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Theology => General Theology => Topic started by: NorthStar on May 07, 2006, 08:31:42 PM



Title: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: NorthStar on May 07, 2006, 08:31:42 PM
I want to keep all 10 commandments as found in Exodus 20:3-17.
WHY ?

Because Jesus Christ asked me to ...in John 14:15.....
"IF..you love me, keep my commandments"

Is it wrong to do what Jesus asks ?

I want to be one of those people that the Bible describes, as a saint.....
 Revelation 14:12   "Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus".   

I want to be allowed into heaven.....
Revelation  22:14  " Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city".   

I don't want to be counted, as a liar !
1 John 2:3   "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 
  2:4   He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him".   

I believe this Bible verse applies to me, as a Christian.....
 20:20   "And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I [am] the LORD your God".   

Again, I ask....Am I wrong to do what Jesus asks of me ?


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Soldier4Christ on May 07, 2006, 09:11:34 PM
Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.





Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: nChrist on May 08, 2006, 12:19:31 AM
Hello Northstar,

First, WELCOME!!

(http://www.sirinet.net/~blkidps/welcome.gif)

I'm looking forward to reading your posts and having fellowship with you.

Regarding your questions, I give thanks every day for all that changed with JESUS and the Cross. JESUS CHRIST is our Sabbath, and we rest in HIM 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I give thanks for that and I'm glad that it isn't limited to just one day a week. It's all days every week, and this is true for eternity.

Matthew 22:36-40  NASB  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

Northstar, I give thanks that we no longer live under the Law. The Law of faith in JESUS CHRIST has set us free from the curse of sin and death. Many things in the Old Testament were shadows of what was to come, and JESUS CHRIST is the reality that replaced those shadows. We serve a LIVING Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST, and the HOLY SPIRIT lives in our hearts. This is the precious truth of today for all of GOD'S children.

Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour forever!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Revelation 1:7-8 NASB  BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Allinall on May 09, 2006, 03:19:56 PM
Amen!!


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Pilgrim on May 14, 2006, 08:55:52 AM
I want to keep all 10 commandments as found in Exodus 20:3-17.
WHY ?

It is not possible for you to keep the 10 commandments. Why?

Because you are man and man cannot keep even one of these commandments as God intended them to be kept, perfectly 100% of the time. One slip on any point and it is over.

Quote
I want to keep all 10 commandments as found in Exodus 20:3-17.
WHY ?

It is not possible for you to keep the 10 commandments. Why?

Because the Ten Commandments where only given to the children of Israel from Moses to the cross of Jesus. The Ten Commandments were never given to a gentile nation period. Even the fathers of Israel such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc. were not under the Ten Commandmenets.

Exo 19:1 “In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2  For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. 3  And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:”

Deu 5:1 “And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. 2  The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3  The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.”

Quote
I want to keep all 10 commandments as found in Exodus 20:3-17.
WHY ?

It is not possible for you to keep the 10 commandments. Why?

Because they have been done away with (2 Cor. 3:11), abolished (2 Cor. 3:13), and replaced by the New Covenant (Hebrew verses).

2Co 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

13  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:”

Heb 7:18 “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”

Heb 8:13 “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”

Heb 10:9 “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”

I have written three articles that go in detail concerning the Ten Commandments and why they no longer apply. These articles will answer almost all the objections you can come up with if you have a heart for God’s truth. You can read them hear if interested:

 "Which Law are You Under?"  http://www.nlbchapel.org/which%20law.htm

“Subverters of Souls”  http://www.nlbchapel.org/Subverters.htm

“Comparing the Old Covenant with the New Covenant.”  http://www.nlbchapel.org/covenant.htm

Pilgrim


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: nChrist on May 14, 2006, 11:04:27 AM
Brother Pilgrim,

AMEN AND AMEN!!

Colossians 2:13-17   And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 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 his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Shammu on May 14, 2006, 10:37:11 PM
AMEN and AMEN Pilgrim!!


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Garden of Glory on May 15, 2006, 12:55:17 AM
 ??? So if the 10 Commandments was "done away with at the Cross", then I suppose I can lie, curse, cheat, kill, covet, and blaspheme all I want and be fine as a Christian??

One must look at Bible history and understand what constitutes the word "law" in the OT:

There are three (3) things called "the law" in the Bible:

1. The 10 Commandments = THE Law, unchangeable as God Himself, as it reflects Him, His actual Personality. It is not a set of does and don'ts, as the Hebrews saw them. (That was part of the reason for their de-commissioning) Notice that every one of the sneaky questions put to Jesus by religious hypocrites was centred on how they could fudge on this Law; no one ever asked Him questions about the other two laws below.The leaders that murdered Him were angry at His disregard of the two below and His living witness of the 10 Commandments His life exemplified. "If you love Me, keep My Commandments."

2.The ceremonial laws, rituals and ordinances, constructed by God for the missionary Jews, all of which were acted out parables pointing to Christ, and therefore died when He died on the Cross. They are no longer binding on anyone and are done away with when the veil to the Most Holy Place was torn apart by the Hand of God. They are equally useless because the Temple is gone and the Holy spirit is no longer in residence there, but within born again Christians.

3. The Rabbinical laws These are the "yokes of burden" created by men, none from the Lord ever. The rabbis created over 600 such superstitious laws, and many orthodox Jews today vainly struggle to keep them. Jesus warned agaist these types of "laws" in Matt.15:9 and the entire point of His severest sermon, Matthew 23...read the whole thing.

If you love Christ the 10 Commandments are a JOY, not a reprimand or a list.

But, yes: no one can keep them unless Christ dwells within and they LET Him keep them through them in a practial, 3-D manner.



Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Soldier4Christ on May 15, 2006, 01:18:10 AM
Hi Garden of Glory,

Those of us that have accepted Christ as our Saviour are no longer under the law.

Rom 3:19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

We are not under the law but this does not mean that we can sin as we so desire. For if we are truly saved we will not desire to sin. We will have the desire to follow in His footsteps. As long as we are in the flesh we will not be perfect and will not follow perfectly but it will be in our hearts to want to be.

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

2Co 3:3  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.




Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: nChrist on May 15, 2006, 01:49:32 AM
Quote
Garden of Glory Said:

So if the 10 Commandments was "done away with at the Cross", then I suppose I can lie, curse, cheat, kill, covet, and blaspheme all I want and be fine as a Christian??

