Bible Study The Established Law.

[Chopper]

Romans 3:31 "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

For a long time now, I have been bothered by statements of fellow Believers that God's Laws are no longer valid because they are fulfilled by Christ Jesus. Although that's true, aren't we missing something? I'd like to pursue a Biblical investigation into the Law of our God in Christ. What exactly does it mean that the Law was fulfilled in Christ?

Since John Gill said that If someone wants to know the heart of God, study His Commands, Statutes, Rules and Law. That was several years ago, and recently Dr. Jerry Bridges said almost the same thing, "If you want to look into the heart's desire of our holy God, read/study Leviticus.

You know? I believe there's some truth to that. So, I'm wondering, what use is God's Laws for today. I know our righteousness is not based on adherence to God's Law thru Moses, and Jesus Christ fulfills the Law of God, do we just discard what came thru Moses as "old hat"? Or is there a practical use and benefit from what God felt was so important to Israel.

Jesus fulfilled the Law, what does that mean?

I conclude with a statement from Dr. Kenneth Wuest. "
Our Lord’s words: "I came not to destroy (the law and the prophets), but to fulfil.’ "
Translation: Or, of the Jews only is He God? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, also of the Gentiles, if indeed there is one God, who will justify circumcision out of a source of faith and uncircumcision through the intermediary instrumentality of faith. Then are we making law of none effect through this aforementioned faith? Let not such a thing be.

 

[reba]

Heb_10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;


Psa 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
Psa 37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
Psa 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Psa 119:33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
Psa 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Pro 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

When Paul pinned the above the Scriptures were what we call the OT.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Romans 3:31 "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

For a long time now, I have been bothered by statements of fellow Believers that God's Laws are no longer valid because they are fulfilled by Christ Jesus. Although that's true, aren't we missing something? I'd like to pursue a Biblical investigation into the Law of our God in Christ. What exactly does it mean that the Law was fulfilled in Christ?

This is an avoided topic of such great importance today. Men stand in the pulpits of Churches and lie to their followers on this issue, over and over. Fulfilling the Law of God has nothing to do with discarding it, it instead, as Paul puts it, is our Teacher, that we might know sin and know, better, that we might learn to avoid it, sin! There are none of us that can do what Jesus did in fulfilling the Law but also true is, there are none of us that are not able to seek to do.

Since John Gill said that If someone wants to know the heart of God, study His Commands, Statutes, Rules and Law. That was several years ago, and recently Dr. Jerry Bridges said almost the same thing, "If you want to look into the heart's desire of our holy God, read/study Leviticus.

You know? I believe there's some truth to that. So, I'm wondering, what use is God's Laws for today. I know our righteousness is not based on adherence to God's Law thru Moses, and Jesus Christ fulfills the Law of God, do we just discard what came thru Moses as "old hat"? Or is there a practical use and benefit from what God felt was so important to Israel.

Jesus fulfilled the Law, what does that mean?

I conclude with a statement from Dr. Kenneth Wuest. "
Our Lord’s words: "I came not to destroy (the law and the prophets), but to fulfil.’ "
Translation: Or, of the Jews only is He God? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, also of the Gentiles, if indeed there is one God, who will justify circumcision out of a source of faith and uncircumcision through the intermediary instrumentality of faith. Then are we making law of none effect through this aforementioned faith? Let not such a thing be.

Amen! I try to explain to people all of the time that if people desire to know God up close and on a personal level to study the Pentateuch and in doing so to pay particular attention to Exodus 20, the Ten Commandments. It is my view that the Ten Commandments are the most beautiful Word Picture of Jesus in the scriptures and this new breed of Christians inform me they cannot see Jesus, at all, in the Old Testament. And truthfully, I can't even read any of the Bible Jesus taught from without seeing Him working, that His plan be established.

Good study, Chopper.

 

[Chopper]

Thank you Reba and Bill. Back a few months ago, I studied slow, the 10 Commandments and then chapter 5 of Matthew. The beatitudes and Jesus' teachings were so close to the 10 Commandments that I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as I kept repeating the 10 Commandments and the beatitudes. What a blessing.

Your comments were well thought out and makes this thread have a good start, thanks to my wicked good Buddies.

 

[ezrider]

The Law is fulfilled in DEATH.

 

[th1b.taylor]

The Law is fulfilled in DEATH.

Yes, it is, if from the moment you were born until the moment you hav4e not sinned against God, yourself, nor anyoneelse, but te only person that has ever done that is now 2,000 years passed. (Romans 3:10 & 23)

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The Law is fulfilled in DEATH.

While justification is fulfilled in LIFE: "25He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification." (Romans 4:25 NASB italics in original)

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The beatitudes and Jesus' teachings were so close to the 10 Commandments

I noticed that too. But many people consider Jesus' teachings to be new, more righteous teachings.

 

[Eugene]

.
Hi Brother Chopper, I’m always glad to the see the emphasis of the law of God brought forth. I’ll just give my thinking on it in the context of it being a ministration of death engraven in stones according to 2 Cor 3:7.

The law showed man what the qualifications of righteousness are according to God’s balances of judgment, and in Gen 3:22 we read “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil.” Man now knew right and wrong, and knew how naked they really were in Gen 3:7. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

The law is used in the same manner and for the same purpose today; self righteousness is utterly destroyed to the honest heart.
Next, should we sin that grace may abound? Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:6 . . we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. Does the law do this or Christ?

Now all the work of God is this: John 6:29 . . This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. Are we instrumental in this or recipients of God’s grace? Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Cutting to the chase as it were the Bride of Christ will have benefitted from the knowledge of God in her willingness to make herself ready.
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness (Righteous acts) of saints.

I like the following excerpt from May Bodie’s pamphlet “Preparation of the Bride” at http://www.gracegod.com/pamphlet_and_articles/pamphlets/Preparation of the Bride.pdf NOTE: The Pamphlets and Articles are in PDF format and can be read with the free Adobe Reader
“THE OUT-CALLING
On every hand is manifested great zeal and energy in the Lord's cause and in the salvation of sinners. But the one great purpose of the age, the Father sending the Holy Spirit in quest of a Bride for His Son, is almost forgotten. She must be a help meet for Him, not an inferior. She must grow up "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" - Eph. 4:13. This constitutes her readiness. The Lamb's Wife is not going to be a babe nor a child.”

 

[ezra]

I noticed that too. But many people consider Jesus' teachings to be new, more righteous teachings.

Jesus fulfilled the law he died under the law but arose with victory sad to say some make their own laws .i got small booklet in the mail as i was reading over what they believe the use of radio and t.v is detrimental to true christian living and must be avoided psalms 101; 3 i will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me
Psalm 101:3New International Version (NIV)
3 I will not look with approval
on anything that is vile.

I hate what faithless people do;
I will have no part in it.
as paul wrote to Timothy the law is good if used right...they have good intentions i am sure . but you can tune a radio to christian music or teaching mine stays with music and a bot radio station for teaching . same goes with t.v we strain at that old note will choking trying to swallow the camel

 

[Chopper]

I noticed that too. But many people consider Jesus' teachings to be new, more righteous teachings.

That's interesting old friend. I suppose anything in the New Covenant would seem more righteous. It's amazing to me that many preachers have never taught from the Old Covenant. As a result, church folk never even study the Old Covenant, just the New.

 

[Chopper]

I can sense that God is pleased with this topic and thread. Just this morning, my Scripture studies both had to do with God's Law & Commands. My Old Covenant study was in Psalms, and New Covenant study was in Romans. I'll post both.

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.


8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.


9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.


10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.


11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.


12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.


13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.


14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

O my friends, these things are what our wonderful gracious God in Heaven delights for His Children to observe, study, and love to obey. The Old Covenant Name for God is Yahovah my Elohim. I love that Name and sometimes use it when I seek our Heavenly Father early every morning to present my body a living sacrifice. It's no wonder that His love for me re-kindles my love for Him that lasts thru out the day!

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence (covetousness or unholy desire). For without the law sin was dead (no law means no sin). 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

O my friends I feel we need to consider again the value of our Lord's Commandments, Statues, Laws, and Rules. By these Laws of God we learn what He does not like in His Children. Of course, our Salvation and righteousness does not come thru these things, they now, in the New Covenant, have been fulfilled in Christ Jesus, God's only Son, and the only way to be saved by and thru His body of death and shed Blood on the cross.

Romans 7:7-13 simply identifies what is illegal for the Christian. If God never told us these Laws but judged us when we break them, He would be unfair. But, God identified what He will judge, so we will know what to stay away from, and thus pursue holiness as He is holy.

I love you all, and thank you for your comments, they add great value to our thread here.

 

[Kidron]

"Study to show thyself approved"......to God.
So, that has to be all of it. = The OT, the law, the epistles, the psalms.., proverbs... The NT.
We study because it gives us Light.
The Law, the Commandments, show us where the lifestyle boundaries are, so that we can keep ourselves not only clean, but safe.
But on the flip side, you are told that the law was given to show you, to reveal to you your unrighteous condition before God so that you would have the opportunity to solve that situation by receiving the Atonement.
What the law cant do, what the commandments cant do, is justify us before God.
The Righteousness that allows God to accept us, does not come by keeping the law.
If all we had to do was keep the law to be accepted by God, then Jesus could have saved himself a lot of pain by not dying for our sins.

