The Bible makes it plain that True Christians are to keep God�s commandments. The Apostle John wrote: "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:3�6).
But how can True Christians walk "just as He walked"? If Jesus Christ had to come and give His life because all have violated God�s law, how can anyone keep that law? Again, perhaps the most concise explanation was given by the Apostle Paul. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless 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" (Galatians 2:20, KJV).
A True Christian does not obey the law on his own, but through the power of Christ living in Him. Paul goes on to emphasize that law-keeping comes through the grace of God, and that law-keeping does NOT earn grace. "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain"(Galatians 2:21). With God�s grace, a converted Christian WILL keep the law; but without that grace, NO AMOUNT of effort will bring righteousness and salvation.
WHAT SHOULD A CHRISTIAN DO?
One can recognize a True Christian as someone striving, through Christ�s help, to live by every word of God (cf. Matthew 4:4)."Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect"(Matthew 5:48). By yielding to Jesus Christ, the fruits of the True Spirit will become more and more evident in a Christian�s life.
A True Christian is more than someone who "knows" the truth. The Gnostics believed that "knowledge" brought salvation, and some today would deny that one has to "do" anything as a True and faithful Christian. Yet Scripture gives a very different instruction: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).
True Christians are to DO as Christ did. In the "Great Commission" He instructed His followers: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe ALL THINGS that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19�20). True Christians are to take His message to "all the nations" and teach "all things" that He COMMANDED! They were NOT to CHANGE or alter His message so much that it is today almost unrecognizable!
The scriptures teach Christians to keep the Law of Christ. Christ's Commandments, NOT the Mosaic Laws. There is a difference as I have pointed out numerous times.
Which Covenant are you under? Mosaic or Christ's?
Gal 4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar�
25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children�
26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written: "REJOICE, O BARREN, YOU WHO DO NOT BEAR! BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR! FOR THE DESOLATE HAS MANY MORE CHILDREN THAN SHE WHO HAS A HUSBAND."
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREEWOMAN."
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Are you a child of the "Bondwoman" or the "Freewoman"?
galatians 5:3-6 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
and then under the heading of : love fulfills the law..
galatians 5:13-14 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
~ Galatians ~ The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians...
I believe it is best to read a book from start to finish...So to understand the intirer Content and Message of what he, Paul is trying to convey/teach/repremand the Galatians on...Gal 1:1 - 5:18...cuz bits an pieces only leave the message unclear in the mind of a human...but the intire Word fills the humans soul with the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ...jus my 2 bits...not here ta debate...jus share...xo
dear jude,,,, do forgive me but im a little confused hehe.. which aint so hard for me.. but what verses do you wish we d read? and what are you saying?i read the verses you posted last but i didnt quite get it.. hehe thanks
"Galatians 5:3-6 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace."
Paul was making it very clear that if you believe you have to "keep" any part of "The Law/Mosaic Covenant", then you are obligated to keep ALL 613 Laws that are contained in the Mosaic Covenant. Those who believe they are required to Keep the Mosaic Covenant are trying to justify themselves by "The Law" and have therefore "Fallen from Grace". That means a once believing Christian has committed Apostasy and has forfeited their salvation... permanently. This is dangerous stuff here!
Those who believe you have to keep any part of the Mosaic Covenant like the Sabbath for example are obligated to keep ALL 613 laws and that requires the men to go to Jerusalem 3 times each year and sacrifice a goat in the Temple. Oh but wait...there is no longer any temple because God had it destroyed so Israel could no longer keep the Mosaic Covenant. Why? Because God established the NEW Covenant through Jesus Christ. A better Covenant built upon better promises. Heb 8:6-13.
Those who believe they have to Keep "The Law/Mosaic Covenant" are in essence saying that the scourging, death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus is not sufficient. That is blasphemy! I cannot say this any stronger! Here is a warning for those who go down the wrong road leading to Apostasy.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
***29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he WAS sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? ***
30 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE."
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
This warning above was given to true Christians. The "sin willfully" is not any sin, it is Apostasy. Look at the end result in 26 & 29.
Those who believe and teach that we are required to
Keep "the Law/Mosaic Covenant" are preaching another gospel that Christ did not preach.
Why are some people so confused? Perhaps one reason is that they do not know how to discern the differences between God's "Moral Principles" and the laws themselves. You see when I say just as I have shown you clear scriptures that the Mosaic Covenant/Law was replaced, some make the mistake of assuming that I imply that we can now commit murder or steal or commit adultery. That is NOT what I am saying. You see God's Moral Principles were maintained when Christ laid out HIS New Commandments in the NEW COVENANT. We as Christians who were never part of the Mosaic Covenant are now grafted into the New and Better Covenant of Grace through our Faith in Christ Jesus.
So the bottom line is this. Which symbolic woman are you of.
Hagar, the "Bondwoman" (the Law) OR Sarah, the Freewoman, The covenant of Grace"?
So if any of you believe you are required to not only have Faith in Christ but "Keep" the Mosaic Covenant/The Law", you need to repent or this terrible sin before it's too late. God may excuse your ignorance for a time, but now you have been presented the truth of God's word and are now without excuse.
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?�
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
galatians 5:13-14 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
i like this one the best when it comes to speaking of the law.. i believe it tells us that not to use liberty for the flesh.. so as not to use the liberty that we have been granted to sin..
it certainly doesnt give us a license to sin.. no
but it also tells us that there is a way we can fulfill all of the law.. not just a part of it.. but all of it.. if we will just love our neighbor as ourselves..
thats nothin new as it was taught at the beginning..
and if we mess up along the way we ask forgiveness and repent and go right back to lovin our neighbor as ourselves..
as the law reminds us just how far from righteous we can truely be.. were only righteous because of our love and faith in JESUS CHRIST..
so the question of how can a christian live as CHRIST lived to me is simple.. love thy neighbor as thyself.. for HE surely loved us all.. praise GOD.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work lawlessness.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
And I still have to say...the Ten Commandments existed before the first covenant. They existed in heaven. They exist today. They will exist when Jesus comes back. According to some reasoning here...as long as I love my neighbor I could worship idols? Worship other God's? Take God's name in vain? Work on the Sabbath? Sorry...I don't believe that for a second. The bible is clear about idolatry, worshiping false Gods, taking God's name in vain, and keeping the seventh day holy. The law points out sin right? Idolatry is a sin. Worshiping false gods is a sin. Taking God's name in vain is a sin....and while it doesn't matter what day you go to church on...working on Sabbath would still be a sin right? Aren't we supposed to do God's will and avoid sin whenever possible?
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Hebrews 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day? 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. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Matthew 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give s uck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
