I am so sorry for you, brother. May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob give you eyes to see and ears to hear. Do you only read the scriptures to “prove” yourself? Maybe you should read them to learn instead. (All of them.)

In the name of Yeshua.

K____

Hi, K____,

Thank you for your letter and your deep concern for my spiritual welfare. You obviously feel that I have overlooked something in the scriptures that you see. As you can see, if you spend any time on my site, I try to show people why I believe the way I do. Now you will have to admit that this e- mail of yours doesn’t even try to show me the error of my ways. It is almost as if you figure I am beyond hope, and you are simply writing me off to burn in an eternal flame of real fire for billions and billions and billions (etc., etc.) of years of eternity.

Now you say I need eyes to see and ears to hear. And that I should read all of the scriptures. Well, I happen to know that you will be saved. I have not written you off. So let me point out to you where these words you quote to me appear and what they are actually saying. Then you write back and tell me that you already knew what I am about to reveal to you. Is that fair enough?

Let me ask you; why did Christ speak to his chosen people in parables? Is that not a fair question? Do not you and the entire orthodox Christian world tell people like me, who you think don’t have eyes to see nor ears to hear, that Christ spoke in parables so the people could better understand his doctrine? If I am wrong about this, please write and tell me that once again I am wrong; that you already knew what was right there in the Bible. You already knew this, because God had “given you eyes to see and ears to hear” what He says is the reason He spoke to the people in parables.

Whatever the reason Christ spoke to the multitudes in parables, that reason is just as valid and as effective today as it was when Christ first spoke those parables. Can we agree on that? If 2000 years ago Christ spoke in parables to make the meaning of His doctrine so clear that a little child could understand, then wouldn’t those parables still have that same intended effect upon the masses and the multitudes of God’s people who hear them today? Can we agree on that?

Now let us just let Christ tell us why He spoke in parables, then you write back to me and tell me who it is that has been “given eyes to see and ears to hear.”

Mat 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
Mat 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables.
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye [ God’s people] shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye [ God’s people] shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people’s [ God’s people’s] heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Christ answers His disciples the exact opposite of the answer that you and the entire orthodox Christian Church give when asked this same question. Christ’s own disciples could not understand what He meant by a sower and seeds and fowls of the air and stony ground and thorns and deepness of earth or any of the parts of any of His parables. Christ had to explain His parables to His disciples before they could even hope to see and hear what He was saying in His parables.

Mat 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Mat 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man…

The reason Christ spoke in parables was “because it is not given to them [ the multitudes of God’s people] to understand… Lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and should be converted…”

Every verse you quote in this response is covered in detail in The Law of Moses Versus The Law of God. You seem to be of the opinion that I believe in “lawlessness.” I don’t know what of that paper you have read and what you have not. I know one thing from this correspondence, and that is that you don’t know that I do not believe in lawlessness. The difference between us is that to you the ‘law of God’ is the same as the law of Moses. You think that “whosoever shall break one of these least commandments” is a reference to the law of Moses instead of all of the commandments that Christ had already laid down in verses 1-14 of Mat 5. Those verses are known as ‘The Beatitudes.’ They are nowhere to be found in the law of Moses. When Christ said “Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach men to do so he shall be called least in the kingdom of God,” he was not referring to the law of Moses, but He was referring to the law He was in the very act of giving.

Immediately after that assertion, He himself started teaching the exact opposite to what is written in the law of Moses. ‘Love thine enemies’ cannot be construed to be the same as “Kill every one who breathes.” “Thou shalt swear only by my name” cannot be construed by any but the most closed minded to really mean in its spiritual intent to convey the thought of “Swear not at all.” “An eye for an eye” cannot be construed by any but the most closed minded to actually mean in its spiritual intent to “Return good for evil.” These “ But I say unto you…” statements throughout Mat 5 are “Breaking the law of Moses and teaching others to do so.” And mind you these are not “the least,” but are rather some of the very greatest commandments in the law of Moses. Will Christ therefore be “least in the kingdom of God?” Don’t allow your church doctrine and the fact that it refuses to believe that…

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law [ of Moses] is not made for a righteous man, but [ it is made] for the lawless and disobedient…

… keep you from admitting that a contradiction is indeed a contradiction. Ask God for ‘eyes to see’ that “the new agrees not with the old.”

