This is a post adapted from a Facebook post at the JGIG Facebook page. Periodically, I do an ‘Exercise in Discernment’ post on the JGIG Facebook page, and since not everyone is on Facebook (shocking, I know, ha!), I’ve adapted the post here for reference. Edited and expanded with formatting and links for this venue.
Exercise in Discernment
(Pay special attention to the G2673 – katargeō portion; I had never seen this before! Very cool!)
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Rhonda, on another [Facebook] page, wrote,
“HRH, can you not understand Col 2:16-17? Verses 8,14,20,22, ‘…tradition of men, rudiments of the world, ordinances that was against us, commandments and doctrines of men…’ Do you know the difference between commandments of God and commandments of men?”
What was blotted out and nailed to the cross? What stood against us? Convicting us in the sight of God?
SIN. Law Keepers assert that Christ merely nailed human traditions (Rabbinic laws) added to the Law or just the curses in the Law to the Cross. Jesus accomplished so much more than that.
It was our sin and the Law that was nailed to the Cross, not just man’s additions to or the curses in the Law.
A Hebrew Christian friend of mine wrote this:
“The LOM [Law of Moses] did NOT die on the cross, Jesus did, and through HIS death on our behalf, all believers have DIED as well — The LOM is NOT dead, but WE are DEAD to IT (a crucial distinction) … It is our SINS which Jesus took upon His own head on the cross when He became SIN for us (He did NOT become the LOM) — I think that is a pivotal point to keep in the forefront of our thinking as we read this passage & others relating to it … WHAT is REMOVED in Col.2:11 ??? NOT the LOM (!!!) but our body of flesh, our body of dead works, our body of SIN … The decrees certified against us in verse 14 have been CANCELLED out and taken away (Because our Transgressions were forgiven, having been Nailed to the Cross in HIS Body) and the charges have been dropped against US since they were levied upon Jesus (in our stead) who PAID our DEBT BOND, He Himself being the Surety Forfeited because of our DEFAULT.”
Seeing that human traditions (commandments and doctrines of man) carry no authority to convict man in God’s sight and sin (transgression of God’s Law) does, it could not be just human traditions or only the curses in the Law that were nailed to the Cross.
That assertion simply fails in light of the facts and the context.
Once sin is washed away, the Law is done with us . . . it has led us to the Cross (Galatians 3) and there we become a New Creation! We are the very righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21)! We no longer have the same relationship with the Law as we did before the work of Christ in our lives!
Colossians 2:9-15
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having >>> canceled G1813 – exaleiphō <<< the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Ephesians 2:14-16
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having >>> abolished G2673 – katargeō <<< in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
The Law IS abolished for those IN CHRIST.
Christ IS the end of the Law for righteousness for all who believe (Romans 10:4)!
Oh My! I just checked this out . . . this is so cool . . . now it gets really interesting . . .
Romans 7:4-6
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been >>> delivered G2673 – katargeō <<< from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
G2673 – katargeō is translated as both ‘abolished’ in Eph. 2:15 and as ‘delivered’ in Rom. 7:6.
Here’s the definition:
1) to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative
a) to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency
b) to deprive of force, influence, power
2) to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish
a) to cease, to pass away, be done away
b) to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one
c) to terminate all intercourse with one
That’s talkin’ about the Law for those in Christ, folks!
The Law, for those in Christ, is these things:
➞ idle
➞ unemployed
➞ inactive (!!!)
➞ inoperative (!!!)
➞ to cause a person to have no further efficiency
➞ to deprive of force, influence, power (!!!)
➞ to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish (!!!)
➞ to cease, to pass away, be done away (!!!)
➞ to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one (!!!)
➞ to terminate all intercourse with one (!!!)
Rhonda also wrote,
“Rom 10:4 For Christ is the AIM of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
He showed us how it’s done! τέλος is the same word for end, aim, eternal, purpose. Isn’t it amazing how one little word can change the entire sentence? [Isn’t it though?!] You can go with ‘end’, but that will give you the translation that lawless ppl like the most. If you go with ‘aim’, it harmonizes with all of scripture. What translation do you prefer?”
