Paul and the Law

An adder is hated not for the euill it hath done but for the poyson that is in it (Pathway to the Scriptures).
We must first be euill ere we do euil, and good before we do good (Pathway to the Scriptures).
The deede is good because of the man and not the man because of his deede (Prologue to Genesis).¹

Therefore, do we abolish law through the faith? Never! Rather, we establish law (Romans 3.31).

Introduction

The quotes above are from William Tyndale, the greatest of the reformers. Tyndale understood the purpose of the Mosaic Law, the nature of man, and Paul’s doctrine of sin and righteousness. His statements revealed the Biblical truth:

WE ARE SINNERS NOT BECAUSE WE BREAK THE LAW;
WE BREAK THE LAW BECAUSE WE ARE SINNERS.

We sin because we have a nature that wants to sin, to rebel against God. The only way to overcome sin is with a new nature. This truth must sink into one’s being if he is to understand God’s revelation about sin, righteousness, and man’s condition. Apart from such understanding, everything God has revealed in the Bible about sin will be misunderstood.

God gave Israel the Mosaic Law for one purpose: to reveal sin and condemn (Romans 3.19-20). Paul wrote Timothy:

⁸But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers ¹⁰and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, ¹¹according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted (1 Timothy 1.8-11).

Christendom has never come to grips with this truth. Most believe God gave the Mosaic Law to make one better. Most churches teach the Church, the body of Christ, is under the Mosaic Law. Why? Part of the answer is that most churches spend most of their time in the gospels, which concerns the Jews who were under the Law.

No one who spends time with Paul will conclude the Church is under the Mosaic Law. The great apostle’s teachings are completely contrary to such thought. Tragically, the vast majority of Christendom know little of Paul nor understand his teachings. When one reads acclaimed Pauline “experts” and “scholars” one finds they too have little comprehension of Paul’s doctrines or knowledge of his revelations (secrets).

This article will examine Paul’s teachings about the Law and the believer’s relationship to it primarily through examining Paul’s letter to the Galatians. The goal is to reveal the believer’s freedom in Christ and how we are to live a godly life apart from the governance of the Mosaic Law.

Paul the Pharisee

Paul trained as a Pharisee and became a zealot of Judaism and the Mosaic Law. Paul thought he doing God’s will and keeping the Law in arresting, torturing, and killing those who believed Jesus was the promised Messiah. How wrong he was!

In God’s matchless grace, God saved Saul of Tarsus. God redirected Paul’s zeal for His own purposes and commissioned him “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11.13) and the apostle of grace. No one ever experienced such a radical change in outlook and direction as Paul. As a Hebrew of the Hebrews, God sent him to Gentiles. As a legalistic zealot, God revealed righteous living apart from the administration of the Mosaic Law. To effect this transformation, God gave Paul revelations, “secrets” (μυστήριον), God had kept hidden from the Law and prophets, and from the Twelve.

History of the Mosaic Law

God gave the Mosaic Law to Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20). The Mosaic Law was God’s moral, ceremonial, and civil law to govern a Jew’s daily life.² The Decalogue expressed God’s moral law. But the moral law existed long before Moses’ encounter with God on Mt. Sinai. The moral law reflects the nature and character of God and is eternal. God codified the moral law in the Mosaic Law and made Israel accountable to it. Before the Mosaic Law, morality was “written on the heart” (Romans 2.14-15) in man’s conscience.

The Mosaic Law contained the moral, ceremonial, and civil law but Jews did not regard it as being in three parts; they regarded it as a single tapestry. For the Jew, removal of any aspect of the Law was unthinkable because God had given ALL the Law.

Paul’s Teaching About the Law

What did Paul teach concerning the Law? Outlined below are four points of Paul’s doctrine of the Law:

1. Recipients:	God gave the Mosaic Law to Israel alone.	Exodus 20.1-17, 22; Romans 2.14-15, 3.19, 9.4; 1 Corinthians 9.20-21; Ephesians 2.11-12;
2. Nature:	The Law was good.	Romans 2.20, 7.12, 14, 16, 22; Galatians 3.21; Hebrews 10.1
3. Purpose:	The Law revealed and condemned sin.	Romans 3.19-20, 4.15, 5.13, 7.7; Galatians 3.10, 19; 2 Corinthians 3.7, 9; 1 Timothy 1.8-9
4. Effect:	The Law incited sin.	Romans 4.15, 5.20, 7.5, 8-9, 22-23; 1 Corinthians 15.56

Paul taught that Israel alone had received the Mosaic Law and was under its administration. Gentiles were excluded from the Law, as was the Church, the body of Christ (Ephesians 2.11-13; Romans 3.1-2, 6.14). However, Paul taught that when Gentiles or the Church come in contact with the Law, it has the same effect it had on Israel: it condemns (Romans 3.19).

Much of Christendom does not understand what place the Mosaic Law has with regard to the Church. Paul faced this problem with the Galatians and his primary purpose in writing them was to correct their misguided thinking and behavior of trying to live the Christian life under the Mosaic Law. He declared that believers of his gospel, the gospel of the grace of God (Act 20.24; 1 Corinthians 15.1-4), the glorious gospel (1 Timothy 1.11), were to live under the administration of grace, not Law (Romans 6.14). A brief review of Galatians should cure anyone of the notion that Christians are under the Mosaic Law.

The Epistle to the Galatians

Galatians 1

Paul wrote the Galatians to correct a problem created by Jews from Judea who were trying to bring his converts under the Mosaic Law. Paul had dealt with this issue at the Council of Jerusalem (c. 51 A.D.). Jews from Jerusalem had been going to Paul’s converts and telling them they were not saved by believing Paul’s gospel. They declared one must also be circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law to be saved (Acts 15.1, 5). Paul argued against them and won the day when Peter recalled his experience (at least a dozen years earlier) at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10). Peter’s declaration (Acts 15.11) at the Jerusalem Council ended the validity of the gospel of the kingdom’s which the Twelve and those associated with them preached. From that point, Paul’s gospel became the only gospel.

Some, however, continued to cause trouble and mislead Paul’s converts in Galatia. Paul reprimanded the Galatians for deserting his gospel for a “different” gospel, i.e., the gospel of the kingdom (Galatians 1.6-7) which required faith + works for salvation. Paul’s gospel was faith + 0. Paul declared that anyone who proclaimed a gospel other than his was accursed (ἀνάθεμα, Galatians 1.8-9). Paul could not have written this strong statement until after the decision of the Jerusalem Council. He reminded the Galatians how he had received his gospel: directly from the Lord Himself (Galatians 1.11-12), not from the Twelve or anyone else (Galatians 1.15-17).

Galatians 2

The first ten verses of Galatians chapter two recount Paul’s experience at the Jerusalem Council. Even though Peter supported Paul that his gospel alone was valid (Acts 15.11), understanding and living according to this decision proved difficult. In Galatians 2.11-14, Paul wrote how he had to correct Peter when he came down to Antioch:

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews (Galatians 2.14)?

Peter’s behavior in Antioch flew in the face of his words in Jerusalem. The Jews of the Jerusalem assembly wanted Gentiles to live like Jews under the Mosaic Law. Peter’s dissimulation was a result of his fear of the “party of the circumcision,” i.e., Jewish believers (Galatians 2.12). This is another indicator that reveals how much Peter’s authority had deteriorated over the years. He, the leader of the Twelve, was now afraid of his fellow Jews. Others had assumed power and held sway. Even Barnabas, Paul’s companion in his first missionary journey and companion at the Council in Jerusalem, folded (Galatians 2.13).

Paul explained the believer’s relationship to the Law concisely:

¹⁹ For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly” (Galatians 2.19-21).

Paul declared he had “died to the Law” (Galatians 2.19; Romans 7.4, 6). How much power does law have over the dead? None. Paul’s death was a result of identification with Christ in His death, “I have been crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2.20). Paul now lived a new life–a life based upon faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit–not the Law. It is through this life and this power that one is able to live a godly, holy life before God.

Galatians 3

In chapter 3, Paul began to apply his tonic to the foolish Galatians who were abandoning his teachings of grace for the teachings of Law of the Jerusalem assembly. Paul asked if they had received the Holy Spirit by keeping the Law or through faith (Galatians 3.1-2, 5). They knew the answer was the latter. Paul reminded them that Law-keeping was a work of the flesh (Galatians 3.3) and that those under the Law were under a curse (Galatians 3.10) from which Christ had redeemed us (Galatians 3.13-14).

Paul used Abraham to illustrate (Galatians 3.6; Romans 4.3-5, cf. Genesis 15.4-6) that his salvation was a pattern for all who believed his gospel of grace, in which salvation is obtained by faith alone. The Scriptures declared Abraham was justified by faith alone (Genesis 15.6). Because of this, Paul stated that those who believed his gospel of faith + 0 were “sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3.7). This fulfilled Abraham’s great blessing to Gentiles according to the Abrahamic Covenant (Galatians 3.8).³

Paul’s argument in Galatians 3.15-18 has been misunderstood greatly and has resulted in much theological contention. The word “seed” (זֶרַע, σπέρμα) in Hebrew, Greek, and English is a single as well as a collective noun. In Galatians 3.16, Paul appears to state that the promises made to Abraham’s “seed” referred not to his multiple seed but to Christ alone. But when one examines the texts, one discovers they refer to the multiplied seed, not the single seed (Genesis 12.1-3, 13.14-16, 15.5, 17.6-8, 22.17-18, 26.4, 28.14; Deuteronomy 1.8, 10, 21; Isaiah 60.1-3; Jeremiah 23.3, 5-6; Zechariah 8.13, 23; Acts 3.25-26; Romans 11.15, 25-26). The texts also reveal that not all of Abraham’s offspring were included. Isaac and Jacob were part of the “seed;” Ishmael and Esau were not (cf. Romans 9.6).

Paul’s stated God’s promise to Abraham took precedence over the Law which had come 430 years later (Galatians 3.17-18). God’s program with Israel began with Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenant. According to this covenant, all Gentile blessing would come through Israel. How could Israel’s generations bless Gentiles since their history was largely a history of unbelief? The Biblical record revealed that the nation would experience a glorious victory of faith only to sink into unbelief.

Israel’s blessings were to come through the Messiah. If Israel rejected the Messiah, how could Gentiles be blessed? The prophetic program’s answer was: they couldn’t. God had revealed no means by which Gentiles could be blessed apart from Israel. But Christ is the source of blessing for Jew and Gentile. He was the “seed” who could secure blessings of both. Therefore, even though Israel rejected her Messiah, Gentiles were being blessed through Paul’s gospel (Galatians 3.14). Paul became Israel’s untimely representative (1 Corinthians 15.8) of Gentile blessing–even while the nation remained in unbelief. This was the truth Paul expressed in his use of the single “seed,” Christ.

Why did God give the Law (Galatians 3.19)? Paul answered, “because of transgressions until the seed came to whom the promise was made.” The Law revealed sin and was valid until Christ, the “seed” of promise came. Was the Law contrary to the promises of God? Paul answered with his familiar, strongest negative, μὴ γένοιτο, “NO!” But the Law could not give life. If it could have, men would have achieved righteousness by keeping it (Galatians 3.21). The Law did its intended job: it condemned.

Paul concluded the chapter stating:

²³ But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. ²⁶ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

This passage requires careful attention if we are to understand the place of the Mosaic Law in Jewish life. What did Paul mean by his statement, “before faith came?” The first thing to note is that the passage is poorly translated. It does not read “faith” but “the faith.”

²³ But before the faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our tutor to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now the faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. ²⁶ For you are all the children of God through the faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3.23-26).

What did Paul mean by “the faith” in these verses? “The faith” was Paul’s gospel—the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20.24; 1 Corinthians 15.1-4). It also included the other revelations Paul had received from Christ—the secrets. Put another way, “the faith” was that body of truth Paul had received from the risen Lord.

Faith, believing God, was always part of Jewish life and of salvation. Hebrew 11 makes this clear. But Paul is making the case that “the faith,” his gospel, was unknown and new and that salvation was now based solely upon believing that gospel, i.e., by faith alone. The Jews in Jerusalem objected to Paul’s message because it had never been revealed or taught that salvation was by faith alone. They did not deny Paul’s converts faith. Their objection was that faith alone was insufficient for salvation; one must also be circumcised and keep the Law to be saved (Acts 15.1, 5). That was the point of contention.

Paul stated the Law acted as a “tutor” or “schoolmaster” παιδαγωγός (a guardian hired to train boys in right and wrong) to lead us to Christ. Thus, Paul wrote that the Law “has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith [alone].” And “now that faith [alone] has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” So the Law and the gospel of faith + keeping the Law was valid until Paul’s gospel of grace of faith + 0 came. This was precisely what Peter stated at the Council of Jerusalem: “But we believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are” (Acts 15.11). From that point onward, Jews had to be saved like Paul’s Gentiles. In other words, from the time of the Jerusalem Council going forward, only Paul’s gospel was valid (cf. Galatians 1.6-9). The gospel of the kingdom (faith + works) was over. Prior to Peter’s declaration, such an idea was unthinkable.

As a result of Paul’s gospel, no difference exists between Jew and Gentile in Christ (Galatians 3.28). This was not true before Paul. Paul alone revealed and taught the Church, the body of Christ. As far as being “Abraham’s descendants,” Paul’s point was that since Abraham was justified by faith alone (Galatians 3.29; Genesis 15.6) those who believe Paul’s gospel of faith alone are Abraham’s heirs–not on the basis of Law but on the basis of promise (Galatians 3.29).

Galatians 4

From Paul’s language in Galatians 4, it is clear some of his converts were Jews and some Gentiles. In Galatians 4.1-7, Paul addressed Jews first, who had been under the Mosaic Law. In Galatians 4.8-11, he addressed Gentiles who had been idol worshipers. Paul’s Jewish converts were the easiest targets of the Jews who wished to keep them under the Law. Since the Law had been their lifestyle, it was difficult for them to conceive of life apart from it. God had spent 1,500 years teaching them that they were under the administration of the Law. Now, Paul taught them that the administration of the Law was over. This was a challenge that only the Scriptures working through the agency of the Holy Spirit could overcome.

In Galatians 4.1-7, Paul continued the illustration of guardianship he had introduced in Galatians 3.24. Under the Law, a Jew was, according to Paul, a slave–even though he was an heir (Galatians 4.1-2; cf. Acts 15.10). But God has redeemed us from the Law–to be sons rather than slaves (Galatians 4.5-7).

Paul’s Gentile converts had been idolaters, slaves to false gods (Galatians 4.8 cf. 1 Thessalonians 1.9). Believing Paul’s gospel freed them from slavery. Paul asked why they wished to return to slavery–the slavery of the Mosaic Law (Galatians 4.9-11). The next verses, Galatians 4.12-20, reveal how tenderly Paul tried to woo the Galatians back to their previous happy relationship. He enjoined them to remember the freedom they had enjoyed and the kindness between them, “You received me as an angel of God, as Christ,” and asked them, “Where then is that sense of blessing you had?”

Returning to Abraham, Paul presented another illustration from Genesis in the final section of the chapter, Galatians 4.21-31. This was primarily for the benefit of his Jewish believers since they were familiar with the story. Paul rejoined, “Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?”

Paul recounted the story of Abraham’s first two sons. God promised Abraham He would make of him a great nation (Genesis 12.2). While God had made Abraham wealthy, he had no child, because his wife, Sarai was barren (Genesis 11.30, 15.2-4). In frustration, Sarai suggested he have a child by her handmaid, Hagar (Genesis 16.1-4). Abram agreed and had a son, Ishmael. Later, Abraham and Sarah had their own son, Isaac, when Abraham was 100 (Genesis 17.17; 21.5). Paul stated that Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, Hagar, was a child of the flesh rather than a child of promise (Galatians 4.22-23). These two sons represented two different approaches: flesh vs. faith, slavery vs. freedom (Galatians 4.24). The child of Hagar was of Mount Sinai, the Law, and earthly Jerusalem; the child of Sarah was of heavenly Jerusalem.

The Bible keeps heaven and earth distinct from Genesis to Revelation (Genesis 1.1; Revelation 21.1). Israel is God’s earthly people. The promises Israel inherits are earthly. The Church, the body of Christ, is God’s heavenly people. The blessings and inheritance of the Church are heavenly (Ephesians 1.3, 2.6; Philippians 3.20). In His earthly ministry, Jesus ministered to Jews under the Mosaic Law. In His heavenly ministry, Jesus commissioned Paul and gave him the ministry to Gentiles, who compose the vast majority in the Church, the body of Christ, who have a heavenly destiny, and are governed by grace. For this reason, Paul wrote, “But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother” (Galatians 4.26). Furthermore, Paul declared, “And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.” The Church, the body of Christ, is not under Law but under Promise, under Grace.

Paul concluded:

²⁹ But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman will not be an heir with the son of the free woman.” ³¹ So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.

As Ishmael mocked Isaac (Genesis 21.9), those of the “flesh,” those under the Law, persecute those born of the Spirit, of grace. Therefore, Paul declared “Cast out the bondwoman and her son.” The text reads, ἔκβαλε τὴν παιδίσκην καὶ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς and the verb ἐκβάλλω “throw out,” “cast away” is an imperative, a command. Why? Because we are not children of the bondwoman, of the flesh, of the Law. We are children of the Spirit, of faith and are free. Therefore, obedience to Christ means the Mosaic Law has NO place in the administration of Christian living.

Galatians 5

Having commanded the Galatians to “throw out” the Mosaic Law, Paul commanded them (and us) to keep standing fast (στήκετε, present active imperative) in the freedom of Christ and not be subject to the Mosaic Law (Galatians 5.1). One need comprehend only a little of Paul’s message to the Galatians to understand how great a tragedy exists in most of Christendom regarding living the Christian life. Most churches and denominations teach the opposite to what the great apostle taught, They reject the work of Christ which has set us free from the Law. Legalists and theonomists are the modern-day Judaizers who pervert Paul’s gospel of grace and disobey Christ (Galatians 5.11).

In verses 2-5, Paul revisited the issue of circumcision, which the Jewish believers of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15.1) had taught was required for salvation. Paul declared that if one is circumcised he is obligated to keep the entire Law (Galatians 5.3). This does not mean just the Decalogue; it means all the Law–the 613 commandments of the Law identified by Maimonides. The Mosaic Law was a “package.” One could not pick and choose from it. If one accepted the moral law, one also accepted the civil and ceremonial law. Thus, James wrote that to break one point of the Law was to break it all (James 2.10). Furthermore, Paul declared that those who place themselves under the Mosaic Law have been severed from Christ (καταργέω) and have fallen (ἐκπίπτω) from grace (Galatians 5.4). Does this mean that those who teach that Christians are under the Mosaic Law have lost their salvation? No. It means those who place themselves under the Law have turned away from God’s revealed way to live the Christian life: by faith, love, and the Holy Spirit.

Having taught them the freedom of Christ apart from the Law, Paul questioned what had happened to them:

⁷ You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. ⁹ A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. ¹⁰ I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. ¹¹ But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. ¹² I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate (ἀποκόπτω) themselves.

These are strong words. Notice Paul declared that the teaching that Christians are under the Law is “not from Him who calls you.” Those who teach that Christians are under the Law have rejected God’s revelation and have poisoned the body of Christ.

If the believer is not under the Mosaic Law, how is he to live the Christian life? Paul had begun his answer in Galatians 5.6, which reads, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.”

Paul elaborated:

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You will love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. ¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

The Christian is to fulfill the moral law of God, just as Israel which was under the Law. But Christians are to fulfill the moral law apart from the administration of the Mosaic Law. Christians are not to be under the administration of the Mosaic Law because we have a far better overseer: the Holy Spirit. Believers of Paul’s gospel were identified with Christ in His death which crucified the Law (Romans 6.3-5, 7.4, 6; Galatians 2.20; Ephesians 2.15; Colossians 2.14). His work provided a wholly new means of keeping the moral law. Instead of operating under the Mosaic Law, the believer operates under the administration of the Holy Spirit who engenders love. Will the Holy Spirit lead one to sin? Will love lead one to sin? Thus, Paul wrote, “if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law” (verse 18 cf. Romans 6.14).

Again, quoting and commenting on Tyndale, C. S. Lewis captured the essence of Paul’s thought concerning the Law:

The transition comes by the gift of faith which immediately and almost by definition passes into love. We are confronted with the redemption which God performed ‘to winne his enemye, to ouercomme him with loue, that he might see Loue and loue again’. The essence of the change is that we now have power ‘to loue that which before we could not but hate’. The ‘fretting’ voice of the law is now the will of the Beloved, already in principle (if not at every moment) our own will, and man can ‘be glad and laugh from the low bottome of his hart’ (Pathway). ⁴

Galatians 6

In verses 1-10, Paul encouraged those who were spiritual to restore a believer who sinned with a spirit of gentleness, recognizing that we all have weaknesses. Though the Christian is not under the administration of the Law, he is not to sin: God will not be mocked and what a man sows he will reap. In other words, sin has consequences. One cannot escape them.