Luk 5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

You say you are not under the schoolmaster but you believe you are to obey the law of Moses. What, then does “No longer under the schoolmaster mean?” I agree with you, we are not to be lawless. But on the other hand I disagree with you that that law, of which we are “not to brake one of the least commandments and teach men to do the same,” is the law of Moses. It is not the law of Moses! It is instead all the beatitudes and all of the “But I say unto you…” NEW laws of the NEW covenant that is “NOT according to the covenant [“kill all your enemies that breathe.”] that I made with their Fathers…”

Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee [ for] an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
Deu 20:17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; [ namely], the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

This verse is the “law of Moses. How does this verse square with “But I say unto you that you shalt love thine enemies?” I am constantly amazed at the capacity of the orthodox Christian mind to accomodate contradiction.

So what is Christ talking about in Mat 5:17-19?

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

As yet neither heaven nor earth has passed but in Christ “all has been fulfilled. Whosoever THEREFORE shall break one of these least commandments [ that Christ is right in the middle of giving] shall be called least in the kingdom of God.” But anyone who continues to teach the law of Moses, contrary to these commandments Christ is right in the middle of giving, and continues to teach an eye for an eye and kill anything that breathes and “swear by my [ God’s] name only,” will be called least in the kingdom of God. These are not commandments dealing with ritual. Hating your enemy is not ritual. It is a spirit that is no longer to be tolerated. It is a commandment for the lawless:

Luk 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Luk 9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
Luk 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
Luk 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw [ this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Luk 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Read that story about Elias. Is this the spirit a Christian is to have in Christ?:

2Ki 1:9 Then the king [ Ahaziah- whose emminent death Elijah had just foretold] sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.
2Ki 1:10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I [ be] a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
2Ki 1:11 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.
2Ki 1:12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I [ be] a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
2Ki 1:13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, an d said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
2Ki 1:14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

There it is. It is an “administration of death” which you are supporting.

1Ti 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law [ of Moses]; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully [ As a “schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Gal 3:24-25);
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but [ it is] for the lawless and disobedient, [ it is] for the ungodly and for sinners, [ it is] for unholy and profane, [ it is] for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

You are not aware of the “ministration of death” that you are defending. Just look at this part of this law of Moses which you want us to live by. This is not a “pick and choose law,” to use your own words. It is an all or none at all package.

Deu 21:13 And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.
Deu 21:14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.

Is this ‘ceremonial law?’ Is this ritual? No, it is not! And neither are any of the things Christ deals with in Mat 5. It is every word simply “the law.” There is not one word of scripture for parsing the ‘ceremonial law’ from the rest of the law.

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

I have no desire to argue with you. Your mind is fully persuaded in your doctrine. I disagree with it, but I respect it as your choice nevertheless. I was simply browsing the net and came across your site. So, why did I respond? I’m not sure. Maybe it was my flesh, maybe it wasn’t. It just becomes disheartening to see how much effort people put in tearing down the Law.

Is Paul “tearing down the law,” when he says this:

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Do you believe that the law of Moses is for those who are “lawless” and “contrary to sound doctrine?”

If the people of God would just use half the effort they put into tearing down and teaching against the Law in actually reading, learning and letting the Spirit guide them, we would have changed lives. For the better.

Deu 21:14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.
Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee [ for] an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
Exo 21:20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
Exo 21:21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
Exo 21:22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart [ from her], and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
Exo 21:23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
Exo 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Exo 21:25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

How much more do I need to “read and learn”? There is much more where this comes from. “The law is not for a righteous man…” Have you “read and learned the law” of Moses, or are you simply defending your church’s doctrine?

I’m sure by now, you are ready to tell me how that I am saved by faith and not works. Yes, I’m fully aware of that wonderful gift. I thank God everyday for it. But I choose to show my love for Him by doing my best to keep His commandments. They are not hard nor burdensome.