I prefer the translation that is supported by both the original language (in this case, Greek) and by context.
Note this about Rhonda’s approach: She’s attempting to ‘harmonize’ a New Covenant Scripture by subjecting the New Covenant to the Old Covenant. The Scriptures are clear: The New Covenant is a better Covenant built on better promises (Hebrews chapters 4-10). We are NOT to subject the New to the Old! It’s folly to subject the superior to the inferior:
Hebrews 7:18-19
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
It brings another perspective to Galatians 5:4 where Paul says,
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
If they’re truly saved, it doesn’t mean that they’ve lost they’re salvation, but that they are making Christ of no effect to themselves in THIS life. They’re choosing to live by the Law instead of by Grace. They have fallen from Grace – from the higher reality in the New Covenant of Christ, to the shadows of the Old Covenant in Moses. Paul also says in Galatians 2:18:
For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Who makes who a transgressor? The one who goes back under the Law or God? When believers put *themselves* back under the Law, *they* are counting their transgressions against themselves.
In Christ, God isn’t counting their transgressions against them:
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
They FEEL all the condemnation and guilt that the Law brings, because that’s what the Law was designed to do, and they’ve put themselves back under it! But that’s in this life – if they are believers they have been made perfect forever in Christ – that does not change (Hebrews 10). Foolishness, even rooted in devotion or pride does not change the Work of Christ. Dear believer, if you have put yourself back under the Law, come back to Grace and to the ‘freedom for which Christ has made you free’!
Back to the Romans 10 passage with a bit of context:
Romans 10:1-4
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of >>> God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, <<< have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the >>> end G5056 – telos <<< of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
First, to deal with Christ as the end of the Law:
1) end
a) termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be (always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time)
b) the end
1) the last in any succession or series
2) eternal
c) that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue
d) the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose
2) toll, custom (i.e. indirect tax on goods)
End, in this case, simply means end.
End of the Law for those in Christ.
A simple translation for the linguist guys.
But the HRM has to take meaning ‘1d’ to try to force a meaning into the text. Even then, their attempt falls short, as the Law points to Christ:
>>>>>>>>>> . . . He . . . Christ . . . <<<<<<<<
. . . is the end (the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose) of the Law, not the Law is the end of Christ!
The Law points to Christ, Christ does not point to the Law!
For those in Christ, the Law is abolished, and those in Christ
are released from the Law, having died to it!
(Rom. 10:4, Rom. 7:1-6, Eph. 2, Col. 2)
The second point I wish to make here is that the righteousness that is in Christ – the righteousness we receive – is the very righteousness of God. God’s righteousness is the righteousness that is provided in Christ for all who believe! (Romans 5, 2 Corinthians 5)
The only ‘righteousness’ you could ever hope for through the Law is your own (‘and seeking to establish their own righteousness’, from Romans 10, above), and that would require your perfect obedience, all the time, zero mistakes, which is an impossibility.
God offers you HIS Righteousness!
In Christ!
By Grace!
Through Faith! (Ephesians 2)
Why?
To demonstrate God’s Righteousness! \o/
I hope this short study has helped you to sort out some of the common Scriptures that those in Law-keeping sects try to use to support the keeping of Old Covenant Law. As one digs deeper and really examines the language and context of the Scriptures, the simple Truths of the New Covenant become clearer and clearer – and Christ Jesus becomes more and more exalted, not only as our Sweet Saviour and Lord, but also as our Perfect High Priest, in Whom we can always do this:
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (from Hebrews 4)
Please also note that it is not through Law that we draw near to God, but by His Grace, faith in His Death and Resurrection, His Free Gifts of Righteousness and New Life, and His Perfect High Priesthood in the New Covenant, by which we draw near to God.
Grace and peace to you!
