of these unclease critters he saw in the vessel.
Romans 14:14 is much quoted by lawless preachers, but out of context, of course. It reads, “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” They read that and then stand back in their pulpit and say, “See there!!! Right in bible it says hogs, buzzards, rats, and snakes are know good for food, and God’s law is done away brother, lest any man should boast! All you have to do is believe that the unclean is clean, and poof!!! Its clean!!” That fact that men once believed the world was flat did not make it so.
The Greek word translated “unclean” in Romans14:14 is “koinos”, and means, litterally “common, profane, unholy, or polluted.” #2839 in Strong’s. As pointed out before, the apostle was not writing about meats forbidden by God’ Divine Law, but foods that had been offered in sacrifice to idols. In some men’s minds this would profane, pollute or make unholy the food so it could not be conscientiously eaten by a Christian, but it had nothing to do with meats forbidden by God’ Health Laws.
Discrimination Commanded.
Another favorite of those in favor of iniquity, (lawlessness) and, “teach men so” (Mat.5:19) is 1st Timothy4:3-5,”…and commanding to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them that believe and know the truth.” The meats “God created to be received” by then that know and believe the truth are listed in Leviticus chapter 11, and hogs, rats, mice, snakes, lizards, and buzzards are definitely excludes, for God says He did NOT create those things to be eaten.
To continue in Tim. 4. “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” Paul’s argument here is for those who abstain from all meats all together, for he goes on to say that meats sanctified, I.e. set apart, as, for food by the word of God are nothing to be refused. This does not include the hog for he was NOT set apart, or sanctified, for food by the word of God. Rather, he is set apart as Unclean, and Unfit for food, because the swine, like the buzzard is a scavenger. Put here by God to clean up filth, and rottenness.
Wresting the Scriptures.
Of course, spiritually speaking in 1st Corinthians 8:8, “But meat (food) commends us not to God: for neither if we eat, we are the better: neither if we eat not are we worse.” And in Romans 14:17, “For the Kingdom of God is not meat (food) and drink: but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” One doesn’t lose his or her salvation by eating buzzards, hogs and rats- the Law against it was given because God wants His people to be healthy. And the hog is a known carrier of disease, and not just trichinosis, much of the arthritis that is crippling our people is caused by the consumption of pork. So, it seems a bit inconsistent to out hogs flesh into, for assimilation by, the temple of God. (1st Corinthians 3:16-19)
Both Romans14:13 to 15:3, and 1st Cor. 8:1-8 are lessons on Christian love, and are not telling us that God decided He made a mistake when He said the hog is unfit for human consumption. Neither does it appear anywhere in the Bible that Jesus redeemed, made atonement for, or otherwise cleansed swine. Though He did send many demons into one herd of swine. Had He cleansed swine, why do we yet suffer the consequences of sin by eating it, such as trichinosis, arthritis, heart disease, and many others? That in and of itself is enough reason to refuse pork, and is some of the reasons God said it was unfit. Surley the HOG STY route is a very transparent attempt to, “wrest the Scriptures”, which we are told is to the destruction of those doing the wresting, and which destruction may come about by disease.
The Law opposes sin.
1st Timothy 1:9-10 says, “…Knowing this, that the law is not opposed to the righteous, but to the wicked, and disorderly, and sinners; to unholy and depraved; to murderers, fornicators, sodomites, man stealers, liars, and perjurers; and if there is anything contrary to healthy teaching, it (the law) fights against it, according to rectifying the gospel of the blessed God, as I myself believed it.” (Ferrar Fenton Translation.) This then leaves no ground for the righteous to be opposed to the law. The ONLY ones with any excuse to oppose the law are those who commit, or wish to commit, the sins of the flesh.
Yet most preachers teach that the law IS opposed to them, saying that to keep God’s Divine Law is to fall from grace (favor). When your child obeys your rule and instructions, does he fall from favor? Does his obedience to you bring your wrath upon him? Of Course NOT!! This will be explained, keep reading.
Divisions Of The Law.
