As far as I understand it, Gentiles turning to God under the old covenant were required to do everything the Jews were commanded to do. And the Jews proselytized the Gentiles. However, the point is that nobody turning to God through Christ and His new covenant, Jew or Gentile, is required to perform those ordinances any longer. And moreover it was those ordinances that made a partition and distinguished and separated between Jew and Gentile...which partition was torn down through the cross.
All the Jewish apostles to some extent remained obedient to the Law of Moses. Rabbi Saul especially.
Regarding Saul, if he wasn't obedient to the Law he would not be talking to the elders. He would have been excommunicated and anathema to the Jews.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men
which have a vow on them;
24
Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may
shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that
thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. Acts 21:22–24.
No, the Law was not resurrected with Jesus, oh dear....where did you get that idea from?......just when I thought I'd heard everything. On the contrary the bible says the opposite.... what is old and obsolete (old covenant/Law) did indeed pass away. I can see that these scrips won't help you anyhow, you've found ways to wrest them all because of your deception.
True, Biblical Christianity is Completed Judaism. Did you know that the Law of Moses you Gentiles teach was "abolished" is in the process of returning in preparation of Messiah's return and that when God sits on His throne and Israel receives their own Promised Land finally that God Himself will cleanse all Gentiles from out of the land and Israel will occupy their own land with no Gentiles among them? Not only that but Gentiles will be commanded to every year make a pilgrimage to Israel to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, a Feast contained in the Law you say was "abolished?" Better start brushing up on the Torah because it's coming back. Well, actually it never left. One just cannot practice a great portion of the Mosaic Law without a Temple. But one is primed to be built very soon. Imagine the effect upon Gentiles the existence of a Third Jewish Temple will have upon Gentile minds? And the two Jewish witnesses of Revelation 11. Ever consider what effect they will have on the Constantinian Gentile church when they make their debut. I think they will set Gentile Christians straight concerning their doctrine And they will not like it one itsy bitsy bit. Lock n load!
A lie is an idol and stronghold in the heart and mind and not easy to be delivered from....it takes a love of truth and willingness to allow God to correct and teach us. You need to get to know the bible better without those Jewish coloured glasses on. Just be willing to lay them aside long enough to see what is written clearly and be instructed by it. Both Jew and Gentile need God-coloured glasses to see with. See if you have ears to hear this from the OT: The angel was asked "Which side are you on?" and he replied, "NEITHER, but in the name of the LORD do I come."
Gentiles always have a way to put things that assign honor to the Law of Moses without obeying the Law of Moses. What did Jesus instruct this man who asked about his inheritance?
Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him,
What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him,
Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Lk 10:25–28.
Eternal life by obeying the Law of Moses? Jesus says so. And if you understood the prophecies of the New Covenant, you'd understand this too. Jesus would be insincere and dishonest to instruct the man to obey the Law of Moses that in a few short weeks He was going to die and "abolish" the Law as Gentile Christians teach.
I see Jesus saying, "Obey the Law of Moses" and then snatch the rug from underneath his feet so that he falls.
Eph 2:12-17
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Rom 7:3-4
A couple of things here. First, Saul is writing to Jewish Christians at Ephesus. That church fellowship was founded by Jewish Christians when they returned from Pentecost. First, the took Jesus with them into the synagogues. Then the Jews after a while couldn't reconcile their Messiah and King hanging on a tree. They stumbled.
Second, unless the context identifies "hard-core, uncircumcised, non-covenant, idol-worshiping Gentiles as such, where you see the word Gentile it is describing proselytes and God-Fearers.
Third, do you understand what "having abolished IN HIS FLESH the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances?" I don't think you do, but as Gentile with a Gentile mindset you'll think, "Ah ha! Here it is! The Law of Moses Abolished!"
But that is not what it means.
So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
There it is again. "Having abolished IN HIS FLESH the enmity."
When you come to the knowledge of the truth in what Saul is talking about in these words then you'll receive a deeper understanding of what it means to a Jewish Christian.
The Law is eternal as being part of God's word to instruct, reprove, correct us etc. It instructs us as to what righteousness looks like, and it points everywhere in every way to Christ. But nobody is required to be UNDER it and BOUND to it any longer, as we serve in the new way of the Spirit now in liberty. Being led by the Spirit to do God's will; walking in the Spirit so as to not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
So, Saul did the same thing as Jesus did with the man who was concerned about inheriting eternal life. He takes the Jews to the Hebrew Scriptures of Law, Psalms, and Prophets.
16 All scripture [Hebrew Scripture of Law, Psalms, and Prophets] is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Tim. 3:16–17.
It doesn't say "instruction to recognize righteousness." It says instruction IN righteousness." In other words, the Law brings righteousness. But wait a minute! Saul said the Law doesn't make a person righteous. Did he now?
Really? I'll let you think about that one for a minute.
Rom 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Writing to Jewish Christians at Rome.
Gal 2:4
And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Writing to Jewish Christians in the Galatian region.
Gal 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Are you one of those false brethren? Fallen from grace according to this..?
It was James the Lord's brother, and maybe Peter, but mostly James who went around teaching salvation through the Law. But didn't Jesus tell the man to obey the Law and you'll receive your inheritance of eternal life?
What?
Gal 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Saul contradicts himself. But I thought the NT writings were inspired and free from error?
Some church fathers when gathering scrolls for the canon didn't want Saul's letter to Rome part of the new bible. Now, I know why.
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, nan Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church;
touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Philippians 3:5–6.
Saul says righteousness [which] is
in the Law.
Do you understand what Saul means by "blameless?"
He's talking about justification. Being declared by God "Not Guilty!"
But didn't the Law condemn people guilty!?
What the his-ell is Saul saying?
One more time:
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:
Philippians 3:9.
Saul, Saul, why persecutests thou your own doctrine!
Figure that out and you can be my Valentine.