This is true of Christ’s yoke:

Mat 11:28 Come unto me [ Christ is talking to a nation that had already come unto Moses. “All these have I kept from my youth up… You lack one thing…” “this mind which is in Christ Jesus.”], all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yok e upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The law of Moses, on the other hand, most assuredly was not considered so by Christ or His apostles:

Act 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.
Act 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?
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. [ Not ‘They as us.’]

One thing. We must remember to keep scripture in context and to keep the people in context. We can not Westernize Paul because it makes sense to us, we must remember that he was a Hebrew, Benjamite, Pharisee, and teacher of the Law. If we pull him from his own context, and claim he started a new religion, we would do good to heed Peter’s warnings about Paul’s letters.

2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Looking these verses up in the Greek is telling. Peter warns us of ignorant, unlearned and unstable men who twist the scriptures and Paul’s words to their own destruction. The warning comes in verse 17. Being led away is a seduction. What is their error? They are deluded. Deceived. How and about what?

Here is a clue:

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Gal 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Gal 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. [ And why not? Is it “not for a righteous man?”]
Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Gal 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

We are given clues. First, they are wicked. A wicked person is one who works iniquity or lawlessness. Exactly what law are they breaking? Can the scriptures be “twisted” to say what our flesh desires? Yes, to those who are ignorant of the Law.

And to those who refuse to believe that “BUT I say unto you …” is no different than hate thine enemies and “You must be circumcised and to keep the law of Moses.”

Paul warns about the mystery of iniquity or lawlessness.

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Notice this is right before Paul speaks of the strong delusion. And about those who love not the truth, but love instead unrighteousness. One thing is clear. We must know what truth is, what lawlessness is, and what unrighteousness is. If we have a deluded theology on these topics, well then, we are deceived.

Amen! Read Will God’s Strong Delusion Deceive You?

As for me, I would rather err on the side of the word. I would much rather tell the LORD that I took Him at his word when He said He didn’t destroy the Law nor the Prophets. I would much rather say that I chose to love the Law as David did (see Psa 119). I prefer to listen to the apostle John than modern day commentators.

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

I know you believe that the commandments John speaks of have nothing to do with the Law of Moses. BUT what if you’re wrong? Was the Holy Law that God gave a curse, a bondage, and a burden? Or was the the curse of the law (death) and that’s what Christ freed us from? Did God’s Law cause bondage or did the commandments of men (Oral Law or Pagan Traditions) cause bondage? Did Jesus actually break the Sabbath according to the Torah or according to the Oral Tradition (commandments of men?) According to the Torah, Christ kept the Sabbath. According to Jewish oral tradition He broke it.

What if Paul is right and “the law is not for a righteous man?” What if Christ told the Truth when HE said that he “Profaned the sabbath” and “did that which was not lawful…” to show that HE was “Lord even of the sabbath day.” Who then is it that has fallen for “God’s strong delusion?” It isn’t weak delusion. It is strong delusion that teaches that one can indeed sta y under the schoolmaster, stay under the tutors and governors and yet become a mature son who is better that a slave.

Contrary to what you and the whole orthodox church teach, it is NOT the Gentile descendants of Hagar who are now the bondwoman, rather:

Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

What if Paul is right? What if there really is “a change also of the law?” What if the law of Moses really is “a carnal commandment… NOT for a righteous man?”

That is right; the commandments John spoke of are the ones Jesus spoke of. They are not some other commandments. They are ” HIS [ Christ’s “BUT I say unto you …” the exact opposite in many cases , of the law of Moses] commandments. These are the commandments Christ gave in Mat 5. They are nowhere to be found in ‘the law of Moses.’

Even Jesus brought up the notion of circumcision falling on Sabbath. What to do? Even the Rabbis of the 1st century would circumcise on the 8th day—- even on Sabbath. Were they breaking Sabbath? No. They knew that much. The circumcision commandment took precedence because it was a commandment for the sign of the covenant. This is the spirit of the law. To do good. Same goes if an animal fell in a pit. We are commanded by Moses to help the animal. This requires WORK. If it is Sabbath—- you still help the animal. You are not breaking the Sabbath, because you are doing good. It’s common sense really. God is not a sadist.