He closed the letter, verses 11-18, stating that those who wanted to put the Galatians under the Mosaic Law did not keep the Law and that their behavior was “so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.” The “cross of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1.17; cf. Philippians 3.17-19) was Paul’s gospel. Those who advocated that believers were to be under the administration of the Law were enemies of the “cross of Christ” (Galatians 6.14).

Paul used “circumcision” as a metonymy for the Law and stated, “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Galatians 6.15). This is the heart of the matter. The believer of Paul’s gospel has been crucified with Christ, i.e., identified in His death, burial, and resurrection. He has become a new creation. The old creation, being “in Adam,” could not keep the Law no matter how hard he tried. Only as a new creation, “in Christ,” controlled by the faith, love, and the Holy Spirit can one keep the Law.

As his final exhortation, Paul declared, “And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (Galatians 6.16). With this statement, Paul declared “peace and mercy” to those who followed his gospel. The “them” were believers of Paul’s gospel and the “Israel of God” were the believing Jews of the Jerusalem assembly (the Judaizers).⁵

Through numerous passages, Paul made it clear that Christians are under grace, not subject to the Mosaic Law:

1. New Administration:	Christians are under grace, not Law, but fulfill the Law.	Romans 3.28; 6.14-15, 7.1-4, 6, 8.2-4; 13.8, 10; 1 Corinthians 9.20-21; Galatians 3.13, 17-18, 23-24, 4.4-5, 5.14, 18, 6.2; Ephesians 2.15
2. Salvation:	Christians are saved apart from the Law.	Romans 4.13-14, 16; Galatians 2.16, 21, 3.11; Philippians 3.9
3. Sanctification:	Christians are sanctified by grace, apart from the Law.	Romans 3.31, 7.22-25; Galatians 2.19, 3.2, 5, 5.3-4; Colossians 2.6-7

Paul’s dogmatic teaching was that Christians are not under the administration of the Mosaic Law. This does not mean a believer is not under the moral law of God or free to sin. The moral law existed long before the Mosaic Law. Christ freed us from the Law, not to give license to sin, but so we can live holy lives and do good. True freedom is the ability and power to do what is right. The one who believes Paul’s gospel is under new management, the administration of the Holy Spirit. Baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12.13; Titus 3.5-7), the Holy Spirit works through the Scriptures and the believer’s new nature by faith and love to fulfill the moral law. Thus, Paul exclaimed, “For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man” (Romans 7.22). A good tree produces good fruit and the new nature produces good works. Paul taught this new administration was glorious (2 Corinthians 3.8) and that its glory far exceeded the glory of the Mosaic Law (2 Corinthians 3.7, 9, 11).

Paul and the Decalogue

While Christ has freed us from the Mosaic Law, Paul referenced the moral law evidenced in the Decalogue throughout his writings (see chart below). The one exception was the Sabbath. Christians do not keep the “sabbath.” The sabbath is the seventh day, the day God rested from His work of creation (Genesis 2.2-3). God gave Israel, not the Church, the covenant of the Sabbath (Exodus 31:12-18). Christians celebrate the first day of the week because that was the day Christ arose from the dead. But, in reality, for Christians all days are equal. Put another way, every day for the believer is resurrection day–the day of hope and future glory.

Paul’s Reprise of the Decalogue
The Decalogue (Exodus 20. 1-17)		Paul’s Writings
1	^{3 “}You will have no other gods before Me.”	Acts 17.24-25; Galatians 4.8; 1 Thessalonians 1.9
2	^{4 “}You will not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. ⁵“You will not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, ⁶but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”	1 Corinthians 5.11, 6.9-10, 10.7, 14; 2 Corinthians 6.16; Galatians 5.19-20; Ephesians 5.5; Colossians 3.5; 1 Thessalonians 1.9
3	⁷“You will not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.”	Ephesians 4.31; Colossians 3.8; 1 Timothy 1.20; 2 Timothy 3.1,2
4	⁸“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹“Six days you will labor and do all your work, ¹⁰but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you will not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. ¹¹“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.”	Colossians 2.16-17 cf. Romans 14.5-6. Every commandment is repeated except the Sabbath. Paul taught believers are not under Sabbath requirements. The Sabbath was the 7^th day of the week and applied only to Jews under the Law. The idea Sunday is the new “Sabbath” is non-Scriptural.
5	¹²“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.”	Ephesians 6.1-3; Colossians 3.20; 2 Timothy 3.1-2
6	¹³“You will not murder.”	Romans 13.9; 1 Timothy 1.9
7	¹⁴“You will not commit adultery.”	Romans 13.9; 1 Corinthians 5.11, 6.9-10, 18, 10.8; Galatians 5.19; Ephesians 5.5; 1 Timothy 1.9,10; Hebrews 13.4
8	¹⁵“You will not steal.”	Romans 13.9; 1 Corinthians 6.10; Ephesians 4.28
9	¹⁶“You will not bear false witness against your neighbor.”	Romans 13.9; Galatians 1.19; Ephesians 4.25; Colossians 3.9; 1 Timothy 1.9,10, 4.1-2; 2 Timothy 3.1,3; Titus 1.2; Hebrews 6.18
10	¹⁷“You will not covet your neighbor’s house; you will not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”	Romans 1.29, 7.7, 13.9; 1 Corinthians 5.11, 6.10, 10.6; Galatians 5.16; Ephesians 5.5; Colossians 3.5; 1 Thessalonians 2.5; Hebrews 13.5

Conclusion

God gave the Mosaic Law to Israel, not to Gentiles, and not to the Church. The Law did one thing: condemn. It could not make one right with God. For the Jews, the Law provided the Levitical sacrifices whereby sins were “covered” (כָּפַר). The animal sacrifices were a “patch.” Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection solved the problem of sin and death. When one believes Paul’s gospel, God seals the believer and baptizes him into the body of Christ (Ephesians 1.13; 1 Corinthians 12.13; Titus 3.5-7). God gives him a new nature and places him under the management of the Holy Spirit. The new nature can obey God for it has not been corrupted by Adam’s sin. It loves God and desires to please him. The Christian life can only be lived by faith. Faith is obedience and engenders love. The essence of law is obedience. Paul used the expression, “obedience of faith,” ὑπακοὴν πίστεως, (Romans 1.5, 16.26), a genitive of apposition, “obedience that is faith,” “obedience, namely faith.” Faith is obedience. This is what Paul meant when he wrote, “Therefore, do we abolish law through the faith? Never! Rather, we establish law” (Romans 3.31). Paul did not write against law, he only noted its purpose and limitations–weak through our fallen nature. It is through faith and the control of the indwelling Spirit that we keep the law. Thus, the great apostle wrote, “For the love of the Christ constrains us, for we have concluded this: that One died for all, therefore all died. And He died for all, so that those who live, should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised (2 Corinthians 5.14-15).

¹C. S. Lewis, English Literature in the Sixteenth Century, Excluding Drama, p. 187-188. Lewis’ comment on William Tyndale is the finest succinct explanation of the difference between law and grace ever written. Lewis wrote, “In reality Tyndale is trying to express an obstinate fact which meets us long before we venture into the realm of theology; the fact that morality or duty (what he calls the ‘the Law’) never yet made a man happy in himself or dear to others. It is shocking, but it is undeniable. We do not wish either to be, or to live among, people who are clean or honest or kind as a matter of duty: we want to be, and to associate with, people who like being clean and honest and kind. The mere suspicion that what seemed an act of spontaneous friendliness or generosity was really done as a duty subtly poisons it.” Lewis continued, “Of freedom in the true sense–of spontaneity and disinterestedness–Nature knows nothing. And yet by a terrible paradox, such disinterestedness is precisely what the moral law demands. The law requires not only that we should do thus and thus but that we should do it with ‘a free, a willing, a loving, a lusty and a louing hart.’ Its beginning and end is that we should love God and our neighbors. It demands of us not only acts but new motives.”
² Maimonides concluded the Torah contained 613 commandments. See 613 Commandments.
³ Paul did not state Jews were saved by faith alone. Abraham was an exception. We have no indication in the Old Testament that Jews were saved by faith alone apart from works. On the contrary, the Biblical evidence is Jews were saved by faith and works. Before Paul, sola fide was unknown. See the author’s article, Faith and Works in James: Resolving the Problem.
⁴ Lewis, op. cit., p. 188.
⁵ This verse is analyzed in the author’s article, “Israel” as a Technical Term.”

Updated, 26 October 2024

260 thoughts on “Paul and the Law”

