The Function of the Law in the New Covenant..pt2

Icon,

The idea that any of us are promulgating a works-based sanctification would be laughable if it was not such a baseless charge. I said in another thread that we cannot keep the moral law of God but that does not diminish God's standard of holiness. As we seek to be obedient in all our behavior we do so by the power of the Holy Spirit, not by our own efforts. Indeed, the Apostle Peter clearly instructs us to be holy in all our behavior. See below:

1 Peter 1:14-19 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

It is the love of God, which has been poured out within our hearts (Romans 5:5), that allows us to stand before the Father as righteous and forgiven. And while God is love, He is also holy. With hearts of thanksgiving, gratitude, and reverential awe we should seek to obey Him.

 

I will be following your comments in this thread.

 

The function of the Law under the NT is the same as it was under the Old. It is a teacher. No one was ever saved by the deeds of the Law. It was ever and anon by faith, as Paul said concerning our father, Abraham.

The difference isn't in the Law, it is in us. We are pre-grads under the Old Testament, but graduates and doctors under the New. We are children under the Old, but adults under the New. Faith hasn't changed. The Law hasn't changed. (There is still marriage.) We are changed.

 

Paul said that the law if Good was good, was perfect, but the problem was in us, as sinners were not able to keep it in a right fashion. Jesus kept it perfectly for us, died for us, and when now saved, and infilled by the Spirit, we now have the actual means needed to abide by it. NOT to save us, to keep us saved, but as still our guide to how we ought to live for God now.

 

Yes, as now by the Person and power of the Holy Spirit now in us, we can now actually have grace to abide in the ways of God. Not perfect, still sin, but now have real power from God to cease and to turn away from sinning.

 

We have this ability in theory but not in practice. The Scripture says:

Galatians 5:16 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

The problem is that because of indwelling sin we do not always walk by the Spirit. While we walk by the Spirit we are able to keep ourselves from sin but we often choose to do the very thing we do not want to do (Romans 7). We have been called to holy living because we are now holy creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17;1 Peter 1:16). Praise God that our failure to live holy has already been atoned for by our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Yes.

Love for God and neighbor

All sins center in hatred. So their hatred of God and neighbor already condemns them.

The Law written in the heart. (we all know how we would like to be treated, so we condemn ourselves when we do not treat others this way).

Not treating others including enemies as our equal.

hatred

They do by nature the things in the Law. But for impure reasons, personal gain etc. There are none righteous.

 

Yes, as I should have stated it as when we walk in the provision God gives to us, the Holy Spirit, Yielding to Him, we will not do the lusts of the flesh, but when we submit though to the flesh desires....
The good news is that we have the power of sin have dominion over us broken now, so its a real choice to submit to God now is afforded unto us!

 

Looking back, I see I need to qualify this. The Law did change. It dictated that the High Priest must descend from Levi, but our High Priest descended from Judah. What that means is, the Levitical priesthood, the Temple, and its services are ended. For the Jew as well as for the gentile. The Law still stands as a teacher, but we are no longer under it as students, or as servants as stated in the verse cited by Iconoclast. Walking in the Spirit, we fulfill the Law.

It was added to 400 years after God's promise to Abraham. It was added to teach and to judge, and to drive sinners to Christ. That it still does.

 

“Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary.” (Galatians 3:19) (NET)

“Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” (Galatians 3:24–25) (NET)