Legalism

I do not know if I have posted this here in its entirety; I have searched and have not found it.
If by chance that I have posted it here in its entirety, then please forgive my indulgence.

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Let me start this by quoting another:

[i]"Legalism is like a disease. It is both highly contagious and deadly. It can go undetected and show no fatal symptoms for a long period of time. In the end, however, it always pays its toll. I’ve never heard anyone stand up and boldly proclaim, "I'm a legalist!" If someone realized they were bound by legalism they would surely put an end to it. Unfortunately legalism is very blinding. It's easier for a sinner to realize he is a sinner than for a legalist to realize he is a legalist. As long as we can’t identify what legalism is, it can keep us in its bondage.

Legalism is oftentimes very hard to recognize and can be hard to distinguish from true holiness. This is because the actions of the legalist, and the actions of someone who possesses true holiness are generally the same. The difference is the motive of the heart. One’s motivation is to save themselves, or keep themselves saved, while the other’s motivation is to please the One who died for them..." (Jason Dulle)[/i]

~~~

...One does work out of compulsion in bondage (no joy - not born again), and the other out love that the Holy Spirit brings in our hearts (much joy and full of glory...a well of living water springing up into everlasting life.) [b]We are the recipients of mercy and grace, not of wages.[/b] The difference is being Born-Again and Phariseeism, which is the behavior of a sanctimonious and a self-righteous person.
...or Relationship vs. Religious Compulsion.

Righteousness before God has already been purchased for us. Righteous living is something that we do because we are born of the Holy Spirit, and we submit ourselves in obedience to the Holy Spirit, who by the Grace of our Father in heaven, leads us into holy living, a work not of compulsion or of ourselves, but of love that is born of God, which is in our hearts.

Paul said in Philippians 3:6-8 “concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ”

The law of God requires works of righteousness, so why would Paul discard his righteousness in the law...(works in the Law) if he were so perfect in it?

Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.

How is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus work to bring righteousness anyway?

The answer is very simple actually, well not to everyone, just those to whom the Father will show this to. It is because Jesus took away ALL my sins forever, and in the absence of sin the Law is fulfilled.

So, Here is a question:

If a person were completely sin free in their life (because Jesus washed away the sins), would the righteousness or holiness that the Law of God requires be fulfilled?

The answer is yes, because in the absence of sin the law is fulfilled!

So...if Jesus took away all of my sins after repentance and giving my life to Him, and I am blameless before God and sin free, do I fulfill the righteousness or holiness that the law of God requires?

The answer is yes; I fulfill the righteousness that the law of God requires because I have no sin in Jesus...because Jesus took and washed away my sins and nailed them to the cross! ...I am therefore sin free before God and fulfill the righteousness that the law God requires. This is what is meant by the righteousness by faith and NOT by works!!!

So then the righteousness that the Law of God requires, is fulfilled in every single person who comes to Christ Jesus. This is what it means that Christ is the end of the law and that He fulfilled the law. This is the righteousness which is by faith, and not by the works of the Law of God.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

How is the Law established?

The Law is established because there is no more sin to deal with, because Jesus took the sin away, and in the absence of sin the Law is Fulfilled, …yes it is established! This is the righteousness that is by faith, and not by the works of the Law.

Romans 5: 1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The very reason that Christ came into the world was so that He could free us from sin and the consequences of sin, and more then that, so that we could become a new creation in Christ Jesus. And in the absence of sin, which is through the cross of Christ, the Law is fulfilled.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (King James Version)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

[b]What about Holiness and Holy Living....hasn't the Lord said you must be Holy for I am Holy?[/b]

[b]Holiness becomes you...[/b]

God truly wants the repentance of man, for man to make a volitional choice for Him...to openly repent before Him and to follow Him, to Call upon Him...

He wants good works towards Him based on a loving personal relationship from the heart, and not on good works based on a reliance of oneself… or in ones' ability to live holy by following a given set of rules – and yes there is a difference.

Yes, there are moral rules and guidelines to follow and understand, but they are only to instruct me in the ways of righteousness and holiness as I seek Him inwardly, and personally and they teach me of the nature of Jesus.

The scriptures give me an understanding of the nature of Him who has called me out of this world to be His son, to a new life in Him which is hidden in Christ Jesus - the Holy Spirit bears witness to this truth.

His good works in me (holiness) comes, not based on my own understanding of what true holiness is, but rather based on the inner workings of the Holy Spirit in my life since I accepted Him, and it is in my yielding to Him in all things in obedience, and not on my adherence to or on reliance of myself to seek His favour by doing good works (what I perceive as holiness). It's not what I can do, it's what He does and can do through me.

Because I love Him in the very pit of my soul, and am truly born of Him, I will seek out those things that always please Him, I will hate the things that He hates, and I will love the things that He loves...if only that I may have just one moment, just one moment in time that I may truly glorify Him in this earthly body…and this I will do as His Holy Spirit who is within me permits, and teaches me all things.

Does this mean that I will never make a mistake and never sin again? ...no it does not. I hope that I never sin again, but if I do, I know I have an advocate with the Father who is Jesus Christ the righteous. I know that if I acknowledge my sins before God, that He is faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from ALL unrighteousness. And I dare say to anyone that I need to have works in order to be forgiven, nothing but the precious blood of the Lamb can erase sins.

The bible teaches me that: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. Galatians 6:15

Hence and therefore my salvation is not based upon me believing that my good works toward Him (personal holiness) will save me (or even merit me any favor at all), but rather on a TOTAL surrender of my life to Him, and upon a reliance on Him for my holiness and righteousness, that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the very day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

I just need only to yield to Him, I just need only to yield to Him and say yes Lord Jesus, yes Lord...have your way in me and be glorified in me, let me be obedient to you through your Holy Spirit.

And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:13

Those who are truly born of the Spirit of God and are led by Him will indeed mortify sin in their earthly lives, whose hearts are right with God.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:12-17

This is a good presentation of righteousness by faith and living out this righteousness by the Spirit. Thank you.

His good works in me (holiness) comes, not based on my own understanding of what true holiness is, but rather based on the inner workings of the Holy Spirit in my life since I accepted Him, and it is in my yielding to Him in all things in obedience, and not on my adherence to or on reliance of myself to seek His favour by doing good works (what I perceive as holiness). It's not what I can do, it's what He does and can do through me.

A very good message by Zac Poonen about the danger of legalism and worldliness is 'Three marks of the New Covenant Life'. He shows that they both use the law in the flesh rather than the Spirit. See link below.
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=13571

Wonderful post, Earendel! It covers all the essentials of true rebirth and navigates beautifully through the difficult concepts of salvation by grace. Everyone should read this. Thank you.

Earendel: What an awesome post. I was blessed as I read it.

Php 3:9-10
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
(10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Praise God that my righteousness is through faith in Christ.

Travis

Now, concerning the law or the old covenant.

Please read:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%208:5-13&version=NKJV

