Law of Moses Versus the Law of the Spirit – Part 19

[Posted May 3, 2009]

[Updated March 30, 2024]

What does this phrase mean?

“Under the law, Shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed”

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

“The faith which should afterwards be revealed” is not your faith or my faith. It is “the faith of Christ.”

Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Php 3:9  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:

Let’s examine the context of these scriptures and see if we can grasp what Paul means by this oft-used phrase “under the law.” This phrase “under the law” appears twelve times in the New Testament. Obviously this is a very important phrase for us to understand properly:

Rom 3:19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

1Co 9:20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Gal 4:21  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Galatians 3 begins with Paul rebuking the Galatians:

Gal 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Gal 3:2  This only would I learn of you; received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Maybe you didn’t catch that. Paul considered the keeping of the law equivalent to “not obeying the truth.” Redemption is for those who are “under the law” (Gal 4:5).

What is “the Truth” Paul refers to here? It certainly was not the law of Moses. The gospel of John tells us what we ourselves should understand about why Paul told these Galatians what their desire to be under the law of Moses indicates and why that desire to be under the law amounted to rejecting the Truth:

Joh 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

If one believes that he must keep the law of Moses to be saved, that person is believing a lie! Paul reminds us and the Galatians, that he is the one who introduced them to Christ, and he certainly had not instructed them to perform the “works of the law.”

Paul’s teaching to the Gentiles is based on higher laws which are given seven different names:

the Law of God (Rom 7:22,25)
the Law of Christ (1Co 9:21; Gal 6:2)
the Law of the Spirit (Rom 8:2)
the Law of Faith (Rom 3:27)
the Law of Liberty (Jas 1:25)
the Law of Righteousness (Rom 9:30-31)
and the Law of Life (Gal 3:11, 6:8)

He never refers to the law of Moses, the old covenant, as anything more than a schoolmaster, a tutor and a governor, to be abandoned upon coming to Christ. While Paul is emphatic about not being under ‘the law’, his readers knew what this meant: “I myself serve the law of God” with “the mind.”

Gal 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Gal 3:2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

“With the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Rom 7:25). Paul equates the keeping of the law with “the flesh.” In verse 7 he says that those of faith “are the children of Abraham.” Verse 8 says the promise, that “in thee [Abraham] shall all nations be blessed” was an allusion to the calling of the Gentiles. “

Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, cursed is everyone that continueth not in ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:11 …no man is justified by the law, (for) the just shall live by faith;
Gal 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Gal 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law” (vs 13). As far as Paul was concerned, the law has accomplished nothing more than to make us all “guilty before God”, both Jew and Gentile:

Rom 3:19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The promises to Abraham are only through his singular seed, Christ (vs 16). The physical promises – land, good health, wealth, etc. – don’t even enter into the equation: “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (vs 18).

Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Gal 3:17  And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:18  For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

So, why the law? It was added to demonstrate how evil WE are, to give us the knowledge of sin, and to make sin appear exceedingly sinful:

Gal 3:19  Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, [only] till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

For those in Christ though, it is only “till the seed should come to whom the promise was made” (vs 19). The law itself is not against the promises of God. Prophecies of the promises are within the law, but: “righteousness is not by the law” (vs 21). “But (since righteousness is not by the law), the scripture hath concluded all (Jew and Gentile) under sin (“by the law is the knowledge of sin” – Rom 7:7) (so) that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe” (vs 22).

Gal 3:21  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Gal 3:22  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

There is the answer to our question. Where are we all before we come to know Christ? “But before faith came we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith that should AFTERWARDS be revealed” (vs 23). That’s pretty clear language. The scripture concludes all under sin (vs 22), under the law until faith comes and delivers us from the law (vs 23). So, the law serves as the means to show us how exceedingly sinful our sin is and thereby brings us to recognize our need for Christ. Is there anyone who doesn’t know Christ? No one is born knowing Christ. We are all dragged to know Him (Joh 6:63) and brought to comprehend our necessity for Him by being “under the law.”

Once we come to know Christ, we become aware of Matthew 5 and the new law, “the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2), and we no longer need the schoolmaster who brings us to Christ. No one associated with the teachings of Matthew 5 has any need for the law of the old covenant.

Luk 16:16  The law and the prophets were [only] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Joh 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The laws of the old covenant become as obsolete and redundant as the sacrifices, holy days, clean and unclean meat laws and all the statutes and judgments. In Christ all the law is fulfilled and is now decaying, waxing old and is vanishing away:

Heb 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

All those “commandments contained in ordinances” are, in Christ, being “abolished.” They are all types and shadows of spiritual realities which we have now obtained in and through Christ. There are no exceptions. Christ (love) has fulfilled the law for all those who are in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles:

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain [Jews and Gentiles] one new man, so making peace;

Those who do not yet know Him NEED the law as surely as a fetus (nepios) needs an umbilical cord. This is what Paul means when he says “the law…is good…when used lawfully” – meaning that one must come to know that “the law is NOT for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient…” (1Ti 1:8,9). In Christ, we are no longer “lawless.” In Christ sin no longer dominates our ‘new man’:

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

We are simply under a changed law, a law as high as Matthew 5 is above Exodus 20. Those in Christ, on the other hand, just as surely must cut that umbilical cord and begin taking in a more mature form of nourishment. Until they do, they will still be “under tutors and governors” and will never be more than a “slave” to ‘[their] own righteousness which is of the law”, the most insidious of sins, the sin of self righteousness:

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his [self-righteous] iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [Self-righteousness].

“The adoption of sons” will make him “lord of all” only when he comes out from under the “schoolmaster, governor and tutors” (Gal 4:1,2).

The law, the “schoolmaster”, will always serve as a tutor and governor to “bring us to Christ.” Each generation of the “predestinated…children of promise” will be brought to see that they need a Savior through their own self-righteous, “road-to-Damascus” experience. We are all struck down and made to see our sins as only God is capable of accomplishing.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [G1670: helkuo, drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

It has never been and never will be anything less than a “fiery trial.” So “think it not strange” when the fiery trials come (1Pe 4:12).

Once again, here in Galatians 4:4, being “under the law” is equated with being under sin: “But after that faith [Christ] is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Gal 3:25).

Now let us consider the meaning of:

“Under the Elements of the World”

Gal 4:4 When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His son, made of a woman, made under the law.

We have just stated that “under the law” is the same as being under sin. It is most insidious because we are under the deception that “[our] own righteousness, which is of the law” will be acceptable to the Lord:

Php 3:9  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:

Galatians 4 simply continues on with the concept of being under a schoolmaster:

Gal 4:1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child [Greek: nepios] differs nothing from a servant, though he be Lord of all.

Those are Paul’s words of warning to all those who observe the days, months, times and years of the law. That warning includes keeping the days, months, times and years of the Gentiles. He asserts that in so doing you are denying yourself your inheritance. One “differ[s] nothing from a servant [slave]” as long as we remain under the law.

Gal 4:2  But [you are] under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the Father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we [Paul himself when he was under the law] when we were children [G3516: nepios, infant, toddler, under the “schoolmaster”] were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

The English word ‘elements’ here in verse three in the phrase “we, when we were children in bondage under the elements of the world”, is G4747 ‘stoicheion’. It is the exact same Greek word meaning the same thing which we find in verse 9 where it is repeated that being under ‘stoicheion’ places us “in bondage under the elements of the world.” Then verse 10 specifically defines what those elements of verse nine are:

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements [stoicheion], whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? [And what ‘bondage’ does the holy spirit have in mind?]
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Gal 4:12  Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am [Do not submit yourselves to this “bondage”; for I am as ye are [delivered from such “element of the world”]: ye have not injured me at all [You are injuring only yourselves].