Ron G March 8, 2014 at 9:42 pm
Don,
Great article, probably one of the most succinct I have read.
What are your thoughts regarding those in the church today who use the “Decalogue” as a tool in witnessing to show people they are sinners in need of a saviour?
Also, and this might not be the right area to cover this, and you may have addressed it elsewhere, but in presenting Paul’s gospel of grace to the unsaved, is it important to ensure they understand that Jesus who died for there sins, and was raised, is in fact God and had to be God?
Ron G
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1. doctrine Post authorMarch 9, 2014 at 12:56 pm
  Ron,
  Thank you. All Scripture is profitable and as the Law’s purpose was to reveal sin it still works. On the other–absolutely. If Jesus was not God He could not have paid for our sins. Remember the scribes remonstrated against Jesus that He blasphemed for “who can forgive sins but God.” So, to demonstrate his authority to forgive sin He told the man to take up his bed and walk.
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  1. Jared May 22, 2016 at 4:13 am
    Hi, love the website! However I have a question you answered and was looking for a little more clarity on your thoughts Referring to Galatians CH 5 verses 2-4. I read where you said that the falling from grace was not saying that you could lose your salvation. I would absolutely agree that we are secure in Christ. But through listening to Les he commented saying that these were unbelievers who turned they’re back on the simple gospel by adding something to it and therefore were not saved.Also saying that if someone adds anything to faith alone then they are not true believers. When reading this passage where it talks about circumcision as a means of salvation it says Christ will profit you nothing! I was under the impression that means you are not saved if you hold to that thinking. Also do you think people who don’t believe in eternal security are truly saved? Again love the site and have learned alot just looking for you thoughts God bless, Jared.
    Reply ↓
    1. doctrine Post authorMay 22, 2016 at 7:51 am
      Jared,
      Thank you. The issue with the Galatians was the same Paul faced in Acts 15. These believers were being told they had to keep the Law. But the Law was a total system. Paul argued believers of his gospel were under the system of grace, under the administration of the Holy Spirit, not the Mosaic Law. That is why he wrote that one was debtor to do the entire Law (Galatians 5.3-4). The issue of salvation was settled at the Council of Jerusalem (see my article, The Great Hinge). We read in 2 Timothy 1.15 that all Asia rejected Paul’s teaching and this was the beginning of Pauline apostasy which is why the Church is so confused today. It’s a 1,900+ year problem. Individual exceptions excluded, I doubt people who do not believe in eternal security know the Lord.
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      1. jeff October 6, 2024 at 11:24 am
        “I doubt people who do not believe in eternal security know the Lord” WOW at 1st thought, But isn’t knowing the Lord a teaching from Jesus to Israel , when Christ says I never Knew You. Based on a works /based salvation. I might be ignorant some, but Does Paul ever mention we have to Know the Lord verse showing us to believe in the Gospel. We are his body, once we believe. How can we not know the Lord, it’s an automatic thing. We are part of the Body of Christ. If we are saved we know the Lord. I might be on left field on this thought!
        Reply ↓
        doctrine Post authorOctober 7, 2024 at 10:26 am
        Jeff,
        My presumption is if one does not believe one is eternally saved, one must do something to retain that salvation. If one must do something beyond believing Christ died for one’s sins and rose from the dead, that “salvation” is based on works. There are those who have doubts about one’s salvation, e.g., did I believe the right thing, have enough faith, etc., but that is a different matter.
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  2. FollowerofMessiah December 17, 2018 at 2:46 pm
    God is One. As quoted in the Shema. Not a 3 in one trinitarian hybrid. Unitarians have it right. Acknowledging the Father the God/Elohim the Son the Messiah Jesus/Yeshua and the Holy Ghost the Holy Spirit of Father works through our Mediator Messiah given unto us.
    Reply ↓
    1. doctrine Post authorDecember 18, 2018 at 8:56 am
      FollowerofMessiah,
      Yes, God is One. But as early as Genesis 1.26 we find God saying, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” We are created in the image of God, not angels, so we know that this does not refer to angels. See my article, Who is Jesus Christ? He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the I AM of the burning bush.
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  3. Ralph December 31, 2021 at 4:40 pm
    Jesus was given authority by God. He never claimed to be God.
    We are saved by God’s grace; we obey his Law because it is the right thing to do. If Paul was saying that gentiles don’t need to be inundated with the Law because it was intended for Jews, then do we accept man’s interpretation instead of God’s? The Jews were to be a light to the world; their behaviour was to be exemplary, by bringing God’s Law to the world and demonstrating obedience for example.
    Jesus bought the Word of God. Anything that appears to contradict that needs to be reconsidered, not vice-versa.
    Reply ↓
    1. doctrine Post authorDecember 31, 2021 at 7:38 pm
      Ralph,
      Please see my article, Who is Jesus Christ?
      Reply ↓
2. Concerned Christian August 3, 2017 at 6:36 pm
  Wait….are you saying that there is no law now and that we are free to do as our hearts desire? Or are you saying that there still is a law, the 10 commandments, save for the Sabbath command? If it is the latter, why would we need to keep all 9 and not 10? Also, were there not other Sabbath commandments outside of the one specified in the original 10? Lastly, Christians, most anyway, observe Sunday because of Constantine, he made this day the official day for Christians to worship. The Catholic church acknowledges their authority by changing the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday.
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  1. doctrine Post authorAugust 4, 2017 at 8:19 am
    Concerned Christian,
    Paul made it clear in his letter to the Galatians that believers are under the administration of grace, not the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law was far more than the moral law. It governed Israel’s moral, civil, and ceremonial life. Neither Gentiles nor the Church ever had anything to do with the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law was a covenant God established with Israel. Believers live the Christian life and keep the moral law by faith and the Holy Spirit.
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    1. Concerned Christian August 4, 2017 at 11:03 pm
      Thank you. But Paul also was emphatic in Rom. 3:31 where he says, “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” He clearly says that we do not abolish the law by our faith that we are saved by grace. On the contrary, we establish the law, or we show that law exists by willingly keeping the law because of our faith in Jesus Christ. And to be clear, I am speaking of what you call the decalogue; specifically the 10 commandments.
      I believe that without God’s moral law, the ten commandments, there can be no sin. We do not obey these laws to be saved. We obey them because we love God. “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Therefore, all ten of His commandments are kept out of love. We love Him because we believe who He says He is. God.
      Now concerning the Fourth Commandment. Most Christians are not sure why they do not observe the Sabbath. Some are confused. Some do not really care. Others know, but it is too much of an inconvenience for them to do what the rest of the world is not doing. But it is a hard sell to make that this one commandment is “nailed to the cross” and the others are not. The early Christian church actually observed the Sabbath all through 325 AD when Constantine made the change. Christ observed the Sabbath. Paul observed the Sabbath. All of the apostles observed the Sabbath. History is clear on this. The change did not come until man changed it. And the scriptures predicted this change. See Dan. 7.
      I agree with most of what you have written. But my reading and understanding of the scriptures, through prayer, lead me to believe that, if we love God, we will keep his commandments—all ten.
      Thanks for reading.
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      1. doctrine Post authorAugust 5, 2017 at 8:42 am
        Concerned Christian,
        The Mosaic Law and the moral law are not the same. The moral law has existed from eternity. Adam and Eve had the moral law 2,500 years before God gave the Mosaic Law to Moses. The Mosaic Law was a covenant. All covenants from the time of Abraham were to the Jews. What Paul is saying is that believers are not under the administration of the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law was more than the moral law. It was a complete package governing the moral, ceremonial, and civil law of Israel. It was also bondage according to what Peter and Paul said. Believers today are not under the Mosaic Law but under grace. Christians live by faith by the power of the Holy Spirit, not by the Mosaic Law. Do you think one who is controlled by the Holy Spirit will lie, steal, murder, commit adultery? Jesus ministered to Israel under the Law. That was an entirely different program than today. As for the Sabbath, the Sabbath is the seventh day–Saturday. Christians celebrate Sunday, the day of resurrection, the first day. There is no Sunday Sabbath. It is a contradiction in terms. But again, the Sabbath was part of the Mosaic Law. We are not under the Mosaic Law. Anyone who places himself under the Law has rejected God’s grace and declared he wishes to be a slave. This is why Paul wrote the Galatians, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5.1). One fulfills the law, as Paul wrote in Romans 3.31 by faith, not by keeping the Mosaic Law.
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        Concerned Christian August 6, 2017 at 8:04 am
        Doctrine,
        Yes, I agree that there is the moral law, stemming from creation, and the Mosaic law, given to Israel, through Moses at Sinai. Yes, I agree that the Holy Spirit helps us keep the moral law. We cannot keep it perfectly which is why Christ came so that even though we sin, we may live forever with Him because He paid the penalty for our sin. The penalty for breaking any of these moral laws is death.
        However, the Sabbath commandment is not part of the Mosaic law. Remember, God created the Sabbath long before Moses, long before Israel, long before Abraham even existed. On the seventh day of creation, God created the Sabbath, He blessed it, and He sanctified it (literally meaning he set it aside for a future use). The Sabbath, then, cannot be done away with any more than the sun, the moon, or the animals can be done away with. The seventh-day Sabbath is a part of creation and as Jesus, David, and many of the other biblical writers have stated, it is eternal. Ps. 111:7-8.
        When God wrote the moral law on stone with His finger this symbolized the eternal nature of the moral law (compared to the Mosaic law which was written in a book and placed outside of the Ark of the Covenant, where as the tables were placed inside). The Sabbath command, which begins with the word “remember” indicating that it was always there, is part of this eternal moral law. It’s purpose it to identify God as the creator God.
        Jesus told the Pharisees, “Sabbath was made…”. Who made it? God Himself. Unlike the other Mosaic Sabbaths, the seventh-day Sabbath is a memorial of creation. And again, Paul and all the other founding fathers, observed the Sabbath, long after Christ’s death. It is a matter of history.
        Yes, you are right. Christians, most Christians, do not observe the seventh-day Sabbath. Those that worship on Sunday do not even observe Sunday. The moral law teaches us what to do and not to do on Saturday, God’s holy, sanctified Sabbath. So you are absolutely correct there. But what I do not agree with you on is that this seventh-day Sabbath, created by God during creation week, has been done away with. There is no way this can be possible. It was part of creation. God made the Sabbath on the seventh-day. How can that which God made during creation week no longer exist? The Bible says God blessed the seventh-day and hollowed it. All 10 of the moral laws still exist today. Most just choose to ignore one.
        Thanks for reading.
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        doctrine Post authorAugust 7, 2017 at 8:24 am
        Concerned Christian,
        God rested after creation and that was a “sabbath.” If you are right, you should be able to provide Scriptures to show men kept the sabbath before the Mosaic Law. God established the sabbath as a day of observance for Jews in the Mosaic Law (Exodus 20.8-11). Only Jews were given the covenants (Ephesians 2.11-12). The Church has nothing to do with Israel’s covenants. Please provide Scripture to support Paul kept the Sabbath. See Romans 14.5-6 and Colossian 2.16-17. The early church fathers erred in many areas and are not reliable examples of sound teaching. Their errors have plagued Christianity for many centuries. The big point you have missed is how one is to keep the moral law. Paul wrote the entire book of Galatians to show that one is not to follow the Mosaic Law. We are under new administration. We live by faith and keep the moral law by the Holy Spirit, not by the Moasic Law. I encourage you to follow the Scriptures, not the words of men.
        Reply ↓
        Concerned Christian August 7, 2017 at 9:47 am
        Sure Doctrine.
        First, let’s read where the Sabbath was created so we can at least agree that God did in fact create the Sabbath.
        “And on the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and MADE it holy, because on it God rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Gen. 2:2-3.
        These verses clearly indicate that God did something on the seventh day of the week; Saturday. What did God do to Saturday? First, He created it, then He blessed it, and lastly He made it holy. When did God do this? The seventh-day of earth’s history. He did not create the other sabbaths mentioned in the Mosaic law on this day. He did not create the sacrificial system on this day. God did not create the ceremonial system on this day. No mention of feasts or circumcision on this day. God created the seventh-day Sabbath and He made it Holy, says scripture.
        Now let’s continue.
        “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily….And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man; and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, ‘Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remained over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.” Ex. 16:4-5, 21-23.
        This is the Lord speaking before Moses presented the moral law on stone. God told Moses, “I will see if they will walk in “my law.” Moses told the people, “Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord.” This was before Sinai! Remember, the Israelites had been in captivity some 400 years, in a foreign land. They had forgotten the seventh-day Sabbath command. The other nine, they may or may not have known, but the seventh-day Sabbath, which was created at the beginning of the world required all of creation to do something–rest and recognize God. So here, in these verse, we have a clear indication that the Sabbath command was present before Sinai as God, before Sinai, calls the Sabbath his law!
        Now your argument that just because we do not read any other individual observing the Sabbath means that the Sabbath command did not exist is not a genuine argument. It’s like me saying, I have not seen it snow fall from the sky therefore snow never falls from the sky. The absence of one thing from a record does not conclusively mean the thing did not exist. But even still, the seventh day Sabbath command did exist and we see it in the aforementioned verses. In those verses, God clearly begins teaching the people about the Sabbath He instituted at the foundation of the world. I do not see you refuting Gen. 2 so I assume you agree that God did create the Sabbath at creation. So you agree that God made the Sabbath on the seventh-day long before there were any Jews.
        Now your references to Paul. Paul is clearly speaking of the Mosaic laws, in Galatians he even gives a date and says it was added to the moral law. Gal. 3. Paul was writing to the Jewish converts who thought it necessary to inundate the Gentile converts with law keeping (Mosaic laws) that they were accustomed to. Paul’s message was, “No. These laws, these rituals cannot save you. Don’t make these new converts do them.” (I paraphrase). But then he is clear to state that the moral law is still binding! To bring this home he says it plainly, “Do we, then nullify the law? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law!” Rom. 3:31. Remember, Galatians was written in AD 49, Romans was written in AD 58. The two letters address much of the same issue–Jewish converts teaching Gentile converts that salvation was won through law keeping. Much of the message in Galatians is reiterated in Romans. In both letters Paul makes clear that the moral law is still in place because without it, we would have no sin! He never teaches that the 10 commandments are done away with. He does not teach all 10 are now nonexistent, but then recreates nine of them, strategically leaving out the fourth. How confusing is that?!
        Lastly, you ask for biblical references of Paul and the apostles keeping the Sabbath after Christ’s death. Here are some.
        “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer and rise agains from the dead, and saying, “This Yahushua whom I preach to you is the Messiah. And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.” Acts 17:1-4.
        This was 22 years after Christ’s death. The scriptures indicate that it was Paul’s custom to attend the synagogue on the Sabbath. Luke, in writing Acts, calls the seventh-day the Sabbath. If the seventh-day Sabbath was no longer binding, 1) Paul would not have gone there as it would have created much confusion, and 2) surely Luke would not have called it the Sabbath, writing as if it was still in effect. Both men, inspired by God, would have made it clear that the Sabbath was no longer binding. We would have read that Paul went to the synagogue to persuade them that they no longer needed to observe the Sabbath. But we do not. We read that Paul went to church on Sabbath, he taught, as was his custom, and the people begged him to come back–all on Sabbath.
        Again, in Acts 13:15. “Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them returns to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisdia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them saying, “Men, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
        Again. Acts 13:42. So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.”
        Time and time again we read of Christians keeping the Sabbath long after Christ’s death in scripture. But I encourage you to read some of the other historical writings by Josephus and others which reinforce this fact. “The ancient Christians were very careful in the observation of Saturday, or the seventh-day…It is plain that all the Oriental churches, and the greatest part of the world, observed the Sabbath…to worship Yahushua, the [Master] of the Sabbath, Epiphanius says the same.” Antiquities of the Christian Church, Vol. II, Book XX, chapter. 3, sec. 1, 66.1137-38.
        As I have written many times previously, history accurately describes the early Christian church as observing the seventh-day Sabbath. It was not until Constantine in 325 AD, instituted Sunday worship, changing Saturday to Sunday. He did it as a compromise with Sun Worship and the Christians who were observing Saturday. He made Christianity the official religion, but changed the day to Sunday. All of this is history, my Friend. History.
        God’s moral law has never changed. Jesus said, “It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the [Moral] law.” Luke 16:17.
        I don’t think you can disagree with the clear word of God and the historical accounts. Man did away with the seventh-day Sabbath. Not God. Christ’s death did not end the requirement, the command that we rest and acknowledge God on Saturday. In fact, in Isaiah, he writes that we will continue to worship God on Sabbath even in the world made new. “From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me, says the Lord.” Is. 66:23.
        Continue reading and studying this issue. I am sure God will lead you into His glorious light as you sincerely seek out his truth.
        God bless.
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        doctrine Post authorAugust 7, 2017 at 11:12 am
        Concerned Christian,
        Your response is typical of most in Christendom. The basic problem is the failure to understand that God began a new program with Paul–the Church, the body of Christ. Everything from Genesis 12 through the Gospels concerns Israel, the Jews. No Church doctrine is in the gospels and Luke wrote Acts to explain to the Jews why the kingdom of God did not come on earth and why God chose Paul to become the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11.13). Acts recorded Paul’s ministry to the Jews until his imprisonment in Rome. The texts do not say Paul kept the sabbath. They state he went to the synagogues on the sabbath which was when and where he could find a Jewish audience. And all this ended with his Roman imprisonment. Paul’s message to the Galatians was not about salvation but sanctification. The Galatians were saved. Paul wrote them about how to live the Christian life, not about how to be saved. His main point was that one does not live the Christian life by the Mosaic Law. He told them to “cast out the bondwoman” and not to be “entangled with the yoke of bondage.” Since you do not mention the Holy Spirit, it appears you do not think He has a role in the Christian life. Everything you have written concerns Israel and you base your beliefs on the Old Testament and Gospels which only concern the Jews. All Church doctrine comes from Paul’s letters. I think the discussion is at an end because you only acknowledge Old Testament texts to Jews and secular history rather than Paul. Without Paul, there is no Church doctrine. If you will read Paul’s letters, God will reveal His will for living the Christian life.
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        Seeking truth January 6, 2018 at 2:29 pm
        Why does the bible say pray your flight not be in winter or on the Sabbath? Would not rest (Sabbath) be for all creation, even servants ?
        Reply ↓
        doctrine Post authorJanuary 6, 2018 at 2:44 pm
        Seeking truth,
        Jesus spoke these words to Jews who will undergo the Day of the Lord. At this time Israel will again be under the Mosaic Law. The Church is not present during this time (1 Thessalonians 1.10)
        Leonard John Ransil November 27, 2021 at 12:32 pm
        I enjoyed the scholarly exchange and would add this revelation for “Concerned’s” benefit. “Paul’s Gospel” was actually Jesus revealing to Paul the “secrets” of what Jesus accomplished on Calvary – and beyond – that marked an end to the Mosaic Law for Jewish Christians – and which was NEVER given by God to Gentiles – as you correctly stated. At the top of Romans 7, Paul addressed “those who know the Law”- Jews. He used the analogy there to say, in effect, if you continue with Moses (go back under Mr. Law) – (after you died to your old nature and have a new nature in Christ through rebirth by faith), – you are committing spiritual adultery.
        The “confusion and turmoil” he records at the bottom of Chapter 7 is a result of doing just that – mixing 2 opposing covenants mentally. But FREEDOM comes in Romans 8:1-2 with NO condemnation for those In Christ Jesus BECAUSE the (new, higher) LAW of the Spirit of LIFE IN Christ Jesus sets the Jewish Christian FREE from the (Mosaic) Law of sin and death.
        So now, we – believing Jews and Christians – can walk according to the Holy Spirit living in us INSTEAD of the the dead letter of the Mosaic that purposely “arouses sin and causes death.” “The (Mosaic) Law is not of faith.” “Whatever is not of faith is sin” – of the flesh. BUT thankfully, all sin is totally forgiven and forgotten by God, thanks to Jesus. 2 Cor. 518-19
        BUT Rebirth is necessary for “oneness” in Christ Jesus. THEN “Once saved always saved!” And we can now enjoy the view from heavenly places – Eph. 2:6 – like Jesus and Paul did by being spiritually in Christ Jesus. Why? Christianity is about belief and REST in Jesus’ doing – not faith in our doing. That is an everyday “Sabbath rest”. Our “doing” (Eph. 210) is a response to Abba Father’s love for us, not a wage.
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        Thomas Klein August 7, 2017 at 2:37 pm
        Interesting exchange! I enjoyed reading it.
        Doctrine posted, “God rested after creation and that was a “sabbath.” If you are right, you should be able to provide Scriptures to show men kept the sabbath before the Mosaic Law.”
        Concerned responded with, ““Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily….And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man; and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, ‘Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remained over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.” Ex. 16:4-5, 21-23.
        I think Concerned did exactly what Doctrine did not think he/she could do. Also, I do not understand how we could discuss the law, moral or otherwise, without discussing the OT and the Gospels.
        I’m inclined to believe that the ten commandments are still in effect today. Thank you, Concerned.
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        doctrine Post authorAugust 7, 2017 at 4:25 pm
        Thomas,
        What I was really asked Concerned was to provide Scripture to show that men kept the sabbath before Moses. There is no record of anyone keeping the sabbath from Adam to Moses. So we have 2,500 years of human history with no sabbath keeping. If you say something existed and can provide no evidence of it, it is fantasy. Again, the Mosaic Law was a covenant. Covenants belonged to Israel, not to the Church, not to Gentiles. The moral law existed long before the Mosaic Law. But as I wrote Concerned, the way we keep the moral law is by faith through the Holy Spirit. To place oneself under the Mosaic Law is to disobey God’s revelation of how to live the Christian life.
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        John June 12, 2019 at 3:48 am
        Nobody kept the Sabbath before Exodus 20.
        God did.
        And even I they didn’t, so what? God Creation Ordinance of marriage wasn’t kept. Polygamy was normal.
        Colossians 2.17 Galatians 4.9,10 and Romans 14.5 all refer to Jewish Sabbaths. They’ve been abolished.
        In The New Testament God has His day, The Lord’s Day (Rev 1.10, which is a name for the Sabbath in Isaiah 58.13,14).
        So in both OT and NT God has a day set apart for Himself.
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        doctrine Post authorJune 12, 2019 at 7:35 am
        John,
        If you read the article, you should have seen what Paul wrote about days (Colossians 2.16-17; Romans 14.5-6). He did not tell us that the Church, the body of Christ, is to keep the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the 7th day—Saturday. Sunday is the first day. Revelation 1.10 is the adjectival expression for the Day of the Lord, the subject of the book. It has nothing to do with the the Sabbath.
        Craig June 12, 2019 at 9:35 am
        I agree that the Church is not to keep the Sabbath, however, I have heard Christians and pastors say that Abraham tithed long before the law was given. Is this correct?
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        doctrine Post authorJune 12, 2019 at 9:57 am
        Craig,
        Yes, Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek but tithing was subsumed into the Mosaic Law. Paul instructed us on giving in 2 Corinthians 9.6-7. That is what we are to follow, not a set formulation. It’s another difference between Law and Grace.