-JGIG
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Other articles of interest:
- Millennial Prophecy – Measuring Unrevealed Prophecies in Light of Revealed Truths
- Gateways into the Hebrew Roots Movement – An Examination of ‘Identity Crisis’ and Related Teachings of Jim Staley
- The Law of Christ – Defined and Defended
- Tzit Tzit For the Believer In Christ?
- 12 Undeniable Truths That Drive Law ‘Keepers’ Crazy
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If you or someone you know is in the HRM or a related Law-keeping sect and are questioning what you believe, a clear presentation of the Gospel can be found HERE. For more resources regarding the Hebrew Roots/Messianic movements see the Post Index and the Articles Page. General study helps, discernment, and apologetics sites can be found HERE. Good, foundational studies with a special emphasis on Old Covenant/New Covenant Truths can be found HERE. Be sure to check out the Testimonies Page, as well. Make use of the tabs with drop-down menus found at the top of this site – there’s tons of info there, and it’s very navigable. May God guide and bless you as you seek His Truth.
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Joyfully Growing in Grace 
A while back, I contemplated the Law as a contract. When you’ve entered into a working contract with anyone, there are two kinds, basically. One is a “work-done” contract, the other is an on-going wage. If I’m under the “work-done,” the contract doesn’t end until the work is finished, and I’m paid. In this sense, Christ finished the Law by completing its work. Contract over! Yet the sense of the other kind of contract is fulfilled as well. A wage-based contract exists for as long as I’m employed. If I’m fired or something else happens to me wherein my employment ends, so does my contract. When we accept Christ as savior, we have died with Him, and have been born again. So even if we were ever under the Law (speaking as a gentile), we certainly aren’t now.
Thus, indeed–kataergo, the Law has been rendered powerless over me, as surely as any contract would be when it no longer applies.
God’s commandments (or Laws) are not a contract that is subject to being cancelled. God’s laws never change, as He never changes. The only thing that changed when Christ died is that he paid the price for our judgement (which was death). Saved or Born Again Christians are no longer under judgement of the law, but that doesn’t mean the law has somehow gone away by Christ paying the price. If someone paid your traffic ticket, you no longer owe a penalty. But the law still stands for judgement against the unsaved or lost who do not obey the Law. Why is this so hard for some to understand?
When we accept Christ’s gift of redemption, we are forgiven that debt or penalty. The price was paid for OUR SINS, if we accept the gift. But according to PAUL THE APOSTLE, because grace abounds does that give us license to CONTINUE SINNING AND BREAK GOD’S COMMANDMENTS? God’s Laws still stand as even forgiven and born again Christians can be guilty of sinning. Although even guilty of sinning, we can rest assured that our sins are forgiven when we repent and ask forgiveness. As a Christian, have you ever lied, committed adultery, stolen or taken from others, worshipped idols, OR even harbor unforgiveness, etc etc.? Many Christians are guilty of breaking God’s laws, but their DEATH PENALTY HAS BEEN PAID. Their rewards might be few in Heaven though.
If God’s Law was nailed to the Cross when Christ died, God could NO LONGER weigh judgement against ANY sinner. And you know that there IS A DAY OF JUDGEMENT COMING when Christ returns to reign on earth according to Revelations. Jesus is coming back not as Savior but as JUDGE. His Laws are Everlasting and Never Changing.
Welcome to JGIG =o).
You wrote, “God’s Laws still stand as even forgiven and born again Christians can be guilty of sinning. Although even guilty of sinning, we can rest assured that our sins are forgiven when we repent and ask forgiveness.”
What has to happen for the forgiveness to occur? The shedding of blood. Did Christ already shed His Blood? Is He going to do it again? The letter to the Hebrews tells us clearly that no, He is not. What must we then conclude? That His Blood was enough to forgive all sins for all time. Forgiveness is not a progressive thing, where we access it as needed. We who are in Christ are forgiven. Period. We are cleansed of ALL unrighteousness, and if we sin, our sins are not counted against us (see Heb. 9 and 2 Cor. 5:18-19).