Of course, such teaching stems from ignorance or as The Christ said, “Ye do err, not knowing the Scripture, nor the power of God.” (Matt. 22:29) Even a cursory study of the law should reveal to anyone that the law is in four divisions: The commandments, statutes, judgments and ordinances, or rituals.
The Commandments are rules for personal conduct, yet also the foundation and basis of the statues.
The Statutes are the laws for organization of the government; the economic laws, that is regulations for business, agriculture, and commerce; foreign relations; crime control; health; social regulations; etc.., etc… In other words, the national civil, and political laws.
The Judgments are in various forms, the most common being the penalty, or sentence, God requires the state to impose on the criminal. There are judgments for the violation of natural laws, which of course, are also Divine Laws. One of the simplest, though not stated in the Bible is that physical contact with fire, causes a painful burn. This is commonly called cause and effect. A close study will reveal that this is the principal applied throughout the Divine Law. Then there are situations in which God, The Lord, YHVH, judges the case and hands down a sentence by Divine Action, as stated in Lev. 26:3-4, 14, 20. “ If ye walk n my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees their fruit. (14) But if ye will not hearken unto Me, and will not do all these commandments……your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.” ( If you are thinking, “Look at America, the land is yielding, the trees are bearing their fruit, and most do not keep His laws.” Then you need to look at the FAT kids walking about who are really starving to death!!! Not because there is no food, but because the food has little or no nutrition, and the brains tell them to keep eating. And thus obesity levels are though the roof, as well as heart disease, and cancer.)
The Ordinances, or rituals, WERE the religious laws; the laws of sacrifice, offering and ceremonies, and were referred to by Paul in Romans 10:4 as the, :Law for righteousness”, and in Colossians 2:14, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.” These were the, “law that was added because of transgressions” spoken of in (Galatians 3:19) These are the “law” of which Paul wrote whenever he wrote of righetousness “without the law” as expressed in the King James Translation.
From The Beginning.
Commandments, statutes and laws were NOT first given at Mt. Sinai, but have been in effect since this creation. They had to be inasmuch as the greater portion of Divine Law is Natural law in operation. This is why they, the judgments following, are so easy to understand. Genesis 26:5 says, “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Whoooooo!! Wait a minute!! My preacher says the Law of Moses is done away!!! Nailed to the cross!!! Well, what about the law before Moses, God’s Divine Law? This shows that the Law, predates codification at Mt. Sinai. The Law of RITUALS, which was given 430 years after Abraham OBEYED God’s commandments, statutes and Laws, was added because not all Israel was obedient as was Abraham. Galatians 3:17-19 points out that the rituals (animal sacrifices for one) could not annul the Atonement and Redemption wrought by Jesus Christ, The Messiah, who when he came as the anti-type fulfilled the laws of sacrifice once and for all. For one to return to the animal sacrifice and laws of rituals, is to indeed, “fall from grace” and tread under foot The Son of God, and to count the Blood covenant whereby we were sanctified, an unholy thing (Hebrews 10:29). Today, this is unthinkable, but at the time this was written, it was a very distinct possibility.
New Testament Definitions.
1st John 3:4 gives us the definition of sin. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (Emphasis added) This includes national, as well as personal sin, and account for all the debt, inflation, and crime in our country today. ALL OF IT!!!
On the personal level, consider also 1st John 5:2-3, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” In light of this passage, how does one reconcile lawlessness (iniquity) with the love of God? If any one knows, please tell me. This is a New Testament scripture, brethren. Do you know a better way to show your love for God than to obey? At least try!! How convincing is it to say to the Almighty God, “ I love you, but I will NOT obey your laws.” And does one demonstrate his love to his fellow man by stealing from him, lying about him, bedding up with his wife? Was James wrong when he wrote, “ Show me your faith with out your works, and I will show you my faith by my works?”
By The Command.
