In summary, the Scriptures show that ALL of the law, including the Ten Commandments are done away with in Christ so that we may be free to serve in the Spirit of the law and not the letter. This is important because if we are trying to meet the letter of the law, we are not grasping the fullness of what God is after with us.
Since this started with my daughter, I thought it would be fitting to end with her.Let’s say I give my daughter a checklist of things to do to clean her room. Vacuum, make the bed, wash dirty clothes, put up your toys, clean the windows, etc. When she does those things, she will be in compliance with what I have asked. But are these specific tasks REALLY what I am after? No. I really just want her to clean her room.
But, if I just said “clean your room” without giving the specific examples, she may not do even the minimum of what I am after. The instruction to just “clean your room” won’t produce what I am after because her standards for what is clean will not meet my standards.
So, I have to give her examples. I have to identify for her specific tasks that help her understand what I mean by “cleaning her room.”
Left in that condition, the list could become a crutch to her. It is predictable and unchanging, but requires less accountability & responsibility. If I come in and say, “Your closet is a mess! Why didn’t you straighten it up?” She could always say, “That wasn’t on the list!”
But, what if I could impart to her my understanding of what this means?
Then I could just say, “clean your room” and because my nature was reflected in her, she could go about accomplishing what I really want: a clean room. I could now put away the list, because she understands the heart of what I am after.
My preference is not for her to have a checklist of tasks, but to look around seeing what needs to be done in order for her room to be tidy…and do that! Does not having a list mean that she is free not to clean? No, in fact it means the exact opposite. It means that she is now even MORE accountable for completing the task according to my standards than she was before.
Fulfilling the spirit behind my command to clean her room requires her to know me; to know what I like and dislike, and to even see things as I see them.
She would never fully understand what I am after if all she could see is a list of specific tasks. This is what happened with the Ten Commandments in the minds of many people.
Even though God commanded man to “love Him”, man’s sinful nature made that impossible. Therefore, God – through the Ten Commandments and the rest of the law – gave examples of what it means to love God until His remedy for sin could be manifested. However, God's REAL objective was always for man to love Him and thereby love others.
God crucified His only begotten Son, so that we could finally fulfill His commandments for us to love by being born again. Now we can be perfected, not because we follow a list of commands, but because we follow Jesus Christ who IS perfect and who allows us to know God; know what He likes & dislikes and even see things as He sees them.
Now - being converted in our inner man - God can say, “love me” and we not only understand what He means by that, but He has equipped us to live in that through the guidance of His Holy Spirit. Being under the law of the Spirit is a much higher calling than obeying a list of commands because it requires us to look to God for everything; it requires us to get in touch with God’s heart. It requires us to follow Him.
It would be a shame - once my daughter has my character reflected in her, and she understands what I mean by cleaning her room - for her to return to having her actions dictated by the list. In doing so, she is shirking away from the full responsibility of which I have called her to walk in. She is downgrading her accountability to do what I have asked. Yet, she will be without excuse. For she and I will both know that she knows better.
Spirit of the Law Series
The Spirit of the Law – Part 1, Are Christians Under the Law?The Spirit of the Law – Part 2, What the New Testament Says About the Law
The Spirit of the Law – Part 3, Jesus Fulfilled the Law
The Spirit of the Law – Part 4, Christians Must Still Follow the Ten Commandments
The Spirit of the Law – Part 5, God Says “Keep My Commandments”
The Spirit of the Law – Part 6, All of God's Commandments
The Spirit of the Law – Part 7, Love, the Fulfillment of the Commandment
The Spirit of the Law – Part 8, The Law Has Been Magnified
The Spirit of the Law - A Summary
Interesting post and well said! Keep letting Jesus use you!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Evelyn
Shalom. I have read all of your "Spirit of the Law" posts and I have a question for you. If the Most High intended the "spirit of the law" to replace and supplant the "letter of the law", then why do we not see this exemplified in either the Savior or the Hebrew apostles and brethren. We know that the Savior kept the law perfectly, letter and spirit. While you may say that he needed to in order to be the perfect sacrifice, what about the apostles and Hebrew brethren? What about James telling Paul to show the people that he "walkest orderly and keepest the law" ( Acts 21:24 )? Or the many thousands of Hebrews that believed ( under the leadership of Peter, James, and John ) that were all "zealous of the law" ( Acts 21:20 )? Were these people in error? Or did they have a different understanding of the relationship between the law and the Spirit than you do? I believe the latter is the case. You seem to polarize the law and the Spirit, whereas when I read the scriptures I see more harmony than polarity ( See Ezek. 36:26, 27 ).