        Following Jesus November 8, 2017 at 6:02 am
        The problem I see with people quoting the 7th Day God rested to support the sabbath. Is he does not mention the word sabbath in Hebrew, nor Saturday in the beginning when he created the world. It is only when the manna was given from heaven to the children of Israel is the Sabbath first mention.
        “Lord hath said, ‘Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remained over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.” Ex. 16:4-5, 21-23. Here, Sabbath is referencing in the beginning when God rested. It is interesting that Sabbath is introduce with a reference to do this unto the Lord. Where Jesus says that the sabbath was made for man.
        The 7th day was a day made holy. I saw that if God could make a day holy, he can make me holy. He says he can in Exodus. When Jesus comes on the scene he introduces a new look at the Sabbath and breaks it (with picking the grain to eat it, that was forbidden) He also says my father is ALWAYS working… This is a key to the new covenant. Before God was resting now he is always working.
        It is also interesting that the Sabbath is introduced with the manna, we know Jesus is the manna from Heaven to me I could see the Sabbath is the day Jesus rested in the tomb. He rested in the physical body but in the spirit realm he didn’t rest. He goes to redeem ALL who has died and believes in him.
        He rises on the third day but he never sees the disciples again on the sabbath, it is on other days including the Lords day, Sunday.
        I see the Sabbath is a day of symbolism like Passover ceremony on the eve of the Exodus emphasized that people are saved through the blood of the Lamb (Exod. 12:13, 23). Everything God was asking the Israelite’s to do was focused around Jesus.
        Also, Jesus introduces himself as a place of rest. Come unto me all who are heavy laden and I will give you REST.
        So, I see we need to rest in Jesus everyday. So everyday could be a sabbath day in the Lord.
        I disagree that all covenants are made for the Jews only because the first one made in Heaven before the world was created, then the first one spoken to people to receive the everlasting covenant is Adam and Eve who weren’t Jewish. Paul encourages us to part take in Holy Communion – the New (Renewed, refreshed) Covenant – the everlasting covenant Jesus came to fulfilled, that Jesus declared at the last supper, just before he died.
        The Covenant made with Moses and the Israelites, God said would fade. The sacrifices, the temple with the curtain, the fittings all representing Jesus, who will come (sweet manna) and fulfill all the symbolisim. To me, I can see Jesus fulfilled the sabbath by resting on it in the tomb. To fulfill the everlasting covenant of Jesus dying on the cross for all our sins.
        If Ten Commandments are not given to the Gentiles. Then Mark, who wrote the gospel for the gentiles in Greek, states that when they are to flee to make sure their flight is not in winter but Matthew who wrote the gospel for the Jews in Hebrews mentions ask your flight be not on the sabbath or in winter. The extra notation is made for the Jews.
        I find it interesting that people think they can’t live without the 10 commandments when the 10 were not written down anywhere before Moses time. People keeping the 10 commandments believe God writing with his finger on stone is more valuable then him writing so close on our hearts. They can’t seem to see this wonderful imitate gift of God been so close is far more valuable.
        The interesting part, is the stone God wrote on were smashed by Moses and were not kept in the arch, the seconds ones where kept by Moses. So, this to me, speaks volumes. Sharing my research. Searching do I need to keep the sabbath as I am a gentile who has accepted Jesus into my heart.
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        doctrine Post authorNovember 8, 2017 at 8:38 am
        Following Jesus,
        Mark’s gospel was written to Jews, not Gentiles. Why would anyone think Mark wrote his gospel for Gentiles? Mark, like Matthew, Luke, and John, is about Jesus’ ministry to Jews. It provides another picture (as a servant) of His ministry to the nation. The Gospels are Old Testament. Like the other gospels it is all about the coming of Israel’s promised kingdom on the earth. Jesus ministered under the Mosaic Law. Paul made it clear that the Church is not under the Law (Romans 6.14) and that one cannot live a victorious Christian life under the Law. Paul taught that one lives the Christian life by faith, under grace, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Mosaic Law knew nothing of this. Paul wrote the book of Galatians to teach the Galatians that believers were not under the Mosaic Law. This is basic. If one does not understand this, he cannot live the Christian life. Also, one does not become a Christian by “accepting Jesus into one’s heart. No one ever became a Christian by this. The Bible never tell anyone to “accept Jesus into one’s heart” for salvation. One becomes a Christian by believing Paul’s gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4)–by believing Christ died for one’s sins and rose from the dead. We must believe the Scriptures, not the traditions of men.
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        Bobbi August 7, 2017 at 8:47 pm
        Dear Concerned Christian
        I’ve read most of your posts and I must say the doctrine is laid out in Romans through Philemon for this dispensation of Grace. Paul was chosen by God, to witness to kings,
        the Gentiles, and Israel. He tells us why he did some of the things he did. 1 Cor. 9:19-23. Also he reproves the Galatians for the very thing you are standing on…Gal. 4:9-11.
        We are to teach no other doctrine in this time…1 Tim 1:3-17
        I pray you change your mind.
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        Bobbi August 7, 2017 at 9:12 pm
        Thomas Klein,
        The law was not written to any other people but Israel. Rom. 9:4-5
        Gentiles were …Ephesians. 2:12
        Paul’s ministry was to …Acts 20:24. He is the apostle to the Gentiles.
        God is working today in the dispensation of the grace of God. If we want to learn how to live today we read Romans to Philemon.
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        Thomas Klein August 8, 2017 at 4:56 pm
        Sorry bobbi, but I cannot believe that the law of God was only written to Israel. To say that “the law was not written to any other people but Israel” is implying that the rest of the world is free to live without sin because God’s law was not given to them. I cannot believe that.
        As a historian I can appreciate Concern’s comments. Also, it is illogical to believe that after Jesus said that it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the “the law” to pass away, that the law has indeed passed away. I really do not see an argument here.
        Paul wrote that the Law is holy and the commandments hold and just and good. Romans 7:12. How can something that is no longer in existence be spoken of as good in the present tense? Paul wrote that he delights in the law. Roman 7:22. This does not seem that the law of God was only written to a group of people for a limited time. And the law is the law that, as Concerned mentioned, the law God wrote on the tablets of stone. It’s very clear now.
        What sold me was the historical accounts. I researched what Concern shared. He’s right. The Sabbath was observed long after Christ’s death.
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        doctrine Post authorAugust 8, 2017 at 7:47 pm
        Thomas,
        For your view to be valid you have to reject what Paul wrote on the subject of the Mosaic Law. If you read all of Romans 7, you will find Paul wrote that the Law, while holy, righteous, and good actually increased sin. I doubt you or Concerned read the article, Paul and the Law. If you did you either missed the entire point or think Paul is wrong. Paul stated over and over that believers are not under the Mosaic Law. Believers are under Grace. Also, the point neither you or Concerned seem to understand is that being under the Law did not prevent sin and that not being under the Mosaic Law does not mean being immoral. Paul taught believers live moral lives by faith through the Holy Spirit. If you are controlled by the Holy Spirit you certainly don’t need the Mosaic Law. If you read Galatians this should become clear. Early Christian theology is unsound. It’s pretty reliable as history, but not as theology. Many of the Apostolic Fathers held unscriptural views. If they did observed the sabbath, they were simply disobedient Christians. Paul made it clear that the Mosaic Law was only for Israel, not for Gentiles, not for the Church.
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        Thomas Klein August 8, 2017 at 10:55 pm
        Doctrine, I think we both agreed that we are not under the Mosaic Law and Paul makes this point clearly. What Concerned is saying, I think rather convincingly, is that the seventh-day Sabbath command is NOT part of the Mosaic law. Concerned used scripture to affirm this AND history.
        Have you read any historical accounts on this issue? If you have, then you cannot deny that Christians continued to observe the seventh-day Sabbath long after Christ’s death and Paul’s death. If your interpretation of scripture is correct (and clearly it is not) then the Christian Church of believers, those who believed Paul’s writings, would not have continued to observe Saturday as the Sabbath. But history does not support this interpretation. It just does not.
        Again, there is no argument here. Your interpretation of Galatians and Romans is incorrect. Your misinterpretation lies on the idea that the ten commandments written by the finger of God on the tables of stone are part the Mosaic Law. They are not. They are the moral law and the moral law has not been done away with.
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        doctrine Post authorAugust 9, 2017 at 9:00 am
        Thomas,
        1. Ignatius wrote about 100 A.D. “Those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord’s day on which our life was sprung by him and his death.– Epistle to the Magnesians, Chapter 9. Justin Martyr (c. 140 A.D.) wrote, “Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly because it is the day on which God, when he changed the darkness and matter, made the world”–Apology 1:67. Tertullian (c. 200 A.D.) wrote “We neither accord with the Jews in their peculiarities in regard to food nor in their sacred days.”– Apology 21
        2. The Sabbath was part of the Mosaic Law (Exodus 20.8-11) and God established the Sabbatic Covenant with Israel (Exodus 31.12-18). God established the Mosaic Law and all the covenants with Israel, not with the Gentile world and not with the Church. Jesus regarded the 10 commandments as part of the Law and summarized them in Matthew 22.36-40.
        3. The Mosaic Law was moral, ceremonial, and civil. The Sabbath concerned the civil and ceremonial law of Israel. God’s moral law existed long before the 10 commandments. The two are not the same. Paul wrote that the moral law is fulfilled by believers by faith and under the power of the Holy Spirit, not by being under the Mosaic Law.
        4. God “rested” on the seventh day after creation. The significance of this act was unknown until God revealed it to Israel. God revealed this truth in the Decalogue and in the Sabbatic covenant to Israel. No one recognized this or “kept” the sabbath before God revealed it.
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        Bobbi August 9, 2017 at 7:46 am
        Dear Thomas,
        You wrote ,”Sorry bobbi, but I cannot believe that the law of God was only written to Israel.”…
        I pray you will believe it! That’s is what scripture says. Belief in the Bible being the holy words of God, whom we trust, is what we need!
        What we need to ask ourselves is…what does scripture say? For we know God cannot lie. Tit.1:2
        These Pauline books hold all doctrine for the Gentiles. He is the apostle to the Gentiles. Rom. 11:13, Gal. 1:1, Ephesians. 3:1, Col. 1:1.
        So what does our apostle who was chosen by God, and the Lord Jesus Christ say about us and the law? The law was given to Jews Rom. 3:1,2, 9:4, 9:31, Eph. 2:11,12 says we were without the law and even without God!
        It is important to know our doctrine so we can stand in the truth. It is part of the armor God has given us in which to stand in the evil day. Without the truth given us, we will be vulnerable to the wisdom of men.
        That’s why we read and learn our doctrine.
        God had given up the Gentiles clear back in Deut. 32:8,9. Paul tells us why. Rom. 1:18-32. Not because he didn’t love us, but because we did not want to retain him in our knowledge.
        Our gospel …1 Cor. 15:1-4
        But now… Romans 5:11, 6:22, 16:26, 1 Cor.15:20, Gal. 2:20, 4:29, Ephesians. 2:13,19, Ephesians. 5:8, Col. 1:26, Col.3:8.
        Wisdom of men is dangerous if not based on scripture. We need to stand in the truth God has given us and learn his doctrine for us. It is different than what was given before . We are saved to a purpose. Check it out! We strive to live holy lives because we love Christ and God who has brought salvation to all men.
        I pray you will study it and believe it.
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        Ron Tillerson March 13, 2023 at 4:15 pm
        I have to ask a very basic question. Do we believe that the Apostle Paul was of God, and that Paul’s ministry was from God, or not? IF we believe Paul was of God, then we have to believe what he, Paul wrote was inspired by God. IF NOT, then half of the NT is not of God. As a person who grew up in Christianity, I was taught that the Holy Bible and it’s integrity has been protected by God. Again, either it was or it wasn’t. None of us can have it both ways.
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        doctrine Post authorMarch 13, 2023 at 4:24 pm
        Ron,
        If one does not believe Paul was of God, one has no salvation since believing Paul’s gospel is how one is saved (1 Corinthians 15.1-4).
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        Ron Tillerson March 13, 2023 at 5:04 pm
        Agreed.
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        Ron Tillerson March 13, 2023 at 5:03 pm
        I would like to add that Paul made an interesting comment regarding placing oneself under the Law, IF I read it right; and I paraphrase: IF one places oneself under the Law in one respect then you will be judged by the Whole Law. Must of us would agree we are not under the Ceremonial/Sacrificial Law, but IF you follow Paul’s comment, you are responsible to that part of the Law as well, because you are not fully accepting of Christ fulfillment of the Law. I am not a scholar, just a simple student of the Word, but Paul’s text seem quite clear in their meaning to me. I will say this to those who wish to maintain certain beliefs and thoughts, you believe it, please live it. I certainly do not wish to dissuade anyone from doing what they truly believe to be true, including whether the Mosaic Law do or do apply or that the Sabbath is still the ordained day of worship. But I have to go back to my first question; is the Apostle Paul of God?
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      2. Faith August 16, 2017 at 12:52 pm
        Here are a few verses that should fly in the face of those who still think that the Law (Mosaic Law) is applicable to the Christian today. You cannot deny these words of Jesus and Holy Spirit. Sorry but these are the truths. Thank you Doctrine.
        Colossians 2:6-23
        6 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:
        17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
        18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
        19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
        20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
        21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
        22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
        23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
        King James Version (KJV)
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        Faith August 16, 2017 at 12:56 pm
        Also when I started to realize these things guess what? the Holy Spirit starts working in a fresh and new way. Do you know what He has done? Amen….. I have started worshipping Him EVERYDAY. Everyday becomes a Holy Day. I have started worshipping when I am alone; I have started worshipping with my family; I have started worshipping when I am out and God lays on my heart to say something to a stranger. FREEDOM in CHRIST is the key because it opens your heart to be used by God in HIS WAY.
        Reply ↓
        doctrine Post authorAugust 17, 2017 at 7:23 am
        Faith,
        You are exactly right. Every day is a day of glory for the believer under grace. Every day is resurrection day.
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        Seeking truth January 6, 2018 at 2:41 pm
        But everyday is not a day of rest.
        Reply ↓
        doctrine Post authorJanuary 6, 2018 at 2:46 pm
        Seeking truth,
        See Romans 14.5-6.
        Reply ↓
        Concerned August 19, 2017 at 3:39 pm
        Faith,
        I don’t think anyone is saying that we are still obligated to “keep” the Mosaic laws. I think well agree we do not. The issue is whether the Seventh-day Sabbath, the one instituted at creation, the one God wrote on the tables of stone with His finger, the one Jesus referred to when He said that God made the Sabbath is part of the Mosaic law or part of the Moral law.
        The scripture you reference speaks of the sabbaths that were part of the Mosaic law. The sabbaths, new moons, meats–there are many provisions under the Mosaic law that address these. If you read Leviticus, you will see that there were other sabbaths that Israel were to observe. These are separate from the Seventh-day Sabbath. On the other hand Paul emphatically says, “What then, do we nullify the law? God forbid. Rather, we UPHOLD the law.” Rom. 3:31. We uphold the law, the law of God, the law God wrote with His very finger in tablets of stone. This is what I choose to do.
        It all boils down to belief. I believe that God has a standard for those who love Him. I believe that they are the 10 commandments. Out of love for God, I choose to observe all ten, knowing that I can do nothing of my own, but can do all things through Him. God said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” What commandments, Lord? The very ones I wrote myself, on the tablets of stone.
        This is my belief.
        If I am wrong, I do not believe God will condemn me. He knows my heart. He is the epitome of love. Whatever I do, I do to the honor and glory of God. If He expects me to observer every Saturday, to rest from my work and meditate on His creation, then I’m good. If He does not expect me to do so, I am still good. Because I can honestly say that every Saturday is a special day, a day that I spend with my Lord.
        To each his own.
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  2. Mark A A Rioux September 9, 2018 at 2:28 am
    We are now under the law of the Spirit no the law of Moses as we have been set free from the sin from the law and the condemnation of the law and sinfulness. When we believe in our Hearts our faith about Jesus’ death and resurrection then we are set free from the law if you would read Galatians you would see how Paul after being inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote about this. When we are set free we do what the Holy Spirit desires us to do because of our convictions by the Spirit. Slowly but surely we get there where our sinfulness in less. Pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Without Christ, there is no Salvation remember that we are all condemned to Hell!
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Sue December 8, 2014 at 10:20 am
Hi Don,
What exactly did Paul mean in Galatians 2:2 ….for fear that I might be running or had run this race in vain?
Thanks for a great article.
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1. doctrine Post authorDecember 8, 2014 at 7:54 pm
  Sue,
  This is evidence Paul preached a different gospel from the Twelve and that they did not understand his gospel. Those in the Jerusalem church were causing great harm to Paul’s ministry. Their interference was undermining Paul’s work among Gentiles to the degree that Paul felt he had “run in vain” in his ministry to them. Due to the serious nature of the problem Paul went to Jerusalem by revelation (Christ ordered him to go) and set forth his gospel to the Twelve so they might understand his commission and stop their meddling.
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Becky January 30, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Thanks for all the great verses. I studied the law vs grace once in the same way and came up with the same conclusion. Something I have been wondering about are the psalms. I think about how Jesus said to love your enemies but some of the psalms seem to go against this command. I sort of understand but it is like I’m missing the “connection” so that I can settle things in my understanding. Hopefully you understand what I am asking.
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 31, 2015 at 12:16 pm
  Becky,
  Thank you. Theologians call these imprecatory psalms, e.g., Psalms 69, 109. While God is a God of love and forgiveness, He is also a God of wrath. He has said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” The Lord Himself in His earthly ministry pronounced woes upon the scribes and Pharisees and overturned the tables of the moneychanges in the Temple. We are to forgive, but there is a legitimate anger against those who oppose God and pervert His truths. God will have His day of reckonning upon His enemies. See Psalm 2 and Isaiah 63. My article, Theology of the Old Testament, might be helpful.
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  1. Becky January 31, 2015 at 2:15 pm
    Thanks so much, I never heard the term “imprecatory psalms.” The Holy Spirit recently shed some more light for me on the Lord’s vengeance regarding “loving” our enemies. I would like to share it via your contact link so as not to detract from from this topic. I will definitely check out Theology of the Old Testament as my next question for you was your views on the purpose of the OT. In my dealings with those who “keep” the Law, they treat Moses’ law as if it was “first,” thus the purpose of the OT is to teach us about Moses’ law so we can keep it. As if OT=Moses’ Law and vice versa. But again, the promise came first. Another common thing I have found among those who are adamant about keeping the law is their suspicion of Paul truly being an apostle and his authority. It is subtle but it is there. I experienced it at a Torah keeper’s forum because I kept quoting Paul. Have you done any kind of study on the dangers and consequences of keeping the Law?
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    1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 31, 2015 at 2:56 pm
      Becky,
      Unfortunately, most of Christendom thinks the Church is under the Mosaic Law in some form of fashion. They either reject Paul or fail to understand him. This is true of even “big” names. I just concluded a discussion on this under the Jesus vs. Paul article. They do not understand the “identifiction truths” Paul taught (see my article, Identification with Christ) and that we keep the moral law by faith, love, and the Holy Spirit, not by the Law.
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Becky January 31, 2015 at 11:35 pm
Your ‘Follow Paul’ study caught my eye. It confirms so many things I have studied and thought concerning him, but ive never heard of anyone focusing on Paul until now. when I would try to talk seriously to others about him, it seemed to make people “uncomfortable” or something, as if I was “exalting” Paul. It seems to me that if people would really consider who Paul is, there would be less confusion about the law and grace. If people would truly grasp that everything he learned was straight from our Lord Jesus! Everything Jesus wanted the Gentiles to know in order to walk this walk came through the vessel of Paul. I feel very blessed to have come across your site, like I wish we could just sit down and talk! I look forward to spending time checking it all out.
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1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 1, 2015 at 1:50 pm
  Becky,
  You may enjoy my article Why Paul? Apart from Paul we have no Church and no Christianity. Most are enmeshed in the Christian “myth.” See my article by the same title for more explantation.
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Gary February 7, 2015 at 9:06 am
Hi Don
God bless you for sharing your insights and understanding of the scriptures. I have read almos all of your writings and it has brought clarity and understanding to many misunderstood aspects of what I call the confusion or ignorance surrounding Paul’s ministry and thoe of Jesus in the Gospels.
I would like your help as it relates to further understanding and how you might equip me to have the discussions with my son who is part of a small cult that espouses to preach Christ and the the Bible. He is insistent on the fact that if you are a true believer and born again of the Holy Spirit then you will manifest the new man by divorcing yourself of all aspects of the flesh and the world; this seems in contradiction to Ephesians 4:22-24. In other words you must divorce yourself of worldly possessions (1John 2:15, Acts 4:32-35), hate your family (Luke 14:26), not associate with non believers (2 Corinthians 6:14), and the list goes on. If Pauls ministry is faith + 0, why does what he is saying sound like another replacement for the law?
Thank you, Gary
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1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 7, 2015 at 10:07 am
  Gary,
  Thank you. Sound theology requires understanding to whom instruction was given. Jesus ministered to Jews, not to Gentiles (Matthew 10.5-6). He ministered under the Mosaic Law and came to fulfill the promises God gave to Israel (Romans 15.8). Reading the first two chapters of Luke provides a clear understanding of His mission and what the Jews looked for in their Messiah. The Church, the body of Christ, did not exist during Jesus’s earthly ministry. No equality existed among Jew and Gentile in Christ (cf. Matthew 18.15-17). The Church came into being after the risen Lord saved and commissioned Paul (see my article, The Church (The Body of Christ)). We are under orders from the heavenly, glorified Lord which He gave to Paul and are revealed in his letters. We are not the orders (except by application when they agree with Paul) the earthly Lord gave the Twelve. We are under the administration of grace, not under the administration of the Mosaic Law. To follow Jesus in His earthly ministry means obeying the Mosaic Law. This means no work on Saturday. If you pick up a stick on Saturday you are to be stoned. You cannot travel more than 3/5 mile on Saturday. It means not just obeying the 10 commandments but the whole Law–the 613 commandments delineated by Maimonides. Mixing instruction from Jesus’ earthly ministry and from His heavenly ministry to the Church results in confusion. Keep the two separate and everything falls into their proper place.
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  1. Becky February 9, 2015 at 6:58 am
    Hi Don, so basically, to understand which of Jesus “teachings” in the four gospels apply to us, i.e., taking up our cross daily and following Him, they must agree with Paul’s doctrine-of-grace teaching which he received directly from Jesus?
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    1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 9, 2015 at 7:41 am
      Becky,
      Yes. Many of Jesus’ teaching can apply to all believers. But for sound interpretation we must keep in mind to whom He spoke. There is a difference between interpretation and application.
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Becky February 17, 2015 at 6:21 am
Hi Don, Could you give me a little more insight on your statement that there is a difference between interpretation and application? I understand the meaning of both words but would like an example of the difference so my old brain can kickstart. Thanks so much for your writings, exhortations, and encouragement. I’ve been listening to Les and my understanding has just blossomed like the desert (I live in Arizona:) He takes such a close but simple look at the Scriptures. Just amazing.