Hello Garden of Glory,

If you will read the entire thread, you will understand that you can't.

Matthew 22:36-40  NASB  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

Which ones of your list could you do if you obeyed the Two Commandments above given by JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF?

The CROSS does not represent a license to sin. Please do read the entire thread and you'll understand.

Love in Christ,
Tom

Philippians 1:21-22 NASB  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Pilgrim on May 15, 2006, 08:33:33 AM
Hello Garden of Glory,

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. You say that the Ten commandments are a joy, yet 2 Cor. 3 calls them a ministry of death and condemnation. The very purpose of the Ten Commandment according to God's Word is to condemn and kill, on the other hand the New Covenant was given so one could have a clear conscience before God and eternal life. I often wonder why one would even want to be under a covenant that could only condemn them to death rather than a covenant which saves them. I believe if you would read it prayerfully seeking God's truth it will be a blessing to you. I have received many letters from others who at one time were under the teaching that Christians are under the Ten Commandments. After reading the article they had a hard time expressing their gratitude and joy at being set free from the bondage of false teaching on the Ten Commandments. Below I answer some of your objection from "Which Law are You Under?"  http://www.nlbchapel.org/which%20law.htm. God bless.

Pilgrim

"In the book of Romans the apostle Paul had to defend against the charge that to be without the law of Moses was a license to sin.

Rom. 6:1 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

Because Paul taught that one is saved by grace through faith rather than law keeping his enemies accused him of teaching that a Christian had a free license to sin. Paul gave the death blow to that argument in verse 1 of Romans 6. He went on to say:

Rom. 6:15 “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

Can God’s Word get any clearer that we are not under law but under grace (verse 15)? And can God’s Word get any clearer that because were are under grace and not the law that this is not a license for free sinning? True Christians do not practice sin because they follow the law of love which comes from the heart. Notice Paul says in verse 17 “but ye have obeyed from the heart”. Those who claim to be saved and continue living a life full of sin are false professors and their actions prove that they are still servants of sin rather than a servants of righteousness just as the above verses declare. Those who are truly saved obey from the heart out of love for God and mankind. As a result their righteousness far exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees who were trying to be righteous by the deeds of the law.

Mat 5:20 “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

    Those who insist that Christians are under the law of Moses apparently do not understand what a great burden this is. In Acts 15 the apostle Peter is speaking against the law keepers and had this to say about the law of Moses.

    This is what the law keepers said:

Acts 15:5 “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.”

    And here is what Peter said:

Acts 15:10 “Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”

    Peter says that the law of Moses was an unbearable burden that neither they or their fathers were able to bear. If the apostles themselves could not bear the law of Moses what chance do we have? Peter said that those who taught that Christian have to keep the law of Moses were tempting God, a very serious sin. Those who teach that Christians have to keep the law of Moses are siding with the Pharisees of verse 6 and those who temp God (verse 10) and those who subvert souls (verse 24):

Acts 15:23 “And they wrote [letters] by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren [send] greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, [Ye must] be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no [such] commandment:”

    Notice that verse 24 for says it was the troublemakers who taught that Christians must keep the law of Moses and that the apostles themselves never gave such a commandment. Now lets look at the contrast in what the Lord Jesus Christ had to offer in Matthew 11.

Matt. 11:28 “Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.”

    What the Lord is offering in Matthew 11 is just opposite of what the Bible says about the law of Moses in Acts 15. What the Lord offers is rest for the soul, an easy yoke and a light burden. What the law of Moses offered according to Acts 15 was an unbearable burden that was impossible to bear. Therefore they cannot be talking about the same thing. Jesus also said this about His commandments in 1 John 5.

1Jo 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

    If Jesus was talking about the law of Moses here then we would have a major contradiction with Acts 15 which says that the law of Moses was an unbearable burden. Yet this verse goes right along with the words of our Lord in Matthew 11:28-30. The only possibility then is that the commandments that Jesus is talking about in 1 John are not the commandments of the Mosaic law but of a different law. If we look at the context of 1 John it is very easy to see what commandments the Lord is referring to in 1 John 5:3.

1Jo 2:3 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

    Notice verse 5 talking about the love of God being perfected in a believer and in verse 10 the emphasis on loving a brother.

1Jo 3:22 “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

`In verse 23 the Lord spells out exactly what His commandments are, “That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” There is nothing even remotely suggesting that He is talking about the law Moses in these verses, rather the emphasis is on the law of love."


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: nChrist on May 15, 2006, 08:32:06 PM
Amen Brother Pilgrim!

Quote
Pilgrim Said:

Below I answer some of your objection from "Which Law are You Under?"  http://www.nlbchapel.org/which%20law.htm. God bless.

Brother, thanks for the link - the material is excellent. It makes me very happy to say, "The Law of Faith in JESUS CHRIST has set me free from the curse of sin and death." I'm also extremely happy to say that we are NOT living under the Law, rather we are living under the matchless Love and GRACE OF GOD!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Hebrews 10:19-23 NASB  Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Garden of Glory on May 16, 2006, 03:28:17 AM
Pastor Roger All the reference verses you gave [except 2Co 3:3] are talking about the ceremonial laws, rituals and ordinances, or the rabbinical law, not the 10 Commandments. To confuse these laws with THE LAW (the Decalogue) is a major muddle.

black eyed peas Christ's summing up of the 10 Commandments into two topic headings (Love of God and Love for Man) is revealed in the lay-out of the Tablets itself: the first tablet has the 4 Commandments are man's duty toward God's love, the second tablet is written man's love duties towards his fellow man. Christ was not making anything new, but summing things up clarifying the Original Commandments that Christ Himself gave on Mt. Sinai.
One of the major reasons He was put to death by the Jewish priest classes was because He kept The Law (see John 8:46, and the entire chapter of Matthew 5) , but disregarded the ceremonial laws, and spurned the rabbinical laws. Nowhere does Christ preach obedience to any laws but the 10 Commandments. The Sermon on the Mount is pure Commandments preaching!

To be free of the other priest-made laws and Hebrew national specific laws (circumcision, kosher laws, feast days, intercultural marriage, sickness laws, inheritance rules, Temple offerings and a million and one ceremonies) is a great boon for Christians; but there is nothing in the Commandments that are a burden, if we have the spirit of Christ within.

