Posted on 11/22/2012 11:55:39 AM PST by DaveMSmith
Many people read the Bible literally and feel very strongly that there's nothing more to it than that, and yet Jesus Himself says the whole Old Testament is about Him. How could that be?!? We ponder this through a bizarre story in which Caleb pleads with Joshua to be given a mountain inhabited by enemy giants in fortified cities (Joshua 14).
Also see: Spirit And Life Bible Study on Facebook
The problem with demanding adherence to the Ten Commandments is that no one can pick and choose which parts of the Law to obey.
It’s got to be all of it, including the system of sacrifices. Those are part of the commandments that God gave. The Ten Commandments are really the Law in a nutshell. If I am going to keep the Ten Commandments to procure God’s favor or forgiveness, then I need to follow the system of sacrifices which He set up for those who disobey those commandments.
And honestly, there aren’t enough sheep in the world to atone for the sin I commit in ONE day because I know my heart, even if my actions are perfect and God is interested in the heart, not the outward actions.
Read Isaiah 58, Micah 6, and Malachi 1-3.
Even in the Old Testament, God was interested in the heart, not the outward actions.
You hardly know me, so this must be about yourself...
‘Perfect’ is better translated as completeness in God... a spiritual state.
Actually, I don't know you at all. All I have to go on is the threads you post. Note the italic font? You posted that. I posted Scripture. Do with it what you will. My conscience is clear.
Blessings,
The FR RF is no place for the weak of heart. Poeple know what they believe and if you show with your own thoughts you better be ready to "Dress for action like a man." (Taking Job 38 out of context here....)
Nor the thin of skin.
In addition, Dave has been here since 2003, or so his homepage indicates.
What's this nonsense about the *FR welcome wagon*? Dave is hardly a noob.
We're in entire agreement here. No argument on any of these points. Which brings me back to the original question Elsie and I were discussing, way back several volleys ago: should Christians keep holy the Lord's Day? And is one element of that, worshipping God on Sunday with our fellow Christians? And --- as to Sunday in particular --- why or why not?
Why would one think that Jewish law applied to non-Jews?
The Seven Commandments of the Children of Noah apply to non-Jews.
What commandments? The moral law including (but not restricted to) the Ten Commandments; the precepts of Jesus found in the entire New Testament, Gospels and Epistles; and the law God gives us which is discerned by reason, and is called the Natural Law.
And every Christian knows, I think, that the inward heart is what counts to the Lord, not only the outward action: good actions should flow from a Christlike heart.
If only good actions were of value, then it would be a good thing to transform all mankind into robots, so their actions should be forever lawful, with neither of the heart or mind involved at all! But God does not will it so. He wants us to love him with our hearts and minds.
What? Why would I be looking for MY commandments???
No, they don't.
OK. Sunday is the cultural norm but there is no Scriptural command to do so.
There is no particular reason why we should worship on Sunday.
It’s just a sacred cow for many.
If people figure they have to obey the OT Law, then to avoid hypocrisy, it would be the entire Law, not just the parts which are convenient to obey.
I don’t disagree with anything you’ve posted. Yes, Jesus is the Lamb, but what I’m focusing on is the thinking that we have to obey only certain parts of the Law.
I intend on publishing video services from my Church here... I'm leaning toward the Devotional tag but haven't decided yet. It's very sacred to me. Yesterday's sermon was 'I WILL GUARD MY MOUTH' On Psalms 39:1-5 and 'CITIES OF REFUGE' on Numbers 35:9-28, Arcana Coelestia 9011:3. Very appropriate for FR.
For instance, we are obliged to keep the laws from the Torah which forbid homosexual copulation; we needn't keep the laws forbidding wearing cloth made of linen and wool.
Distinguishing between what is moral law, vs. what is customary, or a matter of public health and hygiene, or symbolic to the Hebrew people only, takes great understanding. So, thank God that we have those in the church who can, with the guidance of thew Holy Spirt, make such discernments, since as Jesus said to Peter, "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven."
[3] This describes the state of one blameless and freed from punishment, who through the falsities of faith which he had believed to be truths, or through factual knowledge based on the illusions of the senses, has injured someone, and so has done harm to his internal or spiritual life. To convey this meaning such an accident or chance is described by an implement of some kind, and by a stone which he causes to fall onto his companion so that he dies, and also by the axe or iron coming off its handle, while both were cutting down timber in the forest. The reason why such details are used to describe the matter is that 'an implement' means some known fact, and 'a stone' a truth of faith or in the contrary sense a falsity; and in like manner 'the iron of an axe' and 'cutting down timber' means to argue about what is good, using what one's religion teaches. ~ Secrets of Heaven 9011:3
Well; there's always the BOOK!
Best book ever written. The Catechism follows behind.
Of course, one may indulge one's self in the wonders of Swedenborgianism and sit enthralled at his feet as he tells of his multiple visits to heaven and conversations with the angels.
Then use True Grit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-cPWheNyaA
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