csuguy
Well-known member
First off, you are in error if you hope to cancel out the versus that I supplied with other ones. No number of them will cancel out the fact that under the New Covenant of prophecy, God's Law is written on our hearts and minds. Nor will they cancel out the clear support for this from the NT scriptures. What you are doing here is simply putting on blinders. What you need to do is to learn how the versus I supplied, in addition to many others that support them, reconcile with versus like these. A proper understanding of this matter will not pit the scriptures against one another. To do that is to divide Paul against Paul, and Christ against Christ - and it cannot stand.
Probably the biggest source of confusion on this matter is Paul, for in some places he speaks of being under the Law, in other places being freed from the Law - seemingly contradictory. Hence all of your verses are from Paul. But one must be careful when quoting Paul, for Paul's use of the word "Law" does not always refer to the same thing. People who quote him haphazardly think that it refers exclusively to the Mosaic Law, but this is not so.
Romans 3:27-31 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 [r]For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the [t]circumcised by faith and the [v]uncircumcised through faith is one.
31 Do we then nullify [w]the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
31 Do we then nullify [w]the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
There are a few notable things in this passage. The first is that he speaks of "a law of faith" in contrast to works of the law. So he has here introduced a new usage of the term "Law" referring to something contrasted to the Mosaic Law. And it is by this Law of Faith that he says that a man is justified. The next thing to note is that he says that this Law of Faith does not nullify the Mosaic Law, but establishes it!
So, yes, the Mosaic Law will not save you. But that doesn't mean it is unimportant and can simply be discarded like people are prone to do. While the Old Covenant may not be as good as the New, it has not yet disappeared - and will not until all things are complete.
Romans 7:21-22 I find then the [n]principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God [o]in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in [p]the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner [q]of the law of sin which is in my members.
Here we see two more laws being spoken of by Paul: the law of God, which he rejoices in, and the law of sin in his members, in his body. The Law of God is good, and what he wants to obey. The Law of Sin is what is in his body, which tries to stop him from doing what is good. This he says at the end of chapter 7. He begins the very next chapter by saying:
Romans 8:1-11 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [a]in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of [c]sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is [d]alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [e]through His Spirit who dwells in you.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is [d]alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [e]through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Here we see Paul further expounding upon the "law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus" (aka, "the law of God" in chapter 7) versus the "law of sin and of death." Here we see that the fundamental difference has to do with what one's mind is set on. For while Paul still had the law of sin reigning over his members, yet his mind was set on the law of God. In contrast, Paul says that one who has their mind set on the flesh cannot please God.
In contrast, those who set their minds on following the law of Faith, the law of the Spirit, the law of God, these people are said to be of the Spirit and ARE capable of pleasing God. In verse four it says that thanks to Jesus' sacrifice, "[He condemned sin in the flesh,] so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Those who are of the Spirit CAN fulfill the law. And what does the law require of us?
Romans 13:10 Love [f]does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
This is what is required of us: love. And love is most certainly attainable by anyone whose mind and heart are set on the Law of God, the Law of Faith, the Law of the Spirit - who walk in Christ.
In chapter 10 he contrasts that righteousness that is found in Christ with the righteousness of the Jews.
Romans 10:1-13 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the [a]end [or goal] of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live [c]by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness [d]based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 [e]that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [f]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [g]resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be [h]disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live [c]by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness [d]based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 [e]that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [f]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [g]resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be [h]disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
We see here a repeat of his earlier sentiment about how those in the Spirit CAN fulfill the law. Of these he cites the Deutoronomy passage which states "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart." Don't ask who will ascend into heaven or descend into the abyss so that you can understand and do these things - you are fully equipped to do what is right if you know God, if you understand his will, if you follow the Spirit.
The error of the Jews is not that they were zealous for God or that they sought righteousness - but that they invented their own righteousness that was not founded upon the knowledge of God. But this knowledge has been preached to us, it is available to all who seek the truth.