Pilgrim Paul is speaking of the ceremonial laws and the rabbinical laws, not Christ's own hand-written 10 Commandments. Obeying from the heart the Commandments is what grace is all about. If we let Christ lives in us, we do not steal, lie and kill, but love without compunction.


To all Which of the Ten Commandments do you think was "done away with" at the Cross??? Number 6? 

Or Commandment 2?

How about #7?


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Soldier4Christ on May 16, 2006, 09:09:16 AM
Garden of Glory

Quote
Pastor Roger All the reference verses you gave [except 2Co 3:3] are talking about the ceremonial laws, rituals and ordinances, or the rabbinical law, not the 10 Commandments. To confuse these laws with THE LAW (the Decalogue) is a major muddle.


I do believe that you need to take those verses and read then in the context of the chapters they were written in and you will see that they are indeed talking about the ten commandments.

No matter how you may twist the other verses there is now way to twist 2Co 3:3  into being anything but the ten commandments as they were the ones that were written in stone.

Where people muddle things is the teaching before the cross and those after the cross. Yes Jesus did keep the ten commandments. He is the one and only one that has ever been capable of doing so. He had to keep them in order to be a perfect sacrifice on the cross. As noted  here also that was prior to the shed blood on the cross when all were still under the law.

People that preach the ten commanments overlook the difference in the meaning of "under the law" and "under grace". One sinful thought no matter how brief it may be or one moment of anger and you have broken one of the ten commanments. To have broken one commanment is to break them all. Or are you saying that you are as perfect as Christ Himself and do not sin at all? I do not believe that for one minute. No one is perfect but God Himself.


Gal 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.


Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Pilgrim on May 16, 2006, 09:38:44 AM
Pastor Roger All the reference verses you gave [except 2Co 3:3] are talking about the ceremonial laws, rituals and ordinances, or the rabbinical law, not the 10 Commandments. To confuse these laws with THE LAW (the Decalogue) is a major muddle.

black eyed peas Christ's summing up of the 10 Commandments into two topic headings (Love of God and Love for Man) is revealed in the lay-out of the Tablets itself: the first tablet has the 4 Commandments are man's duty toward God's love, the second tablet is written man's love duties towards his fellow man. Christ was not making anything new, but summing things up clarifying the Original Commandments that Christ Himself gave on Mt. Sinai.
One of the major reasons He was put to death by the Jewish priest classes was because He kept The Law (see John 8:46, and the entire chapter of Matthew 5) , but disregarded the ceremonial laws, and spurned the rabbinical laws. Nowhere does Christ preach obedience to any laws but the 10 Commandments. The Sermon on the Mount is pure Commandments preaching!

To be free of the other priest-made laws and Hebrew national specific laws (circumcision, kosher laws, feast days, intercultural marriage, sickness laws, inheritance rules, Temple offerings and a million and one ceremonies) is a great boon for Christians; but there is nothing in the Commandments that are a burden, if we have the spirit of Christ within.

Pilgrim Paul is speaking of the ceremonial laws and the rabbinical laws, not Christ's own hand-written 10 Commandments. Obeying from the heart the Commandments is what grace is all about. If we let Christ lives in us, we do not steal, lie and kill, but love without compunction.


To all Which of the Ten Commandments do you think was "done away with" at the Cross??? Number 6? 

Or Commandment 2?

How about #7?

Hello Garden of Glory,

The Ten Commandments are the very heart of the Mosaic law. The division of the Mosaic law into moral, ceremonial etc. is a man made division not found in the Word of God. When trying to divide the law into parts you run into major issues.

1. Who decides what is moral law and what is Ceremonial?  Ask 100 people to divide the 600 + laws into different groups and you will get about as many different answers.

2. If it was only the ceremonial law and ordinances that Christ fulfilled on the cross and not the moral then  we are in deep trouble. That would mean that the blood of Christ would only cover the ceremonial law and ordinances. That means there is no sacrifice then for the breaking of the so-called moral law.  If Christ did not fulfill the moral law then most people could not go to heaven seeing that most would say the law against lying is a moral law.

3. When one breaks even the ceremonial law and ordinances doesn’t it then become a moral issue?

You agree that 2 Cor. 3 is speaking about the Ten Commandments. This chapter alone teaches that the Ten Commandments are done away with (verse 11), abolished (verse 13) and a ministry of condemnation and death (verses 7&9).

What do you do with all the saints who lived a righteous life and pleased God without the Ten Commandments, those from Adam to Moses? The Ten Commandments were given by Moses so those before him did not have it yet many of them were righteous and pleased God.

You ask which of the Ten Commandments were done away with at the cross. The answer is all Ten! They were replace by a far greater law, the law of Christ which is the law of love. The reason I do not practice stealing, lying, adultery etc. is not because the Ten Commandments forbid it, but because the greater law, the law of Christ forbids it.

Pilgrim


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Soldier4Christ on May 16, 2006, 10:06:38 AM
Amen Pilgrim!

The law of love is the greatest law of all and there is no greater love than that Jesus Christ has for us.



Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Kris777 on May 16, 2006, 10:37:00 AM
Even though you guys say that the 10 commandments were done away with at the cross I still feel that I should follow them, not as a way of salvation, but as a guideline (along with other teachings of Christ in the Bible) to live my life.  I feel that our lives have to stick out some way from the ways that the unsaved live.  And that way is to live the best way that I can be imitating Christ.  When ever anyone is turned off from Christianity it is usually by Christians that are only "Christian" on Sunday and then live a destructive life the other six days of the week.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: airIam2worship on May 16, 2006, 10:45:51 AM
Amen Pilgrim!

The law of love is the greatest law of all and there is no greater love than that Jesus Christ has for us.



Amen PR, without love it would be impossible for any one to live in accordance to any part of God's Word.

It is love that motivates people to do what is right towards others, without love there is no fear of God and without a fear of God, there is nothing but an inclination to continue sinning and soing nothing but evil.

It is love that keeps people bonded to God, God is Love.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Soldier4Christ on May 16, 2006, 11:11:38 AM
Even though you guys say that the 10 commandments were done away with at the cross I still feel that I should follow them, not as a way of salvation, but as a guideline (along with other teachings of Christ in the Bible) to live my life.  I feel that our lives have to stick out some way from the ways that the unsaved live.  And that way is to live the best way that I can be imitating Christ.  When ever anyone is turned off from Christianity it is usually by Christians that are only "Christian" on Sunday and then live a destructive life the other six days of the week.