As for rewards, there is not much Scripture that talks about that. What it does talk about is living works vs. dead works. My *opinion* is that the reward we will receive in heaven will be those we helped lead to Christ or were a part of helping to lead to Christ. I can think of no greater reward than seeing the faces of those with whom I shared Jesus with Him in heaven! If one is focused on keeping all the thou shalt nots, since the Law stirs up sin, they’ll likely struggle more with sin than if they just choose to be led by the Spirit and bear His Fruit, Love, which puts their focus outward and sharing the Good News with those in their sphere of influence.
You wrote, “If God’s Law was nailed to the Cross when Christ died, God could NO LONGER weigh judgement against ANY sinner. And you know that there IS A DAY OF JUDGEMENT COMING when Christ returns to reign on earth according to Revelations. Jesus is coming back not as Savior but as JUDGE. His Laws are Everlasting and Never Changing.”
Actually, the only sin that will be judged at Christ’s return is the sin of unbelief. All other sin WAS dealt with at the Cross, and God is not counting men’s sins against them:
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (from 2 Cor. 5)
Those who receive God’s forgiveness already provided in Christ are then gifted His righteousness and New Life and are then sealed by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5, Eph. 1).
What happens when Christ returns?
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (from Heb. 9)
Sin has already been dealt with at the Cross. Christ will be sorting those who believe from those who do not believe in Him when He comes back.
Two excellent audio teachings that clarify these things can be found here (free downloads):
• The New Covenant Explained
• God’s Solution to Man’s Problem – Life!
You wrote, “Actually, the only sin that will be judged at Christ’s return is the sin of unbelief.”
Actually, scripture states otherwise will occur ^ on the day of judgement:
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his WORK shall be.” (Revelation 22:12)
And …
Matthew 12:36 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless WORD they SPEAK,”
Revelation 20:11-15 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HAD DONE. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, * according to what they had done. * Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Whose names are found in the Book of Life? Those who keep commandments well enough or those who are in Christ?
A really good article that addresses this point can be found here: Does God Use Correction Fluid?
You wrote: “Whose names are found in the Book of Life? Those who keep commandments well enough or those who are in Christ?”
Romans 6:19 shows that before Christ we were “slaves to lawLESSness” and now we are to be “slaves to righteousness.” In fact, Ephesians 2:10 says *why* we were saved by grace through faith – *for* a very specific purpose: “***For*** we are His workmanship, created IN Christ Jesus ***for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them***.” Don’t be afraid of the term “good works.” The Holy Spirit put that in the Bible in a positive light.
You didn’t answer the question.
Living works of the believer are those led by the Spirit, producing the Fruit of the Spirit. The Scriptures are clear: If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law (Gal. 5:18). Dead works are those of the Old Covenant, a covenant rendered obsolete by the Work of Christ. While it still stands to lead us to Christ, once it has done so, we die to the Law IN ORDER to be joined to Him Who has been raised from the dead SO THAT we may bear fruit unto God. Note that we MUST die to the Law IN ORDER to be joined to Christ and SO THAT we may bear fruit unto God. The Law **CANNOT** produce what is pleasing to God in us. What righteousness are we who are in Christ slaves to?
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (from Rom. 3)
You can read more about Whose righteousness we’re slaves to here: Hebrew Roots Movement – Man’s Righteousness or God’s Righteousness?
“….and if we sin, our sins are not counted against us.”
You need to read in 2 Corinthians 5 a little further up in verses 8-10:
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good OR BAD.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
What is it that Paul says we should be “laboring” about, so that “we may be accepted of him?” Every Christian knows that since we have been “bought” through the blood of Christ, we are now as slaves and run the race to bring in the harvest. All of our actions, even AFTER our salvation, will be held accountable before the Judgement Seat. I prefer to hear the words, “My good and faithful servant,” than to assume that being saved will release me from any responsibility of my actions AFTER SALVATION. A Christian who continues in disregarding God’s commandments and STILL SINS, is showing no TRUE REPENTANCE OR FRUIT OF THEIR SALVATION.