According to preachers of the no-law doctrine, the Laws of God have been done away. But Romans 4:15 says, “for where no law is, there is no transgression.” If the law is done away, repealed and annulled, as the preacher of the no-law doctrine proclaim, then the field is WIDE OPEN; ANYTHING is permissible. If sin is transgression of the law, (1st John 3:4) and the law is no more, then sin is no such thing. It is NO WONDER THE CHURCH WORLD IS CONFUSED!!! AN ENEMY HATH DONE THIS!!!! But Paul tells us, “So that sin, BY NO MEANS OF THE COMMAND (that is the law), might be beyond doubt excessively sinful. (Romans 7:13) (Farrar Fenton Translation.)
A Little Help.
The Greek word, “nomos”, meaning law, has various forms which are used in the original language texts. These forms of the word carry different meanings, referring to different phrases, divisions, or application of the law. The translators of The King James Version ignored the different forms of the word in most instances, and translated them all simply as, “law”. This results in what appears to be contradictions, not only from writer to writer, but also in each of the books, and sometimes the same verse. You can pick up on many of these in the meaning of the context, even in the King James. Then, by reading carefully, it becomes easy to see that when the New Testament writers seem to speak against the law, they are actually referring to the ordinances and ritual ceremonies, and when they uphold the law, they are referring to the Divine Law of Commandments, statutes, and judgments. Then all the seeming contradictions disappear and the whole thing become understandable, logical, and much more meaningful.
Farrar Fenton made a translation from the original languages (not just a revision of an existing translation), and in it he has taken note of the different forms of the word “nomos”, and has translated it accordingly. So I give reference to the Fenton translation occasionally. I have posted it here before, but you can read the Fenton online at http://ferrarfenton.com/ and order one from Destiny Publishers. Compare these to your King James, and you will find that this translation does no violence to the text, but do make it consistence and understandable.
Commandments VS. Rituals.
Romans 3:20-21. “ Therefore by the practice of a ritual (animal sacrifices), none can be made righteous; yet, however, a recognition of sin comes by means of law. But now, without ritual, a Divine righteousness is exhibited , attested by law and the prophets.” Compare also to Romans 3:27-28, 31. “ Where then is our pride? It is banished. By what law? By the rituals? NO! but the law of faith. Therefore, we have argued that a man may be righteous by faith distinct from the law of rituals (animal sacrifice)….Then you will say, we destroy the law for sake of faith? Never!! On the contrary we colaberate the law.” (Fenton Translation)
The King James reads this way in verse 31:
“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” This is Paul speaking, the one everyone uses to say, “The law is done away!!”
Note the clarity of these verses when “the law that was added because of transgressions,” and which was fulfilled by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, is by the use of the proper terms, separated from the law of commandments, statutes and judgments, of which “one jot or one tittle shall no wise pass till heaven and earth pass away”.
Applications.
Now let us consider a few verses, using in place of the word “sin”, the New Testament definition of the word sin as given in 1st John 3:4 which say, “for sin is a transgression of the law”. (King James Version)
1st Corinthians 15:3
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our transgressions of lf the law according to the scriptures;
1st John 3:9
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit transgression of the law; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot transgress the law, because he is born of God.
Mark 1:5 says in part, “ and were all baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their transgressions of the law.”
Try using the New Testament definition of sin when ever you come to the word sin in your Bible, it is quite educational. ;)
Consider Romans 6:15, “What then? shall we transgress the law, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” If we understand the divisions of the law, and the purpose and function of each division, the original meaning of this verse is not changed if it read, “ What then, shall we transgress the commandments, statutes, and judgments because we are not under the law of sacrifices and ceremonies? God forbid!” Of course if we have this knowledge we can read this verse simply as, “ What then? Shall we transgress the law because we are saved by grace? God forbid!”
A Misuse of Grace.
Let us also look at Galatians 2:17. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? (transgression of the law 1st John 3:4) God forbid.” Here we are told that if transgress the law because we are justified in Christ, it makes Christ appear to be a minister of sin, I say “appear” because the acts of man’s transgression can never actually diminish from the finished work of our Messiah, Jesus The Christ. But when any man states that because he is justified in Christ he is free to transgress the law, or to ignore the law, for he is, for himself, making Christ the minister of sin.
Small wonder Christ said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (I.e. live in sin, transgress the law). (Matthew 7:21-23) Every transgression of the law by professed Christians brings reproach upon Jesus Christ, for it shows up Christ Jesus as a minister of sin.