Trying to follow them is one thing. Making them a requirement to do is something else entirely. However if we follow what Jesus said about the commandments we cannot go wrong. All the commandments are based on love. If we do and say all things out of our love for Jesus Christ and reflect the love that He has for all then we have followed His commandments. As long as we are in the flesh we will have our failures for none is righteous.



Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:



Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Pilgrim on May 16, 2006, 11:58:20 AM
Even though you guys say that the 10 commandments were done away with at the cross I still feel that I should follow them, not as a way of salvation, but as a guideline (along with other teachings of Christ in the Bible) to live my life.  I feel that our lives have to stick out some way from the ways that the unsaved live.  And that way is to live the best way that I can be imitating Christ.  When ever anyone is turned off from Christianity it is usually by Christians that are only "Christian" on Sunday and then live a destructive life the other six days of the week.

The Israelites thought that they could obtain righteousness by the deeds of the law.  Romans 9&10 tells us they deceived themselves on this point and missed out on true righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

Rom 9:30 “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Rom 10:1  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5  For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”



Below is a quote from “Subverters of Souls”  http://www.nlbchapel.org/Subverters.htm


   “Law and grace cannot be mixed. Living by law will bring damnation and death, living by grace will bring life and a clear conscience before God. Those who teach righteousness through law keeping, subvert the souls of those who foolishly listen to them, those who teach salvation by the grace of God, bring the words of life to those who will listen to them.

Gal. 3:1 “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?  4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if [it be] yet in vain.  5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

    Those who teach and hold that Christians must keep the law of Moses would do well to pay attention to the apostle Paul in the above verses. Paul is so amazed that those who were on the right path to begin with are now far removed from the true gospel and have instead embraced a false gospel of law keeping. How can this be? Paul calls the Galatians, who think that they have to keep the law of Moses, foolish (verse 1,3). Paul goes on to demonstrate their foolishness by asking a couple of rhetorical questions. Any one who teaches that Christians must keep the law of Moses would do well to answer these questions as well. Paul first asks:

“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

    This is a rhetorical question and the obvious answer is that anyone who is saved was saved by grace through faith and not by their own attempts at keeping the law of Moses as Eph. 2:8-10 declares. Paul then builds upon this question by asking another rhetorical question:

“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? "

    In other words, are you so foolish in acknowledging that you were saved by faith to think that your sanctification  will now be made perfect by your fleshly attempts at keeping the law of Moses? Paul is teaching the Galatians by rhetorical questions that not only are they saved by faith but that their perfection is of faith as well. Our salvation is through faith and our Christian walk is by faith, not by the deeds of the law as false teachers would have you believe.

Gal. 3:11 “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Allinall on May 16, 2006, 12:28:32 PM
I think that there's an important factor often overlooked when debating on our responsibility in keeping the Law, whether it be the 10 commandments or otherwise.  That factor, is that the Law was not the Law apart from sacrifice.  The old sacrificial system was acceptable to God, but was not the perfect sacrifice that Jesus would supply with His death on the cross.  When He died on the cross, He "completed the Law."  As He'd said, He hadn't come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.  How?  By the sacrifice He made.

In making that sacrifice, Jesus completed the Law.  There is no Law that binds the New Testament believer, but Grace does.  If there were, the sacrifice would remain and Jesus died for naught.

Just a thought... :)


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: nChrist on May 16, 2006, 12:50:14 PM
Brothers and Sisters,

I think that many people connect the Ten Commandments with an attempt to avoid sin or not sin. Of course, there is no man who was ever able to keep the Ten Commandments, and we have a much better covenant with GOD.

In simple terms, there is nothing wrong with a Christian trying to avoid sin as long as they aren't trying to establish their own righteousness. Here, we know that no man has any righteousness except as filthy rags. The Holy Bible clearly warns us not to attempt to establish our own righteousness and to yield to the Righteousness of Christ.

There is a comparison that helps some people understand the difference between Law and Grace:

1 - LAW - The coldness of stone and the sure knowledge of failure - the curse of sin and death. In short, there is a COLD and sure condemnation. Boil it down to three words:  "Me and death".

2 - GRACE - The personal warmth of the Holy Spirit living in your heart and the sure knowledge that the Blood of JESUS CHRIST on the Cross bought you and rescued you from the curse of sin and death. There is no possibility of failure because JESUS CHRIST can't fail. In short, there is the warmth of GOD'S LOVE, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S FORGIVENESS, AND GOD'S ACCEPTANCE. THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS! Boil it down to three words:  "JESUS and LIFE".


Any Christian who understands this will obviously want Grace from GOD, knowing there is no righteousness or acceptance apart from BEING IN JESUS. I only want to be seen in or through JESUS CHRIST because I'm ugly, dirty,  and unacceptable any other way. I want to do and say only the things that please GOD because I love HIM and I know that it hurts HIM when I sin. BUT, I also know that regardless of how hard I try that my only goodness and righteousness is in JESUS CHRIST, my Lord and Saviour forever.

Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour forever!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 2:19-22 NASB  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Allinall on May 16, 2006, 01:08:22 PM
Amen Tom!


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Soldier4Christ on May 16, 2006, 01:09:56 PM
Amen AMEN and AMEN!

Heb 7:19  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.


Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.


Gal 3:2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 3:4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Gal 3:5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?


PRAISE GOD THAT I AM MADE PERFECT THROUGH HIS WONDERFUL MERCIES AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS !! 






Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: RKJ on May 16, 2006, 01:14:59 PM
Northstar,

Mt 9:16  No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. {new: or, raw, or, unwrought}
Mt 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. {bottles: or, sacks of skin, or, leather}

Old - Laws, rituals, etc...
New - Jesus and His work for us..in place of all laws etc....
Garment , Bottle - You and I

1.  When you try obeying all the laws and its implications it is - as pointed out clearly, impossible.  Suppose you do (or you think you did) obey all the laws, you would definitely become self righteous (aka Pharisee) and get puffed up.

There are laws given in the scriptures of other religions too.  Every person tries to fulfill them and fails.  Many think they do fulfill the laws by their own might and reject when presented Jesus.

2 . Instead when we obey the Holy Spirit (beleive in Jesus and His work on the cross) given to us that covers everything.