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1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 18, 2015 at 11:13 am
  Becky,
  Matthew 18.15-17 is used as a standard text for church discipline. Interpretively, Jesus spoke these words to a Jewish audience. The “church” in His address was not the Church, the body of Christ, but an assembly of Jews who believed Jesus was the promised Messiah. A recalcitrant brother was to be treated as a Gentile–hardly, language or behavior we would use in churches today. Applicationally, the passage is helpful for it provides sound guidance for discipline among all believers. Interpretation involves the who, what, to whom, when, i.e., the immediate context and/or those to whom it refers.
  Reply ↓
  1. Becky February 18, 2015 at 10:39 pm
    Thanks, that clears things up!
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  2. Becky February 19, 2015 at 7:27 am
    Don, the Lord revealed something wonderful to me just now. I was thinking about your answer on interpretation vs application and the woman in Matt 15:22-28 came to mind. It simplified even more how to continue gaining insight and understanding from Jesus in the four gospels that can be applicable for Gentile believers. And when we “see” and “hear” what Jesus is saying, then God is pleased because of our “great” faith (Heb 11:6)! Wow! What makes this even more awesome is that I am reminded of a daily activity in my home. I have a small table I set up everyday for my grandchildren to eat at. Our poodle loves this because children do drop more food off the table than grownups while they are eating. I’m always shooing her away; but I won’t do that anymore because from now on it will remind me of what I have seen this day. Actually, I prefer Mark’s verse in this case because it uses the word “children’s” instead of Matthew’s word, “Master’s”: Mark 7:28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
    So many verses are coming to mind, from Hebrews, Colossians,…. It’s no wonder Paul said, I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord……
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adam March 27, 2015 at 11:33 am
Hi Sir, can you explain Galatians 5:21? If one is born again but struggles in these areas and truly desires to abstain but finds it difficult will that person not go to heaven or is it refering to inheriting the benefits of the kingdom God during this life. Hoping for the day of the Lord to be delivered from all desires of sin..!! :) Thanks for your teachings
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1. doctrine Post authorMarch 27, 2015 at 1:14 pm
  Adam,
  As long as we are in our mortal bodies we will struggle with sin (Galatians 5.17). Each of us has areas of strength and weakness with respect to sin. Paul is exhorting believers to holy living for the kingdom of God (our destiny) will not contain sin. The reason Paul brought up the Law (Galatians 5.18) was because the Law actually excites sin. To reckon oneself dead to sin, to see oneself under grace rather than Law (Romans 6.14), to walk by the Spirit is the only way of victory in this warfare.
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Sue April 20, 2015 at 8:03 am
Hi Don,
When you said Paul reprised the Decalogue, are you saying he instructed us to keep the sabbath holy ( surely a Jewish concept ) by going to church each Sunday?
I totally concur we should continue to fellowship with other believers to encourage one another in our faith, but there is so much error that is perpetuated in many traditional
Sunday Morning gatherings.
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1. doctrine Post authorApril 20, 2015 at 12:32 pm
  Sue,
  Thank you. I thought I had made this point in the paragraph before the chart but have added a comment in the chart to clarify our relationship to the Sabbath.
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Sue May 25, 2015 at 5:35 am
Hi Don
Why is head covering in church no longer necessary?
Thanks
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1. doctrine Post authorMay 25, 2015 at 8:13 am
  Sue,
  Feminine head coverings seemed to have conveyed a social meaning in Paul’s day. That meaning is lost in today’s society. God has provided a natural covering for woman by nature–long(er) hair.
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Tom July 9, 2015 at 9:04 am
Good article, but we must realize that we cannot live knowingly in a sinful lifestyle,, and expect to get into heaven. Sin cannot and will not be allowed in God,s presence. We must repent and come out of our sinful life style. Yes we live under grace, but that does not give us the right to keep on sinning, and think that everything will be okay. That God will just accept that. He will not. And it does not matter what that sin is. Homosexuality, adultery, lying, stealing murder. It is all sin, and must be repented of, or we will not get into heaven.
Repentance means asking for forgiveness, and then turning our back on our sinful life.
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1. doctrine Post authorJuly 9, 2015 at 10:47 am
  Tom,
  Most important is to understand that the Law can only condemn and that salvation is only by faith alone–by believing Paul’s gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4). The Christian life can only be lived by faith.
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Vanessa July 12, 2015 at 1:40 am
Good Morning Doctrine,
Though my question does not pertain to this article I was unsure of where to post it. We are still learning and studying and are so grateful to God for revealing Les Feldick and yourself to us.
1 Peter verse 9 and 10 confuses us. Who is Peter speaking of here. Verse 9 he clearly is quoting the Old Testament. Then in verse 10 without question he is speaking about Gentiles. Can you shed some light as Gentiles were once not a people but we did obtain Mercy.
Then in 1 Peter 1 verse 4 . If he is speaking to Jews why is there an inheritance reserved for them in heaven. Jews are earth dwellers. Are we reading this incorrectly. Thank you.
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1. doctrine Post authorJuly 12, 2015 at 8:00 am
  Vanessa,
  Peter wrote to Jews (1 Peter 1.1). As for 1 Peter 1.4, compare it with Matthew 19.21. Jesus’ word’s “treasure in heaven” is a dative of source, not location. Everything the Jew looked for came from the Messiah, Who is presently in heaven. the kingdom is with the King and He will establish it upon the earth when He returns. In 1 Peter 1.9-10, grace was present throughout the Old Testament. See http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H2580&t=KJV and see John 1.17. For us, believers of Paul’s gospel, grace is an administration. We are not under Law and we do nothing for salvation but believe the gospel, etc. God has blessed us with blessings that the Jews knew nothing of. Yet God’s blessings to Israel all come from His grace.
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GraceReceiver August 27, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Can you please explain Isaiah 66:17, about the swine’s flesh? The context seems to be the end of the Tribulation….
Do you think that Israel, during the Tribulation, is to follow the Mosaic Law? It seems to be a common teaching among right dividers. While I accept most of their teachings, I am having trouble understanding this one. They say that the remnant followed the Law, that they had to. The few verses used to support this are hardly conclusive.
The Law was added “till the seed should come”, which says to me that it was done done done at the Cross, for everyone.
But this Isaiah verse gives me pause.
Thank you for all of the time that you spend answering questions!
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1. doctrine Post authorAugust 28, 2015 at 8:06 am
  GraceReceiver,
  Based upon what the Lord taught in Matthew 24.20, Israel will be under the Law. The Temple will have been rebuilt and animal sacrifices will again be offered. The Antichrist will cause sacrifices to cease in the middle of the Tribulation (Daniel 11.31, 12.11 cf. Matthew 24.15).
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GraceReceiver August 29, 2015 at 6:40 pm
So Galatians 3:19 says that the Law ended when Christ came, Hebrews 8:13 says that it’s READY to end, and the prophecies indicate that the Law will be followed in the Millennium.
I hope that you can figure out what I’m asking.
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1. doctrine Post authorAugust 30, 2015 at 8:42 am
  GraceReceiver,
  In these contexts Paul meant the Law had ended in terms of how God dealt with solving man’s sin problem. Christ’s sacrificial death met God’s requirement of justice which animal sacrifices could not do. Paul wrote that believers of his gospel are not “under” Law, that is, not under its administration. The Law’s administration has been replaced by grace and the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Twelve continued to practice the Law and this became a point of contention regarding salvation at the Council of Jerusalem twenty years after Pentecost. The Law will indeed be practiced in the Millennium but not in terms of God deals with sin. Christ fully finished that work. The Law in the Millennium will be written on hearts and the New covenant will replace the Old (Mosaic Law).
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GraceReceiver August 30, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Thank you.
So it won’t be the Mosaic Law followed in the Millennium – is this what you’re saying? I hope so. LOL
I think that it’s safe to assume, then, that the food laws are part of the Mosaic Law that vanishes, right? Otherwise Peter would not have been told to “rise, kill, eat.” (Acts 10:13)
But we see by Isaiah 66:17 that it’s still going to be an abomination to eat pork in the Millennium/?Tribulation?, unless I’m misunderstanding something.
Have patience with me, please….I have trouble expressing myself.
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1. doctrine Post authorAugust 30, 2015 at 6:53 pm
  GraceReceiver,
  It appears the Jews will keep the dietary laws in the Millennium. What happened in Peter’s vision in Acts 10 seems to have been a one-time event. The Jewish believers were still practicing the Law in Acts 15 and James stated they were zealous for the Law in Acts 21.20. The Law for the Jew was a complete package–moral, civil, and ceremonial. Members of the body of Christ are under no such prohibitions but the Jews were and will be.
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2. Seeking truth January 6, 2018 at 2:53 pm
  Peter had a dream that lead him to a gentle not a slab of bacon, it was a spiritual dream representing gentile to come into the fold.
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  1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 6, 2018 at 4:08 pm
    Seeking truth,
    Peter did not want to go to Cornelius’ house because he was a Gentile. No Gentiles were being evangelized by the Twelve. And, there is no record any of the Twelve ever evangelized Gentiles. See my article, The Great Hinge, for the significance of Peter’s visit to Cornelius.
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Ronnie October 14, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Thank you so much for your website. It has been so helpful to me and I have told many people about it.
GOD bless you and the beautiful work that you do.
Maranatha!
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1. doctrine Post authorOctober 15, 2015 at 7:46 am
  Ronnie,
  Thank you for your kind words. My goal is to write clearly as to what the Scriptures teach so people can understand them.
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Chuck Wehrheim October 17, 2015 at 10:17 am
Don,
Regarding the comment: Paul declared that anyone who followed a gospel other than his was accursed (ἀνάθεμα, Galatians 1.8-9). I believe something of importance was lost in this comment. The key word lost is “preach” and “preaching”.
Galatians 1:8-9New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Excellent article,
Chuck
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1. doctrine Post authorOctober 17, 2015 at 12:43 pm
  Chuck,
  Thank you! Excellent point and I have edited my statement. Things are confused enough already without adding to the confusion.
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Roger Spielmann December 18, 2015 at 4:00 pm
You wrote, “Most churches teach that the Church, the body of Christ, is under the Mosaic Law.” I personally do not know of any Christian church that teaches we are still under Mosaic Law. Perhaps I missed your point. Was it merely a heuristic device? If not, can you provide any example of a Christian church that teaches we are still under the Law?
Thank you.
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1. doctrine Post authorDecember 18, 2015 at 4:38 pm
  Roger,
  All reformed churches teach Christians are under the Law. Ask any covenant theologian. The “Lord’s Prayer” is Law and almost all congregations pray it. According to it, God’s forgiveness is based upon one’s forgiveness of others. That’s Law.
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2. GraceReceiver December 22, 2015 at 12:45 am
  Here is another example of Christian churches that teach that we are still under the Law: much of Christendom says that the 10 Commandments are for the body of Christ, even including #4, which has conveniently been “changed” to Sunday for us!
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Dawn December 23, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Don,
I’m hoping you will help me with a conversation I’m having with someone who holds to the torah. And this person teaches Paul taught the torah.
He wrote to me the following:
“Peter also prophesied that Paul’s writings would be twisted by those who are uneducated and that is what happened very early on.
The reason I asked you about the New Covenant is that Jerermiah 31:31 is the ONLY place where God states who it’s for. Paul then says in Ephesians 2 that the Gentiles, who were strangers from the covenants and promises, are now fellow citizens of the commonwealth of Israel. Hence, the new covenant that Jesus brought is specifically for the house of Israel and the house of Judah. If we are not part of one of those houses then we have no part in the covenant. We must prove our positions from the OT first since that is where God makes first reference to everything that he had planned to do.
Here’s a challenge for you: can show me where in Scripture we actually see the seven dispensations?”
End of his quote. Where did Peter prophesies Paul’s teachings would be twisted?
If you can help it would be appreciated
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1. doctrine Post authorDecember 23, 2015 at 7:57 pm
  Dawn,
  Your friend is essentially correct about the covenants. I deal with this in my article, Israel’s Covenants. The Peter/Paul reference is 2 Peter 3.14-16. The seven dispensations is subject to debate. It depends how one thinks about it. See my Framework of Scripture. There, I basically argue for 5 dispensations. The New Covenant is wholly spiritual because it deals with the indwelling Holy Spirit which Paul taught is a down payment of our redemption.
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  1. Dawn December 23, 2015 at 10:16 pm
    Don,
    Thank you so much for the quick response. Merry Christmas
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    1. doctrine Post authorDecember 24, 2015 at 3:55 pm
      Dawn,
      And to you. Thank you.
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2. GraceReceiver December 24, 2015 at 12:59 am
  Dawn,
  There is a website that I frequent called “joyfullygrowingrace.wordpress.com”. While they don’t rightly divide the Scriptures, it’s a great resource concerning this growing Hebrew-Roots Movement.
  I have three friends that are Torah-observant; they are very difficult to reason with. If you start feeling doubts, Dawn, I would recommend the above site, as well as of course doctrine.org!
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Joe December 24, 2015 at 11:24 am
In my early study I struggled with whom the New Cov. was for. I finally accepted the covenants are for Israel. The New Cov. is for Israel in the Kingdom but believers today benefit (all blessed) by direct association with the Holy Spirit in the Church Age.
Accepting that the NC was for Israel only begged the question as to who/what is Israel. I think Christendom is divided on this and as a result so much confusion.
It was Romans 9-11 that helped me understand.
Doctrine, am I on the right track re: the New Cov. per se is for the Kingdom Age?
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1. doctrine Post authorDecember 24, 2015 at 3:46 pm
  Joe,
  Yes, the New Covenant will achieve its prophetic fulfillment in the Millennium.
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becky February 14, 2016 at 10:26 am
Hi Don,
I have a question. Paul never says anything about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But he does state this: Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Have you addressed this in one of your studies? thanks, Don
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1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 14, 2016 at 1:26 pm
  Becky,
  See also Romans 13.8-14. Paul had much more to say about God’s love for us and for us to one another. However, see 1 Corinthians 8.3 and 2 Corinthians 5.14.
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Becky February 16, 2016 at 9:35 am
Hi Don,
I am very pleased with 1 Cor 8.3. In cross-referencing, i also find I Cor 2:9 and Rom 8:28. I was looking at the phrase “love OF God” this morning, trying to see if in certain verses it meant our love FOR God versus God’s love. I thought maybe the word “of” would translate to “for” but this is not the case, at least according to Strong’s. I would like to tap your knowledge on this, if you have the time.
So it struck me this morning that we cannot love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; only Christ fulfilled that command. But by the grace of Jesus Christ, we can love God. Does Paul teach us how to “love God”? Would it be along the lines of “pleasing” God? Thanks so much
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1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 16, 2016 at 7:17 pm
  Becky,
  God is love and as such initiates love. God made us with the ability to respond to Him. We can love Him because He initiated love towards us. Our love grows as we come to understand who God is and understand His goodness and grace to us. Paul’s doctrines teach us God’s grace to us. As we grow in these truths we love God.
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Sue February 17, 2016 at 9:47 am
Hi Don
Has Jesus fulfilled the Law? If so how how does it work.
Was this done at the cross?
Thanks
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1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 17, 2016 at 12:23 pm
  Sue,
  Jesus kept the Law in His earthly ministry and fulfilled all the legal requirements of redemption. He was the sacrifice that the animals sacrifices had been point to for hundreds of years. He satisfied God’s justice on the cross. His resurrection was proof God accepted His redemption of mankind. He removed the barrier of sin and death for all mankind.
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Elvie Manrique March 20, 2016 at 12:09 pm
Hi Don,
Galatians 3:1-2, 5 “did believers speak in tongues as proof that they received the Holy Spirit?” When did this sign end? Thanks
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1. doctrine Post authorMarch 20, 2016 at 7:03 pm
  Elvie,
  Tongues as evidence of salvation and receipt of the Holy Spirt occurred at Pentecost (Acts 2), with Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10), and with Paul with the believers who had been baptized by John’s baptism (Acts 19). Sign gifts ended before Paul was imprisoned in Rome. See my article, Sign Gifts: Valid Today?
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Elvie Manrique March 21, 2016 at 11:17 am
Hi Don,
There are four “I” mentioned in Galatians 2:20. The first I “the old self” was crucified. The second I “the old creation” died with Christ. The third and fourth I is the new creation in Christ. The new creation will live by faith. Please explain further… Thanks
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1. doctrine Post authorMarch 21, 2016 at 12:41 pm
  Elvie,
  Galatians 2.20 can be translated, “by faith in the Son of God” or “by the faithfulness of the Son of God.” In the first, the emphasis is upon the means of life for the believer–living by faith. In the second, the emphasis is upon the faithfulness of Christ in accomplishing His mission. NASB and NIV prefer the former, KJV and NET the latter. I think there’s a little more weight for the latter.
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Tom Bittman March 28, 2016 at 3:28 am
Don thanks for this wonderful site and all your hard work!
I ran across this quote by Myles Coverdale and would like to share it here for others if I might.
Myles Coverdale produced the first complete printed translation of the Bible in English. He was born probably in the district known as Cover-dale, in that part of the North Riding of Yorkshire called Richmondshire, England, 1488. He died in London and was buried in St. Bartholomew’s Church Feb. 19, 1568.
Here’s what he said: “It shall greatly help ye to understand the Scriptures if thou mark not only what is spoken or written, but of whom and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before and what followeth after. ”
That’s what you help us to do!
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Becky June 11, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Don,
WOW! I loved this article! Thank you for confirming much of what I’ve come to understand from scripture study regarding Law and Grace . . . Many blessings and may our Holy Father continue to enrich and enlighten you so the Church may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
P.S Are you familiar with Clarence Larkins’ books, specifically Dispensational Truth? I was taught from this book most of my early Christian walk and was wondering if some of it’s content has been refuted since it was written way back in 1912 and we have gained in knowledge since then. Since my teacher (my dad) passed I began reading scripture myself and found some inconsistencies with it so I’m just curious if you have any thoughts about it.
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1. doctrine Post authorJune 11, 2016 at 2:05 pm
  Becky,
  Thank you. Yes, I encountered Mr. Larkin many years ago. Incredible charts!
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Jerry Shaw August 1, 2016 at 11:52 am
(cf. Romans 9.6).
Sorry for such a petty question, but what does the “cf” stand for?
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1. doctrine Post authorAugust 1, 2016 at 12:35 pm
  Jerry,
  It’s just standard citation notation. See cf.
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Jerry Shaw August 1, 2016 at 8:04 pm
I was interested in the reference to Larkin earlier. Found a site with all his writings. He seems to support you MOST of the way. Sadly, he seems convinced that the Church began at Pentecost. Clearly, he missed the boat, too bad he never got to read Doctrine.org.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. “Born out of due time.”
LOL
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1. doctrine Post authorAugust 1, 2016 at 8:32 pm
  Jerry,
  Larkin was a mainline Acts 2 dispensationalist. He was a brilliant chartist and the Lord used him mightily. The coming of the Holy Spirit was a Jewish, OT promise, and this is so clear by the fact Peter spoke only to Jews. Tragically, people such as Larkin could not overcome 1,900+ years of erroneous theology in this area. Tradition was too strong.
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Bobbi August 30, 2016 at 10:25 pm
I love how we are under new management! Hee hee, that was great.(and true)
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George January 7, 2017 at 12:32 am
Hello bro Don, can u please help me with this verse: Romans 2:16 KJV
[16] In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Do the men in this passage refer to all mankind and if so how can they be possibly be judged by a gospel that was only revealed to Paul? Maybe i am reading it wrong, how do you understand this passage? Thanks.,,
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 7, 2017 at 9:24 am
  George,
  The great problem God solved was the problem of man’s sin. He did this through the death and resurrection of Christ. That is Paul’s gospel. So God will judge mankind based upon this work. Earlier generations did not know how God would solve the problem, but they responded or rejected God. Paul is looking at the ultimate solution, which is the basis of judgment.
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George January 7, 2017 at 2:48 pm
I agree with you here, but when you specifically take Paul’s exclusive grace gospel, which entails eternal security for the body of Christ, i can’t see this gospel judging ot-kingdom/messianic believers, the gispel of the kingdom( which is based on performance) and Paul’s gospel( no performance) are incompatible, how then does Paul’s gospel trump all and in what way do you see the mechanics of this process where we see the secrets? Of all mankind being judged, please put it all together for me if you can much obliged:)
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 7, 2017 at 4:27 pm
  George,
  Ultimately, the unsaved in whatever economy, will be judged by Chris’ts finished work for it is what satisfied the justice of God. A person like Cain, though he did not know Christ would die for him and be raised from the dead will be judged by Christ’s work because Christ’s work satisfied the justice of God. Paul’s gospel is the end work of Christ and everything else anticipated it. Paul is writing from the perspective of this finished work.
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mark January 10, 2017 at 3:57 pm
Good afternoon
Can you please give me any information you may have concerning fasting. Is it part of the Law, are Christians required to fast in this age of Grace, do we fast from things other than food…. Please give scripture references.
As always, thank you for your ministry
Mark
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 10, 2017 at 4:53 pm
  Mark,
  Very little information–only one verse other than Paul’s desciptions of his own situation. See 1 Corinthians 7.5; 2 Corinthians 6.5, 11.27.
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George January 14, 2017 at 10:50 am
Hello Bro Don, i know that Paul is our pattern, for today, but in some ways he is not. Take for instance Paul baptising, circumcizing, becoming somethong he is not to win souls, do we take stands against these errors or do we do like Paul, compromise our walk and beliefs to win souls?
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 14, 2017 at 11:48 am
  George,
  Our practice should be what is found in Paul’s letters. Acts was a transitional book and should not be used for Church doctrine. As for baptism, Paul made it clear that it was no longer a Christian practice in writing the Corinthians and a few years later, the Ephesians.
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  1. Following Jesus November 7, 2017 at 8:04 am
    Just needing clarification, are you saying Paul didn’t believe Christians shouldn’t get baptised like Jesus did? I haven’t heard this message before.
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    1. doctrine Post authorNovember 7, 2017 at 11:07 am
      Following Jesus,
      Water baptism was a requirement for salvation under the gospel of the kingdom (Mark 1.4, 16; Acts 2.36-38). While Paul baptized early in his ministry by the time he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians it had essentially ended (1 Corinthians 1.13-17). Paul did not consider it important. What was important was the proclamation of his gospel. By the time Paul wrote Ephesians (c. 62) water baptism had definitely ended (Ephesians 4.5). Everything Paul wrote he received directly from the ascended, risen Lord. He made this clear by many statements. The reason water baptism is practiced by most in Christendom is because few people understand Paul’s apostleship.