ReplyDeleteHello Bro. Don,
ReplyDeleteFor the sake of directly addressing your questions, I hope you do not mind that I refer back to some of the current articles.
The Scriptures clearly indicate that the "letter of the law" has been replaced by the "law of the Spirit": http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2009/07/spirit-of-law.html
Jesus exemplified the letter and spirit of the law because that is how the law was fulfilled. This fulfillment was necessary in order to usher in the new and better covenant through faith in Christ: http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2009/07/spirit-of-law-part-3.html
Acts Chapter 21 reveals Paul coming to Jerusalem and being received by the brethren as he reports on the success of his ministry. Paul is told that there were concerns among the Jews in the city who were believers in Jesus, but were also zealous for the law regarding the teachings abroad about not needing to keep the law.
James' concern is that this might present an obstacle to the Jews gathering together (verse 22). So, James in essence requests that Paul become as one under the law in order to win those who are zealous for the law.
"And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law." I Corinthians 9:20
However, note as well that James confirms the teaching that we are no longer under the law as well:
"As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication." Acts 21:25
So, this is not about error in the status of the law, but the apostles doing all in their power to become all things to all men in order to save some. James did not want Paul's testimony to be impeded over disputes of the law.
You may also want to read Chapter 22, where Paul gives his testimony to support the fact that he was called of God to preach such things and was anointed by Ananias (a devout keep of the law) to do the same.
If the text actually said what you infer (that Paul AND the other Apostles promoted being keepers of the law), then there would not have been any need for the multitudes to rush Paul, throw him from the temple, arrest him and beat him. The reason they did so is because he claimed his teachings were justified and directed by God. A teaching that one must keep the law once in Christ would have been welcomed and not rebuked by the Jews.
Shalom LDM,
ReplyDelete"Paul is told that there were concerns among the Jews in the city who were believers in Jesus, but were also zealous for the law regarding the teachings abroad about not needing to keep the law." Please clarify that statement.
Also, are you saying that James was asking Paul to put on before the people, or did Paul truly walk orderly and keep the law?
Remember, the charge against Paul was that he taught the JEWS amongst the Gentiles to forsake circumcision and the customs of Moses, which charge James called "nothing." This is confirmed by Acts 25:8 and Acts 28:17. I am fully aware of the judgment that the apostles made concerning the Gentiles, however, Paul did NOT teach the Hebrew brethren to forsake circumcision and the customs of Moses. If you disagree, then please show me where in scripture he did so.
Also, please comment on
Ezek. 36:26, 27.
Hi Bro. Don?
ReplyDelete"Put on?" I am not sure that I understand what you imply here.
Examine the full text from which I referenced in this matter:
"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you." I Corinthians 9:19-23
Is Paul putting on airs? Pretending? No. He is making himself a partaker of those to whom he ministers so that he can win them to Christ.
The answer is in your own statement. These things are in essence "nothing" to the Kingdom of God. Whether one is free or slave, Jewish or Gentile, under law or not under law, weak or strong...They do not add to, nor take away from, the new covenant. So it gives Paul, and us, the freedom to minister the Gospel without causing offense to those with whom we minister.
This is why Paul was asked by James to "be at charges with them".
"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." Hebrews 7:12
"In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to VANISH AWAY." Hebrews 8:13
The entire book of Hebrews is filled with Paul's discussion of the law and it's relation to believers in Christ - and this was written to the Jews.
"But now WE ARE DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." Romans 7:6
Who was serving in the oldness of the letter? It surely wasn't the Gentiles, but the Jews.
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus HATH MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW of sin and death." Romans 8:2
Is not Paul a Hebrew of Hebrews? Yet, He is made free from the law.