You cannot have both as master of your life, you will love one and hate the other.  If you still try to mix then  "the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish"


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Garden of Glory on May 16, 2006, 01:52:17 PM
I am puzzled: If the 10 Commandments are so impossible to keep, why did God write them with His own Hand? Is it logical that He would punish those who did not keep an impossible Law? Would you do that to your child??

Striving in the Spirit to please Him by keeping His commandments before one's eyes, is the only way they can be kept. No human can do it without being born again and powered by the Holy Spirit. All human efforts are futile, as the history of the Jews and Spiritless christians has proven.

It's bizarre to me the big commotion in America over the public display and honoring of the Commandments by Christians is here in this thread  said to be "dead", "done away with", "impossible to keep", and causes folks to be "puffed up".....how can we expect non-christians to respect them when your answers here seem to say that Christians can toss them aside and lean on "grace"??


St John saw the saints in vision thousands of years from his day and they didn't ignore the Commandments, or is there a "grace" spin to this verse too?:

{Note: the "AND" is not optional in this verse}

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.[/u]


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Pilgrim on May 16, 2006, 02:00:46 PM

St John saw the saints in vision thousands of years from his day and they didn't ignore the Commandments, or is there a "grace" spin to this verse too?:

{Note: the "AND" is not optional in this verse}

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.[/u]

If this is talking about the Ten Commandments then we are all damned. No one, born again or not can keep the Ten Commandments. That is why God's Word calls them a ministry of condemnation and death.

1Jo 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Here is the commandment of God that brings life rather than death.

1Jo 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: RKJ on May 16, 2006, 02:08:13 PM
It's bizarre to me the big commotion in America over the public display and honoring of the Commandments by Christians is here in this thread  said to be "dead", "done away with", "impossible to keep", and causes folks to be "puffed up".....how can we expect non-christians to respect them when your answers here seem to say that Christians can toss them aside and lean on "grace"??

The thread (most posts) strive to say that the commandments are obeyed when one accepts Jesus Christ.  Before that one would obey or walk accordingly under 'moral' or 'judicial grounds'.  It is hard enough

After accepting Jesus Christ a person is driven by Holy Spirit to obey the commandments by virtue.  This is not as hard as it may sound.

Obedience thus is the work of Holy Spirit than the work of the man.  when one thinks latter there is all possibility in the earth that he would become self righteous.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Kris777 on May 16, 2006, 08:11:37 PM
Quote from: Blackeyedpeas
I want to do and say only the things that please GOD because I love HIM and I know that it hurts HIM when I sin. BUT, I also know that regardless of how hard I try that my only goodness and righteousness is in JESUS CHRIST, my Lord and Saviour forever.

Exactly!  And it is when we show through our actions that we love God do the unbelievers take notice.  See that is what I ment in my post.  To live as Christ wants us to live, not to live as the world.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Kris777 on May 16, 2006, 08:20:32 PM
I am puzzled: If the 10 Commandments are so impossible to keep, why did God write them with His own Hand? Is it logical that He would punish those who did not keep an impossible Law? Would you do that to your child??

The law I believe was written to show us the right way to live.  It was also written to show us how much we mess up and need a savior.  God knows that we can't live up to His standards and that is why He died for us.  So that He could offer a perfect sacrifice that would clean us of our sins and transgressions once and for all.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Chaplain Bob on May 16, 2006, 09:36:20 PM
Quote
So if the 10 Commandments was "done away with at the Cross", then I suppose I can lie, curse, cheat, kill, covet, and blaspheme all I want and be fine as a Christian??

Not if you have read the New Testament which prohibits these things.  Methinks thou art being a bit silly.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: airIam2worship on May 16, 2006, 11:01:05 PM
??? So if the 10 Commandments was "done away with at the Cross", then I suppose I can lie, curse, cheat, kill, covet, and blaspheme all I want and be fine as a Christian??


No because first of all you know they are wrong in the New Testament Jesus condems adultry, He call liars children of the devil, He talks about our speech, etc. So if we were to do all the things mentioned above we would be sinning.
Remember the 10 Commandments were written for a nation that had been in bondage for over 400 years, who were not permitted to serve their God, they had been exposed to all the pagan gods of the Egyptians, and they had no prophets or priests, now they were delivered and in the wilderness, and no idea about how to serve their God, and barely knew Him at all. It was almost like a child loosed in a candy store feeling sick and lost after eating all the candy and sugar he wanted and needing some sort of discipline. Remember how they behaved even while Moses was up in Mt Zion.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Garden of Glory on May 17, 2006, 06:33:53 AM
Not if you have read the New Testament which prohibits these things.  Methinks thou art being a bit silly.

No,Chaplain Bob , I was being rhetorical with a purpose, not silly.

That purpose, to look honestly with Christian eyes, at THE LAW that God Himself wrote for all of us, not just the Jewish "church" of thousands of years ago. The Body of Christ IS the Israel of modern times. National Israel was terminated as God's missionary people at their rejection of His Son.

Someone here mentioned that Christ while on earth was a LAW-Keeper, and of course this was done in Love, by His empowerment from The Father, not out of His humanity.

That is the only we we may honor His will as simply drawn out in His 10 Commandments.

Again I ask:

It's bizarre to me the big commotion in America over the public display and honoring of the Commandments by Christians is here in this thread  said to be "dead", "done away with", "impossible to keep", and causes folks to be "puffed up".....how can we expect non-christians to respect them when your answers here seem to say that Christians can toss them aside and lean on "grace"??


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: nChrist on May 17, 2006, 09:37:05 AM
Quote
Garden Of Glory Said:

Again I ask:

It's bizarre to me the big commotion in America over the public display and honoring of the Commandments by Christians is here in this thread  said to be "dead", "done away with", "impossible to keep", and causes folks to be "puffed up".....how can we expect non-christians to respect them when your answers here seem to say that Christians can toss them aside and lean on "grace"??

It would be the same reason why I don't let anyone rip the Old Testament out of my Bible. All of the things of GOD from Genesis to Revelation are profitable for instruction. America was and is a Christian nation, and we are not ashamed of the things of GOD. You will also find the things of GOD on all of our older public buildings, on our money, and interwoven throughout our society since well before the founding. The ACLU and some folks like them have had a few wins over the years, but our society is still permeated with GOD, including our laws.