That is right. But it was God that created Adam as flesh and blood, totally unfit to inherit the kingdom of God, and it was God who Gave Moses a law “Not for a righteous man… a carnal commandment…” for a carnal nation. A law that actually told a man:

Exo 21:20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

So if you want to kill your servant, make sure you drag it out over at least a couple of days. That way it won’t cost you a dime “for he is your money.”

It was given to a carnal nation only “until the time of reformation” that Moses prophesied would come. That is why “If you believed Moses you would believe me for he testified of me.”

The religious leaders had lost sight of why the Law was given in the first place. God didn’t give a law to put His people in bondage. I just refuse to accept the fact that He brought them out of Egyptian slavery only to enslave them to an “unkeepable” law. He gave them a perfect Law so they would be free!!!!! We in the U. S. A. have more laws than any other country in the would, yet we claim to be the freest people of the world. Our laws protect us, they ensure our freedoms are not taken, etc. Is the Mighty God not capable of creating a law that far exceeds what men can come up with?

Well, there is very little that can be done for someone who refuses to believe the Truth of 1 Timothy:

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient,

What can be done for anyone who believes that “the law IS for a righteous man. It is NOT for the lawless anddisobedient…”

The issue of legalism has never been about God’s Laws, but man’s. It is man’s laws and traditions that enslave people, not Gods. Sadly, there have been times that men have used (abused) God’s laws and tried to enslave people. But the truth is that God’s Laws to do not enslave; only the precepts that men add to them. Pharisaic Judaism and Christianity are guilty of this.

Explain that to Peter :

Act 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 [ Sound familiar?].
Act 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?

You are actually right about the spiritual ‘Law of God,’ but you have this spiritual law confused with the law that is not for a righteous spiritual man. The law you espouse actually provides for and endorses “enslaving people.”

The bottom line is this: If we keep one point of the Law — we should keep them all. Yes, we should!!! Not pick and choose what we like. The Law has never made a person righteous, and those who thought so in the past and in the present missed the whole point. The Law was given for our protection, our guide, and the way to walk for a blessed life. Faith has always been man’s righteousness. Why? Because we believe GOD. If we believe GOD we will want to keep His perfect Law for our good and our own life.

Okay. Here it is. Don’t pick and choose what you like. This is all “for your protection,” if you are a free born Israelite male:

Deu 21:14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.
Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: [ Is your mind capable of making this a good law? Remember, don’t pick and choose!]
Exo 21:22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
Exo 21:23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
Exo 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Exo 21:25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

And you “refuse to believe” that this is not a good law?

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Jas 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Why didn’t James just say the law of Moses if that is what he had in mind?

Jas 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Was James actually telling the congregation that if they wanted to keep God’s commandments they were fools? I think not.

No, that is why he said “the perfect law of liberty.” James has what Paul calls “the [“But I say unto you…”] law of Christ,” in mind here. He certainly isn’t thinking to himself, ‘You should all swear by God’s name only, like the law says to do and you should all hate your enemies and kill any of them that breathe, like the law says to do.’ James was well aware of “the law of Christ.”

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Yes, if we miss the mark in one area we are guilty of transgressing the whole. That’s the blessing of having Jesus as our advocate and perfect sacrifice. It’s so clear and easy to see. BUT, that doesn’t mean that we should not even try or call the law of God a strange thing. You see, if we have real faith, it will be shown by our works. Not because our works save us, but because what we have is a new heart with the laws of God written upon them and we can’t help but to follow our Savior’s footsteps.

Which part of the law of Moses that we are not to “pick and choose from” is “written on our heart? MY scriptures tell me that the new covenant which is “written on their hearts” is “NOT according to the covenant that I made with their Fathers…”

The law wasn’t nailed to the cross, our SINS were. The law is the way in which we walk. It is our instruction. It is a light to our path and a lamp to our feet. It shows those who believe how and where to walk. Any other path is in darkness. God didn’t give us a ‘schoolmaster’ so that we would reject the ‘schoolmasters’ teaching!

As you wish:

And yet that’s what we advocate. We’re out of school— now forget all the rules and do as you wish. I believe we should continue in the schoolmaster’s teachings. After all Jesus was the living walking word of God. If this is true, then He was the epitome of the Law. He was the author. Why not follow Him?

