As I do not like to hijack other people's work (though often it seems that is exactly what happens 9 out of 10 times here.) I try and avoid it if I can. That is why I started this thread rather than take the other one off course.
I was going to start a law thread to clear up any misconceptions anyway once I felt the other two thread I am working on petered out.
In those two thread I said Christians are not bound by the law as a means to righteousness. But what does this mean exactly? Does it mean Christian's do not sin because the law does not apply? Does it mean the law does not apply to them in some way? Does it mean we are free from all laws?
In a word no.
Being free from the law as a way to righteousness means. We are not bound by the law as a way to prove out worthyness to enter Heaven/Be with God. Under the old covenant, Man's worthyness was based on works or rather based on the good deeds he had done, and the attoniment he offered for the sins he committed. (Basicly how most of you think christianity works present day.) This is based off of a legalist model of catholisim which takes it ques for OT Judaism. Which is steeped in doctrine and tradition of the church but scripturally empty. In essence Being free from the law means God does not look at how we follow the law as His measure to our worthyness. That is when we accept the attonement Christ offers. Christ sacerfice covers all of the short comings. All of the things we can not ever hope to up hold.
So if we are free from the law then why try and still follow it? Love. If we Love God with all of our being (Heart, Mind Spirit and Strength) as our greatest command tells us, then we will seek out His want and will for our lives. For if you Love someone with just your heart will you not try and please this person? Or will you cheat on them and do the things they hate? Now multiply that love against every fiber of your being and try and cause pain to the one that love is directed at. Love is what binds us to seeking out God's will. Not as a means to righteousness, but because we love God.
What of the passage in Mt 5 where Christ tells us not one letter of the law shall pass away? It hasn't. Meaning the Law is still valid as means of identifying sin. Once sin has been idenified in the believers life then one must atone. Which pushes the believer to seek the attonement christ offered for us. For without the Law the identification of sin would not be possiable, without being able to identify sin we could not seek attonement. Many will perish under the law, Meaning many will die unsaved because the law will still be in effect at the time of our judgement. This is why the doctrine of substituted morality is so damning. Because it allows a person to find a 'self' righteousness/rightness allowing them to substitute God's Perfect righteousness with their own version, and if one is 'morally right' in his own version of reality then he/she will never seek the attonement God offers.
So why do believers Get a pass? Because with in the Law their is a provision for attonement. Some of you have asked "why did God demand animal sacerfice in the OT?" It was to illustrate this provision of attonement, and the future sacerfice He was to make on our behalf. So No one could deny the power or authority of the sacerfice the lamb of God would make once and for all.
And again this sacerfice is avaiable for all who want to love God. (even if they do not know how yet.)
I was going to start a law thread to clear up any misconceptions anyway once I felt the other two thread I am working on petered out.
In those two thread I said Christians are not bound by the law as a means to righteousness. But what does this mean exactly? Does it mean Christian's do not sin because the law does not apply? Does it mean the law does not apply to them in some way? Does it mean we are free from all laws?
In a word no.
Being free from the law as a way to righteousness means. We are not bound by the law as a way to prove out worthyness to enter Heaven/Be with God. Under the old covenant, Man's worthyness was based on works or rather based on the good deeds he had done, and the attoniment he offered for the sins he committed. (Basicly how most of you think christianity works present day.) This is based off of a legalist model of catholisim which takes it ques for OT Judaism. Which is steeped in doctrine and tradition of the church but scripturally empty. In essence Being free from the law means God does not look at how we follow the law as His measure to our worthyness. That is when we accept the attonement Christ offers. Christ sacerfice covers all of the short comings. All of the things we can not ever hope to up hold.
So if we are free from the law then why try and still follow it? Love. If we Love God with all of our being (Heart, Mind Spirit and Strength) as our greatest command tells us, then we will seek out His want and will for our lives. For if you Love someone with just your heart will you not try and please this person? Or will you cheat on them and do the things they hate? Now multiply that love against every fiber of your being and try and cause pain to the one that love is directed at. Love is what binds us to seeking out God's will. Not as a means to righteousness, but because we love God.
What of the passage in Mt 5 where Christ tells us not one letter of the law shall pass away? It hasn't. Meaning the Law is still valid as means of identifying sin. Once sin has been idenified in the believers life then one must atone. Which pushes the believer to seek the attonement christ offered for us. For without the Law the identification of sin would not be possiable, without being able to identify sin we could not seek attonement. Many will perish under the law, Meaning many will die unsaved because the law will still be in effect at the time of our judgement. This is why the doctrine of substituted morality is so damning. Because it allows a person to find a 'self' righteousness/rightness allowing them to substitute God's Perfect righteousness with their own version, and if one is 'morally right' in his own version of reality then he/she will never seek the attonement God offers.
So why do believers Get a pass? Because with in the Law their is a provision for attonement. Some of you have asked "why did God demand animal sacerfice in the OT?" It was to illustrate this provision of attonement, and the future sacerfice He was to make on our behalf. So No one could deny the power or authority of the sacerfice the lamb of God would make once and for all.
And again this sacerfice is avaiable for all who want to love God. (even if they do not know how yet.)
