The Law of Christ

[Ovedya]

Since we are set free from the Moasic Law and all of the restrictions and rules and are also free from sin....Is it more of a law of freedom? Like we are free to serve and glorify Jesus where as in the OT the people were required to serve and glorify God?

"The law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death" (Rom. 8:2)

This verse, of course deals with being freed from serving the law of sin and death. But there is a principal to this verse that is also touched on elsewhere in the Bible. That is namely that the Mosaic law has been fulfilled, consumated if you will, in Christ Jesus. There is a verse (And I'm short on time right now, so I will get back to quoting it and others later) that states that the law is being done away with in Christ. That's a paraphrase.

I am going to get back to this tomorrow. I just stopped in quickly to check out things. But basically it's like this: In the Old Testament man was required to serve God outwardly by the working out of the Law. It was only by the working out of the Law that a man was considered righteous. But according to Paul's writing concerning righteousness, even this fell short. In the New Testament the Lord has met the righteous requirement of the Law, fulfilled the Law, and completed the Law in Himself through His incarnation, human living, death and resurrection. We may call this His fourfold process. By this process all the items related to Christ's living, death, and resurrection, have been made available to everyone who believes in the Spirit. Therefore, since Christ was able to completely satisfy the righteous requirement of the Law, God is able to justify all of those who believe into Jesus Christ. On God's side, the shed blood of Christ becomes His basis for justification of the believer, and on the believer's side Christ has become our righteousness.

Now there is no longer an outward law that we must serve and practice in order to be justified by God and for our righteousness. Rather, the law is written on our hearts by the Spirit, who gives us eternal life. Therefore, to fulfill the law there are only two requirements: 1) To believe into the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, 2) To live, breath and walk by the Spirit of life. Again, this is a matter of "living in the flow" of life from the throne of grace. As long as we walk according to the Spirit, the law operates within us.

Anyway, I'll get back to you with the verses. I've already spent too much time typing this out.

[Blood Stained Soul]

I catch flack from some because I have no degrees on my walls yet I preach the Lords Gospel as the Holy Ghost inspires me.

I want to comment real quick on this before I get to the main reason for this post.

Who in the world would give you flack for that? I mean, did Jesus or Paul or Timothy have a PhD in theology?

NO! We don't need one either.

Seminarys are more like schools of indoctrination. They teach you HOW to think like a Baptist, Prez, Meth. or whatever seminary you happen to go to. Sad.

All we need is these three things:

1. A Bible

2. The Holy Spirit

3. Willingness to accept what the Bible says regardless of where it may lead you

Wayne said:

Brother Jake,

God-man answered beautifully.

I will only add this comment. It is not about being bound. It is about abiding. A marriage contract is binding...and can be broken. BUT abiding in a marriage means to remain in it...a choice made on the basis of love.

Love doesn't "bind" us. Love frees us to enjoy the abiding.

OK, it doesn't make sense to y'all but it does to me. Love is what keeps me faithful and abiding in my marriage.

Bless you,

Wayne

So let me ask this question.

Since we are set free from the Moasic Law and all of the restrictions and rules and are also free from sin....

....

Jake is thinking here.

Is it more of a law of freedom? Like we are free to serve and glorify Jesus where as in the OT the people were required to serve and glorify God?

Brother,

You would be surprised and I agree with your post. I myself have said those same things many times. I love this talk on the Law of Christ. I have not posted cause I would only be repeating what has been said or will be said, this subject is so vast. Blessings..

[WayneB]

So let me ask this question.

Since we are set free from the Moasic Law and all of the restrictions and rules and are also free from sin....

....

Jake is thinking here.

Is it more of a law of freedom?

[tsth]

What did Christ Himself say about the Law? And Himself in regard to the Law?

Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

How do we approach the Law as Christians?

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Strongs #2476 - i&sthmi

establish

to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set

to bid to stand by, [set up]

in the presence of others, in the midst, before judges, before members of the Sanhedrin;

to place

to make firm, fix establish

to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place

to stand, be kept intact (of family, a kingdom), to escape in safety

to establish a thing, cause it to stand 1b

to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything

to set or place in a balance

to weigh: money to one (because in very early times before the introduction of coinage, the metals used to be weighed)

to stand

to stand by or near

to stop, stand still, to stand immovable, stand firm 2a

of the foundation of a building

to stand

continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared

to be of a steadfast mind

of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver

Hebrews 10:9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second.

Ga 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Jas 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;

It is encompassed in our devotion to and obedience to Christ. These things are embodied in Him, in us.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[justjake]

Anybody have any additional thoughts?

[tsth]

No, just that I don't understand that with Matthew 5:17 and Romans 3:31, how can there be any question about it?

Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

How do we approach the Law as Christians?

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Ovedya]

No, just that I don't understand that with Matthew 5:17 and Romans 3:31, how can there be any question about it?

Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

How do we approach the Law as Christians?

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

In His Love,

Suzanne

I don't have much time to respond here....work has me stretched every which way.

In answer to your question, Suzanne, if you examine Paul's writings more carefully, you would find that our positions do not disagree. Paul's writing emphasize the return to faith by God's people through Jesus Christ. Faith out of a pure heart and fellowship in the Spirit fulfill the all the laws and prophets. Thus, it is through faith that we establish the law. The law is not a matter of outward practice or regulation, but through faith the law is fulfilled by walking inthe Spirit. In 1 Cor. 3 Paul wrote that the glory of the law is being done away with in Christ, and is replaced with freedom, from the letter of the law, which is slavery.

[tsth]

You are correct. We do agree, that through the empowerment and love of Christ, these things are fulfilled.

To have a different stance is in opposition to Christ and His workings.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Catsmeow]

Walking in the Spirit isn't a matter of repeating what the Pharisees did and become a bunch of legalists.

Jesus continually emphasized the "heart of the Law" which is mercy. The point isn't a matter of "don't touch, don't eat, don't...don't...don't...."

It isn't a matter of women wearing pants or not wearing pants; wearing junk on their heads or not...geez...

It's a matter of the heart. It's not a matter of "doing every little thing just so-so...." and thereby being a do-gooder.

Being "good" is a state of the heart...truly loving and caring for others; respecting others and showing kindness and compassion, even toward our enemies.

It isn't a matter of legalistic rituals and practices...but of showing honor to God by loving others as we do Him.

[tsth]

Dear Cats,

I'm curious, to what post, are you responding? I'm not sure I understand where your reply fits in to the discussion above it? Or were you addressing something else?

In His Love,

Suzanne