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Vanessa January 15, 2017 at 9:41 am
Hello Don,
Hope you are well. How does one answer this question to a fellow Christian who has begun to embrace that White people. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) Her question is if God is doing the work in us which I support how come Paul leaves us instructions on how to live our lives. How does one answer that question. Thank you.
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 15, 2017 at 1:17 pm
  Vanessa,
  Israel is the Jewish people. God gave Jacob the name Israel and he had 12 sons, the 12 tribes of Israel. They are from the line of Shem. Most “white people” come from Japheth. I have no idea where one would get the idea that “white people” are Israel. It is not in the Bible.
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2. Bobbi January 16, 2017 at 12:26 pm
  Good morning Vanessa and Don,
  I wonder if because Paul was first in the Body, if that is why he explains how to live. Maybe to explain the things that have been taught him by the Lord Jesus so we will know what it looks like to have Christ in us. The Holy Spirit too helps us to affirm what were doing.
  This lie of the white people thing you spoke of, is is not found, and in fact is obviously untrue in that the Word says we are neither Jew nor Gentile, in the Body.
  Romans 2:11
  “For there is no respect of persons with God.”
  And Paul says in…
  1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
  13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
  14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
  15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
  16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
  17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
  It is apparent more than ever, that we need to prayerfully study and pay attention to doctrine. Is very sad to see all the ways of evil getting to believers. The closer we are to God the more we know He will teach us all things through the Holy Spirit.
  May the Lord keep you and all us in Him!
  Romans 8:24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
  25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
  26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
  27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
  28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
  29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
  30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
  31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
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  1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 16, 2017 at 3:19 pm
    Bobbi,
    I can’t imagine how anyone would come up the the idea that Israel is white people. Bizarre.
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    1. Bobbi January 16, 2017 at 11:21 pm
      Don,
      I’ve seen so many heretical things the last month:( We must be very close. I suppose it is another way to throw some off track. Sounds a bit like possible replacement theology… of a sort. It’s totally twisted.
      Hoping everyone sticks to the ‘simplicity in Christ. These things are from the enemy. One of his devices…
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George January 15, 2017 at 9:57 am
Thanks, Ok then, we follow Paul as he is given more revelation from Jesus.
Another question i have that confuses me a little is when Peter went up to Galatia to see the body of Christ, were Peter and Barnabas eating unclean foods ? with the body of Christ, then pulled away from them when their kingdom flock appeared. Shouldn’t Paul scold Peter for comprimising Peter’s own kingdom program rather than pulling away from the body of Christ food fellowship, please shed some light, thanks again!
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 15, 2017 at 1:38 pm
  George,
  Jews had no dealings with Gentiles. This is why Peter resisted going to Cornelius’ house. I do not know if the Gentiles were eating non-kosher foods. The issue was that Peter was fellowshipping with Gentile believers but when representatives of James came, Peter feared them and withdrew his fellowship. This demonstrated how far Peter’s status had fallen in Jerusalem. James was running everything. Peter was a has been. Paul’s upbraiding of Peter was for his hypocrisy and cowardice.
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Vanessa January 15, 2017 at 11:48 pm
Thank you. However for me how do I look at this question.“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) My question is if God is doing the work in us which I support how come Paul leaves us instructions on how to live our lives. Thank you.
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 16, 2017 at 9:04 am
  Vanessa,
  The human will cooperates with the divine will. We are free agents. We still have both the fallen, Adamic nature and the new nature which is at war with God (Galatians 5.16-17). When we choose to believe and obey God, God uses our obedience to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8.29). Obedience will be the basis of future reward (1 Corinthians 3.11-15). Notice Paul stated this will continue until the Day of Christ, i.e., the Rapture. It is then that we will receive our resurrection bodies and be free from our fallen, Adamic natures.
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RonG January 17, 2017 at 5:11 am
G’Day Don,
Long time no chat.
In an earlier post in the comments you said regarding Galatians 5:17 and the sins that would prevent inheriting the kingdom of God…
“… Paul is exhorting believers to holy living for the kingdom of God (our destiny) will not contain sin. ….”
Given that the context of the chapter is comparing the futility of trying to add law. And given this was written post the Acts 15 council, couldn’t Paul be actually saying that the law empowers the fleshly sins mentioned and now, believing faith plus law saves, means that the person who dies believing this will not inherit the kingdom because only faith + 0 saves. The Kingdom program and therefore gospel can no longer save. It seems that this could be referring to trusting the wrong gospel for salvation for the wrong destiny, earthly kingdom not heaven. Just a thought…
I hope I make sense in what I am saying.
RonG
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 17, 2017 at 8:09 pm
  RonG,
  The Law was holy, righteous, and good but had no empowerment for good. The Holy Spirit, working in concert with faith and the new nature can produce good. At the end of the Council of Jerusalem, only one gospel remained–Paul’s gospel. Anyone who proclaims a different gospel is accursed (Galatians 1.6-9).
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  1. RonG January 17, 2017 at 9:49 pm
    Don,
    You seemed to be saying that the reference regarding the kingdom of God in this passage is to the Church, the Body of Christ….”…(our destiny..)”
    What I am asking is couldn’t Paul actually be referring to the Jewish(under law) earthly kingdom?
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    1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 18, 2017 at 7:17 am
      RonG,
      See my article, The Kingdom of God. Paul’s references to the kingdom of God were to His whole realm of rule: heaven and earth. It thus includes the Church and the earthly kingdom.
      Reply ↓
Bobbi January 17, 2017 at 2:25 pm
Vanessa,
One thing I know all of us in Christ have learned or are learning, is to not trust in the deeds of ourselves, because in the flesh, (our physical body) which we will be in our bodies till Jesus comes as Don said,
Phil. 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
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:
The “not having our own righteousness” being key I think.
The thing is in the Body we have our hearts are :
Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Mark 7:21 – For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders…
Romans 3:10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Thus we have no righteousness of our own. So we need to trust God.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
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anonymous February 11, 2017 at 4:17 pm
you’re teaching work salvation if you’re saying that a homosexual has to stop being a homosexual or a liar has to stop being a liar or a thief has to stop being a thief to be saved if a person who save continues to those type of lifestyles they will lose their rewards crowns and inheritance but they’re still saved to teach otherwise is to teach Works salvation
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1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 11, 2017 at 4:33 pm
  Anonymous,
  I never state this. Salvation is based solely upon trusting in the work of Christ on the cross and His resurrection. The Scriptures teach that once one comes to Christ, he is to live a holy, godly life, pleasing to God.
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anonymous February 12, 2017 at 9:40 am
Doctrine. Org I’m not stating that you said that please don’t get my comment confused wasn’t trying to accuse you of that we both know what salvation by grace alone is and I agree once a person has trusted Jesus Christ believing the good news about him they should live for him as many scriptures teach but if they never do they are still saved but will have no Rewards no crowns or rulership in Christ Kingdom
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anonymous February 12, 2017 at 9:41 am
I got mixed up with lordship salvation many years ago and it affected me really badly so I like to test what people say instead of just believing whatever they say even if they have so-called bible verses to go with it which they twist
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1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 12, 2017 at 2:44 pm
  Anonymous,
  Lordship salvation perverts the Scriptures. One is saved by faith alone in the death and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15.1-4).
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  1. mike August 23, 2017 at 1:56 pm
    are you saying practicing sin is ok if you believe CHRIST CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION,FOR OUR SIN IS ALL THAT MATTERS?
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    1. doctrine Post authorAugust 23, 2017 at 8:21 pm
      Mike,
      No, why would you think this?
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    2. mike August 25, 2017 at 2:28 pm
      the reason i said this was of the statement its o k to be a practicing homosexual as long as you believe in what CHRIST has done for us,this is against what i read in the GOSPELS
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      1. doctrine Post authorAugust 25, 2017 at 7:53 pm
        Mike,
        One is saved by solely on the basis of believing Christ died for one’s sins and rose from the dead. I did not say it was ok to be a practicing homosexual any more than I said it is ok to be a practicing liar, murderer, thief, etc. Why do you state what I did not say?
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Jerry Shaw February 23, 2017 at 3:43 pm
Dear Don,
I am sure that everyone who writes to you begins with awesome gratitude to you for your site and blogs. I must add my name to that list. I hope this note finds you enjoying life.
It is my intention to put together a book emphasizing the difference and importance of knowing the Gospel of the Kingdom for Israel and our Gospel of the Grace of God for Christians. Without question I owe much of my teaching in that subject to you and of course Les. I found you several years ago and consider that a tremendous blessing. You have completely turned me into a Bible geek, and for that I love you.
I assume I need your written permission to include parts of your writings in my publication. I will also be in touch with Matthew McGee, Berean Bible Society, David Limbaugh and his Road to Emmaus, and Les.
I would be grateful and proud to receive your permission. And glad to give you every possible acknowledgment of your work .
If this is not possible, then I offer my heartfelt thanks for how much you have made my life better.
Yours in Christ,
Jerry W. Shaw
921 Champion Ferry Rd
Gaffney, SC 29342
864-489-2623
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1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 24, 2017 at 9:26 am
  Jerry,
  Sure, that’s fine. My whole goal is for believers to be able to understand the Scriptures, grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and become conformed to His image. May the Lord bless your effort. Grace and peace.
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Aaron January 18, 2018 at 1:42 am
Hello Don,
I am new to this site and love it. Pauls Gospel magnifies our Lord Jesus Christ and what he did for us. This truth takes away all boasting because there is a level playing field at the cross.
It is clear that we(flesh) do not live the Spirit filled life. The Holy Spirit lives this life through us and gives us victory over sin as we yield our members. (Gal. 5:16) We are to “walk in the Spirit”. Do you have any writings on this subject that would include the defeat that Paul went through with the war on Spirit vs. flesh. In Romans 7 Paul has a major problem with this constant warfare. He cries out, O wretched man that I am( Romans 7:24) admitting that he has total inability to deliver himself from the bondage of sin. Just wondering if you have any writings on living a spirit filled life that may be able to help me clear some things up with the struggle we have with sin as a believer? Romans 8:2 ” Understanding what Paul means by ” Law of the Spirit of life in Christ” and the ” Law of sin and death” would help me. What it means to be led by the Spirit of God( Romans 8:14)? Does the word led literally mean “to cary”.
Thank You for your time and knowledge you have made available in Christ. God was showing me the difference in the kingdom gospel and the gospel of the grace of God before I discovered this site. Your writings have been a great blessing.
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 18, 2018 at 11:40 am
  Aaron,
  Thank you. You might want to look at Paul and the Law and Identification With Christ. The word “lead” is ἄγω and is a present, passive, indicative, hence, “are being led.” The word means to lead or guide.
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  1. Mikolaj February 4, 2018 at 3:19 am
    Maybe Saint Paul didn’t teach salvation by faith alone. Maybe Paul is only condemning the idea of being justified by Jewish boundary markers such as circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath (i.e., ceremonial law).Maybe Paul is only condemning the idea of observing the whole Mosaic Law by legal obligation, but that he is okay with works done in love and by grace as contributing to justification.It is hard for me to believe that a man can be justified without following the law of Christ only by faith alone.
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    1. doctrine Post authorFebruary 4, 2018 at 8:09 am
      Mikolaj,
      Many verses reveal Paul taught salvation by faith alone in the death and resurrection of Christ (Romans 1.16-17, 3.22, 26, 28, 4.5; 5.1; Galatians 2.16, etc.) He solved the problem of sin and death and all we need to do is believe Him. He has done all the work. Salvation is a gift received by faith.
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IDF May 23, 2018 at 4:29 am
Dear Author,
You can poll the majority to your side, but you can’t pool everybody away. The scriptures make it clear that a remnant at the end of the age will be keeping Yahweh’s commandments & holding on to the faith of Yahshua the Messiah—Rev. 14 v 12 etc.
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1. doctrine Post authorMay 23, 2018 at 8:09 am
  IDF,
  God always has a remnant and so there will be a remnant before the Lord returns. Right now, the remnant is the Church, the body of Christ. The Church is not under the Mosaic Law (Romans 6.14). The Church keeps God’s moral law through faith and the direction of the Holy Spirit. Paul is the founder of the Church and what he has written is how we are to live our lives. The prophets and the Twelve were apostles of Israel, not of the Church. What they wrote is FOR us but what Paul has written is TO us.
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  1. rex September 10, 2018 at 7:00 am
    Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).
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    1. doctrine Post authorSeptember 10, 2018 at 8:58 am
      Rex,
      True. But this statement has nothing to do with the Church, the body of Christ. It has to do with believers in the Tribulation who will not take the mark of the Beast. This Church is not present anywhere in the book of Revelation.
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Tex Bailey November 27, 2018 at 3:52 am
Hello! I have a few questions in regard to your article.
“Anyone who says they abide in Him should walk just as He walked” 1John.
Am I wrong for walking just as my Messiah did? Am I going to go to hell for doing so, seeing He was sinless and lived a perfect life? What comndenation do I have for keeping all the commands Jesus did, Including the sabbath?
What is sin? Is it not transgressing the law?
So what is the opposite of sin?
Can you provide 2 verses that prove the church is not Israel, since a matter is established on 2-3 witnesses? Thanks!
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1. doctrine Post authorNovember 27, 2018 at 6:51 pm
  Tex,
  God gave the Mosaic Law to Israel, not to Gentiles, not to the Church. Apparently, you did not read the article. The Church is not under the Law, but under grace (Romans 6.14). All Church doctrine comes from Paul. The risen Christ gave Paul the gospel of grace whereby one is saved. See my article, “Israel” as a Technicle Term. Not a single verse in the Bible declares the Church is Israel. Israel is composed of the descendants of Jacob and no one else. Read your Bible!
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  1. Tex November 27, 2018 at 7:40 pm
    Acts 7:38 KJV says that Israel and the church are the same, and was started at Mt Sinia: you asked for a verse, there’s plenty more. In love, —Tex. Pray for me, as I pray for you.
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    1. doctrine Post authorNovember 27, 2018 at 8:12 pm
      Tex,
      The word translated “church” in Acts 7.38 is ἐκκλησία. It means a group of people. In this, context, Stephen meant the congregation of Israel. Luke used this word 3x in Acts 19.32, 39, 41. Do you think this was the Church? Words have meaning in context. Take them out of context and you have confusion. I pray the Lord will open your eyes to truth and not be blinded by tradition. I’ve given you about 2,500 verses that prove you’re wrong. I pray you will use this information wisely.
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2. Tex Bailey November 27, 2018 at 7:09 pm
  Read my Bible? But you can’t give me 2 verses that prove we are not Israel? Read esphesians 2 since you only use Paul. Apart from Christ we are strangers from the covenants, commonwealth of Israel, and the promises of God! So if we are no longer Strangers of Christ, we are now part of Israel, and partakes in the promises. Show me where God is the God of anyone else other than Israel in scripture! Thank you!
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  1. doctrine Post authorNovember 27, 2018 at 7:40 pm
    Tex,
    Apparently, you do not know the origin of Israel. God gave Jacob the name Israel. His sons became the 12 tribes of Israel. In other words, Jews compose Israel. The Church is the body of Christ and Christ is its Head (Ephesians 5.23; Colossians 1.18). The Church is not Israel. The Church is composed of Jew and Gentile but when one believes Paul’s gospel one is no longer Jew or Gentile (Galatians 3.28). Paul declared there are now Jews (Israel), Gentiles, and the Church (1 Corinthians 10.32). Israel is never called the body of Christ and the Church is never said to be Israel. You can look up every reference to Israel in the OT, over 2,000 of them and they are always Jews. Every reference to Israel in the NT is to Jews. No exceptions.
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3. Bobbi November 27, 2018 at 11:24 pm
  Tex,
  Hello friend. … The 12 Apostles ministered to Israel. For a Gentile to be saved in the time of the gospels and before… they had to convert via Israel. Their purpose is to be a holy nation and one day they will!! God has promised and he is a performer of his Word, every one!
  John (the scripture you gave) is an apostle to Israel, not to us.
  Paul is the only apostle to all nations and all men, who was given the “gospel of our salvation”…which is the power of God to save today!! 1 Cor.15:1-4
  If anyone could live perfectly as Jesus Christ did, then why did Christ have to die??? No one is saved today by their own righteous acts or works! We are saved because we believe Christ Jesus was “made to be sin for us”… he died on our behalf and in our place! He gave himself freely. He did for man what we could not do for ourselves…
  2 Cor.5:19-21.
  When God looks at earth today, he sees either men saved or unsaved. Rom.3:9-26! There are NOW no distinctions, between anyone today.
  In Acts 9, Christ appeared to Saul of Tarsus (later called Paul)and saved him by his grace… if you read Rom.9-11… it is written in these 3 chapters what happened to Israel as they fell, were diminished and cast aside , but only for a time. (Their restoration is yet future still)
  God is building a body today that is called the church, the Body of Christ. It has a purpose known to God since before the foundation of the world… :) We are living in the dispensation of Grace that God gave to Paul for ALL NATIONS and ALL MEN. Ephesians.3!!
  God gave us all Paul for a pattern to see how his mighty Grace works in a man and to follow.. 1 Tim.1:11-17
  Keep reading… Romans to Philemon are good to know for us today.
  Every blessing to all brethren!
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Irene Martin November 29, 2018 at 1:34 pm
I am Jewish but do quite a bit of study of the Gospel. This is well written ant true that Christians are not under the Mosaic law but are under the Noahic Law , which is not the same as no law. It includes no sexual immorality and other requirements but not the Kosher Laws etc.
The fact that gentiles are not under the Mosaic Law is even noted in the Talmud. The question is asked if a gentile that eats pork is sinning and the Rabbis answer no.
So the fact you are not under the Mosaic Law is very correct even under the Jewish Law .
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1. doctrine Post authorNovember 29, 2018 at 1:52 pm
  Irene,
  Thank you. Mankind has always been under the moral law, murder, stealing, adultery, etc. but God formalized the moral law with the Mosaic covenant and added many laws to keep Jews separate from Gentiles. Paul declared the Church, the body of Christ, is to keep the moral law under grace, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and stated that in Christ, in the Church, there is no longer Jew or Gentile. All who believe Paul’s gospel that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead become something new—we become Church, members of Christ’s body.
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Georgene January 13, 2019 at 12:33 pm
Thank you for this excellent article. It has been very helpful. My grandson and I have been studying the Law as it relates to the Christian. He cited Acts 25:8, Acts 24:10-21, Acts 15:12-29 and 1Cor. 5:8 as proof that Paul kept the Law. Can you help me with these passages, please? Thank you in advance.
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 13, 2019 at 12:57 pm
  Georgene,
  Paul adamately stated that members of the Church, the body of Christ, are not under the Mosaic Law. He wrote the letter of Galatians to correct the false teaching that the Galatians were receiving that they had to keep the Mosaic Law. I recommend you read Galatians. Paul wrote that the Law was a “yoke of bondage,” a “ministration of death,” a “ministration of condemnation.” He taught we are to “cast out the bondwoman,” and to “stand fast in the liberty of Christ.” On occasion, Paul voluntarily placed himself under the Law to win the Jews. The passages you noted basically reveal Paul was not antagonistic to the Law. But this is different from saying Paul kept the Law or taught that we are to keep it. If Paul taught that believers are to keep the Mosaic Law then we have scores of passages that contradict this, i.e., the entire book of Galatians, much of Romans, Colossians, etc. Paul wrote the Colossians, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2.14). That’s the Law. Paul taught that we fulfill the moral law by faith through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is an entirely different form of governance and obedience than Israel had under the Law.
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  1. Georgene January 29, 2019 at 1:12 am
    Thank you for taking the time to respond. This was very helpful. I was taught that Christians are not under the Law but my grandson brings up some questions that I haven’t been prepared to answer. May I ask your view on Matthew 5:17-18?
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    1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 29, 2019 at 8:19 am
      Georgene,
      What we must recognize is that Jesus ministered to Israel to fulfill what God had revealed in the Law and the prophets. This is what Paul wrote in Romans 15.8. The promises centered around God’s promise to establish His earthly kingdom. This is what the gospel of the kingdom, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is near” was all about. Jesus the King had come and Israel was challenged to repent in order for it to be established. So Jesus came to fulfill the Law. We have to recognize that the Mosaic Law was given to Israel, not to Gentiles, not to the Church. We also have to understand that God’s moral law and the Mosaic Law are not the same. God’s moral law existed long before He gave the Mosaic Law. So we, in the Church, are to fulfill God’s moral law, but it is not through being under the Mosaic Law but through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Craig January 14, 2019 at 11:28 am
Don, is fasting for Gentiles or was it given to only Jews?
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 14, 2019 at 9:47 pm
  Craig,
  Paul only mentioned it once in relation to married couples, 1 Corinthians 7.15.
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  1. Craig January 15, 2019 at 8:52 am
    Don, so many Christians say we’re supposed to pray and fast, especially when we want to hear from God or know His will. Is this true?
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    1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 15, 2019 at 11:53 am
      Craig,
      We know God’s will by following Paul’s teachings. There may be an occasion for fasting and prayer but Paul did not emphasize it.
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Craig January 28, 2019 at 10:37 am
Don, I have a friend who asked me this: “How does a dispensationalist account that in Romans 4, we’re told that Abraham and David was justified by faith, (David was under the law).
And we see Jesus, (Who fully lived under the administration of the law), was full of grace, and repeatedly taught to believe on Him to be saved.So how does a dispensationalist say that anyone was justified/saved by keeping the law?Has anyone other than Jesus ever kept the law?”
How do I respond?.
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 28, 2019 at 1:30 pm
  Craig,
  1. Abraham was an exception. He was saved by faith alone before the Law. For a long time it bothered me why Paul would bring in David in Romans 4 since David was under the Law. The point Paul is teaching in Romans 4 is salvation by faith alone. But the larger package is God’s grace (Romans 4.16). Abraham received God’s grace while uncircumcised. David received God’s grace while circumcised. According to the Law, there was no sacrifice for deliberate sin. David had sinned deliberately. He could not bring a sacrifice and be forgiven. Yet God forgave him. This was the “sure mercies of David” which Paul mentioned in Acts 13. 2. Yes, no one could keep the Law. But Jesus told the rich young ruler if he wished to have eternal life to keep the Law. He told his disciples that to be forgiven, they had to forgive. Forgiveness under the gospel of the kingdom also required water baptism. So, throughout the OT and gospels, salvation required works and faith. This is alien to us and we can’t answer the question, “how many works.” We can only say that works were an outgrowth of faith, indeed, works indicated faith. A believing Jew would keep the Law. So, for anyone who claims that salvation has always been the same, how do they account for Jesus’ statement to the rich young ruler, to his disciples, and the whole matter of water baptism? You have to confront these Scriptures and they simply crush any idea that salvation was always by faith alone.