~~~

The new covenant, not written on tablets of stone, but as the Lord has said: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts.

The old covenant was done away with, ...in that He says - He has made the first covenant obsolete, in that it was weak through the flesh, and replaced with the enabling power of the Holy Ghost for Godly living.

Please read in conjunction with what I wrote about in the opening post.

I made the following response in another thread, but I do not know how to make a link a link to it.

Please forgive the length of the following post, I know how hard it is to keep track of these sometimes.

It is of the utmost importance that we keep our hearts right before God, but how do we do that? (just decide in your heart that you will just love Him no matter what) Is it in what we say, or what we do, or both? A heart that is right before God submits to obedience, which is the essence of a pure heart.

I believe The Apostle Paul teaches us that God can and will give us all joy and fulfillment in our souls that we need, especially in the time to come. Be filled the Holy Spirit who completes us, and no longer indulge the senses of the flesh to excess.

Ephesians 5:18 (New King James Version)

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

I believe what the Apostle is saying is:

Instead of getting drunk with wine and indulging the senses, rather to be filled with the Holy Spirit who completes us. The Apostle Paul was not likening the infilling of the Holy Ghost with drunkenness or being drunk, but rather a turning away from the works of darkness and to be filled with the Holy Ghost who completes us, and fills that void in our souls. Has not the Lord Jesus said: "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14

In the beginning I believe Adam walked with God, where his body was filled with God's Holy Spirit - there was a communion there. God's Holy Spirit filled a part of Adam that completed him (Shekinah) and made him unique in creation, which made him the living temple of God.

Adam lost this when he, through transgression, fell. The Shekinah Glory of God lifted from Adam, the same way that the Shekinah Glory of God lifted from the Jewish Temple (the physical one before it was destroyed in 70 AD).

Since the fall of Adam, our race has sought to fill “that missing part” that incompleteness in us, by indulging in the senses of the flesh. And without the Light of God (the Holy Spirit, who was, and now is the majestic presence or manifestation of God in man) man would grow exceeding dark and sinful (which is what happened), for without light, there can only be darkness…and if the light of your eye is darkness, then how great the darkness.