“IF YOU LOVE ME………”
Do believers have a license to sin? Yes, in a sense! Our salvation rests upon the redeeming work of Jesus Christ; and not upon our own self-righteousness. However, no believer has God’s permission to sin (or DISOBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS) and Hebrews 12:6-8 promises that God will chastise his children who do live in sin. No genuine believer can live in sin and truly be happy, because the Holy Spirit of God will convict. Nevertheless, our salvation is not conditional upon our works, good or bad. Salvation is the unconditional gift of God—paid for by Jesus’ precious redeeming blood (1st Peter 1:18,19).
Please recall the parable of the servants told by Christ in Matthew 25:14-30
OUR ACTIONS AFTER RECEIVING OUR SALVATION (or talent as given to His Servants in the parable) WILL HOLD MANY ACCOUNTABLE AT THE JUDGEMENT SEAT AS TO WHAT THEY DID AFTER SALVATION. Many will not enter God’s Kingdom who believe they should. Look at what happened to the third servant with the one talent, and also the five foolish virgins who were not prepared or were lazy and disobedient when the Bridegroom appeared. The door was SHUT and they were not allowed to enter! Also, the third servant was cast into outer darkness. These are NOT parables to the unbelievers, but to the BELIEVERS!! God has also told the Church that he wished they were hot or cold, but that by being lukewarm He would spew them out of His mouth. God wants ALL OR NOTHING from His Church, and that includes obeying His Commandments.
Will Christians’ sins be judged at the Judgement Seat of Christ, or will their works be judged?
What does the passage say?
You’re trying to interchange the two.
Has God dealt with the sins of the world?
Yes.
How many times did He deal with it?
Once.
Have your sins been judged?
Yes.
Where were they judged?
At the Cross.
What was the verdict?
Guilty.
What was the punishment?
Death.
Who took it?
Jesus.
How much of it?
All of it.
How much is left for you?
None.
You can hear more of the above in a teaching HERE: http://bobgeorge.net/?ddownload=1833
Will your works be self-righteous acts trying to keep yourself acceptable to God or will your works be judged as works of love and service to others to bring them to Christ?
Which works will be burned as wood, hay, and stubble, and which ones will stand the test of the fire?
Labor therefore, to enter into His Rest. A wonderful paradox \o/!
Romans 7:21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I DELIGHT in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. (from Rom. 7)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (from Rom. 8)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (from Gal. 5)
The Man Jesus Christ that walked the earth 2,000 years ago was God of the Old Testament in the likeness of human flesh!
The same God Who GAVE the commandments became flesh & kept them, referred to them, & told us to do them.
There is only 1 God. He does not have a split personality, commanding one thing one moment & condemning people for obeying the next.
We are saved by grace through faith – NOT by works. Nevertheless we KNOW that we have come to know Him if we keep His commandments. We keep His commandments because we LOVE Him.
You can’t just say you love Him. You must practice what you profess.
Blessings!
The commandments of God after the Cross:
23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (from 1 Jn. 3)
In Christ there is a New Covenant, superior to the Old, by which we draw near to God:
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. (from Heb. 7)
God’s commandments existed before Moses and still exists after Jesus (the Cross).
You wrote: “And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (from 1 Jn. 3)”
And if we are being led by the Spirit we will be keeping the law. The Spirit will NOT lead us to transgress the law.
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4)
But the laws given to Moses at Sinai for Israel did not yet exist. Cain, while suffering consequences for killing Abel, did not suffer the death penalty as he would have under the Law given at Sinai, for example.
And just as there were commands before Sinai and after Sinai, when one divides the Word correctly and by which side of the Cross on which they live and Who is the High Priest according to the oath made by God, it becomes very clear which commands apply – or don’t. 1 Jn. 3:4 does indeed say that sin is transgression of the law. John then goes on, in that same chapter, to define what God’s Law (Torah, Instructions) are on this side of the Cross:
23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.