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  1. Craig January 29, 2019 at 8:09 am
    Thanks for responding, Don. I shared with my friend that for Israel it was faith plus works and for us in this dispensation, it is faith alone. He wrote back that he used to be a dispensationalist, but now debunks it. How do some go from having the truth to end up rejecting it?
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    1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 29, 2019 at 8:27 am
      Craig,
      Unbelief. Paul commanded to avoid such believers (Romans 16.17; 2 Thessalonians 3.6, 14; 1 Timothy 6.3-5).
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      1. Craig January 29, 2019 at 8:37 am
        Don, is it correct to say that God’s grace was always available to all people in all times, but that one must place their faith in something or someone before they can receive salvation? For example, Jews in the OT had to believe God (plus works) in order to receive God’s grace, while we in this dispensation, must believe in Jesus alone to receive this grace.
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        doctrine Post authorJanuary 29, 2019 at 8:53 am
        Craig,
        The key is “the obedience of faith” (Romans 1.5, 16.26). This is a genitive of apposition—obedience, which is faith or obedience, namely faith. Faith does what God has revealed at a particular time. For Jews under the Law, faith and works were almost inseparable, e.g., offering sacrifices were indicators of faith. For us, God has made it so simple that no one should miss salvation—simply trusting that Christ died for one’s sins and rose from the dead. That belief is obedience.
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KK June 8, 2019 at 4:10 pm
“How is Jesus our Sabbath Rest?”
https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Sabbath.html
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1. doctrine Post authorJune 8, 2019 at 4:22 pm
  KK,
  Paul did not write that Jesus was “our,” that is, the Church, the body of Christ, sabbath rest. This comes from Hebrews 4, which Paul wrote to Jewish believers. The sense is that Christ has done all the work of salvation and these Jews only needed to depend upon that work to “rest.” The thrust of Hebrews is for the Jews to remain faithful to Christ and not abandon their faith in Him.
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Stephen August 22, 2019 at 6:31 am
Hi, what do you think of findings of scholars like historian Prof James Tabor who, in his book “Jesus and Paul” postulates that there were 2 brands of Christianity from the beginning. One was the Law-based group following the original 12 Jewish disciples and the Jerusalem church that became the Ebionite church. The other was the Grace-based gentile church built by Paul’s missionary works. This accounts for the disparate teachings and practices, such as Jesus commanding baptism for salvation (Mark 16:16) and Paul stating that baptism wasn’t part of the Gospel of salvation (1Cor 1:17). For devotional Christians wanting to believe in the single divine inspiration of all the NT books, some use the simple historical timeline to show progressive revelation of truths, such as in Dispensationism. So, when the glorified Jesus wanted to spread the Grace-based Gospel to gentiles who were alien to Israel and Judaism, he had to find another special apostle, Paul because the original 12 disciples were inseparable from Judaism. Jesus had to give him a direct supernatural commission, a heavenly gospel and more supernatural revelation of truths over 3 years. (Galatians 1, etc).
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1. doctrine Post authorAugust 22, 2019 at 8:46 am
  Stephen,
  I’m not familiar with Prof. Tabor or his views. Paul made it clear that everything he taught came by revelation from the ascended Lord and that these revelations were new, secrets, unknown to the Twelve.
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Mike Abba December 13, 2019 at 8:44 am
Had a lengthy discussion with a fellow brethren about the 1 Corinthian 14:34-35 verses that talk about women being silent in the church. I noticed that Paul says they should be silent as it is written in the law. Why would Paul be quoting the law to a gentile church? I know women would often share prophecy so they weren’t being silent during that time. Seems contradictory. Thanks for all your work on Doctrine.
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1. doctrine Post authorDecember 16, 2019 at 8:56 am
  Mike,
  Paul was trying to solve the problem of confusion and disorder in the congregation regarding tongues. His main point, as evidenced in what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 11, was to maintain the creative order. He referenced the Law because there were Jewish believers in the congregation. The Law agreed with the creative order, i.e., “as also says the Law.”
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Rafael May 10, 2020 at 10:30 pm
Genesis 7
No verse directly says “Noah kept the Sabbath”, but more than four times it shows Noah operating in cycles of 7 days and God giving him six days to load the Arc, this is sufficient proof, not only did he know about the creation Sabbath and week, but also about the proper sacrifices and clean vs unclean animals which are laws later given at the mount Sinai.
Genesis 26:5
because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.”
It is unnatural to suppose that these commands were different from the Sinai 10, because Abraham received instructions on idolatry on sacrifices on tithes on the sins of the Sodomites, on adultery etc. which are in the 10.
Acts 16:13
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.
Acts 17:2
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Acts 18:4 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Hebrews 4:9-10 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his
.Mark 2:27-28
27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath
Revelation 1:10
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet
If The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath, it follows that the Lord’s Day is the Sabbath
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1. doctrine Post authorMay 11, 2020 at 8:46 am
  Rafael,
  The sabbath, tithing, and circumcision were subsumed under the Mosaic Law. Paul preached on the sabbath because that is when Jews met to worship. But all who believe Paul’s gospel, that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead are free from the Law. Cast out the bondwoman—that is the Mosaic Law. The sabbath is the 7th day of the week, not the 1st. If you keep the sabbath, you are under Law and keep all 613 commands.
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  1. Musa May 16, 2020 at 11:30 am
    One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till ALL is fulfilled [Remember: Till Heaven and Earth pass]
    Grace and faith are not new testament concepts. Keeping the law does not negate grace or faith, instead it establishes the law. It is faith in the (Word of God) Yeshua that causes you to be obedient. You believe in Jesus? If so, then you believe in the Word of God because the Word became flesh. Isaiah said the Word of God lasts for ever. Paul said Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He also said the carnal mind is enmity against the law of God. It is the same law for an Israeli and an alien – Numbers 15:15. If we live according to this popular path found through the wide gate, then the Messiah will say, “I never knew you law breakers” Matthew 7:23
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    1. doctrine Post authorMay 16, 2020 at 12:37 pm
      Musa,
      The Law was given to Israel, not to Gentiles, not to the Church. Jesus in His earthly ministry spoke to Israel under the Law. He did not address Gentiles and the Church did not exist. See Galatians 4.21; Romans 6.14. Cast out the bondwoman—Galatians 4.30, 31. One can either follow the teachings the ascended Lord gave Paul and be faithful to Christ, or reject these truths and be Christ’s enemy.
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Craig January 29, 2021 at 5:52 am
Don, I heard someone say that the law of God existed before he made man. Is.this true?
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 30, 2021 at 8:34 am
  Craig,
  It depends on what he meant by “the law of God.” The moral law reflects God’s character and is eternal.
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Second son March 8, 2021 at 5:17 pm
Hello Don, I have a question again.
1) Gen.26:4-5, God said he would fulfill the promise he made to Abraham because he kept his laws, but isn’t it because Abraham trusted in God (Gen.15:6)?
2) What if Abraham failed the test of faith in offering his son Isaac, what would have happened?
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1. doctrine Post authorMarch 8, 2021 at 7:07 pm
  Second son,
  1. Abraham’s obedience was faith (see Romans 1.5, 16.26) and his keeping God’s commands (offering Isaac) justified, vindicated him before God. This was what James meant.
  2. God knew what Abraham would do. The test was an exercise of faith for Abraham. Often we learn by experience. God promised the covenant line was to go through Isaac. It couldn’t if Isaac died. So the test was whether Abraham truly believed God.
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Second son March 8, 2021 at 5:57 pm
I think my favorite Pauline epistle is the epistle to the Galatians. Especially in Gal. 3, he seemed angry. But this verse gal.2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
For some reason, this verse just rings in my head. Living life by faith in the Son of God, Christ lives in you. I wonder what that’s like.
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Craig March 23, 2021 at 8:27 am
Don, is the moral law the 10 commandments? If so, and the moral law always existed, what do we say to those Christians that insist we must keep the moral law?
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1. doctrine Post authorMarch 23, 2021 at 12:02 pm
  Craig,
  Yes. Paul wrote that we keep the moral law, not by being under the Law but by faith under the control of the Holy Spriit.
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Craig April 15, 2021 at 2:32 pm
Don, I asked someone if they could provide scriptures that shows the Sabbath was being observed before the Mosaic law was given. This was the answer I got:
“When the Israelites left Egypt they stayed in the wilderness where manna was falling from heaven from God. The manna never fell on the Sabbath Day. They were instructed not to go out on the Sabbath day and pick. So the Sabbath law was in estence before mountain Sinai.”
What are your thoughts on this?
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1. doctrine Post authorApril 15, 2021 at 3:58 pm
  Craig,
  My question about this and Noah and clean/unclean animals is what is the real question? Paul makes it clear the Church has nothing to do with the Mosaic Law. God gave the Law to Moses for Israel. He instructed Noah about clean and unclean animals but that was Noah. Everything must be interpreted in context. God told Adam and Eve they could only eat vegetables. After the Flood God told mankind we could eat anything. When God gave the Law, He instructed the Jews that certain animals were forbidden. When we come to Paul, he stated all animals can be eaten. Everything must be understood by what God reveals at a particular time.
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  1. Craig April 16, 2021 at 11:35 am
    I have a friend who says the Sabbath began when the Israelites were in the wilderness. Is this correct?.
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    1. doctrine Post authorApril 16, 2021 at 1:32 pm
      Craig,
      We have the record that God “rested” on the Sabbath after creating. We have no record of the sabbath being kept after this until Moses gave the Law. We do have the record that the Jews did not gather manna on the sabbath. So what did that mean? The Law forbade any work being done on the sabbath. Again, I ask, is this there a larger point to this question?
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Craig December 31, 2021 at 9:21 am
Don. Didnt Paul say we are not to judge Sabbath days? Does this mean it’s ok to be a 7th Day Adventist?
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1. doctrine Post authorDecember 31, 2021 at 9:44 am
  Craig,
  The sabbath was part of the Mosaic Law. We are not under the Law (Romans 6.14).
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Gordon January 4, 2022 at 4:55 pm
So, does Paul’s gospel supercede and replace the gospel of Jesus Christ, which fulfilled the law’s purpose through trust in God, instead of dismissing all morality through ‘faith’?
Jesus condemned the lawless to hell. Are you saying that Paul is embracing lawlessness by faith, pronouncing the adherence to morality anathema?
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 4, 2022 at 6:36 pm
  Gordon,
  Are you saying the gospel Paul received from the ascended Christ is invalid? Are you saying Peter’s statement in Acts 15.11 is wrong? Are you saying Peter’s testimony in 2 Peter 3.15-16 is wrong? Are you saying faith in the death and resurrection of Christ is lawlessness? Are you saying Jesus Christ has no right to save how and whom He wishes?
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Anthony July 25, 2022 at 10:12 am
Wow so many comments – not sure if my comment has already been dealt with. I have a huge problem with the analysis of God’s instructions, dividing them into civil, ceremonial and then moral. I am OK with civil – for sure some laws can be clearly seen as pertaining to civil matters, I can see some of them falling into the ceremonial category, but stop the bus, who the hell believes they have the authority to categorise God’s instructions like that and then say these are the only ones that pertain to morality? Jesus made 2 disticnctions, loving God, and then loving our neighbour – all the rest hang off of these 2. I fully agree, salvation is by faith, and it always was. Many of the Jews became too confident in their law keeping and natural birth right to be saved. They were also following the basic method of gentile conversion that was practiced by them over the 1500 odd years since Sinai – gentiles could become part of the family of Abraham by learning and following the Law, and then if they wanted “full membership” they had to get circumcised as well. Only if they were circumcised could they participate in the Passover for instance. Also – there was a MIXED multitude at Sinai, God said there is ONE LAW for you and the foreigner sojourning with you, no separate set of conditions. Ruth a Moabite woman is recorded in the lineage of Jesus – Ruth made a choice – your God will be my God, your people will be my people, your ways will be my ways, much like we chose to be in covenant with God today. Our means of enetering into this covenenat relationship is not the old way as God said “If you obey and keep my commandments – then I will be your god and you will be my people etc” This new covenant was not conditional like that, God promises to put His Spirit within us, and write His law on our inward parts. Ezekiel tells us the reason He writes His law on our inward parts – SO THAT, we can do them and walk in his statutes. The Spirit now enables us to keep God’s ways. He, by grace extends the hand of covenant relationship to us, and we by faith accept and become His people, we are grafted in, and guess what, there are some rules and laws in His kingdom. If we think we can embrace grace and reject His ways who are we trying fool, the order though is important – we come as we are, we are saved by faith, and we grow by learning His wonderful ways, His Law is truth, His law is Life, and His Law is the way – biblical statements, and no wonder Jesus is the living word, including all God’s instructions, so He too said He is the way , the truth and the Life, to reject some of God’s commandments is to reject the fullness of Jesus, and embrace a false Jesus. Remember Jesus gave a stern warning about lawlessness, the opposite of doing God’s will, Daniel refers to the Anti-christ one of his titles as the “Lawless” one.
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1. doctrine Post authorJuly 25, 2022 at 1:08 pm
  Anthony,
  People were always saved by faith but not faith alone. You cannot find salvation by faith alone before Paul (with the exception of Abraham). No being under the Mosaic Law does not mean lawlessness. Members of the Church are under grace and fulfill the law under the control of the Holy Spirit, not the Mosaic Law. Unless one understands this, one cannot live a victorious Christian life. The Church is a wholly different program from Israel. When you mention Jesus, what you mean is Jesus in His earthly ministry. But His earthly ministry was only to Jews under the Law. His ministry to the Church is from heaven. All Church doctrine comes from the ascended Christ.
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Jerry Shaw August 12, 2022 at 3:27 pm
Have a simple question: Did Luke ever meet Jesus? I have an online FB Bible study and try to answer questions. This one stumped me.
I have recently posted two of your charts on FB and had many requests for the book. Hope they follow through.
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1. doctrine Post authorAugust 13, 2022 at 9:17 am
  Jerry,
  Unknown, but probably not. Luke wrote Theophilus that others had written accounts who were eyewitnesses and that his purpose was to write an orderly account since he had carefully followed everything from the beginning (John the Baptist). See Luke 1.1-4; Acts 1.1-3).
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Brian Kelley August 13, 2022 at 10:21 pm
Don, Although unimportant in regards to essential doctrine, do you think that the Roman emperors Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius were well aware of Christ and the impact He was having in Palestine and beyond? The scriptures state that Paul appealed to Caesar, who was Nero at the time, and of course went to Rome. The Biblical and non-Biblical secular record, however, seems to reveal very little if anything on this subject from the Roman emperors’ perspective. But it stands to reason that Pilate and the other Roman officials would have dutifully reported Christ’s and Paul’s revolutionary activities to their superiors in Rome. I imagine that a meeting or confrontation between Paul and the psychotic Nero would have been very interesting to observe. Probably another aspect of history the Lord could reveal to us after we’re taken home to glory.
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1. doctrine Post authorAugust 19, 2022 at 2:14 pm
  Brian,
  I’m sure Pilate and others sent reports to the Emperor but these likely concerned collection of taxes and any threat of unrest. Palestine was a rather backwater province and likely received little attention from Rome unless there was a problem. Report of a miracle worker would have probably been received as a curiosity and skepticism. As far as Paul, the Emperor likely knew of him but reports would have come of his controversies with the Jews and that these were disagreements involving Judaism and a separate sect. Nero was unstable and no one wished to be too close to him.
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Michael October 6, 2022 at 5:52 pm
With the same methodical approach, I would like you to examine tithing.
You’ve already done the work to prove that the Mosaic Law does not apply to New Covenant believers.
So then, it would be as simple as proving that tithing, as commanded by God, is only part of the Mosaic Law.
Thus, it follows that tithing, as commanded in the Mosaic Law, does not(!) apply to New Covenant believers.
What about Abraham? He gave a TENTH from the spoils of war (plunder) to honor King Melchizedek. And he fed his allies. And with the remainder, he gave to King of Sodom. This is NOT tithing as commanded by God in the Mosaic Law.
So then, what do new believers do? As Christ is in us, we reflect the heart of the Father who is generous, so we are generous with our time, money and resources.
Your thoughts?
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1. doctrine Post authorOctober 6, 2022 at 7:20 pm
  Michael,
  Our instruction for giving is 2 Corinthians 9.6-9. This is the result of being under grace, not Law.
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  1. Michael October 6, 2022 at 7:47 pm
    Agreed.
    All of Paul’s explanations or guidance on giving were related to two things. One, giving to support believers in Jerusalem for the famine (“finish what you have started”). Second, giving in general (“give in proportion to what you have but don’t give too much that you make things harder on yourself”)
    2 Corinthians 9:12 The Ministry of Giving
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y1tzy January 3, 2023 at 5:15 pm
Who gave Paul (a mere mortal) to change the law?
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1. doctrine Post authorJanuary 4, 2023 at 11:27 am
  Y1tzy,
  Paul received all that he wrote from the ascended Christ. He was Paul’s authority.
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Michelle February 5, 2023 at 1:24 pm
This is a post of many blessings to me. I speed read today but will take the next couple weeks to study more deeply. Thank you for taking the time to break this all down using scripture. Real meat and potato stuff. I seem to be in a season surrounded by Hebrew Roots Movement people.
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Craig March 3, 2023 at 6:06 am
Don, on Les Feldick’s site, he said this about tithing: “God more or less lets it be known that 10% is a guideline for giving. But God’s not going to zap you if you don’t give 10%. Now you may lose rewards in glory , but you are under no mandate under Paul’s teaching to give a set amount.”
Unless I’m misunderstanding Les, it seems he is saying we will lose rewards in heaven if we give less than 10% but it’s okay according to Paul. Is this correct?
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1. doctrine Post authorMarch 3, 2023 at 8:39 am
  Craig,
  Paul’s teaching about giving is in 2 Corinthians 9. One should give willingly, not from compulsion, cheerfully. If one cannot do this, it is not Christian giving, honoring to God.
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Davis April 13, 2023 at 1:36 am
In the question of, “should Christians practice and uphold the law?” …. can you explain the practical difference between observing the Mosaic Law under a governing body as it was and observing the (moral?) Law through grace, administered by the Holy Spirit?
Other than the implication of oppression, terror, and death penalty through human governance compared to now life, liberty, love, and fearlessness as observing the Law through Christ.
Not the emotions stirred from governance (or lack of), or the reasoning for following the law, but the practical application between the two. Is it different?
It’s like decriminalization of a human law. Before x law became decriminalized, you didn’t do it because fear of punishment. After x law became decriminalized, you still don’t do it, not our of fear, but because it’s still a law and the right thing to do. But practically speaking, an outside observer who saw someone following x law wouldn’t know if that law is decriminalized or not. There is no difference. The difference comes when outside observer asks the person ‘why’ they are following x law.
Likewise, wouldn’t that mean an outside observer wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between witnessing a Jew following the law and a Christian following the law?
The scriptural answer doesn’t seem to be as simple as, one is observing Mosaic Law while the other is observing Noahide Laws/Ten Commandments.
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1. doctrine Post authorApril 13, 2023 at 8:29 am
  Davis,
  You are correct that an outside observer cannot tell the motivation of one following the law—and this has not changed. The Mosaic Law was commands-Jews were commanded to do them and penalties were attached for violating them. Our “governor” for keeping the moral Law is the Holy Spirit. We do it because we want to, for God is in the process of changing our hearts, for we wish to please Him. Even in the OT some of this existed for David wrote, “How I love your Law.” That did not remove the fact that the Law governed Israel. We are under an entirely different circumstance, under grace, not Law. It’s all internal.
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Sue May 10, 2023 at 1:11 pm
Hi Don,
Does sowing and reaping apply to the non believer in the same way it does to the believer?
Many Thanks
Sue
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1. doctrine Post authorMay 10, 2023 at 8:31 pm
  Sue,
  Generally, yes.
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Mike May 24, 2023 at 12:27 pm
As I continue my debate with one of my elders in a SBC he says there is no proof that the Jews continued sacrifices after Christs resurrection. Weren’t sacrifices the core of temple worship and the law in general? It is obvious from later on in acts that they continued to follow the law so sacrifices would have o be part of that process. He also has been quoting Hosea 6:6 saying I desire not sacrifices and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Thanks again
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1. doctrine Post authorMay 24, 2023 at 1:30 pm
  Mike,
  Such an idea is irrational. Why would the Jews stop animal sacrifices? They did not believe Jesus was the Messiah. They did not understand the sacrifices were shadows. For them, the sacrifices were the reality. The Jews did not stop offering animal sacrifices until Rome destroyed the Temple. Such ignorance is almost beyond belief.
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  1. Mike May 25, 2023 at 1:54 pm
    Also the point was brought up that the tearing of the veil at Christ’s death was the end of the separation from God to man and that technically the priests and sacrifices were no longer needed. Although through unbelief the Jews didn’t understand that so they continued to practice the law.
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    1. doctrine Post authorMay 25, 2023 at 3:28 pm
      Mike,
      Yes. Same basic argument. The Jews continued animal sacrifices because they refused their Messiah. They sewed the torn curtain back up. They had no understanding of its significance. Seems like you have won your case unless your friend refuses to accept history.
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2. joe May 26, 2023 at 5:12 pm
  from Bible.org
  When did the animal sacrifices stop and why?
  For the Jews who rejected Jesus as their Messiah, animal sacrifices done in obedience to the Old Testament covenant were stopped in A.D. 70 at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the armies of Rome. Jesus warned of this in the Gospels.
  For the Christian community, animal sacrifices stopped with the death and resurrection of Christ. There were some who were persecuted or pressured by the Jewish community to continue to offer sacrifices either because they rejected Jesus or felt his death was not enough. The book of Hebrews actually deals with this and shows that the Old Testament sacrificial system (the Old Covenant) was temporary until the coming of Christ who was the fulfillment of all that the sacrificial system anticipated. Paul teaches us the same thing in passages like Colossians 2:16f. It was Paul who specifically pointed to Christ as our Passover who was sacrificed for us (see 1 Corinthians 5:7). In keeping with the Lord’s Supper, instituted just before His death, Jesus also celebrated what was actually the last legitimate Passover by which He also pointed to Himself as the sacrifice for our sin.
