Posted on 11/15/2022 5:18:37 PM PST by grumpa
One of several sources of errors in biblical interpretation is confusing the new covenant with the old one.
For example, the cults (Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses) are famously guilty of this as they emphasize that works are how we are saved. Mormons compound the error by emphasizing the importance of temple worship, having built magnificent “temples” in Salt Lake City and elsewhere―in which they conduct secret temple rituals. These are old covenant things.
Now hear me out. Aren’t dispensationalists guilty of similar infractions? Isn’t their hope of a rebuilt temple, along with temple sacrifices and rituals, obsolete old covenant stuff? Just some questions:
1. Didn’t Jesus replace the temple as the focus of our faith? Isn’t He the cornerstone (Matthew 21:42; John 2:19-21; Acts 4:11; Revelation 21:22) and believers are living stones of the new spiritual temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5)?
2. Wasn’t Jesus the once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:8-10)?
3. Weren’t all the promises of God fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 1:54-55, 69-75; 2 Corinthians 1:20)? 4. Wasn’t the kingdom of God taken from the Jews and given to the church (Matthew 21:18-22; 33-45)―for their serious sins and apostasy (Matthew 23:13-38) as well as their refusal to accept Jesus as Messiah (Matthew 23:37)?
5. Didn’t the old covenant end in finality in AD 70 (Hebrews 8:13)?
6. Isn’t the true everlasting covenant in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:28; 13:20)?
7. Isn’t the Israel of God in the new covenant no long fleshly, natural, national Israel, but rather all believers in Jesus (along with a remnant of faithful from the old covenant (Romans 11):
John 1:12-13. The children of God are believers in Jesus, and not by blood.
John 8:31-47. Jesus explains to the Jews of his day that they are not truly offspring of Abraham, but rather are offspring of the devil.
Romans 9:6-8. Paul taught that not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel (“FOR THEY ARE NOT ALL ISRAEL WHO ARE ISRAEL”), and not all are children of Abraham. It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God.
Galatians 3:6-9, 25-29. Heirs to the promise, i.e. the true offspring of Abraham, comes from faith in Christ, not physical descent.
1 Peter 2:4-10. The new chosen race is the Christian church.
great post and I agree.
Which you seem to have done.
spell it out then; what’s more confusing to you now?
Which form of replacement theology you subscribe to.
Replacement theology? I think that is a misnomer. More correctly IT is INCLUSION THEOLOGY.
tell me specifically which Scripture referenced is UNTRUE.
Bkmk
Tell me which form of replacement theology you subscribe to, then I will be in better position to answer your question... tomorrow because I need to go to bed in order to get up early.
riiiiight. you can’t answer the question. that’s sad that you would come on this thread, refuting what you read, but can’t offer up one simple rebuttal.
While it is true that the New Covenant is that of grace, do not forget what Jesus said.
Matthew 5:17-19 NASB95
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. [18] For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. [19] Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Try me. What variant of replacement theology do you subscribe to?
What did Jesus come to do? Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy BUT TO FULFILL." Jesus didn't destroy the law. He fulfilled it, allowing the law to pass away.
It’s pretty simple really, looking at the covenants. The first was predicated on acts. IF you’ll do THIS, then God will do THAT. These actions were to point to the coming Redeemer. To remind them the Messiah was coming. The new Covenant is God meeting us more than halfway. He will put a new heart in us inclined to want to do His will. If we truly love God, we will do His Commandments willingly. We will want to please Him because of His sacrifice. It will not be a burden (as the old covenant was). We will be inspired and liberated no matter what our circumstances. (For God is with us).
RE Mt 5:17-18. Read that passage again and think about it. Unless heaven and earth has already passed away, we are still under every detail of the law. If interested, see my article about the “New Heaven and New Earth” here:
The Law is forever. The Law is perfect. Also Heaven and earth have NOT passed away if you're looking for a loophole. The ordinances and ceremonials were nailed to the cross. They no longer have significance. The Ten Commandments are permanent. It will always be wrong to lie and murder.
Bkmrk.
Please don’t take this wrong, I am truly interested in your opinion.
Are the 10 commandments “good” enough for a christian?
Matthew 5
18For 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. 19Whosoever 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. 20For 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. 21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Luke 10:27 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.
As good as the 10 commandments were, Christians are called to exceed them. Under the 10 Commandments, you could hate someone as long as you did not kill them. Jesus expects more from his own. We are not even to hate others. Also, the 10 commandments are written on tablets of stone while Luke 10:27 is written on the heart of a christian.
Romans 2:15 Amplified Bible
They show that the essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts; and their conscience [their sense of right and wrong, their moral choices] bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or perhaps defending them
The New Testament reiterates and affirms at least 9 of the 10 commandments, so yes they are still valid and Jesus indeed strengthened them.
A lie mixed in with truth is still a lie. You have it mostly correct. Let's begin.
#1 To truly follow the 10 Commandments (not suggestions), you cannot hate your brother. The Law is based on LOVE. The first four is our duty to God, the rest is our duty to fellow man.
The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. Ps. 19:7. You say it is imperfect.
Gods Laws are eternal, pure and just. Ps. 19:9.
The Laws were written in stone to signify they are permanent. Not paper which can be easily destroyed or nailed to a cross.
WHAT laws are written in our hearts if not Gods Laws which He has commanded us to follow? If we follow our conscience only (as you say) without this compass of right and wrong . . well there is a way which seemeth right to a man, but the ways thereof are destruction.
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