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 3:23 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.

We shouldn’t put on Christian glasses and try to understand Moses. We should learn Moses and then we can clearly see the Messiah. Sadly, most do the opposite. Just as Jesus said:

Joh 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Joh 5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

You do not believe that “the law was added [ to the spiritual “law of Christ,” only un-] til the times of reformation” of which Moses prophesied. How then can you possibly receive Christ’s words when He says that He “profaned the sabbath and did that which is not lawful to do? You don’t believe that Christ was a reformer. You don’t believe His own evaluation about gathering and eating corn on the sabbath.

Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

But He really was “the son of God,” and He really had “broken the sabbath,” He wanted to demonstrate that He was “Lord also of the sabbath day.”

Truly, if we don’t believe Moses how are we really going to know what the Messiah was saying? By the way, faith is an action word. Faith has always caused action. Belief is the same. If we believe someone we will obey them. I choose to believe. Remember the patience of the saints?

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

Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith:

Yes, “faith causes action;” remember the “BUT I say unto you… faith of Jesus?” If you have that faith you will keep His law:

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

It is that “law” that contains “the commandments of God.” That law of Christ is “But I say unto you.” The law you are espousing is “It hath been said by them of old time.” Every time Christ said “You have heard that it hath been said by them of old time…” He never refers to anything that had been added by the tradition of the elders. In every case He refers to the unedited law of Moses.

Again, we see the commandments. What commandments? I believe that that the Father and son are one. I don’t believe the Father has one set of laws and the son another. I believe they are one in laws, purpose, etc. God is not a respecter of persons. There is not one law for one people and another law for another people. God has one people—- Israel. We join the commonwealth of Israel, remember? It’s not the other way around.

Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai [ the law of Moses], which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai [ the old covenant] in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

Contrary to what you believe, it is the old covenant law given at Mount Sinai, that “answers to Hagar and to Jerusalem that now is and is in the bondage of the law from Sinai, with her children.”

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye [ Gentile Ephesians] being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Just how near are these Gentile Ephesians?

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizen s [ of the commonwealth of spiritual Israel] with the saints, and of the household of God;

So who is the true Jew, and who is the true circumcision and who is the true seed of Abraham?

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Gal 3:29 And [ only] if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Phi 3:3 For we [ Gentile Philippians] are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them

That is just a plain simple statement. Now, who should I believe?

If the law could save, we wouldn’t have needed Jesus. How does one come under the curse of the law? One who places their faith (in themselves) by using the law to attain salvation.

That isn’t what Paul says at all. Here is what He says:

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Notice the Galatians (like us) had been under the curse of the law and had needed redemption. Verse 13. Before the Messiah all were concluded “under sin” or “under the law”. Paul leaves no doubt what the Galatians were going back to:

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?
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?

You do try hard, but it can’t be both ways. These Galatians are not trying to be both under the law and under paganism at the same time as you are asking me to believe. I used to use that same lame blind trick myself, back in my old WCG days. I made that argument for ten years before God opened my eyes to see that the theme of his entire epistle is :

Throughout this epistle any honest person can see that the theme of every chapter is just like these verses. Paul is trying to contrast the law with the spirit and consistently equates the law with “the flesh” and “the elements of the world.” It is never equated with the things of the spirit. It is illogical to think that verse 10 has to do with Pagan holidays but verse 21 accuses them of “desiring to be under the law. You can’t have it both ways! Again, either they wanted to follow Moses, or they didn’t want to follow Moses.

From chapter one to the last chapter, chapter six, this epistle concerns itself with Judaizers. Chapter four is especially concerned with this theme. There is not so much as a hint of paganism via pagan holidays being discussed anywhere in this book. It is all concerned with “Ye that desire to be under the law…” [ of Moses] throughout.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

I taught what you are saying until I was over 50. Then God opened my eyes. I must now decide who I must believe. All of the multitudes of orthodox Christianity, who I am clearly told “have not been given eyes to see, nor ears to hear” (Mat 13:13), or will I believe the Words of God:

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Heb 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

Can you see these plain words of God’s Word which contradict what you have just told me? Can you hear them? It is a change also of the law, not just the priesthood. The priesthood merely administered the law, and now the law also is being changed.