  Today, when Jews observe the Passover they cannot offer sacrifices because sacrifices are only to be offered in Jerusalem and in the temple. Prophetically, many believe that in the future during the time of Daniel’s 70th week, the temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices will again be offered, but only because the Jews continue to reject Jesus as their Messiah. The sacrifices will once again be stopped by the beast of Revelation 13 the Jews will be persecuted until Messiah returns at which time they will turn to Him “whom they have pierced,” to put it in the words of Zechariah
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  1. Mike May 29, 2023 at 8:25 am
    Maybe Don can chime in on this but I don’t know if the scripture supports that. I am still working through some of this. The law was all encompassing, you couldn’t pick and choose the parts you wanted to follow. I don’t think a Jew would go to the temple and not participate in the sacrifices. When Peter is confronting the Sanhedrin in the early part of Acts, I don’t think he is telling them sacrifices are no longer required we are good now. The issue was that they would not accept Jesus as the messiah. Paul is saved later in Acts 9 and doesn’t return to Jerusalem for 3 more years. It doesn’t seem like the law becomes an issue until after Paul’s ministry begins. When Stephen is stoned they have to find false witnesses to say that he wasn’t following the law because he was. Stephens issue was that he believed Jesus was the messiah. James obviously was all about the law as we see by his comments much later in Acts 21. They were all zealous for the law and Paul almost lost his life because he was accused of bringing a gentile into the temple. They had to learn all this from Paul and seem to struggle with it. The sacrifices were an integral part of the law. I don’t think you could have one without the other.Paul’s Jewish converts would have been instructed to not follow the law but we see in Galatians how they struggled with that.
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    1. doctrine Post authorMay 29, 2023 at 9:15 am
      Mike,
      Another argument showing the Jews continued to offer animal sacrifices until the Temple was destroyed is that the Beast will allow the Jews to rebuild the Temple. What will they do immediately? They will offer animal sacrifices. The Beast, at the midpoint of the Tribulation, will stop this (Daniel 9.27, 11.31, 12.11). For unbelieving Jews, a Temple without animal sacrifices is meaningless for animal sacrifices were the heart of the Law.
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John D. November 14, 2023 at 10:23 am
Don,
In 2 Corinthians 3:7-9, Paul refers to the law as the ministry of death and condemnation. It appears that no part of the law is to be followed by new covenant believers. Yet, I am having trouble understanding why Paul in Ephesians 6:1-3, appears to teach the Ephesians to follow the first commandment of the law (“honor father and mother so it might be well with you and you will live a long life”). Are there parts of the law believers should still follow as a guide for right living?
Thanks,
John D.
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1. doctrine Post authorNovember 16, 2023 at 8:18 am
  John,
  The Mosaic Law revealed God’s nature and character and what man should be. As such, it showed we are not what we should be, and thus was a ministry of death and condemnation. Paul taught we are under grace, not law, in terms of administration. The Mosaic Law is not our Governor. Rather, the indwelling Holy Spirit is our Governor, in the sphere of grace. We are to keep the moral law, not from fear, as under the Mosaic Law, but under the influence of the Holy Spirit, demonstrating love for God and our neighbor. Paul quoted all the Decalogue except keeping the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a covenant given only to national Israel.
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RunnerXC December 4, 2023 at 11:46 am
You better hope your interpretation is correct because there’s dire consequences if not:
Matthew 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
And by EVERYTHING, he means EVERYTHING, not just Jesus’ death.
My interpretation is more of Paul warning the Galatians that doing the Law will get you nowhere…it’s belief and faith in Christ that will save you. Does that mean we don’t do the Law? I don’t think so…the Law was given to us for our own good and is a blessing and is not a burden (1 John 5). Paul is warning about the CONSEQUENCES for breaking the Law, those are gone…Jesus saved us from that.
If we get a speeding ticket, we go in front of the judge and he forgives us, does that give us permission to just go out and speed again?
2 Peter 3:16, 17 warns us of this directly. Paul is confusing. I’d be weary to teach and tell people that they shouldn’t do the Law. You don’t have to tell them to do it, that’s up to them…but don’t tell them not to.
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1. doctrine Post authorDecember 4, 2023 at 4:15 pm
  RunnerXC,
  I am afraid you misunderstand Paul (and what I wrote). Paul wrote we are under grace, not Law. He did not write we are lawless. We fulfill the moral law through the Holy Spirit, not the Law, which Paul declared was weak because of our fallen nature, the flesh.
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RunnerXC December 4, 2023 at 11:36 pm
“We are under grace, not the law” Agreed completely, that’s exactly what I said. The penalty of breaking law is gone, we are now under grace….but that doesn’t mean we just do what we want. That’s why I posted what Jesus said in Matthew and what Peter said in 3:16,17….but you just glossed over those without addressing them and said I don’t understand.
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1. doctrine Post authorDecember 5, 2023 at 11:32 am
  RunnerXC,
  Please indicate where I wrote that “we just do what we want.” Let me ask this: have you ever picked up a stick on Saturday? Have you every done any work on Saturday? If so, what does the Mosaic Law say about working on Saturday, the sabbath? As for 2 Peter 3.16-17, please read it carefully. Peter wrote some of the things Paul wrote were difficult for Paul wrote all doctrine for the Church, the body of Christ, which was new. Peter, James, John, and Jude wrote nothing to the Church. They never mention the Church. They wrote to Jews who believed the gospel of the kingdom, that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Peter also declared in that passage that Paul’s writings were Scripture, just like all the rest. All Church doctrine comes from Paul. Everything else concerns God’s covenant and prophetic program with Israel and Gentiles. The Church is neither Jew nor Gentile but a new creation. It is a whole different program.
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  1. RunnerXC December 5, 2023 at 12:10 pm
    Ok, the fact that your argument about the law is that I mightve picked up a stick on the Sabbath is ridiculous and shows you need to study it more. Thats not how it works. In fact, there are concessions TO work on the Sabbath, if your “neighbors horse is stuck…” etc. I’ll let that go though since it’s understandable, most people with your viewpoint don’t study the Law.
    I just don’t get what you are saying. So, we basically have to ignore Jesus and what he says because he’s only talking to the “Jews” (or Israel?) So by Jesus saying literally “Anyone” he actually means the Jews? Seems to me like things are being twisted. Telling me to not obey what Jesus says ( EVERYTHING he says) is dangerous territory. Are we grafted in to Israel or not?
    This was always a confusing thing for me. What did the church of Galatia actually talk about then when they would meet? All they had were the scriptures, which they would read every Sabbath…there was no New Testament. Then Paul walks in and says, “Actually, everything you’re reading, don’t do” Haha. Modern Christianity now isn’t what it was then, don’t pretend that it is. In fact, in Acts 15: 19,20 this actually happens. The Gentiles were being overwhelmed with keeping the Law and Paul says, “Let’s take a step back, all the Gentiles should worry about is eating clean, they hear Moses every Sabbath, the rest will come with time”. Again, did they need to do the Law? No, they are under grace…but they should get to the point where they do it the best they can and that’s different for everyone. You wouldn’t even tell people to eat clean right? Why did Paul?
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    1. doctrine Post authorDecember 5, 2023 at 3:41 pm
      RunnerXC,
      There were some exceptions (emergencies) but no regular work was allowed on Saturday. The penalty was death. Everything Paul wrote, except a couple times when he noted it, came directed from the ascended Lord. Do you think Jesus only ministered while on earth? He is the God of the Bible, the Creator. Do you find the Church in the OT? In the Gospels? The Church began with Paul. He said so. He wrote it was a secret. All Church doctrine comes from Paul.
      God gave the Mosaic Law was given to Jews, not Gentiles, not the Church. Jesus ministered to Jews. Only a couple times did He address Gentiles (cf. Romans 15.8). The Church is under grace, not Law, and that means we keep the moral law, which preceded the Mosaic Law, not by being under its governance, but by being under the governance of grace and allowing the Holy Spirit to control us. Law was all about duty. Grace is all about love. Acts 15.19-20 was spoken by James, who continued to live under the Mosaic Law. He was concerned about Paul’s believers (not under Law) offending Jewish believers. Paul’s account of that meeting is in Galatians 2.
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      1. RunnerXC December 5, 2023 at 5:16 pm
        Either we are grafted in or Paul created his own religion, as you say, completely contrary to what Jesus said while on Earth.
        You asked, “Do you think Jesus only ministered on Earth” and I’d say of course not but I don’t think he’d come to Earth, tell EVERYONE (he preached to Gentiles while on Earth you know) to do the Law, die, then just tell Paul “you know what, let me change all that”. Doesn’t make sense.
        I’m not sure if you’re a pastor or not, but if someone in your church said they feel led to do the eat clean, do the Sabbath, etc as Jesus did, to the best of their ability, not for salvation but because they thought it was for their good and would please God, what would be your response?
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        doctrine Post authorDecember 5, 2023 at 8:28 pm
        RunnerXC,
        Jesus did not preach to Gentiles. His ministry was exclusively to Jews with a couple of exceptions. See my article, The Gentile Exceptions. The Bible has no contradictions. God’s prophetic program to Israel and the Gentiles is different from His Church program. Israel has an earthly destiny under the Law. The Church has a heavenly destiny under grace. Totally different programs. Your comment, “Doesn’t make sense,” is because you do not understood Paul’s secrets and revelations, language he used over and over. Everything from Paul comes from Christ in His heavenly ministry. If one does no like Paul, one does not like the resurrected Christ. The Church is a new program. It is not Israel. It is not Gentile. It is Church. The Church has no prophecy. All prophecy concerns Israel and Gentiles. Paul wrote his gospel was a secret, the Church was a secret, the Rapture was a secret, the blinding of Israel was a secret, etc. The Lord revealed things to Paul He had kept secret. If you keep the programs separate, everything is clear. If you mix them, confusion results. As for your question, we are under grace but should not remain infants in understanding. Paul dealt with this in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, Colossians 2, Galatians, etc.
        Reply ↓
        RunnerXC December 5, 2023 at 9:31 pm
        Can you clarify your answer, what do you mean by “we are under grace but should not remain infants in understanding”?
        I don’t think we are going to get anywhere on this. I stick straight to the Bible and do what it says the best i can. God is clear that he doesnt change yet somehow he changed everything through Paul. Nothing is or was a secret. The fact that you even mention the Rapture says a lot, that’s not even in the Bible…a few hours of studying that is all you need there. No mention of Rapture and people being taken away, again, twisting things into something it’s not but we don’t have to get into that.
        I really am curious though the answer from above. What more is there to understand and what would you say to someone who feels compelled to do Sabbath, the Feasts, eat clean, etc? I’m just curious as to what further understanding there is when you are literally saying to throw out over half the Bible since it wasn’t meant for what you call “the church”.
        Reply ↓
        doctrine Post authorDecember 5, 2023 at 10:00 pm
        RunnerXC,
        For 2,000 years, God dealt with the entire human race. Then He called Abraham and changed everything. He created a new race, the Jews through whom He would reveal Himself and all revelation. God does not change but His programs change. He did the same thing with Paul. If you say nothing is a secret then I can assume you have never read the Bible. Paul used the word secret over and over. In 1 Corinthians 15.51, Paul wrote, “Behold, I tell you a secret,” speaking about the Rapture. Have you read 1 Corinthians? Paul talks about the Rapture over and over and over. How can you miss it? In Ephesians 6.19 he wrote, “the secret of the gospel.” Have you read Ephesians? Why do you not know these things?
        Reply ↓
        RunnerXC December 5, 2023 at 10:43 pm
        Again, don’t want to get into the Rapture here. I have read it yes, and again, just different interpretations. Paul’s referring to us getting our heavenly bodies, not disappearing from Earth. But let’s not get sidetracked.
        Again now for third time though, my final question. Someone from your church feels compelled to do the Law, again, to the best of their ability, not for salvation, just because they feel it would please God and its for their good (as the Bible says). They want to eat clean, do the Sabbath, celebrate the Feasts instead of the more Paganistic holidays, etc. Not perfectly but just the best they can. What do you tell them? Good or bad?
        I appreciate the back and forth and respect that, while you constantly say I don’t understand, it’s been a civil conversation. There’s a reason why there’s so many different interpretations out there.
        Reply ↓
        doctrine Post authorDecember 6, 2023 at 8:35 am
        RunnerXC,
        For the third time, I have given you my answer. It is the same as Paul’s. Read the Scriptures I gave you. The reason why there are “so many interpretations” is because most of Christendom does not understand Paul’s unique apostleship. He was not an appendage to the Twelve, not a 13th apostle. He was God’s unique, the Greek text says, “previously handpicked” apostle of Christ to begin the Church and reveal all its doctrines. Most churches spend most of their time in the Gospels. There is nothing wrong with that except the Gospels are Old Testament. Jesus ministered to Jews under the Law. The Church has nothing to do with that. No Church doctrine exists in the Gospels. Christendom has mixed God’s prophetic program with His Church program. This results is confusion, so many interpretations. 95% of theological controversy would be solved if people understood all Church doctrine comes from the revelations the ascended Lord gave Paul. The proof of confusion is the thousands of denominations. We have this because churches, pastors, theologians do not understand Paul. My goal, the goal of this website, is to make the unclear clear.
        Joe December 6, 2023 at 11:20 am
        RunnerXC
        Good works can either be relative or absolute. If we are led to do good works by the Holy Spirit then we build up gold, silver and precious stones for rewards. If we perform good works from power of the flesh it’s wood, hay and stubble. Isahia speaks of such works in Chapter 64 verse 6. The question is, are your good works performed by the power of the Holy Spirit or because you think you’re doing something you think God approves of? Are there any good works you’re avoiding? There are 613 laws mentioned in the Old Testament.
        I use the Living Bible because it footnotes the literal wording–
        We are all infected and impure with sin. When we put on our prized robes of righteousness, we find they are but filthy rags.[a] Like autumn leaves we fade, wither, and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.
        Footnotes
        Isaiah 64:6 filthy rags, literally, “filthy as a menstruating woman’s rags.”he speaks of such good works in chapter 64:6
RunnerXC December 6, 2023 at 10:20 am
I guess you won’t answer, it’s still not clear. I’ve read the Scriptures you sent me, we interpret them differently, I want to know your answer, Good or Bad? Just a one word answer, I’m trying to understand.
You keep saying it’s so “clear” and almost have a pompous attitude so with that, I’ll probably be done with this conversation. At least I’m humble enough to know that it’s not clear, I could be wrong, and I’m in search of the truth. Just be weary, like I mentioned before:
Matthew 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Anyone to me, means ANYONE. All generations to me means, ALL GENERATIONS. You see that a lot in scripture when speaking of the Law. Jesus said the Sabbath was made for MAN, not just Israel (or the Jews if you will). If you don’t take the Bible literally, then you can easily change what you read to fit any narrative you want.
But I challenge you now for the fourth time, Good or Bad? Will you answer?
Reply ↓
1. doctrine Post authorDecember 6, 2023 at 11:51 am
  RunnerXC,
  What is unclear about Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, Colossians 2? Paul wrote the following:
  16 Therefore, do not let anyone judge you about eating or drinking, or about a feast, or a new moon, or Sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of the coming things, but the body is of the Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in humility and worship of the angels judge you, by giving details about things he has not seen, as he is vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh, 19 and does not embrace the Head, from whom the whole body is supplied through the joints and ligaments, and knit together, growing with the increase of the God. 20 Therefore, if you died with the Christ from the ruling forces of the world, why do you submit to decrees as if you live in the world? 21 Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!—22 all which are destined to perish with the use, based on the commands and teachings of mankind, 23 which have an appearance of wisdom with self-imposed worship, and humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but have no value against fleshly indulgence.
  When you say “do the Law,” you seem to think I advocate not “doing the Law.” When Paul wrote we are under grace, not Law, he meant we are not under the governance of the Mosaic Law. Rather, we are under the governance of the Holy Spirit, in the realm of grace. We keep God’s moral law by the power of the Spirit. As for “keeping the Sabbath,” “eating clean foods,” keeping Israel’s feast days, etc., such activities reveal one does not know one’s identity in Christ, his position as a member of the Church, the body of Christ. Such a person is immature. The Christian response is to bring such a person to a better understanding of his relationship with God as a member of the Church. Paul wrote the Galatians, “Stand fast, therefore, in the freedom in which Christ set us free. And do not become entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5.1). The “yoke of bondage” is the Mosaic Law. Peter also declared this (Acts 15.10). Why would one exchange freedom for bondage? As for the Matthew quote, whom did Jesus address? He did not address Gentiles or the Church, He addressed Jews. God gave the Mosaic Law to Jews, not anyone else. So “anyone” does not mean any human being but any Jew. Passages must be read in context. Jesus ministered to Jews under the Law. Everything in the Gospels concerns Jews. Unless one understands this basic truth, one cannot understand the Bible.
  Reply ↓
  1. RunnerXC December 6, 2023 at 2:46 pm
    Immature? Wow, that’s harsh. I, unfortunately, am feeling like you are just again getting irritated and attacking me. I apologize for that.
    Again, you use the punishment of the Law synonymously with the Law. The “yoke of bondage” isn’t the law itself, it’s the punishment. The punishment is done away with. They are two separate things, once one learns this “basic truth” a new understanding may take place!! Based on that reasoning, telling someone not to murder is the “yoke of bondage!!!”.
    Either we’re grafted in or not.
    Good luck with your endeavors.
    Reply ↓
    1. doctrine Post authorDecember 6, 2023 at 3:20 pm
      RunnerXC,
      You never said you did these things. So how could I attack you? Apparently, you did not read the passages and why you did not answer what was unclear about them. What do you think Paul meant when he wrote about a believer’s conscience being weak? If you want to put yourself in bondage to 613 commandments that’s your choice. If 613 commandments is not a yoke of bondage, maybe you can define bondage better. But I think Peter and Paul had a better understanding of the Mosaic Law than you. What do you think? If you want to please God, follow the commands the Lord gave Paul for the Church, not the commands He gave the Jews.
      Reply ↓
      1. Gideon Alfa July 30, 2024 at 4:15 pm
        Hi Don, pls what did Paul meant when he says concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless
        Did he keep the law perfectly?
        Reply ↓
        doctrine Post authorAugust 3, 2024 at 9:38 am
        Gideon,
        As far as Judaism was concerned, according to the teachings of the Pharisees, Paul considered himself blameless. See Romans 7 for Paul’s misperception of this view.
        Reply ↓
Joe September 28, 2024 at 12:50 pm
Don, I always tried to cram the New Covenant into the Body of Christ. Here’s something I recently read from Grace Ambassadors that makes sense to me. What do you think?
The Old Covenant was God’s law written on stones in Israel.
“And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.” – Deuteronomy 27:8
The New Covenant is the God’s law written in Israel’s hearts.
“ I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts” – Hebrews 8:10
There is a big difference between stones and hearts.
Writing on stones is outward. Writing on hearts is inward.
Writing on stones requires a work. Writing on hearts requires faith.
Writing on stones can be done by men. Writing on hearts requires the work of the Spirit of God.
Yet, with these very big differences, one thing that both Old and New Covenants have in common is the law.
The law changed in the New Covenant, but the beneficiaries of both covenants are under law.
In contrast, the church which is His Body, is not under the law. Paul writes that the righteousness of God is now manifested “without the law” (Romans 3:21).
“… for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” – Romans 6:14
If the Body of Christ is not under the law, then the Body of Christ cannot be under either covenant.
It is not the law written in our hearts, but Christ who dwells in our hearts according to the mystery (Eph 3:17). When we believe the gospel, grace abounds without the law.
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1. doctrine Post authorSeptember 28, 2024 at 2:39 pm
  Joe,
  The Old Covenant is the Mosaic Law. The New Covenant promises forgiveness of sins and the indwelling Spirit. Do we have these things? Paul taught that we keep the law by means of the indwelling Spirit. Paul wrote he was minister of the New Covenant–we have forgiveness of sins via Paul’s gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4) and the indwelling Spirit (Romans 8.11). James, Peter, John, Jude never mention the New Covenant. Paul does, writing to the Church and to the Jews in Hebrews. Whether Israel or the Church, we all are sinners and do not keep the law. The New Covenant is not under “law” for it does not operate by law but by the Spirit. The Spirit provides a new means to keep the law. This was what Paul taught. He taught we keep the law, not as Israel did, but by the power of the indwelling Spirit. God told the Jews that He would cause them to keep His Law (Ezekiel 36.27). It is not clear to me how much of the Mosaic Law will exist in the kingdom. The moral law will exist for it describes God’s character. Will the dietary laws, leprosy laws, etc. be included? What do the Grace Ambassadors say about Paul’s statement that he is a minister of the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3.6). My view is that Paul assumed the role of proxy Israel as apostle of Gentiles in the Church as light of the Gentiles (Acts 13.42), priest of the Church (Romans 15.15-16), and minister of the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3.6). He assumed this role under the promise of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12.1-3). Israel rejected these roles in Paul’s generation but will serve as light (Isaiah 42.6), priests (Exodus 19.6) and ministers of the New Covenant (Jeremiahs 31.31; Zechariah 8.23) in the kingdom.
  Reply ↓
  1. Carla Crews September 29, 2024 at 1:52 am
    Don
    Did you mean 1 Corinthians 15:1-4?
    Reply ↓
    1. doctrine Post authorSeptember 29, 2024 at 8:01 am
      Carla,
      Thanks!
      Reply ↓
  2. Carla Crews September 29, 2024 at 8:08 am
    Joe/Don
    I checked Graceambassadors.com on the question and they offer a pdf chart that may help.
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/d1.graceambassadors.com/audio/2Cor13.pdfFor I too have wondered how can it be.
    Under f. The mystery of Christ can explain the NT, but the NT cannot explain the mystery.
    Reply ↓
    1. doctrine Post authorSeptember 30, 2024 at 10:03 am
      Carla,
      Thank you for this information. It explains their erroneous teaching about 2 Corinthians 3.6. Paul always used μυστήριον to mean “secret,” not “mystery” and his secrets always concern the Church, the body of Christ. Rendering μυστήριον as “mystery” is a transliteration, a mistranslation which has caused incalculable confusion in Christendom. Paul always used διαθήκη to mean “covenant.” The translation “testament” is error. The Grace Ambassadors do not understand Hebrews 9, which they cite as support for their view. A “will” or “testament” sense for διαθήκη would introduce an entirely new concept and destroy Paul’s argument. (I think the GA also maintain Paul did not write Hebrews, another error). Paul’s argument is not death, which would afford the idea of “testament,” but sacrificial death. “Testament” would make no sense to a Jewish audience since διαθήκη (בְרִית) meant “covenant,” and covenants became valid by shedding the blood of animals, substitutes for people. Through this, heirs obtained “inheritance” (verse 15). The New Covenant is not of the letter, but of the Spirit. The GA do not seem to understand this. God’s giving of the indwelling Spirit was a Jewish promise. We, members of the Church, are beneficiaries of God’s generosity through Israel, on the basis of the Abrahamic Covenant, in particular, through Paul as proxy Israel. The New Covenant is the forgiveness of sins and the indwelling Spirit (Jeremiah 31.31-34; Ezekiel 11.16-21, 36.21-27). Are these from the letter or the Spirit?
      Reply ↓
      1. Gideon Alfa October 1, 2024 at 1:54 am
        What then is the difference between covenant and testament because I always thought they meant the same thing
        Thank you
        Reply ↓
        doctrine Post authorOctober 1, 2024 at 8:50 am
        Gideon,
        Covenant is an agreement between two parties. But Israel’s covenants were essentially God’s promises, as such, one-sided. The Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants were confirmed with animal blood, substitutionary sacrifices. The New Covenant was confirmed by Christ’s blood, our substitute. A testament does not become valid until the testator dies. It does not have the idea of substitutionary death.
        Reply ↓
  3. Carla Crews September 30, 2024 at 4:00 am
    Also did you mean (Isaiah 42:6)
    As to the reference to light?
    Reply ↓
    1. doctrine Post authorSeptember 30, 2024 at 8:58 am
      Carla,
      Thanks again. Brain not working with fingers.
      Reply ↓

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1 Corinthians 15.1-4 ✝ Romans 4.4-5

Paul and the Law

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