How much of God's law is good?

[skyblue888]

John, if I may, I would like to share what I have come to understand regarding the old and the new covenant.

In a nut-shell, in the old covenant the people promise to keep the commandments but never keep them for they are attempting an impossibility (all that the Lord has said we will do) but in the new covenant it is God who makes the promises and every command is a promise of its own fulfilment in Christ for it is the voice of God speaking to the soul in promise. 2 Cor.1:20.

In the new covenant, "The law of ten precepts of the greatest love ever presented to man is the voice of God from Heaven speaking to the soul in promise." E.G. White, Bible Commentary, Vol.p.1105.

In other words, in the new covenant, "In every command and in every promise that God gives is the power, the very life of God by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized. He who by faith receives the word is receiving the very life and character of God." E.G. White, Commentary on John 6:63, Christ's Object Lessons, p.38.

Here is the same truth stated in different words: "The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God. That word imparts power, it begets life. Every command is a promise. Accepted by the will, received into the soul, it transforms the nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God. The life thus received is in like manner sustained, by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." E.G. White, Commentary on John 6:63; Education, p.126.

In the New Covenant the people receive the ten commandments not written merely but spoken, as the voice of God speaking to the soul in promise of the Spirit (creative energy) to fill up the measure of the law's requirements. Thus in the new covenant the ten commandments (received as the voice of God) are the ministry of the Spirit, the ministry of righteousness, the ministry of life. In the new covenant, "All His commandments are righteousness." Psalm 119:172. For, says the Lord, "The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness." Isaiah 45:19,23.

And these promises of the Spirit have been made available to us through the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. Rom.3:25.

Accepted as the voice of God, the ten commandments become exceedingly great and precious promises by which we may become partakers of the divine nature, a nature far above that which Adam forfeited by transgression.

sky

[Robert]

What was the Old Covenant?

[Ron Amnsn]

Let's accept your view for a moment that Jesus was talking about the temple in Jerusalem. It hasn't been in existence for almost 2000 years. Isn't that pretty desolate?

[John317]

Originally Posted By: John317

What was the Old Covenant?

"Obey and live, disobey and die"

Quote:

What was the goal of the Old Covenant? Wasn't God's goal the saving of people He loved?

What is the New?

ROBERT--In the NC Christ, by assuming us, met the demands of the OC. He met both requirements of the law. By faith I have a new humanity, in Christ, that stands perfect before the spirit of God's law.

But as far as the NC is concerned, it seems that you leave a great deal out.

What is the goal of the New Covenant?

Is that where the NC leaves us?

Where do Hebrews 8 and 10, Romans 8, and 2 Peter 1 come in?

[John317]

Originally Posted By: John317

Let's accept your view for a moment that Jesus was talking about the temple in Jerusalem. It hasn't been in existence for almost 2000 years. Isn't that pretty desolate?

Well, 2000 years does seem like a long time to me. "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you." (2 Pet 3:8-9, ESV)

When God promised to give the Promised Land to Abraham, how many years did Abraham's descendants have to wait? After 400 years, with all Abraham's descendants in slavery in Egypt, it would have seemed pretty obvious that God's promise to Abraham wasn't going to be fulfilled. Some preachers would have started waxing eloquent about God's promises being conditional...

How many years has it been since Jesus said he was going to come again? Nearly 2000 years. That's really a long time, isn't it? Jesus has been gone about 40 years longer than the Temple in Jerusalem has been gone. When Jesus said he is coming again, you still believe it, but when Jesus repeats an Old Testament prophecy that God's temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations, you don't believe it will ever come true?

No, because the animal sacrifices, the human priesthood, and the whole earthly sanctuary services came to an abrupt end when Jesus died for our sins, thus fulfilling all those types and shadows.

Some Bible evidence of their end:

Quote:

Earthly sanctuary arrangements imposed only until the time of reformation (i.e., New Covenant) (9:10);

By a single sacrifice, Christ has perfected for all time those who are sanctified (Hebrews 10: 14);

When our sins are forgiven through Christ, no more sacrifices are needed (10: 18);

God abolishes the animal sacrifices in order to establish Christ's sacrifice (10: 9);

The fact that Christ is the High Priest proves that the law was changed/removed (7:12);

The New Covenant made the Old Covenant obsolete, or out of date (8:13).

By the way, the Bible itself speaks of a long "delay," and I also believe the 2300 day/year prophecy about the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary.

[Robert]

Originally Posted By: Robert

In the NC Christ, by assuming us, met the demands of the OC. He met both requirements of the law. By faith I have a new humanity, in Christ, that stands perfect before the spirit of God's law.

But as far as the NC is concerned, it seems that you leave a great deal out.

The gospel, "in Christ" is what saves. I'm sorry you play this down....

[Ron Amnsn]

No, because the animal sacrifices, the human priesthood, and the whole earthly sanctuary services came to an abrupt end when Jesus died for our sins, thus fulfilling all those types and shadows.

You say that so plainly. I wonder why the New Testament authors couldn't have said it half as plainly as you do?

Probably because they didn't believe as you do. The author of Hebrews indicates that the Levitical priesthood was still validly operating at the time Hebrews was written. The last chapter of Isaiah indicates that there will still be Levitical priests whose descendants will stand as the New Heaven and the New Earth stand before God. And Jeremiah 33 says that God's covenant with the Levitical priests can not be broken as long as day and night continue. That's straight from the Old Testament Scripture which Paul endorsed when he wrote, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17). Paul also testified, "I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets." (Acts 24:14 ESV).

"Came to an abrupt end"? Luke and Acts indicate that the followers of Jesus still went to the Temple where the sanctuary services continued for decades after the death of Jesus.

Why are you teaching a gospel that is so different from the one that Paul preached? Paul says "All Scripture" is still valid, but you say that much of it has been annulled and will not be fulfilled. And it is plain from what you've said in this topic that you don't believe "everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets".

If you went to Berea, as Paul did, and preached your gospel to the noble Bereans who searched the Old Testament Scriptures daily to see if what was taught was true, they would find that what you teach disagrees with OT Scripture. They accepted Paul's gospel because it did agree with OT Scripture. If Paul's gospel agreed with OT Scripture 2000 years ago, what has changed? Has the Old Testament changed?