Law = fundamental operating principle, like gravity. It is axiomatic that without law, the world is lawless.
The brightness of his coming really is going to fry the people who rebel against the Golden Rule (another law!! Love your neighbor as yourself).
Many people don't want simple. They want to virtue signal by weaponizing Scripture and berating the flock for not being able to be humble enough.
Established wisdom has really done a number on folks. It's pretty much a replay of the Gospel narratives.
Genesis 29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
God really is funny. The most delightful *paradox* is that "The Law" really does save, when the text says the opposite. Very cute. Like a burning bush that should have been consumed, but there it was.
Puns, the lowest form of humor. What better way to destroy the wisdom of the wise?
The stone the establishment rejected has become the chief pun.
Stone (אבן) = alef + ben (son) = son #1 = chief son
James 2:10 "For whoever keeps the whole law [ Sins ] and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."
Then:
1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
So, if "love covers over a multitude of sins", and we "stumble", can not love overcome that sin? IMO, Romans 2, among others, clears it up:
...because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
What is the thing ALL of the law hinge upon?
Matt 22:36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
BTW, the above isn't only applicable to the hereafter, it's also very much in play during the here and now!
Thanks for the ping,
:)