Saved by Grace.
If a man is in federal prison, under sentence of death, and the president pardons (forgives) him he is set free and can never again be called to account for the crime of which he was convicted. He has been cleansed from guilt, before the law, and given life by the favor (grace) of the president of the United States of America. I have a question for those interested enough to read all of this. Here’s the Question: Is this man above the law; can he with impunity, violate the law? Can he rob, rape commit mayhem, sell drugs, or drive a car without insurance, or drive recklessly without fear of arrest or penalty? Certainly Not!!! Even though he was saved by grace (pardoned, forgiven, by the favor of the president) the law still stands, and still applies to him, and any violation of the law finds him again charged as a violator of the law.
The difference, when we apply this allegory to God’s law and grace, is explained in 1st John 2:1-2, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. (transgress the law not) And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” This is the only reason that anyone can ever stay in God’s favor, for, even with the help of the Holy Spirit, that is given to us when we are Baptized, (Acts 2:38) we all find ourselves, at times, in need of an advocate with the Father. He has made this provision because He, is as well as being just, is also MERCUFUL.
Judgments.
If the God’s Divine Law is done away, why are we yet judged as sinners when we ignore the commandments, statutes, and judgments; that is, why do we suffer the consequences of law violation if there be no law? In all fairness, if Jesus Christ put away the Divine Law of God, He must need also to abolish the penalties, but the penalties do still apply from the individual, but the penalties still apply, from the national levels, even to the individual.
I have said this on this board before, as well as PU, but I will give a more detailed example here to make this clear. Lets take ONE law, God’s Law against usury (interest) and see the effects of it. Remember, God’s law is the same as the natural law of cause and effect.
A farmer, is in debt to the bank, and if he doesn’t make his payment on time, he will loose his home, farm etc… He must therefore squeeze his land to get every penny out of it, due to compound interest, the principal keeps going up. He trying to produce the highest yeild, he farms all the way to the fence line. This is against God’s law given in Deuteronomy, and causes the animals to leave (go extinct. How many quail do you see now days?) He also has to farm every year, ignoring God’s Law of letting the land rest every seven years. This causes the top soil to deplete, and the nutrients to be lost from the food. As a result of lesser yields because of top soil depletion, He must now turn to the use of Hybridized plants, which is also a direct violation of God’s Law. This further decreases the nutritional value, and takes away the plants natural pesticides. Then he must turn to the pesticide companies and the hybrid seed companies (How convenient for the banker, he hold the notes on them too) And we see the final product as a very low nutritional value, toxic due to the pesticides, people who are diseased and overweight because the food they eat contains less nutrition than the box it came in. They in turn eat more, because their brain continues to tell the body to eat because it lacks nutrition, but what they eat contains fat (another violation of God’s Law), and MSG that makes them blow up like Fat Albert (I’m dating myself with that one). And guess what, sooner or later the farmer still has to sell his farm, or is foreclosed upon because when there is only a certain amount of money to be made, and the interest keeps going up, he has to give in eventually. Then the farm is sold to someone else, and the cycle starts again. That is just the result of violating ONE Divine Law of God. Cause, and effect!!
Another, not so lengthy example: The commandment say s, “Thou shalt not steal.” The judgment says, “ If a man steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen (because it was used for work) for an ox, and four sheep (because it was raised for food) for a sheep….If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it is an ox or a sheep; he shall restore double. If he has nothing, then shall he be sold for his theft.” Exodus 22.
Take this into modern prospective and look at it. If this thief steals a gun from Nerd or myself, (we use them to hunt for food) then he is ordered to pay back four times the amount that they are worth if he sold it, lets say for dope. If he is caught with it, then he is ordered to pay back twice the amount, or repay with two guns. Now, lets say he steals from Big’n who uses his guns for work. If he sells it for drugs, then he is ordered to repay (pay restitution) FIVE times the amount, (because it is used by Big’n to make a living for his family), or if he is caught with it, he gives it back, plus the cost of another one. Now, lets say this dope head can not pay the restitution, the word says, “he shall be sold for his theft”. What does that mean today? He needs to be put to work, and the money that is due to him for the labor, should go to the ones that he stole it from, until the debt is completely paid. The law has a provision for those that refuse to pay restitution. The offense goes from a misdemeanor to a class one felony. The Death Penalty.
