Hi Mike,

I had a question about Matthew chapter 5.  I read your paper the Law of Moses vs. The Law of the Spirit. Thank you for that paper. It was the best I’ve encountered on that topic. I was hoping you could comment on my below question. I heard a belief that Christ’s teachings in Mat 5 were not the Laws of Christ; they were Jesus reforming the Laws of Moses to eliminate any doubt in any body’s mind that salvation could come by works of the law, and when faith comes and we are no longer under a schoolmaster these teachings in Mat 5 are no different than the 10 commandments. We as Christians obeying the Laws of Christ are found solely in the fruits of the Spirit in Gal 5.

Thanks again for your time.
Your Brother in Christ,
M____

Hi M____,
Thank you for your question.
You say:

I heard a belief that Christ’s teachings in Mat 5 were not the Laws of Christ; they were Jesus reforming the Laws of Moses to eliminate any doubt in any body’s mind that salvation could come by works of the law, and when faith comes and we are no longer under a schoolmaster, these teachings in Mat 5 are no different than the 10 commandments. We as Christians obeying the Laws of Christ are found solely in the fruits of the Spirit in Gal 5.

I honestly cannot follow such a way of thinking. Christ’s reformation of the law becomes the law of Christ for this simple reason:

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

“This generation” is the generation reading these words of Christ. If we read and understand Christ’s words, we fulfill them. His words are His law, and “they shall never pass away.”

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Heb 9:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

I hope that helps you to understand that Christ’s words and His law are one and the same.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike