Exactly WHAT was it That Paul BELIEVED?

[Eccl12and13]

When Paul made the following statement, just what was it he believed?

Acts.24
[14] But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

My main area of question is this statement: "Believing ALL THINGS that are WRITTEN IN THE 'LAW' and in the prophets."

Just What all of the Law did Paul believe in?

 

[palmertech]

New here, and need help understanding Galatians.

Merged Post from New Members Forum

Hello, nice to find this forum! I have been a "Christian" for a long time, but have only recently started really practicing my faith.

My question I had was about Galatians 5:4. It says "You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace".

What does Paul mean by this? Are we severed from Christs salvation if we follow his laws? Or does it have something to do with how parts of the original Mosaic laws were revoked?

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Rick W]

Eccl12and13,

The Laws of Moses, the Torah.
We believe the Law. For by the Law we know what sin is. But we are not under the Law, the covenant signed by circumcision or the sprinkling of blood of animals.
We know what sin is by the Law. We then know we are sinners. We know the penalty of sin is death. So what hope is there for us?
Jesus Christ in that He died, was buried and rose again.
We are not under the Law for we never entered into the Law, the old covenant. We are under grace of God by the covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

This we do in remembrance of Him and the covenant made by the shedding of His blood on the cross.

 

[Rick W]

Re: New here, and need help understanding Galatians.

palmertech,

Welcome to CF.net!

The Law was never "revoked". We are not under the Law, the covenant of Moses, but under the covenant ratified by the blood of Jesus Christ.

The Laws of Moses, the Torah.
We believe the Law. For by the Law we know what sin is. But we are not under the Law, the covenant signed by circumcision or the sprinkling of blood of animals.
We know what sin is by the Law. We then know we are sinners. We know the penalty of sin is death. So what hope is there for us?
Jesus Christ in that He died, was buried and rose again.
We are not under the Law for we never entered into the Law, the old covenant. We are under grace of God by the covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

This we do in remembrance of Him and the covenant made by the shedding of His blood on the cross.

 

[samuel]

Paul was dealing here, as he had to do many times. With Legalizers (judaizers), who were telling the Gentiles they had to be circumsized. Paul was telling them to do so, was desireing to be justified by the law, as circumsizion was a seal of those under law. And if they do so, they have severed themselves from the grace in Christ.

Hebrews 6:1-8, goes into a little more detail on this subject. That is the severing from Christ part.

 

[Drew]

Re: New here, and need help understanding Galatians.

Merged Post from New Members Forum

Hello, nice to find this forum! I have been a "Christian" for a long time, but have only recently started really practicing my faith.

My question I had was about Galatians 5:4. It says "You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace".

What does Paul mean by this?

Paul is warning against slipping back into believing that the Torah - the Law of Moses - is the basis by which we are justified (declared to be within the covenant family of God). At the beginning of Galatians 5, Paul is dealing with Gentiles who think that they need to be circumcized and follow the Torah in order to be considered covenant members. This idea would be highly repugnant to Paul, and so he rebukes those people.

Update: Upon posting, I realized that Samuel is giving the same answer I am.

 

[sonlite101]

When Paul made the following statement, just what was it he believed?

Acts.24
[14] But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

My main area of question is this statement: "Believing ALL THINGS that are WRITTEN IN THE 'LAW' and in the prophets."

Just What all of the Law did Paul believe in?

Paul was speaking here about believing "all things written in the law and the prophets" SPECIFICALLY written about Jesus Christ. The KJV does not highlight the "Way" but the NIV does, and then you can see the context of what Paul is talking about.

Acts 24:14
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, (NIV)

Look at the following scriptures:

Luke 22:37
37 It is written: `And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." (NIV)

Luke 24:44
44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." (NIV)

Heb 10:7
7 Then I said, `Here I am-- it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God.'" (NIV)

Paul saw that everything that Jesus Christ said and did agreed with what had been written about Him in the Law and the prophets. This is why Paul worshipped God as a follower of Jesus (the Way) and not as a follower of Moses.

sonlite101

 

[Rick W]

Very good answer sonlite101

Also as Drew and samuel pointed out...


Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Galatians 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

 

[Paidion]

The contexts explains all:

1 ¶ After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul.
2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, "Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation,
3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 "But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.
5 "For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6 "And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. [[We wanted to judge him according to our own Law.
7 "But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands,
8 ordering his accusers to come before you.]] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him."
9 The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.
10 ¶ When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,
11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12 "Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot.
13 "Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.
14 "But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;
15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16 "In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.
17 "Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings;
18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asiaâ€â€
19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me.
20 "Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council,
21 other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’" Acts 24 NASB

The leaders of the Jews claimed Paul was "real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." In those days, those who belonged to "The Way" or who gathered together as disciples of Christ were called "Nazarenes". This was considered to be just one more Jewish sect, in addition to the Pharisees, the Saducees, and the Essenes. Paul denied the charges and tried to show that He was simply a real good Jew who believed everything that was in harmony with "The Law and the Prophets", (that is, the books of Moses, and the Prophetical writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the minor prophets.) He stated that his accusers had found him in the temple, bringing alms, presenting offerings, having undergone the rite of purification --- exactly like any other good Jew. The only difference was that he worshipped God according to THE WAY, that is, the Messianic Way, as a disciple of Jesus. Paul then explained that the REAL reason they had brought charges against him was because of his teaching about the resurrection of the dead. Although some of the Pharisees beleived in the resurrection, others believed in reincarnation, whereas the Saducees didn't believe in an afterlife at all.

 

[dan p]

Hi sonlite101 , you hit the nail on the head . This a word for word translation of Acts 24:14 .

But I confess this to you , that according to the WAY which they speak of ( as ) a SECT , so I worship the God received from the fathers , believing all things which having been written throughout the Law and the prophets .
1) Paul is not saying that he personally is keeping the Law of Moses , but believes what is written in the Law .

2) Paul NEVER preached what Jesus or what the 12 preached .

3) What Paul is saying , that the WAY , and the SECT , is Christianity .