"For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to EVERY ONE that believeth." Romans 10:4
Are not Hebrews included in "every one"?
There are many texts, and a number of them are covered in this series. Remember, there is neither Jew nor Gentile in Christ but all are under one covenant for God has made of them both one new man.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 speaks of the law of the Spirit, where we obey the motivation behind God's commands by nature versus an outward performance by compulsion to a letter because He has given us a new heart and a new spirit.
ReplyDeleteSuch is discussed throughout the series, but also here:
http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2009/07/spirit-of-law-part-4.html
http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2009/07/spirit-of-law-part-8.html
http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2009/08/spirit-of-law-summary.html
I have a question about the Old Testament laws. If we don't follow those lists of rules and ordinances, then should we quote them to people when they are sinning?
ReplyDeleteFor example, I have a Christian friend who is thinking of getting a tattoo. I was shocked to hear this. If I say to that friend you are sinning because God said in x scripture that we shouldn't mark ourselves then am I putting the person under the law? Or should I think that something is wrong with a Christian who even desires to have a tattoo? How can I say don't get a tattoo because the scripture says so but you don't have to tithe because we aren't under the law? Or I might say don't get a tattoo but you don't have to keep the Sabbath, even though both are commandments given by God. It's like I would be picking and choosing which laws to keep and which to throw away.
I hope my question makes sense.
Hi Anonymous,
ReplyDeletePerhaps the following would help: How the Law is to Be Used Lawfully
Also, remember, the laws of the Old Testament are good and contain much wisdom. The issue is that they are merely a type or shadow of the great commandment: love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and your neighbor as yourself.
The principles of the OT are true and valid. Our quest as Christians however is to walk in the Spirit behind the commands, and not simply the letter.
For example, Christians absolutely DO keep the Sabbath...by ceasing from their own works to rest in Christ. The OT focused on a physical day as a type of this spiritual "rest" we now find in Christ.
Further, in the OT, God told His people not to tattoo themselves because it was an outward show of dedication to false gods. In the NT, we are told to be sanctified into the Lord which represents a dedication/consecration to Him alone. The OT focused on the outward appearance of idolatry while the NT deals with the idolatry in the heart.
So the OT commands are not nullified, but fulfilled and expanded as they deal with the heart of man and just not outward conformity.
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also." Matthew 23:25-26
Jesus said that if we make the inside clean, then the outside will take care of itself. So, it is not that it is okay to get tattoos because such is in the OT, but that - having been transformed within to be in the image of Christ - He eradicates from us the desire to dedicate ourselves to other gods through such acts as tattooing.
The OT surely reflects the mind of God as does the NT; and God changes not.
Thanks for posting!
Dear LDM
ReplyDeleteI have a question concerning the concept you present in this article, and if I may, I'll use your analogy of your daughter cleaning her room. You say that living by the spirit of the law is rather like you asking your daughter to clean her room, and not giving her the checklist of specifics, but rather expecting her to meet your standards by her knowledge of your expectations. Question: As she proceeds with this task, does her own interpretation of your expectations negate or nullify anything on the previous checklist? Does she have authority now to do as she sees best? Or does your expectation of the minimum remain the same? Would her effort now be acceptable if she did not accomplish all that was on the previous checklist? In other words; would her service by the 'spirit', negate or abolish any of the checklist items of the 'letter' that she was expected to meet previously?
Hello SeanEichelberger,
DeleteAs she proceeds with this task, does her own interpretation of your expectations negate or nullify anything on the previous checklist? Does she have authority now to do as she sees best?
The point being made in the article is that she is not cleaning according to her own interpretation or authority at all. She is cleaning based upon my standards because she has come to know me so well that she can now see as I see.
"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Jeremiah 31:31-34
Or does your expectation of the minimum remain the same?
My minimum expectation has been raised and the standards are now higher because I know that she knows better.
"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48
"He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" Hebrews 10:28-29
Would her effort now be acceptable if she did not accomplish all that was on the previous checklist? In other words; would her service by the 'spirit', negate or abolish any of the checklist items of the 'letter' that she was expected to meet previously?