...but we are no longer in darkness (that is to say without the Holy Ghost and the grace of God)

Ephesians 5:8 " For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light"

This indwelling Shekinah presence of God in His temple is something that was always meant for man, we were created for this purpose - we are (that is our bodies) "living temples" of the Holy Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 10
1 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 and did all eat the same spiritual food;
4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.
5 Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.
11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Now consider that they did not have the Holy Spirit who gives power for Godly living.

John 7:39
39 But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.

And what judgment do you suppose will be to us to whom the Holy Spirit has been given? This is not to say that we will not fail/fall from time to time...it is God's grace that saved us, AND IT WILL BE GOD'S GRACE THAT KEEPS US.

The Church received power for Godly living and testimony on Pentecost - and it is through the righteousness and grace of God that the free gift of the Holy Spirit is given, even to us, who through obedience to the faith in Christ Jesus are made righteous by His shed blood...in that He took away our sins, and in the absence of sin, the righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled; therefore, the Holy Spirit could come. It was not until Jesus Christ had ascended to the Father, after His resurrection, that the Holy Ghost could be given - which is the promise of the free gift.

An understanding given by the Lord Jesus Christ to me:

The power of sin is in the Law (as delivered to Moses), and the wages of sin is death...for through the Law, I have knowledge of sin and sinned revived and I died. (This is the Law of sin and death)

But the law has no power over me anymore...and why does it have no power over me?

... it is because I have no sin...and because I have no sin, I am not under the law.

If I had sin, the law would have power over me, and I would be under the law, but now I have no sin and am therefore not under the law.

Is this a heresy? No it is not, let me explain.

I have no sins because of the Blood of the Lamb ...that Jesus took my sins away and nailed them to the cross (I am crucified with Christ). When God looks at me, He sees only the blood of the Lamb applied to the door posts, not my sins. (This is the sinless perfection I am referring to) God sees no sins through the blood of the Lamb! Now, is the blood applied to the doorposts? ...this is what should be asked about.

I am not saying that I have obtained sinless perfection in the flesh, or cannot be tempted to sin, nor that I am sin free and without fault in my life, I have many faults...I am saying that only through the cross of Christ I have no sin, because Jesus took them away with His death on the cross.

Whether you accept this or not, this is sinless perfection! ...yet not by works of the flesh, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. (righteousness by faith) This is not so hard to understand. So I then, fulfill the law of God by being sinless, just as He commands, yet not by works, but by faith in the cross of Jesus Christ to forever remove my sins – righteousness by faith and not by works.

But righteousness by faith came for a purpose...even a new creation, which God has through the Holy Ghost birthed in me. Just as it is written: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

And this is why the Holy Ghost could be given freely to us:

"Where there is no sin, the Law of God cannot condemn, but is fulfilled."

Jesus Christ, with His own blood entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption for us. It was not until sin was removed (through the cross of Christ), and the righteous requirements of the law were fulfilled (absence of sin), that the Holy Spirit could come, who wrote the laws of God on our hearts rather than on tablets of stone...even as it is written "I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."

But I cannot refer to the judgment of God without referring to His great and tender mercies for humanity (of whom I am the largest recipient of His grace)...because as it is written God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

And I am not talking about sinless perfection (in this life) here (we still have to deal with Eph 6:12 on a daily basis which is NOT the sinful nature), but they will be taken out of the way soon enough as per: Revelation 12:7-10

... but I am referring to the way into the Holiest of All, the very presence of God (the Holy Ghost in us) - the Divine life (nature), which God in his mercy has freely given to us (the embryo or seed of God in us) the God life, the new creation, the new birth, the new man.

1 Corinthians 15:47-49 (New King James Version)
47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. (and the heavenly man was NOT sinful)

Romans 8:9 (New King James Version)
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

We really need a true revival of the Holy Ghost...and we need a functioning body (Ephesians 4:11-13)

And a revival does come and soon now...and what do you suppose is going to be the end result?

it comes...during the Great Tribulation

Much glory awaits us...

Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

....but then comes true revival on a global scale when that Grand Old Mansion, that glorious House/Temple of God (who we are), is rebuilt, so the the glory of the latter end of the house will be greater than the former.

Because there is no accuser standing before God accusing us, Ephesians 6:12 will end for us, and so will all the works of the devil as pointed out above. But persecution at the hands of those who take the mark of the beast will occur.

Even as Christians, He has not rewarded us according to our works.

God has not rewarded us according to our ways, nor has He recompensed us for our backsliding, and I am witness to this because I fell short of His Spirit's work and was a prodigal son. But He called me while I was in bondage to sin, and broke the curse. He broke the shackles that held me in bondage to sin and disobedience and shattered the teeth of the devourer for my sake. He gave me repentance to eternal life which caused me to be broken, humble and contrite before Him, (truly, Godly sorrow swallowed me up) - God is my witness.

In the midst of my brokenness and repentance before Him He came to me, and forgave me. His Spirit overshadowed me and He renewed a right spirit within me. The scales of sin fell from my eyes, and I began to see with perfect light. He has called us to Himself because He is very merciful and forgiving.

edited for content.

I dont remember who it was that i heard say:

We sometimes mistake legalism for obediance.

What a provoking thought that was to me.

Milt Green said, "Obedience is not Legalism".

What legalism is:

Anything that is done or not done out of fear of judgement.

That's my personal definition anyways :-)

In Christ,
Earl J

Legalism is infringing what God has shown you upon others.

WoW

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Legalism is infringing what God has shown you upon others.

All this is the result of an immature comprehension regarding the allowance of the Holy Spirit in the life of an individual believer. Many believers, through the influence of denominationalism and/or personal mentors, mistakenly bring the Kingdom of God down to the level of constitutional human government and the Holy Spirit is relegated to the level of a civil magistrate: Curfews suddenly go into effect, rations imposed, ordinances dictating one's private life are established, and the "law of the land" just gets stricter and stricter as the criminal penalties increase.

But what many do not understand is that we are judged according to light given, and not by a one-size-fits-all law. The latter is Old Testament legislation. Imagine the light Jesus had! And yet Old Testament scholars and Rabbis condemned Him as Beelzebub, the prince of devils. Ironically, the one law that we DO have from God in the New Covenant which is one-size-fits-all (and which the legislaters always fail to mention) is that man will be judged by the same measure of judgment he imposes upon others.

There are many false religions that attempt to base one's righteousness or "salvation" on man's works. Hinduism for example is man's attempt to be right with what they perceive as God by self effort in keeping the laws of the Hindu religion. Substitute Shinto or any other world religion (ism) into that sentence and the result is always the same. Man's attempt at righteousness through his own efforts. The same can be said of legalism. It is man's attempt at righteousness by self-effort in keeping the laws of God.

Paul is right. The fallout of these efforts is often a self-righteous and condemning spirit toward others. They unwittingly seek to place their own chains of bondage on others. But it is the end result in the life of the legalist that is often most damaging. Their lives are often fraught with self-doubt, self-condemnation (actually this is often really the condemnation that the law brings) and a total lack of faith. The question, "Have I done enough now to earn..." is constantly in the minds of those who are legalistic. Legalism is that wretchedness that Paul spoke of in Romans 7.

Legalism is a tempting thing. For some reason it seems many of us who have grown up in the church are pre-wired for legalism. When seeking God for anything I often hear faint undertones in my heart of legalism. "Maybe I have not seen my answer yet because of something I have failed to do. Maybe I broke this law or that one." This is subtle but must be overcome just as blatant legalism. We must learn to walk in the grace and truth brought us by Jesus Christ. We must learn to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

I am reminded of the context surrounding Romans 8. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." So often we assume carnal mindedness is "worldly" mindedness in the sense of sin, unGodliness, or simply worthless or empty pursuit. But in the context of the preceding chapters, carnal mindedness means that our minds are centered on the physical pursuit of keeping the law. It is a focus on the things of the flesh. It is a focus on "fleshing out" the "Thou shalt nots" and the "Thou shalts". It brings only bondage (Gal. 5) One might even say, "For to be legalistic in your approach to God is death", for that is the only result the law brings. But to walk in the Spirit, to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Christ has abolished the commandment that was against us, nailed it to the cross, and now we can approach Him by His grace through faith, and not by our own works.

I would like to quote from an essay entitled "Resting is the Required Obedience" regarding man's response to the law and God's grace:

Man in his sinful state hates the God who will only deal with him in grace. Romans 8:7 describes man as being hostile to God. The reason for his antagonism is that the grace of God faces man with the fact that he can do nothing to merit God’s gifts. Man is the helpless recipient of all of God’s blessings, not because of who he is or what he may have done, but because of who God is. This brings everyone to the same level with no one being able to boast that he deserves the gifts of God.

When people see the Law, they grasp at it as an opportunity to get out of the humiliating position grace had placed them into. Many consider the Ten Commandments as rules that they must keep to show God that they are not as bad as He says they are! By keeping the rules, they can prove to God that they are capable of improvement and of pleasing Him. It takes NO faith or grace to live by the law. Living by the law is done by a person's self-effort of responding to commandments that they think they must keep in order to live in harmony with God. This is completely wrong. We can ONLY respond in faith to His gift of grace!

what i can attest to is that one will ruin their life with legalism, I have been there and still coming out of much of the ill rhetoric.
When u come to the end of yourself, you will then know that you know, love overrides and conquers legalistic views, God's love

Excellent quote TrueWitness.