 

[Chopper]

"Study to show thyself approved"......to God.
So, that has to be all of it. = The OT, the law, the epistles, the psalms.., proverbs... The NT.
We study because it gives us Light.
The Law, the Commandments, show us where the lifestyle boundaries are, so that we can keep ourselves not only clean, but safe.
But on the flip side, you are told that the law was given to show you, to reveal to you your unrighteous condition before God so that you would have the opportunity to solve that situation by receiving the Atonement.
What the law cant do, what the commandments cant do, is justify us before God.
The Righteousness that allows God to accept us, does not come by keeping the law.
If all we had to do was keep the law to be accepted by God, then Jesus could have saved himself a lot of pain by not dying for our sins.

I like what you wrote my friend Kidron. That reminds me of some of the laws about what meat can be eaten and what cannot. You mentioned keeping ourselves safe, certain fish and sea life should not be eaten, and most of all, don't eat the blood of animals. So many Christians like their steak rare because the blood makes it taste better. That's a no! no! folks.

 

[Kidron]

'

I like what you wrote my friend Kidron. That reminds me of some of the laws about what meat can be eaten and what cannot. You mentioned keeping ourselves safe, certain fish and sea life should not be eaten, and most of all, don't eat the blood of animals. So many Christians like their steak rare because the blood makes it taste better. That's a no! no! folks.

Absolutely Brother.
No bloody steak for me.
No Lobster.....sorry folks.
See here is the thing........all the filth of the sea-ocean-gulf, settles on the bottom where the crawling type seafood lives or burrows.
LIfe is toxic enough without eating the worst part of the dirty sea or gulf or ocean that has settled into the bodies of that $30 a plate "seafood".
Now, am i telling you not to eat that stuff?... Am i telling you not to pay good money to poison yourself?......No, im just telling you what it is, and suggesting that maybe its best to not have a steady diet of toxic's.
As far as the blood in a steak...... well, we are not to eat or drink blood.......and that is spoken about im both Testaments.
I see people cut into a piece of steak and the blood shoots out like a waterfall, filling the plate, and they take a big ol' bite and say...."ymmmmmmm-E".
I see this on HSN sometimes......There is some cook, maybe Wolfgang Puck cutting into a bloody piece of meat with his anniversary series "WGP Steak Knife Set"... while saying........"now THIS....THIS....THISSSSSSSS"""!!!!!!!
Ummm, no.
Sorry Wolfie...
Barf.

Do i eat bacon?
Yep.....Turkey Bacon.
Just bought some today-

 

[Chopper]

'

Absolutely Brother.
No bloody steak for me.
No Lobster.....sorry folks.
See here is the thing........all the filth of the sea-ocean-gulf, settles on the bottom where the crawling type seafood lives or burrows.
LIfe is toxic enough without eating the worst part of the dirty sea or gulf or ocean that has settled into the bodies of that $30 a plate "seafood".
Now, am i telling you not to eat that stuff?... Am i telling you not to pay good money to poison yourself?......No, im just telling you what it is, and suggesting that maybe its best to not have a steady diet of toxic's.
As far as the blood in a steak...... well, we are not to eat or drink blood.......and that is spoken about im both Testaments.
I see people cut into a piece of steak and the blood shoots out like a waterfall, filling the plate, and they take a big ol' bite and say...."ymmmmmmm-E".
I see this on HSN sometimes......There is some cook, maybe Wolfgang Puck cutting into a bloody piece of meat with his anniversary series "WGP Steak Knife Set"... while saying........"now THIS....THIS....THISSSSSSSS"""!!!!!!!
Ummm, no.
Sorry Wolfie...
Barf.

Do i eat bacon?
Yep.....Turkey Bacon.
Just bought some today-

There ya go Brother. That's a wonderful reply, spot on!! OR I could say, a "Chopper Home Run"! When for the first time I read in the Scriptures, not to eat blood, I almost couldn't believe it. I was a new Christian, and there were times when a bunch of us would go out to eat together. Those eating steaks out of their bloody plates really bothered me. Their reply? "We're under grace." Hmm.

 

[Eugene]

Those eating steaks out of their bloody plates really bothered me. Their reply? "We're under grace." Hmm.

Morning Brother Chopper, could we possibly consider that to mean to the Jew there was no way to keep His statutes. In other words was cooked blood any better than rare blood? There was still a sacrifice pointing to our Savior needed.

The young ruler coming to Jesus asking what he must do to be saved, or inherit eternal life said he had kept all the commandments, and Jesus didn't correct him, but added that he needed yet something else in Luk 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. Again the consequence of the ministration of death showing itself forth in those that would find any justification in it.

 

[rpguy]

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.

Notice what it say's in bold.

 

[Eugene]

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.

Notice what it say's in bold.

Good morning rpguy, do you know any outside of Christ that are considered righteous biblically? Thanks.

 

[Chopper]

I see two sides of the Law of God....
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

I thought some of you folk would receive what Dr. Kenneth Wuest wrote about these verses....
"The law here is not a written law but a regulative principle which exercises a control over the life of the believer. This regulative control over his life is exercised by the Holy Spirit. This control is in the form of the energy given the believer both to desire and to do God’s will, this energy coming from the life that God is, which in the believer is given him by reason of his position in Christ Jesus. One could translate, "For the law of the Spirit, of the life in Christ Jesus." One could interpret, "For the regulative principle of the Spirit, namely, the life which is in Christ Jesus," this freed me from the regulative principle of sin and death (the evil nature), at the moment I put my trust in the Lord Jesus and was saved. It is Romans 6 in a nutshell. Alford says, "This law of the Spirit of life having freed him from the law of sin and death, so that he serves another master, all claim of sin on him is at an end - he is acquitted, and there is no condemnation for him." Denney explains, "It is subjection to the law of sin and death which involves condemnation, emancipation from it leaves no places for condemnation." The Spirit which brings the believer the life which is in Christ Jesus, brings with it also the divine law for the believer’s life; but it is now, as Paul says in Gal_3:21, a law which is able to give life, not an impotent law written on tables of stone, and hence righteousness comes by it; and it proves more than a match for the authority exercised over man by the forces of sin and death."
The words, "What the law could not do," could be rendered literally, "the impossible (thing) of the law. A nominative absolute in apposition with the divine act-condemned sin. God condemned sin, which condemnation was an impossible thing on the part of the law. The words stand first in the Greek order for emphasis." (Vincent). God condemned sin in the flesh, a thing which the law could not do in the sense that "Christ by His sinless life in our nature condemned our sinful lives, and left us inexcusable and without hope . . . God’s condemnation of sin is expressed in His sending His Son in our nature, and in connection with sin that He died for it - i. e., took its condemnation upon Himself. Christ’s death exhibits God’s condemnation of sin in the flesh. The words ’in the flesh’ are to be construed with ’condemned’: the flesh - that in which sin had reigned - was also that in which God’s condemnation of sin was executed. But Paul does not mean that by His sinless life in our nature, Christ had broken the power of sin at one point for the human race; he means that in the death of his own Son, who had come in our nature to make atonement for sin, God had pronounced the doom of sin, and brought its claims and authority over man to an end" (Denney).
As to the words, "God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh," Vincent is helpful; "Literally, of the flesh of sin: The choice of words is especially noteworthy. Paul does not say simply, ’He came in flesh’ (1Jn_4:2, 1Ti_3:16), for this would have expressed the bond between Christ’s manhood and sin. Not in the flesh of sin, which would have represented Him as partaking of sin. Not in the likeness of flesh, since He was really and intensely human; but, in the likeness of the flesh of sin: really human, conformed in appearance to the flesh whose characteristic is sin, yet sinless. ’Christ appeared in a body which was like that of other men insofar as it consisted of flesh, and was unlike insofar as the flesh was not flesh of sin’ (Dickson),"
In the phrase "for sin," the preposition is peri which Vincent states, "expresses the whole relation of the mission of Christ to sin. The special relation is stated in condemned. For sin - to atone, to destroy, to save and sanctify its victims." He explains the implications of the word "condemned" in this context as follows: "Deposed from its dominion, a thing impossible to the law, which could pronounce judgment and inflict penalty, but not dethrone. Christ’s holy character was a condemnation of unholiness. Construe in the flesh with condemned."
This He did in order that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, Paul says. "Righteousness" is dikaiōma, "Rev., ordinance. Primarily that which is deemed right, so as to have the force of law; hence an ordinance. Here collectively, of the moral precepts of the law: its righteous requirement. Compare Luk_1:6; Rom_2:26; Heb_9:1" (Vincent).
As to the clause, "might be fulfilled in us," Alford says, "find its full accomplishment, not merely, be performed by us, for the apostle has a much deeper meaning, namely, that the aim of God in giving the law might be accomplished in us, in our sanctification, which is the ultimate end of our redemption, Col_1:22; Eph_2:10. The passive is used, to show that the work is not ours, but that of God by His grace."
The words "who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit" are descriptive of the Christian, an identifying characteristic. That is true of every child of God. "Walk" is peripateō, "to order one’s behavior or conduct." "Flesh" is the indwelling evil nature. "Spirit" is the Holy Spirit. "After" is Kata, whose root meaning is "down," which suggests domination. A Christian is one who orders his behavior in such a way that it is not dominated by the evil nature, but by the Holy Spirit.
Translation: For the law of the Spirit, of the life in Christ Jesus, freed you once for all from the law of sin and death. For that which is an impossibility for the law, because it was weak through the flesh, God having sent His Son in likeness of flesh of sin, and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law may be brought to completion in us who, not as dominated by the flesh are ordering our behavior, but as dominated by the Spirit."