Yes, as stated above "Likewise, if the windows don’t need to be cleaned, she is free not to do that even if it was previously on the list because she is adhering to the spirit behind my command to "clean the room"."
"And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." Luke 6:2-5
Tell me if I’m understanding what you are saying. The spirit of the law also includes the letter, but actually brings us up much higher, and that by keeping the spirit of the law, we are then by necessity also keeping the letter?
ReplyDeleteIf this is what you are saying, then I completely agree, because this is what I find Jesus saying in Matt 5.
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment...” vs 21,22. Jesus is stating that in the past you’ve been taught that it was wrong take the life of another person, but I’m telling you that if you are angry with someone unjustly, that you’ve broken the command just as surely as if you had murdered. So the standard Jesus reveals here, is such that if one is in harmony with the spirit of the command, he will never even come close to violating the letter.
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Vs 27,28. Jesus again, revealing the much higher standard of the spirit of the law, states that previously you learned that it is wrong to commit the act of adultery, but I’m telling you that just to think lustful thoughts about a woman condemns you just as surely as if you had committed the act.
“For we know that the law is spiritual…”Ro.7:14.This spiritual law is something completely foreign to the unconverted heart. The unconverted heart can only see a list of do’s and don’ts. It hasn’t the eyesalve to comprehend spiritual things. Thus we see the absolute necessity of the new covenant experience. It is only as we recognize our need and come to Christ, forsaking self, that He can give us a new heart and mind. “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…“ Heb 10:16,17.He places His law in our hearts(the desire to keep the spirit of the law) and writes it in our minds(the knowledge to comprehend it correctly).
But to get there, a sinner must recognize his sin before he will ever seek a savior, and it is by the law that one identifies what exactly sin is. Paul states: “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
So after a sinner comes to Christ, and abides in Him, does the law serve any further application in our lives? Again Paul explains in Ro.7:25 “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Paul here defines the difference between a person who chooses to live by the ‘spirit’ of the law(by God’s grace), and a person who lives by the flesh.“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit... For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”Ro.8:1,13. To live by the ‘spirit’ is to have life eternal. To live by the flesh is to die eternally.
Therefore, a person who lives their life according to the spirit of the law, will not violate the letter , but will actually result in mortifying the deeds of the flesh(cease to live in sin any longer), and ultimately results in eternal life. Conversely, one who is violating the letter is not living according to the spirit of the law and is in fact actually fulfilling the deeds of the flesh(continuing to live in sin) which ultimately results in eternal death.
To keep the spirit of the law is to, at the same time keep the letter of the law(that law of liberty, Ja. 2:12), which brings us into harmony with the character of God - and is also known as love.”… love is the fulfilling of the law.”Ro.13:10.
If this is what you are saying, then I agree completely.
Hi SeanEichelberger,
DeleteThe spirit of the law also includes the letter, but actually brings us up much higher, and that by keeping the spirit of the law, we are then by necessity also keeping the letter?
No, that is not what I am saying. Where in Scripture does it say that the spirit of the law includes the keeping of the letter? Or, does Scripture contrast the two, one against another?
It is true that the spirit of the law is a much higher standard than the letter.
It is also true that there is still a purpose for the law today, which is to convict the sinner of sin and reveal his need for Christ.
Consider the following:
** Scriptures contrast the spirit vs. the letter. It does not indicate that the spirit includes keeping the letter. (Rom. 2:29, 7:6, 8:2; II Cor. 3:6-7; Gal.5:8)
** The evidence that one is living after the spirit is not that one is keeping the letter. Such an assertion is in direct opposition to Scripture (Gal. 3:1-12, 4:9-31, 5:4-18). The evidence that one is living after the spirit of the law is that the fruit of the Spirit is in their lives...and against such there is no law (Gal. 5:18-23).