Resting is our required obedience!

When people see the Law, they grasp at it as an opportunity to get out of the humiliating position grace had placed them into. Many consider the Ten Commandments as rules that they must keep to show God that they are not as bad as He says they are! By keeping the rules, they can prove to God that they are capable of improvement and of pleasing Him. It takes NO faith or grace to live by the law. Living by the law is done by a person's self-effort of responding to commandments that they think they must keep in order to live in harmony with God. This is completely wrong. We can ONLY respond in faith to His gift of grace!

Perfect. Yes, many people are obeying the law because it is something that they think they can do (and it makes them feel better because of the other "failures" in their life). They can obey the watered down law (because no one can keep it perfectly) but they won't receive His grace and mercy. That is the height of pride.

But we are all one big failure. We must humbly admit this and that will lead us to accept His grace and mercy.

Who is the accuser of the brethren? What does he use to accuse us with? The answer is the legalism of the Law. In Christ he no longer has a hold on us. Satan cannot accuse the Christ that is in us. Only our minds can be used to condemn us. We must renew our minds to the new and not let the flesh feel good by keeping the Law, for that is what the Law is using to accomplish its work, of God to bring us to Christ, of Satan to bring us to condemnation. Fallen Flesh cannot be justified by the Law because condemned flesh cannot keep it. Christ is the only fulfillment of un condemned flesh, He that is in us is our Justifier, only can He justify.

1 Corinthians 1:29-31 That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Righteousness;
Strong's Greek Dictionary
1343. dikaiosune
Search for G1343 in KJVSL
dikaiosunh dikaiosune dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay
from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:--righteousness.

By Faith through the Spirit has The Spirit of Christ that is born again in us keep us interring His rest.

The epitome of legalism is condemnation. Our Rest is Him who is our Sabbath.

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Ro 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
Ro 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
1Co 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
2Co 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

In Christ: Phillip

If we put ourselves back under the Law as Peter did when the bus arrived from Jerusalem with James and the other Jews, and Peter ran back into the Jewish Law separating himself from the Gentiles whom he was fellowshipping with, Paul thus rebuking him to his face, as Peter was putting himself and all the other Jews who were with the Gentiles indulging themselves in the freedom which had come by the Christ in them, he was putting himself, Peter, back into the things he was separating himself from, the Law. This is sin.

Galatians 2:16-19 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

Peter was building again the things which were destroyed in him by Christ, putting himself back into legalism by which no flesh shall be justified, thus making the Christ in him a minister of sin, making Peter himself a transgressor by which Christ has set him free.

In Christ: Phillip

HeartSong,

God also commanded circumcision and said that any male not circumcised MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST be CUT OFF from his people!

But the New Testament directly contradicts the law of circumcision. Do you agree that the New Testament contradicts the Law of Circumcision?

So you have a choice. Follow Christ or follow Torah. God made sure that the two are not compatable. The Torah will kill you because of your sin. Christ will give you life eternal. This is the the message of the HOLY BIBLE.

It's LAW (Death) vs. GRACE (Life).

You say, "if we LOVE GOD will all our heart, all our mind, and all our soul, and all our strength, we should follow the 10 COMMANDMENTS."

Yes, you MUST follow the Ten Commandments the way that the Lord God Almighty has taught you in His Holy Bible.

Christ is the END OF THE LAW! He is our Sabbath. You must not REPLACE Christ with a fleshly attempt to fulfill an Old Testament command that was meant to be a type of Christ.

The Sabbath command was a command to REST not worship. It has nothing to do with the Christian tradition of meeting on Sunday.

As for Any day one likes ... the CHRISTIAN answer is to see the fulfillment of the Sabbath Command in the fact that CHRISTIANS rest EVERY DAY from their works as it is written:

Hebrews 4:1-10 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. ... 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

THAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT SABBATH. It is fulfilled in Christ. We have entered into His Rest. He finished the work. The NT is a spiritual book, and the Children of God understand exactly what it means. The old carnal ways of external commandments ENDED when Christ died and rose from the dead and gave us His Holy Spirit and wrote His Laws on our hearts. This is the Gospel! The idea of "Sabbath keeping" is contrary the Gospel.

How refreshing, Christ truly is our Sabbath.

In Christ: Phillip