Garden of Glory, if you wish to ignore the instructions of Christ and the Cross and live under the Law of Moses, have at it, but don't expect anyone to join you. If you choose the Law, as opposed to Grace, you will be required to live by all of it or be condemned. The extremely simple facts are that there was nothing BUT condemnation under the Law. NO man was ever justified by the Law - NOT ONE except JESUS CHRIST. Under GRACE, there is no condemnation in JESUS. Take the HINT, go to the CROSS, and yield yourself to the righteousness of JESUS. If you don't, you will be insulting the perfect sacrifice made by JESUS CHRIST on the Cross and actually be saying that you have something to add to his already finished WORK. HINT TWO: You have zero - NOTHING to add except your own sin and unrighteousness.

You appear to be determined to ignore the New Testament, JESUS, and the Cross. That's your business, but you will be lost until you yield yourself to JESUS, as JESUS and HIS Righteousness is the ONLY path to Salvation now. You don't have any righteousness of your own - zero - just filthy rags. You're wanting to save yourself by being good and doing good works, but it can't be done.

I'll put ALL my faith and trust in JESUS, not myself or any other man. I suggest that you wake up and do the same.

Tom

Galatians 2:19-21 NASB  "For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: linssue55 on May 17, 2006, 11:45:51 PM

Again, I ask....Am I wrong to do what Jesus asks of me ?

LEGALISM IS MAN, BY MANS WORKS TRYING TO GAIN THE APPROBATION OF GOD.......ANYTHING DONE OUTSIDE OF   THE  FILLING SPIRIT (NOT IN FELLOWSHIP-CARNAL) IS LEGALISM TO GOD. ALL WORKS OUTSIDE OF THE SPIRIT, IS WORKS OF THE FLESH, DEAD WORKS, AND WILL BE BURNED AT THE LAST JUDGEMENT.

WHEN WE ARE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT,(1 JOHN 1:9) ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS GOOD WORKS......BECAUSE GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOW IN CONTROL AND WORKING THROUGH US, (EPI-GNOSIS DOCTRINE RESIDENT IN OUR SOULS PRODUCING DIVINE GOOD) HE IS DOING THE WORK......IF AT ANYTIME WE THINK WE CAN DO ANYTHING FOR GOD (EVEN THINKING THAT WE CAN IS A SIN, SIN OF THE ARROGANCE COMPLEX OF SINS, AS IF HE NEEDS OUR HELP AND WE CAN DO BETTER??) WHEN WE ARE OUT OF FELLOWSHIP IS WRONG.

ALL MUST UNDERSTAND (EPI-GNOSIS DOCTRINE) AND HAVE TRUE HUMILITY, THAT IT IS WHAT HE DOES FOR US, HE DOES ALL THE WORK. THIS IS GRACE, THIS IS HIS MAXIMUM LOVE FOR US,.... THEREFORE WE SHOULD STRIVE TO BE CONSTANTLY FILLED, (AND WHEN WE SIN, USE 1 JOHN 1:9 TO GET BACK IN FELLOWSHIP) AND ALLOW THE SPIRIT TO DO IT,..... THIS IS THE GREATEST LOVE WE CAN SHOW THE GODHEAD, BECAUSE WE ARE TRUSTING IN THEM.

THIS IS DIVINE GOOD, THIS IS WHAT WE WILL RECIEVE REWARDS IN HEAVEN FOR, OUR CROWNS OF GLORY.  IT IS ALWAYS WHAT HE DOES FOR US...NEVER WHAT WE DO FOR HIM........HOW CAN WE SINNERS EVER DO ANYTHING FOR GOD? THAT IS ENERGY OF THE FLESH? DEAD WORKS?........WOOD, HAY AND STUBBLE.  BUT WITH THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT, WE ARE AGAIN RIGHTEOUS, WHERE BEFORE WE WERE UNRIGHTEOUS AND FILLED WITH SIN (GRIEVING AND QUENCHING THE SPIRIT) ....NOW WE ARE CLEANSED AND EMPOWERED, PRODUCING DEVINE GOOD THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN SO GRACIOUSLY TO US FROM THE LORD.....1 JOHN 1:9  IS JUST ONE OF THE 7,000 PROMISES THE LORD HAS GIVEN US.......ALL WE NEED TO DO IS CLAIM IT. 

WE ARE TO KEEP SHORT ACCOUNT OF OUR SINS AND USE 1 JOHN 1:9 EACH TIME WE SIN TO GET BACK INTO FELLOWSHIP.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: servant on May 18, 2006, 03:21:50 AM
It seems to be that legalism is only wrong if we see rigidly following the law as a way to justify ourselves before God. It's impossible for us to achieve that, and therefore legalism is wrong.

But following God's commandments is not wrong. For one thing, I haven't yet found a commandment which is morally wrong. Let's start with the ten commandments: leaving aside legalism, which of those commandments could I break and still be morally right? The commandments are the foundation of our morality; they were provided by God as a guide so that we might know morally correct behavior. It's like asking whether I'm legalistic because I don't steal my neighbour's car, or because I stop at red lights.

Even if we take things to the extreme and say that the law has no further relevance to us, the point remains, as it was made by Paul two thousand years ago: all things may be permitted, but not all things are beneficial.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Garden of Glory on May 18, 2006, 03:55:12 AM
Exactly,servant Justification (the making of a man acceptable to God) is through Christ's heart replacing my sinful heart. No sinful heart can ever keep the Commandments are never actually wants to!

It is through misinformation or neglect that any Christian hates God's Commandments, finds them a burden, or a yoke of bondage. The 600 plus Jewish church's now defunct laws (ceremonial and rabbinical) are hateful and a burden...but "Thou shalt not bare false witness...Thou shalt not kill...Thou steal...Thou shalt not covet..." etc, a burden, dead, legalistic and crucified????


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Allinall on May 18, 2006, 08:03:58 AM
The law I believe was written to show us the right way to live.  It was also written to show us how much we mess up and need a savior.  God knows that we can't live up to His standards and that is why He died for us.  So that He could offer a perfect sacrifice that would clean us of our sins and transgressions once and for all.

AMEN!!!  The point of the Law wasn't to show man what he needs to do to be righteous, but that he needs help being righteous.  Once the righteousness of Christ is applied to our lives through saving grace, we are righteous.  We don't obey these laws to be righteous.  We obey them because we are righteous.

The Law was never provisional.  It's always been positional. 