Christ Became Sin and Death

In case you didn’t grasp that, Paul said that those who were under the law and were redeemed by Christ had been “under bondage to the elements of the world.” This is just another scripture telling us that clinging to the law is like clinging to sin; not because the law is sin, but because “by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom 7:7). It is through sin that we die. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). It is also “through death” that we receive life:

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

So life comes “through death”, death comes through sin, and sin comes through the law. Are we saying, then that Christ as stated in this verse, was “made under the law”, was made sin??? That’s right, Christ was sin:

2Co 5:21  For he [God] hath made him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God IN HIM”.

That’s why all of ancient Israel’s sacrifices had to be “spotless” and “without blemish.” Ancient Israel typifies the world without Christ, and their sacrifices typify our “spotless”, “blameless”, “without blemish”, sacrifice – Jesus Christ, the son of God.

Paul continues to demonstrate the function of the law:

Gal 4:21  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

The obvious answer to this question is, “No, they do not hear the law” or the Galatians would not be submitting themselves to the law which prophesied of a “New covenant, not according to the covenant [the Lord] made with [their] fathers”:

Jer 31:31  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my [new Matthew 5-7] law in their inward parts, and write it [Matthew 5-7] in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The reason the first “tables of stone” were thrown down and destroyed was to signify that those tables of stone typify the stony heart we have under the self-righteousness we have when we are under the law of Moses. That “heart of stone” is destroyed and is replaced with a soft “fleshy heart” meaning a heart that is dominated by the Lord’s spirit which He gives to those to whom He gives it:

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my [new spiritual] statutes, and ye shall keep my [new] judgments, and do them.

The rest of the fourth chapter of Galatians reveals the hazards of placing oneself under the law. Let it be noted that what the apostle warned would happen to those who place themselves under the law is exactly what has happened to the physical nation of Israel and to the apostate Christian church, which to this day continues to situate itself along with the apostate nation of Israel, “under the law” while at the same time proclaiming its freedom from it.

In verse 22, Paul tells us that Abraham’s two wives typify those in the church who place themselves under the old covenant on the one hand, and those who are under the new covenant on the other hand.

The two wives were Sarah, Abraham’s only true love and his real wife all along. The other wife was given to him by Sarah!

In this allegory, Abraham, the father of the faithful, represents Christ and the wives signify the two vastly different churches which bear His name;

1. Those under the law, “fallen from grace”, believing that a physical Jew is a Jew (Rom 2:28-29). Paul informs us that such people, though physically descended from Jacob, nevertheless amount to nothing more that Hagar, and her son, “the son of the bondwoman”.
2. On the other hand there are those in Christ who know what grace is and what it does. It is only those who are not under the law who are now “counted for the seed” and who are now “the son of the freewoman” even though they are not physically descended from Jacob.

May the Lord give you eyes that see as you read these words:

Gal 4:21  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children [Not one ‘Christian minister in a thousand believes this verse of scripture].
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren [Gentile Galatians], as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son [Those who are under the law]: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

If we are IN CHRIST, we are “Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise” and we are “the children of the freewoman” (Gal 3:29). If we are Abraham’s seed “we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise”; “the adoption” (Gal 4:25); “the glory” (Rom 2:7, 10; Rom 8:18; 2Co 3:8); “the new covenant” (2Co 3:6); the giving of the new spiritual law “after the inward man” (Rom 7:6, 22); “the service” (Rom 12:1) and the promises (Gal 3:16, 29).

Take careful note of who this true wife of Abraham becomes as Paul draws this allegory. Only those with spiritual eyes are capable of following the mind of God as clearly expressed in this chapter.

As God sees it, those under the law (those who believe that “through the deeds of the law some flesh can be saved”, are the bondwoman and her son. “JERUSALEM that now is and is in bondage with her children…is Agar (Hagar).” Hagar was the mother of Ishmael, the rejected son of Abraham, who is called “the father of the faithful.” Abraham’s physical, fleshly descendants are “the bondwoman and her son” who were cast out (Gal 4:25-31).

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

Paul’s teaching here is diametrically opposed to the teachings of Christendom. Much of Christendom teaches that since “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Heb 11:28), therefore Christ must remarry his divorced wife as soon as he returns. That is tantamount to teaching that the first Adam in the flesh can inherit the kingdom of God. Christ is already married to another. He is married to those who “are become dead to the law.”

Rom 7:4  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.

If Christ returns and remarries physical Israel, he would be an adulterer:

Rom 7:4  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.

Insisting that Christ remarry physical Israel not only makes Him an adulterer, but it also flies in the face of the spiritual types of the old covenant:

Deu 24:4  Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Such a false doctrine negates dozens of old covenant statements concerning Israel of which the following is typical:

Amo 8:2  And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.

“Summer fruits” are contrasted with “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”:

Rev 14:4  These [144 thousand (vs 1)] are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

“The end is come upon my people” means what it says – the end of the year, signifying the end of the ages; the “Great White Throne Judgment” and “the Lake of fire”, when there will be “no more death” (Rev 20:14-21:4). Any doubt about the timing of the salvation of Israel should be made clear by simply reading and believing:

Eze 16:55: When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate…THEN you [Jerusalem that now is] and your daughters shall return to your former estate.

“The gifts and calling of God are without repentance”, but their fulfillment will not be according to our time-table. The ‘fullness of the Gentiles’ will not happen until Sodom and Samaria are “returned to their former estate.” Then physical Israel and her daughters will return to their former estate.

Paul was well aware of this scripture in Ezekiel, and it grieved him greatly. Nevertheless, he reiterates the scripture “…cast out the bondwoman and her son [“Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children”]: for the son of the bondwoman [physical Israel] shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman” (Gal 4:30).

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28  Now we [Gentile Galatians], brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son [“Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children” (vs 25)]: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

So much for any doctrine which teaches that anyone (Jew or Gentile) can be saved by the works of the law. Those under the law are the bondwoman and her son. “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight…” Why is that? Again, we point out how Paul links the law to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; the tree which can in no way lead to life: “…for by the law is the KNOWLEDGE of sin” (Rom 3:20). That is all in one verse, and that is why there can be no such thing as a gospel which is a “mixture of law and grace”. “No flesh” means not even any Jewish flesh.

Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

To paraphrase Ephesians 2:11-19: We are no longer “Gentiles in the flesh.” Christ has broken down the middle wall of partition between [Jews and Gentiles]…now in Christ Jesus [we] who were sometimes afar off [from “the commonwealth of Israel] are made nigh by the blood of Christ…for to make in himself of two ONE NEW MAN so making peace…Now therefore ye are no more [Gentiles] strangers and foreigners [from the commonwealth of Israel] but are fellow citizens [in the commonwealth of Israel] with the saints and of the household of God” (Eph 2:11-19).

There is no room in scripture for the two to remain two. There is only one “truth of the (singular) gospel” to which Paul appeals when confronting Peter. He tells Peter “We…Jews…know that a man is not justified by the works of the law…”

Gal 2:11  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Gal 2:12  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Gal 2:13  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Gal 2:14  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Paul continues speaking directly to Peter, who was acting hypocritically before all the Gentile converts at Syrian Antioch:

Gal 2:15  We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Gal 2:18  For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Gal 2:19  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

So while some may be confused as to the function of law and grace “we…Jews… [Peter, Barnabas and Paul] know that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ…for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal 2:14-16).

If Peter, Paul and Barnabas, who were all “Jews by nature” (vs 15) knew this bit of truth, who are we to say the Jews are justified by works?

Paul did not stop with verse 16. Let us ollow on with Paul’s thought: “If while (we) seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid” (Gal 2:17). Peter’s and Barnabas’ hypocrisy does not make Christ a  hypocrite.

This is consistent with Paul’s teachings in Romans 6: “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (vs 18). Again in verse 22: “But now being made free from sin, and become servants of God, Ye have your fruit unto holiness…”

Paul doesn’t say “but now that you have no sin”, but rather “but now being made free from sin…” Being free from sin is not to be understood as having no sin, rather it is to be understood as “sin shall not have dominion over you.”

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: [Why is it that “sin shall not have dominion over [us]?] for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

How clear it is that anyone who is yet governed by sin is yet under the law!

Hi Mike,

Something that I recently encountered and it has spun some gears; did Paul bring “another” gospel other than Peter’s?

Gal 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

Now I know that “second gospel” is italicized so the translators added it; but could it be implied? Paul also says, “my gospel” twice, as if implying a separate gospel.

Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Are there two gospels? And what does Paul mean his gospel? Was he preaching different from Peter.

Thank you in advance,

S____

Hi S____,

Thank you for this question.

Having spent ten years participating in the Concordance conferences where this false two-administration doctrine was so prevalent, I can assure you that these verses are the answer to your question:

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

If there is but “one spirit, with one mind” then it follows that there is but ‘one’ gospel, simply because that “one spirit” is the words of Christ.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Those who teach that there are “two gospels”, teach that the four gospels, the words of Christ, the epistles of James, Peter, and John, including the book of Revelation, and the book of Hebrews comprise “the gospel of the circumcision”. “The gospel of the uncircumcision”, according to this false doctrine, is to be found only in the fourteen comparatively short epistles of the apostle Paul, who we are falsely told is the only apostle who ever preached to the Gentiles.

If there were any truth to that doctrine, then these words of Paul to the Gentiles of the church at Ephesus, over which he had ordained Timothy as a bishop, would have been nothing short of contradictory and confusing:

1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

We are told that those who bring this false doctrine “Know nothing”, and we are commanded “from such withdraw thyself”.

Two years ago one of our sisters asked me “Why did Paul shave his head if he were not keeping the law of Moses?”

Act 18:18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

That question provoked a study in which we came to see that Paul and all the apostles were living in a time of reformation.

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

That “time of reformation” was the time of the writing of all the books of the New Testament. That includes the revelations given to the apostle Paul in Ephesians 2 and Colossians 2.

This e-mail is not the place for that study, but it can be read here.

Read this study, and you will then understand that, yes, for a few decades after the death and resurrection of Christ, there was a time in which there were “many things” which none of the apostles could bear until the appointed time. That appointed time was while Paul was in prison in Rome. Until that time the holy spirit itself had concluded that the Jews were to keep the law of Moses (Act 15:7-29), even as the Gentiles were already delivered from the weak and beggarly elements of the law of Moses.

This was all in complete accord with these words of Christ.

Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

It took the appointed time until it was given to the apostles to be able to bear the revelation that Christ was in the proscess of “making of twain one”, and not making of twain two, as the false doctrine of two gospels teaches.

Your brother in that “one body… made of twain”, with the “middle wall of partition”, the letter to the Gentiles of Acts 15, “abolished and… taken away”,

Mike

Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Act 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Act 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Act 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Act 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Act 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Act 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
Act 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Act 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Thank you, Mike,

You hit the nail on the head with that. I was part of a discussion, and this guy was trying to persuade me of that very thing you said – Jesus, Peter, James and Revelation were to Israel and Israel only; “Books of Circumcision”. And Paul’;s writings were only to us. I can not accept that theory. Trying to split the New Testament up and pick and choose what applies to Gentiles or Jews makes no sense. I’m amazed at so many doctrines, or theories, out here, abouth which I had no clue. Shows how God can reveal to some and blind others by the same light. And I do remember the revelation in the body how Paul matured in His teachings. That makes sense.

I will be sure to “withdraw myself”.

Thank you for the responses,

S____

Hi Mike,

I have been reading something you posted on rightly dividing the word. I was made to understand it to be a spiritual dividing as you have brought forth, but have a new friend that says it is dividing of that which belongs to the Jews and that which belongs to the gentiles. He says that the Jews will get their land as promised and calls this a terrestrial body and that the gentiles will get the celestial body. I am wondering what your thoughts on this, as it has not been revealed to me.

Thank you,

T____

Hi T____,

Thank you for your question concerning rightly dividing the word as it concerns the making of two into one, as the scriptures teach and as your friend does not yet understand.

While the doctrines of the entire New Testament are against that false doctrine, there are two key scriptures which immediately destroy the doctrine of making of two out of two. Here are those two scriptures:

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Put Rom 2 together with Eph 2:

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 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: Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 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;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

I cannot make it any clearer. I am grateful that the Lord has led you to write to me about this subject.

There are many articles on this subject on iswasandwillbe.com simply because I used to be a fervent disciple of this doctrine before I came to see it for the “idol of the heart” which it is. If you want to learn much more on this subject, just type the words ‘two administrations’ or the name ‘A. E. Knoch’, into the search box on the home page, and you will find many letters dealing with this patently false doctrine.

I hope you find this of help to you.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike

I don’t think Jesus is correcting the Law of Moses when he said ‘You have heard that it was said love your neighbors and hate your enemies.’ The OT law commanded them to live at peace with their neighbors under Abraham’s covenant, the father of our faith. I think Jesus is correcting Essene’s teaching.

N____

Hi N____,

Thank you for your comments. I know that it is hard to comprehend how God could tell Israel to do something and that something is only temporary and is actually carnal. But so it is with not just ‘Love your enemies’ versus,…

Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

Deu 20:16 is not the teachings of the Essenes. Neither were any of the teachings of the law that Christ contradicted in His sermon on the mount, of which I will give but one more example:

Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

It is not my goal to make you see what God has blinded you to. But I think that even you must concede that what Christ is quoting is Moses. Not the ‘Essenes.’

Exo 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Exo 21:25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Read the entire paper on ‘The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit’, then if you still have a question please feel free to ask it. “The law is : established… to bring us to Christ.”

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Luk 5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

Mike

Hello Mike,

I’m not trying to be a pain in the neck, but I really want to understand a few things, and I honor your wisdom in these matters.

I have been reading about the 7 laws of Noah and have found that according to scripture, the “Ten Commandments” applied to the 12 tribes of Israel/Jacob and the “Laws of Noah” pertained to the rest of humanity. If this be true, why do most gentiles appear to drift towards the 10 and not the 7. Matter of fact, I have been a believer for about 5 years, and I have never heard of the 7 prior to about 4 days ago.

I am not attempting to be “legalistic” but these “laws” are mentioned in the bible and I want to know the relevance to all of God’s inspired to us.

Take care Mike, If you have any insight in this matter please drop me a line.

Thanks,

K____

Hi K____,

It is good to hear from you again.

I have long been aware of the covenant that God made with Noah. I well remember what a shock it was for me, a sabbath keeping, holy day keeping, clean and unclean meats observer (back when I was in the WWCG), being shown that God had told Noah that he could eat “anything that moved.”

Gen 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Now Paul had said that what was said to Abraham before the law could not be disannulled by the law:

Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

The Noahic covenant was much more than 430 years before the law of Moses. Following the principle Paul reveals in Galatians 3:17 “The law which was [1000 years?] after cannot disannul [this] covenant which was confirmed before of God in Christ.”

The Truth be known, the law of Moses never did ‘disannul’ the Noahic covenant. God still has and still honors that covenant. He “will never again destroy the earth with water.” “Every moving thing that lives” is still “meat for you.”

It was only Israel that was affected by the law of Moses. That entire experience was “as types of us.” The entire history and economy of Israel was not for their benefit. Rather, it “happened to them, and they are written for our admonition…”

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [Greek: tupos, types]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

With all of this in mind, now read the next two verses of Galatians 3:

Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added [“Added” to what? To the already existing Noahic covenant] because of transgressions [of the already existing yet unrevealed ‘law of the spirit’.], till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Now to be honest with you, I am not familiar with “the seven laws of Noah.” If you have some information on these seven laws, I would love to see it.

The answer as to why the whole Gentile Christian world is drawn to the law of Moses instead of the Noahic covenant is given by Christ Himself in Matthew 13. When the disciples asked Christ why he spoke in parables, He told them that the purpose was “lest they [the multitudes who come to see and to hear Christ] should be converted and I should heal them.”

In other words God, contrary to what we are told by orthodox Christianity, is not at this time trying to save this world. The reason the Gentile world “drifts toward the 10” is because the 10 “are not for a righteous man, but for the lawless…”

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners.

God has no intention of saving this world at this time. On the contrary, he has deliberately blinded the world to His Word.

Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Joh 12:39 Therefore they [God’s people] could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
Joh 12:40 He [God] hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

What better way to blind those who think they have God’s Truth than to have them all believe that this “Law… not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless” is the true “law of the spirit.” It is not! Read The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit.

I hope I have answered your question and that this is of some help to you.

Mike

Mike,

Rom 4:16 says: Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

If the promise is only to those of the Seed who have faith in Christ, than why does Paul say that the promise might be sure to all the seed; both of the law AND of the faith of Abraham?

Thanks,
J____

Hi J____,
Thank you for your question.
You quote:

Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.

Then you ask:

If the promise is only to those of the Seed who have faith in Christ, than why does Paul say that the promise might be sure to all the seed; both of the law AND of the faith of Abraham?

The answer is that the phrase ‘the seed… of the law’, and the phrase ‘the seed of Abraham’ were considered to be referring to one and the same thing until God, through the apostles Peter at the home of Cornelius the Gentile, Roman, centurion, and Paul’s preaching to the Gentiles, revealed that being in Abraham was no longer a matter of physical descent, but is now rather a matter of spiritually knowing Christ.

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

“He is not a Jew which is one outwardly” does not exclude outward Jews from being capable of being inward Jews. What is being said here is the same message of the verse you ask about. It is not “in Christ” that we are “counted for the seed”, so that both Jews and Gentiles can now become “the seed of Abraham.
This is what Paul tells us in Galatians:

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

So contrary to the doctrines of Messianic Jews and A. E. Knoch’s Concordant Publishing Concern, there are not two administrations. Christ did not come to make of twain, two, but “to make of twain one”.
I think the apostle Paul can answer your question far better than I can, so I will let him do so:

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 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:
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 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;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Do you see that word ‘one’ in verses 14, 15, and 16? That is “the simplicity [ Greek – singleness] that is in Christ Jesus, which some would deny.

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

It would seem that such clear language concerning the oneness, “the simplicity, that is in Christ”, could not be misconstrued into a doctrine of two administrations which most of Christendom teaches. There is now no such thing as a physical or “outward Jew” or an “outward” Israel”.

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

But do not make the mistake of casting the pearl that is this second chapter of Ephesians before the swine who decide what is and what is not essential doctrines in Babylon.
I hope all these verses have served to answer your question.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Mike

Lev 19:18 is the Golden Rule, which Christ quoted. And Moses commanded them to kill people in an act of judgment, often times those He (God) commanded be killed were those that were worshiping Molech- which required Child Sacrifice. This was not to be done all through the ages. Government is required to administer justice. Murder was a word invented in the 13th Century. It could be translated two ways, or have a different meaning.

“Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” was a requirement of justice in which the punishment fit the crime. When Christ said ‘he who is without sin/ this sin, throw the first stone” he was questioning the fact that she was being punished without trial, and not death penalty.

On the middle East, if Saddam is killing his own people, it is better to support those who oppose him. And for Israel “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you”.

Revelations states that those in heaven were those who “had faith in Christ and kept the Commands of God”.

Law is for the lawless, referring to legalism. Works is the only thing keeping the lawless in line. Since Nomon is civil law, Torah, or Legalism. Depending on context. Like love is Agape, Philos, or Eros, depending on context.

Paul thought that those he persecuted were false teachers, and God judges the heart. But I am unsure of the context of this reference or his meaning so I cannot provide you with a complete answer on that.

One thing we agree on is part of the tithe question. God commanded a tithe to support his work; feeding the poor, clothing the naked, things like that. And to leave behind a certain portion of the harvest for those in need. Some was given to the Levites, but if the Church is corrupt then it would be better to give directly to those in need instead of people like Benny Hinn who stay at $10,000 a night hotels and shop in Beverly Hills. Paul never required a tithe, even though he was entitled to be paid for his teaching.

“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”. Christ said that what you do unto the least of these you do unto Him (God), so feeding the poor is giving 10% to God, and not giving it to a corrupt Church.

Also very impressed by your extensive knowledge. I picked up alot of Greek and Hebrew.

Though I disagree and desire that everyone find the truth, I wish you no ill- will.

Shalom,

B____

Thanks for the long response.

No B____,

Christ said “the new agrees not with the old” (Luk 5. Christ broke the sabbath. He said that He and His disciples had ” profaned it like the priests.” Neither Christ nor any of His disciples were of the Aaronic priest’s linage. Christ proclaims that He and His disciples, “like David and those with him,” had “done that which is not lawful.” Christ did not deny this, He proclaimed it. Those are His words. They are not mine. These too, are His Words concerning the differences in the covenants. These words of our Savior agree with every word Paul wrote on this same subject:

Luk 5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment [ New Covenant doctrines] upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
Luk 5:37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Luk 5:38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Luk 5:39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

When the law is “used lawfully,” it is used just to “bring us to Christ” after which time “we are no longer under [ that] schoolmaster.” Then and only then it is “established,” and then and only then “both are preserved,” even though “the new agrees NOT with the old.”

1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully [ and how is that done?];
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient…
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [ to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Now Christ’s “the new agrees not with the old” yet “both are preserved” makes perfect sense:

Luk 5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man the new maketh a rent, and t he piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
Luk 5:37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Luk 5:38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. [ The “law { of Moses} brings us to Christ,” and the “law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2) brings us to maturity]
Luk 5:39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better [ to this very day].

Paul and Christ certainly agreed on this subject. It is orthodox Christianity which refuses to acknowledge that “the law is not of faith and is not for a righteous man.” There is no reference to legalism anywhere in the entirety of the books of Galatians or Timothy. At this time in your walk, you are simply unwilling to admit to the words of Christ that “the new agrees not with the old.” You insist, as Christ foretold all men would insist: “The old is better.” so at this time, as Paul tells us, you “are no better than a slave.”

Gal 3:23 But before faith cam e, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child [“under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterward be revealed”], differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors [ the schoolmaster of verse 25] until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world [“not made for a righteous man”]:

Hey, I can’t be too hard on you. It was only yesterday that I too, was so blinded by the imposing stature of mere men, that I too, could not see that the tutors and governors of Gal 4:1 were the same as the schoolmaster of Gal 3:25. I too, followed the lead of my ministers and argued that these ‘elements of the world’ were a reference ONLY to the pagan ways of these Gentile Galatians who Paul all through this book laments being led back under the law. But here in this verse, according to your ministers, all of a sudden, for some inexplicable reason, Paul is concerned that they might go back to pagan “elements of the world.” That was not an issue as obviously they had progressed beyond that stage, but some were believing that being under the Mosaic law was where they should be. Their ancient paganism is not the subject or concern here. What is the subject and concern of this book and this chapter is:

Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law,

Open your eyes. Read God’s Word as it reads. These are not people who are tending to return to paganism. Read this verse 21 of this very chapter. It accords with the spirit and concern Paul expresses throughout this epistle:

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Do you not see how “works of the law” are equated with “made perfect by the flesh?”

Can you not see that the schoolmaster is equated with the tutors and governors? Can you not see that the “elements of this world” are equated with “being as a child under tutors and governors and the schoolmaster” just as much as pagan rituals are? Again, Look at verse 21 of this very chapter. Your church tells you “the elements of this world” are concerned with a return to paganism. The elements of this world are not JUST paganism. They include the old covenant law of Moses. “Not made for a righteous man but [ made] for the lawless…” That is the “elements of this world”. “The law of Jesus Christ” is far superior to that “law made for the lawless.” We are told the Gentiles were a law unto themselves with their pagan holidays, just as the Jews were with their Mosaic laws which Christ, in His reformation, tells us are the “traditions of men” on the same par as pagan holidays.

Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Deu 18:14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

Paul is speaking here to former Jews. The pagan holidays and practices of the Gentiles are not under discussion here because the Jews would not have been observing them anyway – at least if they were trying to obey the Mosaic laws. There was always the problem in the Old Testament of the Jewish people being drawn into the worship of the pagan nations into which they journeyed.

Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

Now who do you suppose the “children of the bondwoman are? Are they the Gentiles who no longer keep the law as your church teaches?

Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

Don’t fail to notice that “Mount Sinai… genders to bondage…” Did you catch that? What happened at Sinai? That is where Moses was given the law for the lawless. It did not deal with the heart. It had no spiritual promises because it dealt only with the lawless and disobedient. It promised only physical blessings for carnal obedience to “carnal commandments.”

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandmen t, but after the power of an endless life.
Heb 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
Heb 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Now let’s go back to Galatians four. With whom does Paul equate the law- abiding Jews like Saul of Tarsus? Was it Gentiles who were told by the apostles themselves that they did not have to “be circumcised and to keep the law?” (Act 15)

Act 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: [ with which ‘keep the law,’ doctrine you, to this day, are trying to yoke me ]
Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

It is law of Moses oriented Jerusalem which now is which is in bondage.” Certain went out from us… subverting your souls saying… keep the law, to whom we gave no such commandment.” Those are powerful words from God’s law abiding apostles. Which law did they abide by? Was it the law not made for a righteous man? Or was it the law of Jesus Christ that so contradicted the old law to “stone them both.” A lack of trial was not the point Christ was making. You completely missed His point. Here it is again: “The new agrees not with the old… Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers… Not made for a righteous man but for the lawless… a carnal commandment… a change also [ besides the change of priesthood] of the law…” etc., etc., etc.”

Can you imagine Paul telling the Jewish converts that since they no longer were to keep Jewish holy days, they should now start keeping pagan holiday? See, this matter is not even under discussion here. [ But the original intent of this letter was to make clear the ‘days, months, times and years’ did not exclude Jewish holy days as the questioner believed. I apologize that my wording did cast doubt on the matter of whether keeping pagan holidays is now acceptable. The sum of God’s Word shows up this is not the case. As to this subject in general, the closer we are drawn to Christ, the further away from these pulls of the flesh we will get.]

Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28 Now we [ Gentile Galatians], brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [ that was born] after the Spirit, even so [ it is] now.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we [ Gentile Galatians] are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Go ahead and make your “free” choice. Surely there are no powers and principalities influencing your “free moral agency.” That is the teaching of your church. Do you believe such insanity? This is the truth. This verse below is an example of the way God actually operates. It is a very effective method:

1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

Man’s choices have nothing whatsoever to do with all the evil in the earth today. Man’s choices are the result of the fact that “the vessel of clay was marred in the hand of the Potter.” Read After The Counsel Of His Own Will and then get back to me.

Pro 20:24 Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Do all men make choices? Of course we all do. But ” free“choices? Where are the scriptures for such a claim?

Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God…

The Associated Churches of God are nothing but another daughter harlot worshiping an image of the beast that comes up out of the sea of mankind on which the harlot sits. The heart’s idol of ‘free’ will belies how much the Associated Church of God denies the sovereignty of God and enthrones the sovereignty of the ‘free’ will of the beast within us all.

Mike

Hey, Mike,

Can you explain to me why we should keep Lev 19:28 about not cutting the flesh or having tattoos but not the previous verse about rounding the corners of one’s head or marring the corners of beards? I thought all the old law was done away.

Thanks,
J____

Hi J____,

Thank you for asking why we keep Leviticus 19:28 but not Leviticus 19:27.

Lev 19:28  Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Lev 19:27  Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

As I have pointed out in The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit in great detail, the Old Covenant was not carried over into the New Covenant, rather it was totally done away and a New Covenant written. The New Covenant is “in the spirit” and not “in the letter”. We are told of Christ:

1Ti 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

So Christ was “justified in the spirit” even though he “broke the sabbath” by telling a man to “take up thy bed” on the sabbath.

Joh 5:17  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Joh 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Yet when asked what was needed to inherit life, Christ told the rich young ruler to “keep the commandments”, and Christ mentioned several of the ten commandments. The sabbath was not one of the commandments Christ referenced.

Mat 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, [ that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19  Honour thy father and [ thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

So this man’s question, coming after all of Christ’s teachings in chapters 5 and 6 in which he would quote sections of the Old Testament and then reform those sections with all of His “But I say unto you…” reforms, was essentially the same as your question. Why do we keep part of the Old Testament but not other parts?

Let’s look at the context of the verses you ask about in Leviticus. Here are the two verses you ask about along with the verse before and the verse after those two verses.

Lev 19:26  Ye shall not eat [ any thing] with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
Lev 19:27  Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
Lev 19:28  Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [ am] the LORD.
Lev 19:29  Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.

The verse before tells us not to eat meat with the blood, don’t dabble in spells, magic, sorcery or mysticism and do not observe pagan times. The verse after the two verses you question tells us not to prostitute our daughters, to cause them to become whores or our whole land will slip into apostasy.
Any person who is seeking only to please his Creator will observe and do all the things contained in all of these verses, including verse 27, because the whole point in all of these verses is that we are to do all that we do only to please God, and not to serve other gods or glorify and please one’s own flesh.

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

But that is the message only “in spirit” and not in letter. To those who see only the letter, a person who is naturally bald is considered cursed by God. So the orthodox Jews, to this day, do not cut the hair on their temples, and they wear beards as if it makes them more righteous to do so.
You ask why we observe verse 28, do not tattoo oneself, but we do not observe verse 27, do not round one’s heads nor round the corners of one’s beard?’
The answer is that we actually observe both in spirit, because we do all we do to the glory of God and not to draw attention to ourselves by wearing tattoos and Mohawks or other outlandish hairdos. Any person who deliberately dresses in a way that draws attention to himself/ herself simply for the purpose of drawing attention to self is surely not “doing all that he does to the glory of God.”
Yes, it is true, Christ expects more of us than we can possibly do. That is why we have been given His spirit, and now we can honestly say with the apostle Paul:

Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

So how are we “instructed in all things”?  How can we know exactly when the Old Testament agrees with the New and when it doesn’t agree? The answer is that the holy spirit instructs and guides us with His spiritual words and verses like the one we quoted above:

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Our flesh is far more concerned with what friends and family and society will think of us if we really live by that principle. But our spirit “knows how to be both abased [ in the flesh] and how to abound [ in the spirit] and we discover that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us through His Word – Words like these:

1Co 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1Co 6:13  Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [ is] not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Our society is a virtual slave to its own totally unscriptural traditions. They are not “done to the glory of God”. They are done to please and appease family and friends. They certainly are not expedient for those who place this year’s gifts on a credit card that still has last year’s expenses on it. As a society we are “brought under the power of” totally pagan traditions, all the while claiming that what we are doing is expedient and to the glory of God.
This is such an important point that Paul repeats it in this same epistle:

1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
1Co 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
1Co 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

What does “the cup of devils” have society to do?” That is exactly what is an abomination to God, in both the Old and in the New Testaments.

Deu 12:28  Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
Deu 12:29  When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30  Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31  Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
Deu 12:32  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

It is nothing less than “burning our children in the fire to the gods of the heathen” when we deliberately lie to our children about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy, ghosts and goblins, cupid and any and all of the other ways we have “enquired after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise to the glory of my God'” (Deu 12:30).
Is it lawful for me to do all of those things? Yes, it is lawful while we are coming to maturity and while we are “weak in the faith” and we truly believe we are doing so to God.

Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Who is this person who “regards not the day to the Lord”” This is not left to our own personal speculation. We have Christ Himself for our example, and we have these words from His apostle.

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Romans was written prior to Galatians, and it might be easy to misunderstand Rom 14, if it were not for Christ’s own example and for the clarifying words of Gal 4. The brother who is “weak in the faith” in Rom 14 is the same brother who has “returned to the weak and beggarly elements” of Gal 4 of which the Apostle Paul laments, “I am afraid of you lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain, because you have traded your strong meat for the milk of carnal babes, who, when persecution and tribulation arises because of the word are offended.”

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Yes, it is lawful to receive those who are weak in the faith and are totally incapable of yet accepting the strong meat of God’s Word. Not even a newly converted soldier is expected to say, “O. K. Here I am. Place me before the firing squad because I am laying down my arms here and now.” Instead he is instructed to “be content with your wages and do violence to no man, and if you can be free, use it…”
No carnal babe in Christ is even capable of “doing all he does to the glory of God” or doing all he does only “because it edifies Christ, and because it is spiritually expedient”.
If we have grown beyond “the basic principles of  the doctrines of Christ”, how can we claim to be edifying our brothers when we encourage them to just fit in with society? How can we claim that we are not under the power of a pagan- oriented society, when every holiday we keep and observe is of completely pagan origins?  That is the very essence of “denying Christ before men” because Christ Himself deliberately broke all the sabbaths and holy days of His time in order to work as His Father worked.” He also broke those holy days for the very purpose of leaving us an example that we should follow in His steps.

Joh 5:17  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto [ on the sabbath, contrary to the customs of the day], and I work.
1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

As is always the case, we are rescued from heresy and a darkened sun and air only by “the sum of God’s Word… line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little”, by remembering that we will all live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, and by being given eyes that see and ears that hear that Christ is the Word, that His words are spirit and that eternal life is to know God and His Son through those spiritual words.
If all of those scriptural principles are at work in our lives we will know when it is expedient to keep the words of the Old Testament and when we should see that the letter and the spirit are not in sync. If we come to Christ’s words with the mind of Christ, we will have no problem telling a man to keep the commandments, even as we “have broken the sabbath”, because we have been brought to see that Christ is our sabbath, and as such we will now find it much easier to distinguish what is and what is not expedient.

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit [ scripture] and of power:
1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God [ scripture].
1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among [ Greek, within] them that are perfect [ Greek, being perfected]: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit [ scripture]: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit [ scripture] of God.
1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

I have worked some very long hours last week, so I hope you will forgive me for not having gotten this to you earlier. Here is another Old Testament principle revealed to us by His spirit, which is expedient that we carry over into the the New Testament.

Psa 119:165  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

How can we be offended if we really believe that “all things” are of God?:)
Your brother in the Christ,
Mike

Hi Mike, my good friend,
Thanks for your reply.

It seems to me that you assume anyone that doesn’t line up with the WWCG teaching on birthdays, biblical days, months, seasons and years, as well as pagan originated festivals and holidays, is somehow attempting to please God by calling friends and/ or family over to their home for a get- together, on a convenient day off. Do you try to worship God when you watch tv on Superbowl Sunday like the pagans do? Do you have a bible study on Sunday (pagan day to suppossedly substitute sabbath for the Babylonian christian) to impress God or worship as the pagans worship another Jesus? I presume, (always a risk), that you do these things at those times because it is merely convienient!!!
Should anyone assume that you are observing the weak and beggarly things of this world and are therefore weak and not willing to be persecuted for His name by having a weekly study broadcast (Pagans broadcast too) at the exact day and hour that most of the Christian Babylonian churches do? That, I submit, is how they worship their God (another Jesus).
Actually, I feel that you and many you influence are somehow attempting to please God by refraining from certain carnal observances, (holidays, [ O. T. and Pagan] birthdays, etc.). Is that possibly addressed to those who say, “touch not, etc.” as the ones in the wrong, speaking to this issue? Sorry, I cannot find the scripture. Perhaps you know the one to which I refer.
As you and I both agree, if God has taken away both the water and the bread from Israel, then not much that is taught in those churches is reliable. I believe that you have brought in a form of self- righteousness from WWCG involving refraining from certain things and are proud that you suffer “persecution” from your family and friends because of your stand. It is a little thing to suffer from those who are not “near spiritual kin”. If enough of the IWWB fellowship agree with you, you will be compensated somewhat in your stand. What if those “near kin spiritually” were to think differently than you on this matter? The pain is not nice. On this subject, I know.
In summary, Mike, neither I nor anyone I know believes that they are pleasing God, nor do they or I believe that God cares about these days set aside as somehow special to Him. They are just convenient times to enjoy family and friends. A lot like IWWB Sunday morning 11::00 am bible study.
When Jesus went up to the Feast was it to use a perfectly convenient time to make a statement? Yes, He went NOT at the beginning, but went up later. Perhaps those from WWCG and IWWB would have taught that Jesus should NOT have gone at ALL!!!
Mike, I love you and ALL the group associated with IWWB. You know that.

In Him,
J____

Hi J____,

Thank you for getting back to me, and yes, I do know that you love me and all of us at IWWB. I think you know that I love you, too. As I have told you before, I do not feel the need to try to change anyone’s thinking on keeping days, months, times and years. That would be a grave mistake on my part. It is not right to try to push strong meat on those who have not been given to receive that meat.
The reason I mention this to you is simply because you have mentioned it to me so many times, telling me that you feel just what you express here once again. To summarize what you say here is that you truly believe that milk is meat and meat is milk. You truly believe that “one man esteems one day above another” is the meat and “the man who esteems every day alike” is the weaker brother who is still on the milk. That is what you told me.
Notice this verse is addressed to both of us.

Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth [ it] unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard [ it]. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

What Paul is saying here is that we should both leave the convicting of the heart up to the holy spirit. But he ties this statement in verse six right back in with the eating and not eating of verse one.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [ but] not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Now here is the verse you referenced in your letter.

Col 2:20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Every word of every verse I have quoted to this point, in both Romans and Colossians, is written by Paul in response to Judaizers who are attempting to persuade his Christian converts to go back to placing their faith in the righteousness that is in the keeping of the law of Moses. That was the church of Paul’s day. If I am attempting to earn my own salvation by refraining from keeping days, months, times and years, then God will see right through that, and He will judge me accordingly. If you are keeping the Pagan holidays to avoid persecution, then He will also see through that. But let’s not impute such motives to one another.
Now, with the understanding that he that regards the day does so unto the Lord, let’s examine your own words here and see if may there is a gap in your logic. Here is what you say:

If, as you and I both agree, God has taken away both the water and the bread from Israel, then not much, that is taught in those churches is reliable.”

If we “both agree that not much that is taught in those churches is reliable,” then we would have to both agree that the observance of all the days, months, times and years of those churches is not reliable. Surely not even you would attempt to justify putting up a Christmas tree, lying about Santa Claus, Ishtar bunnies, Halloween goblins, etc. Can you honestly conceive in your mind that Jesus would indulge in such Paganism when He wouldn’t even observe the days, months, times and years of Moses?
The one thing we should both draw from what Paul said in Roman’s 14 is that the weak brother is not to judge the brother who esteems every day alike, and the stronger brother is not to despise the weaker brother who keeps those days unto the Lord.
I too, attend my extended family’s celebrations when I am invited, but I do not deny Gal 4:10 when I go. I never bring it up, but just as I do with you, when it comes up, I remain faithful to God’s Word. If you feel that is self- righteousness, then I am more than willing to bear that burden.
It is not my intention to force meat on you, but one thing is clear. It is much easier and smoother to not take a stand with scripture than it is to stand up and be counted and be willing to be called self- righteous by those who observe “what is taught in those churches.”

You say:

It is a little thing to suffer from those who are not “near spiritual kin”. If enough of the IWWB fellowship agree with you, you will be compensated somewhat in your stand.  What if those”near kin spiritually” were to think differently than you on this matter? The pain is not nice. On this subject, I know.”

I am well aware of being rejected by those who I considered to be of “near spiritual kin”. To this very day there are dozens of brothers and sisters in Christ we both know, who were once considered to be of near spiritual kin, who do think differently than me on this and many other matters. You are so very right “The pain is not nice”. But we must be willing to accept the pain that our convictions bring.
I know it is the weak brother who is told not to judge the brother who esteems every day alike because, as I pointed out, we have Christ’s example of not observing the holy days or the sabbath, and we have those very clear verses in Gal 4:

Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

So it was the observing of these things that caused Paul to be concerned for the spiritual welfare of those in his charge. I was not that they were esteeming every day alike.
Now with those verses in Gal 4 right here before us, let’s examine that verse you used to make your point about me being self- righteous. Here are the verses you referenced:

Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

The “elements of the world” of Gal 4 are the same Greek words translated “rudiments of the world” here in Col 2. So the “touch not; taste not; handle not” are all part of the same law that taught Paul’s converts to “observe days, months, times and years”, the very things that both Paul and Christ refused to do, and the very things that were so popular with those churches who had their bread and water taken away from them.
Just so you know, Sandi and I went back to keeping Christmas and birthdays for many years after we left the WWCG. It wasn’t until I met my own destruction that I came to see what I am sharing with you. What the WWCG taught was irrelevant to me then, and it still is. But these verses of scripture are no longer irrelevant to me, and I would hope they are not irrelevant to you.

Joh 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

It is “those churches” who keep those days, etc.
Why would you think that I am being self- righteous about being an outcast from my family for believing the words of Gal 4:10, but you don’t think that I am self- righteous about being an outcast from my family for believing what the scriptures say in 1Ti 4:10? I certainly don’t think you are self- righteous for believing the words of 1Ti 4:10.

1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

We should simply expect to “suffer reproach” not just because of the words of this verse, but for the words of Gal 4:10 also. Are we not to live by every word?
So let’s not impute motives to each other, and let’s let God’s Word be our only concern. I personally like you very much. Of course I believe you are wrong about this subject, if you believe that the person who is eating spiritual strong meat is the person who least incurs the rejection of friends and family.
Simply reasserting that you think I am self- righteous has no basis in scripture, and we both need to try the spirits to see whether they are of God. It does neither of us any good in any way to impute motives to each other. If you thought I was accusing you of denying Christ by keeping Christmas, etc., I can see why you would do that, but that was not my intention. All I meant by what I said was to demonstrate that it is much harder to obey God than to just fit in with society. I truly did not mean to imply that you were putting the praise of men above the praise of God. That is what “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” means. The whole motive behind the 14th chapter of Romans is to tell those who are more mature in Christ, not to expect babes in Christ to act like mature Christians immediately. It just does not work that way. Babes in Christ are just as sincere when they know Christ and Him crucified, as those who know that they must fill up in themselves the affliction of the Christ. Nevertheless Paul levels with us all and tells us that when that is where we are, we are “yet carnal… babes in Christ. In Rom 14, he does the same and makes it clear that it is the weak brother who eats only herbs.
I hope you will give me the benefit of the doubt if there is any doubt about my self- righteousness. The Lord knows that I certainly want to be rid of such a spirit if it is there. But let’s let the Lord be the judge of our motives. He is very good at manifesting what is approved. Instead of accusing each other of bad motives, let’s let God’s word speak for us.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [ but] not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [ alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth [ it] unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard [ it]. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

I think you and I can live by those words without imputing bad motives, and I truly believe that the Lord will make manifest to both of us what He approves.
In closing I will comment on this paragraph of your e- mail:

In summary Mike, neither I nor anyone I know believes that they are pleasing God, nor do they or I believe that God cares about these days set aside as somehow special to Him. They are just convenient times to enjoy family and friends. A lot like IWWB Sunday morning 11::00 a. m. bible study.

With your comments about watching the Superbowl in mind, I will still dare to quote this verse:

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

So it is with the purpose of glorifying God that I expect to be reproached for believing in universal salvation, and it is for the same purpose that I expect to be reproached for following Christ and Paul’s example concerning the keeping of days, etc. But just like you, I never allow the days themselves to keep me from being there when those days are convenient for the family to come together.
I was really hoping you would comment on the example both Christ and Paul have set for us. I really would appreciate knowing if you think I am way off about that, because I agree with you that Pagan holidays are just convenient times to get together, just as Sunday is a convenient day to have our study.

Your brother who really does love you,
Mike

Hi my friend Mike,

It appears to me we have much in common. I am delighted to see that you and I have been battling mutual straw men. I wrongly have imputed motives upon you about what I falsely thought was your carnal attempt to obtain a righteousness by refraining from family get togethers that were organized at socially convenient times.
For years I have enjoyed family gatherings at Dec. 25, Thanksgiving and sometimes the long “easter weekend” because that is when my children come home from college. As the leader in my family, I have often mentioned that these times mean nothing to God; they are man’s ideas. We also do not regard Sunday as any day special, except that often my kids and I are off work together, so it is a good day for fun together or yard work or a time to invite friends over for dinner.
Both my wife and I have for years seen the folly in spending more than we have to impress friends or our children with expensive gifts at ANY time in the year.
Mike, I believe that part of my problem has been a desire to “fit in” with the apparent leaders at IWWB. I have been anxious to somehow impress you guys, but have felt that my enjoying times with my family at xmas, etc. would have left me outside the accepted practice of the group. So I imputed upon you a certain self- righteousness and assumed that you were actively telling your friends that they needed to stop ALL holiday related activities.
Will you forgive me Mike, for assuming wrong motives of you?
I feel that this writing to you and your responses have helped me to work through some of my own areas of idol worship: i. e. seeking to please men rather than pleasing God.
I still have a desire to understand how one rightly divides the word. Discerning the spiritual meaning of a word or phrases and how to know which carnal meanings are still applicable for me is still a puzzle.

Love in our Lord,
J____

Hi J____,

Thanks again for your godly attitude of wanting to help others by what you have experienced. That is what John (the humble one) calls “the testimony of Jesus Christ… the spirit of prophecy:)”

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [ thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hey, Mike,

Thank you for bearing with me through the past couple of years. If this current correspondence could be of any value to others, then I say you might publish the exchange in FAQS if you want.

In HIM,
J____

Hi J____,
What a wonderful attitude!

In truth, I personally think that families getting together should always come before coming to a weekly Bible Study or a conference. It is not a good witness to be separated from our families just because we do not agree on doctrine. I attend every family function I am invited to, whatever the reason is for being there. I do not exchange gifts, but I do show up. According to Rom 14, this does not amount to the level of heresy, and we are never to attempt to force our level of understanding on others in any event.
Of course I forgive you, I hope you will forgive me if I have ever said a word that was not in the patience and love that is our Lord. I am far from perfected, and struggle to overcome the flesh and to die daily just as you do.
As far as learning how to rightly divide scripture is concerned, we both know that the understanding of spiritual matters in a gift from God, but there are certain principles that are revealed concerning those who have been gifted with the discerning of spirits and the ability to see the mysteries of the kingdom of God. A few of those principles are to always remember that:
1) Christ’s words are spirit and do not always mean what they say, but rather mean what they mean.
2) Many times, like with all the commandments except the fourth one, the commandments are still in line with the spirit of the commandment. We cannot dishonor God or our brother, and claim to be living in the spirit.
3) we “must live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” and “keep the things written therein.”
4) Truth is to be found only in the sum of God’s word and not to be based on one single verse.
Those are just a few very Biblical principles that come to mind.
But when it comes to what parts of the Old Testament are to be kept, both Paul and Christ give us the principle of expediency. Christ said it was expedient that He return to the Father:

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Paul says “I can do all things, but all things are not expedient.”

1Co 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1Co 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1Co 6:13  Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [ is] not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

It is expedient that we love and honor God and our fellow man. But the world as a whole ignores the Biblical definition of what it means to love our brothers and love God. This too, is a principle that helps us to rightly divide the word of God.

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

There is no hope of understanding God’s Word without an understanding of these verses. We cannot confuse the love of our brothers with the love of God. We are not told, ‘By this we know we love God because we love our brothers’, and place what we consider to be love above what God commands. Rather we are told that the only way to know that we love our brothers is to obey God’s commandments.
This is not a complete study on this subject, but I hope this gives you something to consider and will in some way edify you.
In the final analysis, eyes that see and ears that hear are a gift that is either given or is not given to each of us by a sovereign God.

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [ even] the hidden [ wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [ them], because they are spiritually discerned.

If you ask God for wisdom, and if it is according to His will, you will be given that wisdom.

Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [ men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

I truly believe God is giving you eyes that see, and ears that hear.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hi Mike,

I was reading through the Law paper again, and I had a thought on some of these differences. My observation is that I see clearer and clearer just how different the two laws are. My question is this. When you read through the laws and concepts of the Old, you always read stuff like: ‘You will blessed for your obedience and cursed for disobedience.’ People who had leprosy were usually counted as smitten of God for some reason. When you get to the new and read the parables of the good Samaritan or Lazarus and the rich man, the complete opposite concept is being taught. Here is a person that needs help and the Pharisee walks right by. I know the parable means to view everyone as your neighbor, and in Lazarus and the rich man it means the kingdom will be taken from you and given to the Gentiles. The part I am having trouble with is the concept of the rich man going to hades and the poor man going to Abraham. This is a completely different concept from the old testament by being blessed and increased in wealth for obedience. I really could not place any blame on the Pharisees for not understanding this. The whole old testament law says just the opposite of what Jesus was saying in these parables. What is the meaning behind that? I mean it’s like when Jesus returns is he going to change everything we know and are taught now to something else? If he is I would probably be as dumb- founded as the Pharisees are. Imagine that when Christ returns he is actually preaching a different message than what we know. Would it not be hard to accept that? Isn’t this the same concept that Israel went through when he reformed their law? I hope you understand my point.

God Bless,
M____

Hi M____,
It is good that you are taking the time to read that law paper again.
Thank you for your questions.
You ask:

The whole Old Testament law says just the opposite of what Jesus was saying in these parables. What is the meaning behind that?

You also ask,

If [ Christ is going to change everything we have been taught], I would probably be as dumb- founded as the Pharisees are. Imagine that when Christ returns he is actually preaching a different message than what we know. Wouldn’t it not be hard to accept that? Isn’t this the same concept that Israel went through when He reformed their law?

Yes, that is exactly what Israel went through when He reformed their law, and yes, Christ will certainly be “preaching a different message than what we know” if we are orthodox Christians. But it is not a different message than the one that was taught from the very beginning.
Israel was told that God intended to send them a reformer like Moses. What Moses did was just as radical for that time as what Christ did in His time. What was lawful before Moses was not lawful after Moses. Abraham and any of the patriarchs could build an altar and offer an offering anywhere. After Moses, that was illegal and the offerings all had to be done through the priests at the tabernacle and the temple respectively. That is but one of many changes which Moses made, and God told Israel plainly that another reformer was coming.

Deu 18:18  I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

From the beginning God told Eve that her desire would be against her husband, but her husband would rule over her. In the very next chapter Christ is telling Cain that sin is at the door, but Cain will in the end rule over sin.

Gen 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to [ Hebrew, against] thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto [ Hebrew, against] thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Here we have, for those with eyes that see and ears that hear, the promise of universal salvation at the very beginning. Eve’s submission to Christ, and sin’s submission to Cain, are both symbols of the deliverance of us all from the rebellion against our Creator into which we are born.

Psa 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make [ it].

The calling of Seth’s children before the flood, culminating in the few (“eight souls”) who were saved by the ark, and the calling of Abraham’s seed, Israel, after the flood, culminating in merely 120 people being in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, and very few being chosen out of every generation since Christ, all tells us that God is choosing very few in this life, and that He will use those few to bring to him very many in the next life.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

While it is true that Christ chastened the Pharisees for their blindness, and while it is true that we will all “reap what we sow,” and “give an accounting of our stewardship, it is nevertheless true that God never intended for the multitudes who came to Christ to see and hear the Truth. It was their calling to crucify Him. They were never intended to believe in Him. They were intended by God Himself to reject and kill Him so you and I could have a savior. It was all by God’s hand and by God’s counsel.

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Act 4:25  Who [ God] by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Act 4:29  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

Verses 25-26 in Act 4 are quoted out of Psa 2:1-2.

Psa 2:1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Psa 2:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [ saying],

Now look at what Christ told the men on the road to Emmaus:

Luk 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luk 24:26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Luk 24:27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

“Moses and all the prophets” is all of the scriptures. They are all expounding “the things concerning Christ” for those whose eyes are opened to know Him.

Luk 24:30  And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed [ it], and brake, and gave to them.
Luk 24:31  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Luk 24:32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

No one will ever know Christ without first “sitting at meat with Him” and spending time in His Word and learning from Him how to rightly divide His Word. That is how “He opens to us the scriptures.”

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Until that day arrives, we can be walking with Christ and His Christ and not recognize Him until the appointed time for us to see and know Him.

Luk 24:16  But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

When we do finally come to know Him, only then will we realize that He is still here with us “in the flesh” of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are faithful to and obedient to His Words.

Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The entire orthodox Christian world fails to see what is being said in these two verses of God’s Word. John is saying here what Paul said in Act 2:28. Those who fail to see Christ in “the least of these my brothers,” do not know Christ.

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [ his] sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [ thee]? or thirsty, and gave [ thee] drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took [ thee] in? or naked, and clothed [ thee]?
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [ it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [ it] not to me.
Mat 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

“The least of these my brothers” is “specially them that believe”, but it is also “all men… the whole world.” “The least of these my brothers” is all who we ever meet or with whom we are placed in contact. God’s elect consider all men to be their neighbors, their brothers and sons of God.

Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

None of this is familiar to the modern day Pharisees for the reason given in this verse of Isaiah.

Isa 3:1  For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

The Old Testament Law says the exact opposite of the New Testament only in letter, and yet that is what it was to those who lived in Old Testament times. When God said “Leave nothing alive that breatheth” that was what He physically meant at that time. But when Christ came and opened our eyes to be able to “compare spiritual things with spiritual, what was “said of old time” was changed. Now we understand that “the kingdom of God is within you.” and “Leave nothing alive that breathes” in that kingdom is also within. We no longer hate our outward enemy, but we “Leave nothing alive that breaths” within.
I hope this helps you to understand why the Pharisees of Christ’s time could not see the things of the spirit.

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [ them], because they are spiritually discerned.

Christ deliberately “spoke in words which man’s wisdom could not understand.” “There is a change also of the Law”, but that reformation was ordained and prophesied from thebeginning by our Lord who had both dispensations planned from the beginning. He blinds mankind to what He is doing, but He never does change.

Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

It is all for this reason:

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

And so we, with Paul can exclaim:

Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom [ be] glory for ever. Amen.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hi Mike,

I had a question about Matthew chapter 5.  I read your paper the Law of Moses vs. The Law of the Spirit. Thank you for that paper. It was the best I’ve encountered on that topic. I was hoping you could comment on my below question. I heard a belief that Christ’s teachings in Mat 5 were not the Laws of Christ; they were Jesus reforming the Laws of Moses to eliminate any doubt in any body’s mind that salvation could come by works of the law, and when faith comes and we are no longer under a schoolmaster these teachings in Mat 5 are no different than the 10 commandments. We as Christians obeying the Laws of Christ are found solely in the fruits of the Spirit in Gal 5.

Thanks again for your time.
Your Brother in Christ,
M____

Hi M____,
Thank you for your question.
You say:

I heard a belief that Christ’s teachings in Mat 5 were not the Laws of Christ; they were Jesus reforming the Laws of Moses to eliminate any doubt in any body’s mind that salvation could come by works of the law, and when faith comes and we are no longer under a schoolmaster, these teachings in Mat 5 are no different than the 10 commandments. We as Christians obeying the Laws of Christ are found solely in the fruits of the Spirit in Gal 5.

I honestly cannot follow such a way of thinking. Christ’s reformation of the law becomes the law of Christ for this simple reason:

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

“This generation” is the generation reading these words of Christ. If we read and understand Christ’s words, we fulfill them. His words are His law, and “they shall never pass away.”

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Heb 9:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

I hope that helps you to understand that Christ’s words and His law are one and the same.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike