CHRISTIANS ARE NOT UNDER LAW, BUT JEWS MAY CULTURALLY KEEP GOD'S COMMANDMENTS

INDUCTIVE BIBLE TOPIC STUDY

CHRISTIANS ARE NOT UNDER LAW, BUT JEWS MAY CULTURALLY KEEP GOD'S COMMANDMENTS

By Dennis Schmidt 9/2007

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This paper discusses: Christians are not under the law, but the Jewish believer may keep God's commandments. God's commandments were given to the Jewish people. God's directed them to keep the commandments forever. God is teaching the principle of a changed heart, a correct heart motive, and not law. All scriptures are from the King James' Bible.

INDUCTIVE COMMENTS:

THEME: LAW IN-EFFECT: Laws of God are perfect & because of mans weakness needed Jesus to fulfill.

Matthew 5:17-19 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. {18} For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. {19} Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Until heaven and earth pass away shall the law remain until all be fulfilled.

PURPOSE: PURPOSE OF THE LAW: Man: knowledge of sin; guilty before God; need for savior - Jesus

Romans 3:19-20 "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. {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 law exposes sin, & law could never pay the price for man's sins.

Romans 7:7-8 "What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. {8} But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead." Law, which is perfect, exposes sin.

Galatians 3:19 "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Because of mans sin weakness or transgressions the laws showed sin & need of Jesus.

KEY VERSE: CHRISTIAN JEWISH BELIEVERS ARE ZEALOUS FOR THE LAW:

Acts 21:18-25 "And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. {19} And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. {20} And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: {21} And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. {22} What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. {23} Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; {24} Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. {25} As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication." The main New Testament scripture shown Paul also submitted to vow law & participated in observing.

Galatians 3:23-25 "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. {24} Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. {25} But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Law showed us our sins and the need for a savior Jesus to justify us.

WHO: God mainly by Bible authors Moses, Isaiah, Zechariah, Luke, and Paul

TO WHOM: Elected Christians and Fulfilled Jews or Hebrew Christians

WHAT: JEWISH BELIEVERS WHO MAY WANT TO KEEP THE LAW: Both Old Testament & New Testament shows Jewish believers practice law, but not for righteousness only Jewish custom

Genesis 17:10, 13-14 "This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. {13} He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. {14} And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant." This covenant is between God and Abraham and the Jewish people forever.

Exodus 4:24-25 "And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. {25} Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me." God would have kill Moses for not circumcising his child.

Acts 15:1-2, 5, 10-11 "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. {2} When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. {5} But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. {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? {11} But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." The first Jewish believers needed teaching.

Acts 16:1-3 "Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: {3} Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek."

To minister to Jews Timotheus, a Jew because his mother is Jewish, needed to be circumcised.

WHY: CHRISTIAN JEWISH BELIEVERS ARE ZEALOUS FOR THE LAW:

Acts 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." Prior to his trip to Jerusalem, Paul had submitted to the vow law.

WAY: HOW ARE CHRISTIAN JEWISH BELIEVERS SAVED: The Jewish believer trusts in the blood of Jesus for his righteousness. He may keep his cultural customs which are based on the Old Testament scriptures, but not make them law for others (Jew or Gentile) for righteousness.

Genesis 15:6 "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Jewish

believers are saved the same way as Gentile believers - faith or belief in God's completed work of righteousness reckon or charged to our account for our relationship with God. That of Jesus work.

Romans 4:3 "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." This is repeated in the New Testament also, since it is the same for both.

Romans 4:11 "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also" Abraham faith father

Romans 7:6 "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." Faith versus law

WHEREAS:

LAW ABOLISHED / DISANNULLED: Christians who love God & neighbor with all the heart.

2673. katargeo, kat-arg-eh'-o; from G2596 and G691; to be (render) entirely idle (useless), lit. or fig.:--abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void.

2 Corinthians 3:13-14 "And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: {14} But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ." In Christ believers have grace understanding.

Ephesians 2:15-16 "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; {16} And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:" For the believer, the law was completed by Jesus. Man trusting themselves is still under it.

2 Timothy 1:10 "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, & hath brought life & immortality to light through the gospel:" Eternal death

Disannulling - G115. athetesis, cancellation (lit. or fig.):--disannulling, put away.

Hebrews 7:18-19 "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. {19} For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God." Law could not make perfect, & only Jesus could accomplished that and His righteousness reckon or charged to the Christian account.

WHAT COMMANDMENTS HAS GOD KEPT IN EFFECT FOR THE CHRISTIANS?

Acts 15:28-29 "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; {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." General guideline to Christians Gentiles rather than just laws.

Colossians 2:13-17 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; {14} Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; {15} And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. {16} Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: {17} Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Not focus on the ceremonial laws but Jesus.

Colossians 2:20-3:2 "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, {21} (Touch not; taste not; handle not; {22} Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? {23} Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. {3:1} If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. {3:2} Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."Focus on Jesus & not laws one can not keep.

Hebrews 8:13-9:1 "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. {9:1} Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, & a worldly sanctuary." New covenant is one of love & Jesus death.

Hebrews 10:8-10 "Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; {9} Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. {10} By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Offerings of the Old Testament are replaced by the New Testament offering-Jesus.

WHERE: Earth

WHEN: All Times

WHILE: LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW:

JESUS LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW: Jesus came to fulfill God's laws by living His life to the law perfectly. Jesus death on the cross showed His great love for the Christians by taking their sins.

John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Greatest love is shown by Jesus in that He gave His life for His Christians friends.

Romans 5:6-8 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {7} For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. {8} But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Christ love was not based on good or evil but love toward sinners.

1 John 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Jesus love is shown by His acts to man.

LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW: Love is the way for Christians to fulfill the law.

Romans 13:8, 10 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. {10} Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Love God & man with all your heart, mind, might & love as you love yourselves.

Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." This would produce a right altitude

Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." Walk in love towards all man.

WANT: CONCLUSION: Focus on Jesus. Gentiles should not observe, but Jews may observe Jewish law.

The Jewish believer is not to make it law for all believers to perform the law or he puts himself under the law and not faith in Jesus righteousness. The Jewish believe can point to scriptures as to why he is doing it. He does not have to follow the Old Testament law, but is free to do so.

Romans 10:4-5 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. {5} For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them." Both Jew & Gentile Christians have Jesus righteousness reckon to them.

Galatians 5:2-4 "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. {3} For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. {4} Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." If you are circumcised to be justified by the law you are fallen from grace

1 Corinthians 7:17-20 "But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. {18} Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. {19} Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. {20} Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." Stay focused on Jesus righteousness not our own, & the Jew may observe Jewish law practices.

WAIT: END TIMES WORSHIP IN JEWISH WAYS:

Psalms 86:9-10 "All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. {10} For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone." All nations shall worship God in a Jerusalem in the name of Jesus.

Isaiah 66:18-23 "For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. {19} And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. {20} And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. {21} And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD. {22} For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. {23} And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD." Gentiles

Zechariah 8:20-23 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: {21} And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. {22} Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. {23} Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Gentiles believers shall come to Jerusalem & with Jewish believers come to temple.

Zechariah 14:16-17 "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. {17} And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain." Jewish believers will worship in Jerusalem three times a year & Gentile one time.

Revelation 15:3-4 "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. {4} Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest" Gentiles believers shall come to Jerusalem with Jewish believers come to worship Jesus.

PAPER OUTLINE:

I) LAW IN-EFFECT:

II) PURPOSE OF THE LAW:

CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS:

III) CHRISTIANS ARE NOT UNDER LAW FOR SALVATION:

IV) LAW ABOLISHED / DISANNULLED:

V) WHAT COMMANDMENTS HAS GOD KEPT IN EFFECT FOR THE CHRISTIANS?

JEWISH BELIEVERS:

VI) JEWISH BELIEVERS WHO MAY WANT TO KEEP THE LAW:

VII) CHRISTIAN JEWISH BELIEVERS ARE ZEALOUS FOR THE LAW:

VIII) HOW ARE CHRISTIAN JEWISH BELIEVERS SAVED:

IX) END TIMES WORSHIP IN JEWISH WAYS:

LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW:

X) JESUS LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW:

XI) LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW:

XII) CONCLUSION:

See my paper: "What Does God Really Want?" for more information on this subject.

See my paper: "Questions & Answers on Law, Faith, & Liberty" for more information on this subject.

I) LAW IN-EFFECT: Laws of God are perfect & because of mans weakness needed Jesus to fulfill.

II) PURPOSE OF THE LAW: Man: knowledge of sin; guilty before God; need for savior - Jesus

CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS:

III) CHRISTIANS ARE NOT UNDER LAW FOR SALVATION: Salvation is by faith in Jesus

See my paper: "True Gospel for Salvation by the Imputed Righteousness of Jesus" for more information on this subject.

See my paper: "Imputed/Reckoned/Counted Righteousness of Jesus" for more information on this subject.

See my paper: "What is a Born-Again & How to Become One?" for more information on this subject.

Romans 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. {17} For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Jesus imputed righteousness is given to those God gives the faith to believe & repentance for their sins.

IV) LAW ABOLISHED / DISANNULLED: Christians who love God & neighbor with all the heart.

Disannulling - G115. athetesis, cancellation (lit. or fig.):--disannulling, put away.

V) WHAT COMMANDMENTS HAS GOD KEPT IN EFFECT FOR THE CHRISTIANS?

See my paper: "Sermon on the Mount" for more information on this subject.

JEWISH BELIEVERS:

VI) JEWISH BELIEVERS WHO MAY WANT TO KEEP THE LAW: Both Old Testament & New Testament shows Jewish believers practice law, but not for righteousness only Jewish custom

To minister to Jews Timotheus, a Jew because his mother is Jewish, needed to be circumcised.

VII) CHRISTIAN JEWISH BELIEVERS ARE ZEALOUS FOR THE LAW:

VIII) HOW ARE CHRISTIAN JEWISH BELIEVERS SAVED: The Jewish believer trusts in the blood of Jesus for his righteousness. He may keep his cultural customs which are based on the Old Testament scriptures, but not make them law for others (Jew or Gentile) for righteousness.

See my paper: "Justification of Faith - Old Testament Doctrine" for more information on this subject.

See my paper: "Justification" for more information on this subject.

Genesis 15:6 "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."Jewish believers are saved the same way as Gentile believers - faith or belief in God's completed work of righteousness reckon or charged to our account for our relationship with God. That of Jesus work.

Romans 4:3 "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." This is repeated in the New Testament also, since it is the same for both.

Romans 7:6 "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." Faith versus law

IX) END TIMES WORSHIP IN JEWISH WAYS:

See my paper: "End Times Events - Day of the Lord" for more information on this subject.

LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW:

See my paper: "Love" for more information on this subject.

X) JESUS LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW: Jesus came to fulfill God's laws by living His life to the law perfectly. Jesus death on the cross showed His great love for the Christians by taking their sins.

John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Greatest love is shown by Jesus in that He gave His life for His Christians friends.

Romans 5:6-8 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

{7} For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. {8} But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Christ love was not based on good or evil but love toward sinners.

1 John 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Jesus love is shown by His acts to man.

XI) LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW: Love is the way for Christians to fulfill the law.

Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." This would produce a right altitude

Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." Walk in love towards all man.

XII) CONCLUSION: Focus on Jesus. Gentiles should not observe, but Jews may observe Jewish law.

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