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Allinall on May 18, 2006, 08:14:30 AM
Quote
That purpose, to look honestly with Christian eyes, at THE LAW that God Himself wrote for all of us, not just the Jewish "church" of thousands of years ago. The Body of Christ IS the Israel of modern times. National Israel was terminated as God's missionary people at their rejection of His Son.

Well now that answers my question!   ;)

Quote
Someone here mentioned that Christ while on earth was a LAW-Keeper, and of course this was done in Love, by His empowerment from The Father, not out of His humanity.

EEEEEEEEEERRRH!  Wrong answer!   :D Seriously though, Jesus obedience was done in His humanity.  Otherwise, He couldn't have been truly "...tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin."   :)

Quote
That is the only we we may honor His will as simply drawn out in His 10 Commandments.

If I'm understanding you correctly...I'll agree.  We obey out of love.

Quote
It's bizarre to me the big commotion in America over the public display and honoring of the Commandments by Christians is here in this thread  said to be "dead", "done away with", "impossible to keep", and causes folks to be "puffed up".....how can we expect non-christians to respect them when your answers here seem to say that Christians can toss them aside and lean on "grace"??

And I ask:

If you keep each commandment...are they going to see Christ more in your life than in mine?  And, how exactly are they going to know that you're keeping them?  Must you verbally tell people you're a commandment keeper?  Will they see your obedience?  Jesus took these commandments to the next level: thought versus action.  Can they see your thoughts?  If not, how can they know you've been a commandment keeper or no?

Simply put, these are personal matters.  Personally, I do my best to obey my God in love for all that He has done for me.  But I never forget that in and of myself, I will never measure up to His standard.  That's not a defeatist attitude.  That's a (for lack of a better word and not attempting to build myself up) humble response to God's sovereignty.   :)


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Garden of Glory on May 18, 2006, 12:41:39 PM
I agree with many things you said there, allinall.

I,  like you, do not see Christ overcoming temptation in His Diety, but in His humanity. The power came from the Father to obey the Commandments, which is the ultimate definition of right-doing. " Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law: for sin is the transgression of the Law."  1John 3:4

Christ's empowerment to resist sin came as it must for us, from the Father. In this manner He is more intimately our Guide.  See:

 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. John 6:57

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. John 5:19 

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. John 5:30

This is why He was "much in prayer" as He had to link Himself to the Father, just as we must do, via Christ, aided by the Spirit.



Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Pilgrim on May 19, 2006, 08:10:31 AM

Pilgrim,

Your points are...interesting to say the least. Are you the pilgrim who used to post at HL? Are you the Pilgrim who said that he was posting on the 'Prophecy Web'? Are you the 65 year old Pilgrim, who hasn't aged over 65 since 2001? That Pilgrim? Are you the Pilgrim who had a new grand baby within the last year and a half? And last but not least, are you the Pilgrim who is concerned that everyone get a good nights sleep? If you are this 'Pilgrim' then "Hi!" and if you are not this Pilgrim ignore this post.

God bless you!

Sorry! I am not that Pilgrim.

Steve


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: airIam2worship on May 19, 2006, 01:56:40 PM

Pilgrim,
 If you are this 'Pilgrim' then "Hi!" and if you are not this Pilgrim ignore this post.

God bless you!

You mean to say you won't say Hi to this Pilgrim  ??? ::) :o ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I will ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hi Pilgrim   :D


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: airIam2worship on May 19, 2006, 11:19:31 PM
Iam2worship,

I am not refusing to say hi to anyone. I have already "met" you, but I will be the first, one on this thread, to say "hello" to you. "Hello Iam2worship." God bless and have a great day.

Matter of fact I will say to every single person here "HI and God bless".

I feel better.

LOL, that was cute Hope :D I was trying to make a joke about your post when you said if you said "If your'e that Pilgrim then Hi if not ignore this post."  I thought that was cute so I made a joke of it. you misunderstood my joke that's all.
We like to have a little fun here at the forum too you know.
I know you already said hi to me you are very sweet.  :D


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: airIam2worship on May 20, 2006, 05:54:42 AM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Kelly4Jesus on May 21, 2006, 08:59:15 PM
Hi, my name is Kelly and I am a Christianaholic!

When I got to this part of the 4-page thread, I almost forgot the original topic--so, to be in sync with everyone else, "Hello and God's Blessings to everyone". There, I think I am covered.

I know what Jesus said about the Ten Commandments, and I also totally say AMEN that we, as human beings can't keep them. That is why Jesus came--to take away our sin. We need to repent, and we are forgiven. I am probably a bit off key with my answer, but it is late, I have 5 children, and it is over 90 degrees here in Kansas--bear with me.

I don't have a problem with displaying or not displaying the 10 commandments. My issue is that, ANYTHING having to do with Christianity these days, seems to be against the constitution--even though God's name is written throughout our entire countries historical records. I have a problem with, Mosques and Hindu alters being okay to display outside, but Christian nativity sets, the word Christmas and the Ten Commandments display not. I have a problem with the Muslim religion being defended, but Christianity constantly being attacked. I have a problem where, if we show a movie depicting another religion being bad, there is always BAD PRESS. But, we continue to show anti-Christianity movies--like the Da Vinci code--but if a Christian protests about it, they are called silly and/or extreme.

There, I had my say. Now, what was the question again?

God Bless!



Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: airIam2worship on May 22, 2006, 02:55:41 AM
Hi again Kelly, and it seems to me that you and I are on the same page. I am in total agreement with what you have said.

It is not unexpected though we as Christians have God's Word and we knew that these things would happen so it shouldn't take us by surprise.

Love your friend and sister in Christ,
Maria


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: NorthStar on June 08, 2006, 10:44:27 PM
Regarding your questions, I give thanks every day for all that changed with JESUS and the Cross. JESUS CHRIST is our Sabbath, and we rest in HIM 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I give thanks for that and I'm glad that it isn't limited to just one day a week. It's all days every week, and this is true for eternity.

For all eternity we will be keeping the 7th day sabbath Holy....in the New earth, (Isaiah 66:22,23), just as the Lord intends for us to do here, on this earth, in the present day....as per Christ's intructions.

I want to show my loyalty to Jesus, by keeping all 10 commandments, including the 4th.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: nChrist on June 08, 2006, 11:24:25 PM
For all eternity we will be keeping the 7th day sabbath Holy....in the New earth, (Isaiah 66:22,23), just as the Lord intends for us to do here, on this earth, in the present day....as per Christ's intructions.

