Does Paul Contradict Himself ?

[Soldier4Christ]

The above post is an excerpt from a book "A Hunger For God" by John Piper. It is a statement primarily about fasting however I thought it appropriate here also where there are those teaching us to abstain from certain foods.

Let us not forget the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.


Mat 15:17  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
Mat 15:18  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.


 

[doc]

Northstar,

The Galatians verses speak for themselves - the schoolmaster (tutor) is out of a job when we realize our sin, repent and receive the gift of faith that comes to us at our salvation.

The Romans verse is best left up to Albert Barnes in his 1850 commentary:

Romans 3:31

[Yea, we establish the law] That is, by the doctrine of justification by faith; by this scheme of treating people as righteous, the moral law is confirmed, its obligation is enforced, obedience to it is secured. This is done in the following manner:

(1) God showed respect to it, in being unwilling to pardon sinners without an atonement. He showed that it could not be violated with impunity; that he was resolved to fulfil its threatenings.

(2) Jesus Christ came to magnify it, and to make it honorable. He showed respect to it in his life; and he died to show that God was determined to inflict its penalty.

(3) The plan of justification by faith leads to an observance of the Law. The sinner sees the evil of transgression. He sees the respect which God has shown to the Law. He gives his heart to God, and yields himself to obey his Law. All the sentiments that arise from the conviction of sin; that flow from gratitude for mercies; that spring from love to God; all his views of the sacredness of the Law, prompt him to yield obedience to it. The fact that Christ endured such sufferings to show the evil of violating the Law, is one of the strongest motives prompting to obedience. We do not easily and readily repeat what overwhelms our best friends in calamity; and we are brought to hate what inflicted such woes on the Saviour's soul.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

When the saved sinner comprehends his life under Grace, he studies "the Word" and obeys the Law of Christ (Gal 6:2) and the two laws Jesus said hang (are based on) all the Law and the prophets.(Mat 22:40)

I suspect any other "law keeping" is in the arena of merit, but only God knows the heart - He will decide - I must simply trust Him.

doc

[ollie]

Galations  3:24   Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 
  3:25   But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 

And yet, over in Romans we read:
Romans 3:31   "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law". 
 Is one right and the other wrong ?

The law, of sin and death, being a shadow of what was to come and not the very image. Hebrews 10:1

Jeremiah said this about law to come:

   "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Jeremiah 31:33

Paul said this:

  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
   For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
   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:
   That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."[/i]
Romans 8:1-4, See also Hebrews 8

The law has not been done away, but is written in the hearts of the faithful in Christ, who walk after the Spirit, not the flesh.

ollie

[airIam2worship]

Hey Ollie, it's been a while since I've seen you, welcome back 

[Shammu]

Only man contradicts, what the Bible says.

[airIam2worship]

Amen Brother, God does not contradict Himself

[ollie]

Hey Ollie, it's been a while since I've seen you, welcome back 

HI,

Thank you.  Yes, Anymore I read more than I write.

ollie

[airIam2worship]

I'm happy to see that you are doing well. 

[Allinall]

Hi!  Man, has work had me busy or WHAT?!!    Anywho, I couldn't help but reply to this particular thread and expound upon some of my previous replies to this topic...

No.  Paul doesn't contradict himself.  God's word never contradicts itself.  I believe that wholeheartedly.  But, it's one thing to say it, and another to understand it to be true.  In this matter, it's important to fully understand the Law.

The Law was given, simply, to point to a Savior to come.  It was both provisional and prophetic in nature.  Provisional, in that it satisfied God's demanded payment for sin.  "Without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sin."  The Law provided an understanding for the sacrificial system God had designed.  It pointed to the sin of mankind, and God's provisionary atonement for that sin to make a relationship with Him possible.  One believed God, and was saved.  One obeyed the Law to enjoy the relationship God had made possible, through the observances and sacrifices. 

The Law was prophetic, in that it pointed to a need for a completed sacrifice.  Each sacrifice of the Old Testament Law dealt with sin, but did not remove sin.  Each sacrifice was a picture of what Christ would do one day for mankind.  A study of the sacrifices is quite humbling, and one I highly recommend. The Law, as I said earlier, was simply given to point to a Savior to come, and man's inherant need of His salvation.

When Jesus came, He said that He'd not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.  Simply put, the Law had been incomplete; and while sacrificially acceptable, was not a complete dealing with sin.  When Jesus died on the cross He completed the Law.  He completed each sacrifice in a very final way.  No previous sacrifice was left wanting - hence, "...there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins..." Hebrews 10:26b - for better context Hebrews 10 (NOTE: Herein lends strong support to those who hold to the OSAS position).

Because Jesus completed the Law, there is no Law that we are under.  There is no Law we need obey.  The God Who gave the Law in order that man might see his need of salvation to have a relationship with Him, has provided the salvation once for all so that we can have a relationship with Him.  The relationship with God under the Law was in large part on the shoulders of man.  The relationship with God under Grace is all Him.  Yes, He leads.  Yes, we must follow, and obey His will.  But make no mistake - WE ARE UNDER THE GRACE OF OUR GOD NOT UNDER THE LAW.  To believe that we are is to nullify what Jesus did on the cross.  Hence Paul warns:

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.  Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain?  Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith-- just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?
   
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.  And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
   
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."  Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."  But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"-- so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
   
 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.  Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ.  This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.  For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
   
 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.  Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.  But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[ nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Galatians 3

Just a thought...

[Allinall]

And here's another thought...NONE of my piccies are workin'!  Granted, that's not on par with God's eternal plan for our salvation...but STILL!   

[linssue55]

Galations  3:24   Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 
  3:25   But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 

And yet, over in Romans we read:
Romans 3:31   "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law". 
 Is one right and the other wrong ?

They are both right.  The Mosaic law was set up for the exodus crowd that were WITHOUT "Diviine Establishment Laws" for 400 years.  They needed a foundation on which to build their new society on, or otherwise there would be tyranny in ANY national entity.  They pertain to us today ONLY in the respect of the Laws of Divine Establishment and nothing more, which are for believers and unbelievers.  Just REMember we are in the church age, and Grace has replaced the law, BUT when we are filled with the Spirit, we are fullfilling EVERY mandate of the Lord, including the law.  Rermember it is Grace all the way.

Gal. 3:

{Note: The Mosaic Law is for all humanity -  believer and unbeliever alike. If an unbelieving society adopts the 'laws for establishment' set up in the Mosaic Law, they will develop a strong society in which evangelism can thrive. In the Church Age, bible doctrine can only be understood under the ministry of the filling of God the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers can not understand doctrine until they are saved. And, believers can not grow spiritually without the use of rebound (I John 1:9) restoring fellowship and the filling of God the Holy Spirit.}

24~~ Wherefore the law became our 'paidagogos'
which lead us to Christ
that we might be justified by faith/doctrine.

{Note: A 'paidagogos' was a slave that took the children to
school . . . an olden day 'school bus'. Coming up, we will see that until salvation we are minor children - hardly greater than slaves - at salvation we go through a change or 'adoption' and become 'adult sons' in union with Christ.}

25~~ But after that
faith/doctrine is come
we are no longer under a paidagog.

{Note: Means we get off the bus! See the previous verse.}



Rom. 3:

31~~Do we nullify/'make void' the {Mosaic} law
through {that same} faith?
Definitely not!
  {idiom: literally: 'Let it not (me) become so'!
On the contrary, we establish {the true purpose of} the law.