** The spirit of the law is not a means for man to keep the letter of the law. Such would mean that the letter still applies to the born again believer; and Scripture says that it does not. (Rom. 6:14, 8:2, 7:4-6; Gal. 3:19-25, 5:18; II Cor. 3:6)
** You cannot measure a higher standard (spirit of the law) by the merits of a lower standard (the letter of the law). God's standards for sin and righteousness exceed the letter. Keeping the letter will not stop one from being a sinner (Luke 1:6; Rom. 3:20; Phil. 3:6; I John 5:7) and neither will it allow one to obtain God's righteousness (Matt. 19:16-22; Rom. 9:30-31; 10:3; Gal. 2:21, 3:21).
** The letter does not bring us into harmony with the character of God and Scripture says it never could (Gal. 2:21; Heb. 7:19). The purpose of the letter was to point man to Christ, not to make man righteous...because it cannot (Gal. 3:19-25)
There are many Scriptures which disprove the assertion that following the spirit of the law means keeping the letter of the law. Again, I refer you to Luke 6:2-5, as well as the following:
"Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?" Matt. 12:5
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." Col. 2:16
"One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Rom. 14:5
"And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Acts 10:13-15
"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law...For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof." Hebrews 7:12, 18
If born again believers were still expected to follow the letter of the law, then none of the above texts (including the ones referenced in the earlier comments) would have been in Scripture.
So you're suggesting that one could be keeping the spirit of the law(and by law I'm referring to the moral code of 10 commandments) and at the same time violating the letter? Is it possible to do as Jesus instructs in Mt.5 and keep one's mind from impure lustful thoughts, while at the same time physically violating the letter of the 7th command?
ReplyDelete(Lk 6:2-5 The Pharisees were arguing from a perverted understanding of God's law. They continually accused Jesus of violating the law, but Jesus never actually did. If He had, He could not have been the spotless lamb typified in the sanctuary service. He could not have been our Savior.)
Hello SeanEichelberger,
DeleteThe issue is not what I suggest, but what the word of God states.
The point of the text in Luke 6:2-5 is not what the Pharisees said, but what Jesus said. Jesus speaks of how David broke the letter of the law, but was not wrong. Jesus speaks of how the priests profane the Sabbath, but are blameless. The word continues to indicate how no man can now judge us in things pertaining to the law because we are not under the law.
Again, I refer you to the Scriptures. Never does the Bible say that born again Christians are given the Spirit in order to keep the letter of the law; rather, the two are juxtapositioned against each other. The New Testament confirms that not only is the born again Christian not under the law, but that those who seek to still be under the law are under a curse. We are to cast out the bondwoman for the ministration of death has been done away (II Cor. Chap. 3).
I can explain no further what I mean beyond what has been written. At some point, one must forget what people what people think and deal with the Scriptures themselves. Those who seek the Scriptures for truth verily shall find it.
Review the Scriptures provided and see if they support what you have claimed. When our views are at odds with Scripture, it is we who must change, if we love the truth (who is Jesus).
Thanks
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHi SeanEichelberger,
DeleteJesus states that what David did was "not lawful". Jesus states that the priests "profaned" the Sabbath. Those are not my words nor are they opinion; they are the words of God. You are free of course to believe otherwise.
You have provided no Scripture to support your premise that keeping the spirit of the law includes keeping the letter. Neither have you posted any Scripture showing that keeping the letter of the law is the evidence that one is walking in the spirit of the law. Nor have you offered any Scripture that says the born again believer is under the law.
These are all assertions you have made, and I responded to your inquiry in good faith. However you have ignored the provided texts, preferring instead to argue those same points (sans Scriptural support). As such, there is really nothing else for us to discuss.
While Scripture does say iron sharpens iron, the iron blade that each person offers is the word of God which is sharper than any two-edged sword. If one is not willing to look honestly at the word of God, then such discussion is futile, vain, and foolish. Scripture also says to avoid foolish strivings about the law.
So, while I hope that I have addressed your inquiry to clarify what was being said, I also pray that you will study further what the Scriptures say in this matter. It is the Scriptures after all, which is the foundation of all truth.
Thank you
Hey sis...i've read through this series several times over the last couple of years & just want you to know how grateful I am for your care in helping me to better understand this!! So thankful for our wonderful Father who patiently instructs us & whose given us so great a salvation! Hope you are doing well & God bless!!
ReplyDelete