Can you not see how Paul is always, just as His Lord’s “But I say unto you…” does, drawing a contrast between the law and the spirit?

2Co 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
2Co 3:10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
2Co 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

The letter of the law prescribes our death— we are guilty. The spirit (God) redeems us back to life through the blood of Messiah. We now can keep the law in spirit——- joyfully! We have been redeemed. The letter concludes all to death. We all fall short of it’s measure. The spirit gives us our life back. Our penalty is paid. Hallelujah!

If it “prescribes our death,” as you admit, how then can we “keep the law in spirit?” “The law is not of faith” therefore it is not of the spirit, because “without faith it is impossible to please God.” But you say that Christ can now joyfully stone adulterers to “put evil away from Israel?” So “Neither do I condemn thee” is ‘the spirit of “stone them both?” Is that what you are saying? This New covenant of Mat 5 is revolutionary. It was so contrary to Moses that it cost Jesus his life. That is not to say that the hypocrites claiming to keep the law of Moses were really doing so. It is to say that “neither do I condemn thee” is not just a stripping away of “additions of the sages” to the law of Moses. I think that maybe, in this case, even you can see that “the new agrees not with the old.” Christ’s refusal to stone the adulterous woman was nothing short of “disannulling” the laws governing the old wine bottles and old clothing of the old covenant. It wasn’t an example of what the sages had added to a “perfect… law in spirit.” It was, as Paul calls it, an “administration of death” that has for those in Christ, been “done away.”

No, you don’t now go and commit adulteryl. You “Go and sin no more.” But now your standard is as high above Moses as the heavens are above the elements of this world. In Christ we “don’t even look on a woman to lust after her.” We now “love our enemies.” Show me anywhere in God’s word the distinction you make between ‘enemies’ and “real enemies?” The “law of Christ demands that we love all of our enemies. It takes the miracle of “Christ in you” to walk by that rule. But with Him in us we can love even our enemies

What does that scripture tell you about David’s or John the baptist’s faith? What does it say for the faith that you say is in the law?

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.

Was Christ simply not willing to strip back all the additions of the sages at this time? Or was it the fact that Moses was “passing away,” “waxing old,” “fading away” and being “done away.” Is “circumcision avails nothing” just another and better way of saying, “you shall circumcise all your males on the eighth day as an everlasting token of the covenant between thee and me and thy seed after thee?”

Christ made it plain that all statements in the law, were not truth in its fulness. In fact they were not the Truth at all. They were mere shadows of the Truth.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things,

Shadows are caused by a lack of light shining upon the truth casting that shadow. The law was just a shadow. Christ demonstrates just how lacking in Truth the law was when He had His own words for a carnal people, which words for the carnal you so admire, thrown in his face by his own followers.

Now watch how careful Christ is to call His own words and works the works of Moses. Why does He always do this? Why does He never take credit for the words He Himself spoke to Moses if they are to be considered His laws? It was Christ who told Moses that he could “put away his wife if he found some uncleanness in her.” This wasn’t anything big like adultery or fornication. The penalty for that was death. This was more likely an unclean house. Or maybe he simply didn’t delight in her any longer?

The people quoted Christ Himself, and they quoted Him accurately. No “additions of the sages” here. Yet notice how Christ regards His own words from that “shadowy… ministration:” He doesn’t even regard them as His own words:

No, the law was not the Truth. My Father give you the Truth. Here, and here only, is the real Truth. It did not exist until after John the baptist. Everything till that time was mere type and shadow.

Joh 6:33 For the [ True] bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Oh, that she and orthodoxy would follow only the “But I say unto you…” But alas, it is not given to them to do either the law of Moses or the law of the Spirit:

Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Both Saul of Tarsus and the rich young ruler “Kept the law from their youth up… blamelessly.” On the othe hand, it is humanly impossible to keep the “But I say unto you…” commandments of Christ. One must have the mind of Christ to obey these spiritual commandments. Yet most weekly sabbath keepers consider the “But I say unto you…” commandments of Christ to be the only part of God’s commandments that unsaved Christians can keep.

Mike