(January 29, 2013 at 2:41 am)Ryantology Wrote: Why keep the OT around if its laws and edicts are not supposed to apply to Christians? Why is only half of the Holy Bible relevant to the Christian religion?Because the Laws of the OT are what Christianity are built on, but not in the way you seem to think. When I say law most of you only look to a list of do's and don'ts. But the Law also allowed for attonement when people fell under the 'don't' list. That is how Christianity differs from OT Judaism. It is no longer about the do and don't list and subsequently is not a 'new' do and don't list. It is freedom from lists all together based on a provision God made in the OT. That is why they had animal sacerfice. Basically when Christ gave Himself to atone for the sin of Man, He became the last animal sacerfice needed. (For those who seek to love and worship God) That is why Christ said not one letter shall pass from the law until His Kingdom comes. It's not that Christians are justified by following christian rules. No we find grace and forgiveness from our in ablity to follow the law perfectly. All of the law, as a whole. Again Christ did not strike down the law he made is so impossiable to follow that no one (if the are honest with themselves) can not ever hope to earn their way into Heaven.
Quote:That it appeals to two different religions is obvious, it seems very much like completely different Gods in each Testament, the stupid brutish maniac of the Old and the "Disregard That I Suck Cocks" New. But, they are (allegedly) the same, and you can't escape what that means: your God, and your Christ, is still the stupid, brutish maniac he was in the OT, and himself states that those stupid, brutish laws of his would remain in effect until the end of heaven and earth.No, just two sides of the same coin. On one side of the coin you have the perfect standard (or what it takes to deserve Heaven) and on the otherside you have what God provided for all of those who can admit they will never be 'good' enough to deserve anything God offers them.
That is why Christ said blessed are the Meek and poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. This is exactly what He was talking about. Meek does not translate into weak. Meek is humble, this is magnified by the next phrase. "poor in spirit." to be rich in spirit means to be proud of self. Those who are proud in self look to justify their short commings so the can still 'deserve' heaven. While the humble and poor in spirit know they deserve nothing therefoe they are the ones who will inhearet the Kingdom of Heaven.
Quote:I know where you go from here, "But Jesus fulfilled the law". Even if I take that to mean what you insist it means, that Christians aren't forced to follow all those old rules, it is your unwillingness to follow them that makes you the sinner you are, the sin for which you are supposed to atone.Freedom from the Law does not mean one's heart yearns to break the law. Even Paul recognizes this and addresses it in the book of Romans. No what freedom from the law means is one has the freedom to do his Best litteral best in worship and it will be counted as righteousness even if he falls short.
If one yearns to sin in his new found freedom, then he is not living a life consistent with how the bible/NT identifies as being Christian.
Christ tells us we can judge them(Wolves in sheeps clothing/christians by proclaimnation only) by their fruit. For a fig tree can not bear grapes, nor can a thorn bush bear apples. If one is truly trying to serve and worship God his deeds will reflect the law as far as his will and ablities will allow.