I want to show my loyalty to Jesus, by keeping all 10 commandments, including the 4th.

Northstar,

You'll only be ignoring the cross and making Ellen G. White happy. If you don't have much more than that you and Ellen will be WARM to say the least.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: airIam2worship on June 08, 2006, 11:36:05 PM
Amen BEPs,

Mt 12:8 For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.


Verse 8.   The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath-day.]  The change of the Jewish into the Christian Sabbath, called the Lord's day, Re 1:10, shows that Christ is not only the Lord, but also the truth and completion of it.  For it seems to have been by an especial providence that this change has been made and acknowledged all over the Christian world.

Jesus Himself was a Jew therefore He was under the Law, and observed the Sabbath, however upon His crucifixtion He bought to completion the Law and the age of grace entered. We are saved by the shed Blood of Jesus, by accepting Him as our Lord and Savior. How can anyone accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and still ignore the fact that Jesus came to fulfill the Law.
The Bible does not mention anything at all about observing the Sabbath after the Resurrection. Once Jesus was resurrected, and presented Himself to the Father, His disciples were no longer under the Law, they went from the the law unto grace.



Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: ollie on June 10, 2006, 05:28:02 AM
2 Corinthians 3

 "1.  Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
 2.  Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
 3.  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
 4.  And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
 5.  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
 6.  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
 7.  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
 8.  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
 9.  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
 10.  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
 11.  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

 12.  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
 13.  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
 14.  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
 15.  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
 16.  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

 17.  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
 18.  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."



Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: nChrist on June 10, 2006, 06:01:38 AM
Amen Ollie!!

That's a beautiful portion of Scripture that paints the only path to Salvation, yielding to the perfect righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, placing all of our faith in HIM, and asking HIM to be the LORD over our lives.

Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour forever!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Philippians 1:6 NASB  For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: ibTina on June 10, 2006, 09:30:14 AM


We are not under the law but this does not mean that we can sin as we so desire. For if we are truly saved we will not desire to sin. We will have the desire to follow in His footsteps. As long as we are in the flesh we will not be perfect and will not follow perfectly but it will be in our hearts to want to be.

2Co 3:3  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.



AMEN and all so Beautiful!!!!!!!!!

       In HisService.........Tina


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: airIam2worship on June 12, 2006, 03:47:43 AM
For all eternity we will be keeping the 7th day sabbath Holy....in the New earth, (Isaiah 66:22,23), just as the Lord intends for us to do here, on this earth, in the present day....as per Christ's intructions.

I want to show my loyalty to Jesus, by keeping all 10 commandments, including the 4th.

The 10 Commandments were not the only law, the were part of the law. If you want to keep the law, then I believe you are denying the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, whereby He fullfilled the law and brought to completion. So if you are still under the lae, then your cannot be saved by grace. That also means you must still need to scrifice sheep for the remission of sins. sins you are rejectiong the Lamb of God as the perfect sacrifice once and for all for all mankind.

Mt 5:17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: airIam2worship on June 13, 2006, 11:16:38 PM
The 10 Commandments were not the only law, the were part of the law. If you want to keep the law, then I believe you are denying the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, whereby He fullfilled the law and brought to completion. So if you are still under the lae, then your cannot be saved by grace. That also means you must still need to scrifice sheep for the remission of sins. sins you are rejectiong the Lamb of God as the perfect sacrifice once and for all for all mankind.

Mt 5:17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Shammu on June 14, 2006, 12:06:13 AM
For all eternity we will be keeping the 7th day sabbath Holy....in the New earth, (Isaiah 66:22,23), just as the Lord intends for us to do here, on this earth, in the present day....as per Christ's intructions.

I want to show my loyalty to Jesus, by keeping all 10 commandments, including the 4th.
Northstar, I see you are a follower of the cult of E.G. White.  What happens when her own prophecies didn't happen? The Bible says that is a sign of a false prophet. Yes I know she called herself a messenger.  This Sabbath-keeping requirement was supposedly confirmed in a vision received by Ellen G. White, rather than by study of the Bible.

E.G. White blames her failed prophecy on the members of the Seventh-day Adventist church! "Thus the work was hindered, and the world was left in darkness. Had the whole Adventist body united upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, how widely different would have been our history." 

As I said, she is a false prophet therefore, she was a tool of satan. A true Prophet, has prophecies correct all the time. With E.G. White missing just one, she proved herself a false prophetess.  Oh by the way, she missed more then just one.



Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Soldier4Christ on June 14, 2006, 05:33:40 AM
For all eternity we will be keeping the 7th day sabbath Holy....in the New earth, (Isaiah 66:22,23), just as the Lord intends for us to do here, on this earth, in the present day....as per Christ's intructions.

I want to show my loyalty to Jesus, by keeping all 10 commandments, including the 4th.

Northstar you need to read those verses again. It does not say that we will be keeping the Sabbath day holy. It clearly says that we will be worshipping Him from one Sabbath to the next. That means that we will be worshipping Him everyday of the week, not just one day a week.

Isa 66:22  For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
Isa 66:23  And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Whether you admit it or not, following the Sabbath teachings is following a false prophetess, E. G. White. It is not the teachings of Jesus Christ nor of His Apostles.

Col 2:16  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

To go back to the law is to go back under the curse.

Gal 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

When Jesus said that we are to keep His commandments He was not talking about the Mosaic or the Levitical laws.


Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.




Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Soldier4Christ on June 14, 2006, 12:13:23 PM
For those who are stuck on the Ten Commandments, especially the second commandment:

http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?topic=5328.0



Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: NorthStar on June 25, 2006, 12:00:48 AM
Northstar,

You'll only be ignoring the cross ...
Actually, the cross of Jesus Christ was to pay the sin debt for me, which wiped out my past sins, enabling me to live a life without being dominated by sinful habits.
When Jesus said: 'go and sin no more'...I believe Jesus means what he said, don't you ?


Title: Re: Am I a Legalist ?
Post by: Shammu on June 25, 2006, 12:47:19 AM
Actually, the cross of Jesus Christ was to pay the sin debt for me, which wiped out my past sins, enabling me to live a life without being dominated by sinful habits.
When Jesus said: 'go and sin no more'...I believe Jesus means what he said, don't you ?
Wrong, it is the blood of Christ, that allows you be forgiven.  The cross is empty, cause Christ isn't their anymore.