Does that make any sense as an illustration? :) If the laws of restitution were enforces in America today, (and they once were) would it not cut thft, and robbery in all its forms to a minimum? Restitution, even of the bare amount taken, is so seldom required that society and business suffer theft losses of billion of dollars annually. Crooks do the stealing- and we all pay the penalty because the state is also in transgression in not enforcing God’s Divine Law of statues by His judgments.
The Law says, “ Thou shalt not commit adultery.” If the law is no longer in effect, why does sexual promiscuity yet result in children born out of wedlock, in venereal disease with its consequences, of arthritis, blindness, HIV/Aids birth defects, retardation, even insanity, unto the third and even the fourth generation? Would a righteous God abolish the Law, and yet leave the horrible penalties? The preachers of the no-law doctrine say that He did, by their implication. Doe this, then not make Christ a minister of sin and misery? “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written,” (Romans 3:4) This forces the conclusion, then, that each person who shall, “break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so,” is a liar, and himself a minister of sin. God help us!!! There is a lot of that going on today.
Whom will you believe?
Christ said He did not come to abolish the law. Too many preachers say He did. Christ said that those divisions of the law not fulfilled by His own Blood sacrifice would stand, unaltered, till heaven and earth pass away. Those who preach against the law, say the opposite. Jesus spoke of them in Matthew 24:5, “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Indeed these preachers do come in Jesus’ name; they do say Jesus is the Christ; then they preach deception. Remember, the theif comes to steal, kill and destroy. Christ came that you may have life, and have it more abundantly. Whom will you believe, Christ, or the deceivers?
After The Spirit.
If the commandments, statutes and judgments of God are to be kept since the cross, why was it necessary for Christ to die on the cross? Good question huh? First to free us from the laws of ordinances, I.e., the laws of sacrifice, of which The Lord declared in Psalms 40:6-8 that He had no pleasure in them. Hebrews 10:1-12 explains clearly that Christ fulfilled that law so the law of justification by faith might be established. Christ also told us that unless He go away the Holy Spirit would not come. (John 16:7)
Romans 7 explains the futility of trying to obey the law (commandments and statutes) in our strength because of the flesh. Romans 8:1-4, as cab posted earlier explains how the Holy Spirit strengthens believers so they can obey the law. “ That the righteousness of the law (obedience to the law) might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” How can the righteousness of the Law be fulfilled in one who ignores or is in transgression of the law, be he Spirit filled or not?
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” We are told clearly in scripture how to be IN Christ, or to put on Christ. Galatians 3:17, Luke 3:13, John 8:24, Romans 10:9, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Acts 22:16, etc….
That is all I have to say for now. This will no doubt be a “thread killer”. But, I will be happy to take any questions or criticisms. Before you call me a Pharisee, I ask that you do your homework concerning what the Pharisees’ were teaching, the Traditions of the Elders, that became later known as the Babylonian Talmud. They were not teaching from God’s law, but a Satanic perversion that came straight from the mixed multitude of the Babylonian captivity. Once you realize that, then call me a Pharisee if you want, I can take it. :)
But let it be known that I am not one who gives a mere “sound byte” scripture to prove a point. One can do that with almost any doctrine when taken out of context.
It can be said that the Bible says. “And Judas hanged himself” “…..go, and doeth thou like wise…..”” “….and what thou doest, doest thou quickly” Does this mean the Bible teaches that we should go out and hang ourselves, and dern skippy too? No! Of course not! This is why we must search the scriptures as the Berean’s, and not buy into everything we are told by the mainstream churches. This aint for everybody, there will only be a remnant, where do you want to be in the end?
http://truerepublic.org/pics/71govern.gif
I will also add this. There is no way we can separate the Bible from government if we are to be honest. ;)