Why can't most Christians understand that when Paul talked about the Law, he meant the Law of Moses only?

Question

Some believe that the end of the Law gives them license to do as they please as long as they profess a belief in Christ. Some go so far as to claim that Christians, who are no longer bound by the Law of Moses, are even under an obligation to behave contrary to the commands of the Law. (See Rom. 6:15.) Some believe that for Christians all laws and rules had been abolished. By distorting the scriptures, they are able to reject the demands of the Law without accepting the demands of the gospel. In the New Testament the epistles of James, Jude, 2 Peter, and 1 Corinthians deal in part with this error. James shows that belief without proper behavior and commitment is not enough for salvation. (See James 2.) The gospel does not destroy the Law, but is itself a new law which incorporates and fulfills the the old—a higher law certainly, but a law nonetheless, and one which must be obeyed.

Peter condemns those who distort the teachings of Paul, “in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” (2 Pet. 3:16.)

Answer 1

Maybe I don't understand your question fully, but I do believe that by grace alone we are saved, but we will only have that grace after we have obeyed the commandments and done all we can to serve the Lord.

I think it is in Luke or John? in the parable of the good samaritan that Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments.

If we don't keep the commandments (which require effort on our part), can we expect to find grace in the eyes of the Lord on judgement day? I don't think so.

Answer 2

Your statements about Christian beliefs and the law are new to me. I'm a Christian and everything I've ever heard or been taught concerning the law is to respect it. Christian belief in salvation is that it is all done through the work of Jesus and not by any works (obedience to law or anything else we do). That doesn't mean we disregard the law or disobey it or purposely act contrary to it. Maybe it's your misunderstanding of the Chrisitan faith. The law is still the measure by which we live an honorable life. But, because we as humans cannot 100% keep the law, we needed someone who could. Jesus shed His blood as a sacrifice for our sin debt to God for salvation. Only Christ lived a perfect, sinless life, so, He is the only One Who could make that sacrifice and be accepted as our Savior. Now, we do try to keep the law after salvation, simply because it tells us how to live a pleasing life for God, and it puts order in our lives, and gives us direction, and teaches us right and wrong, and so on. It is a good thing to follow the law for these reasons. But, it can not be the way to salvation simply because no one is able to never break the law...........except Christ.

Answer 3

You are mistaken.
In the Greek language "law" is referred to with the article (equivalent to the English "the") and without the article (also referred to as the anarthrous use of the word).
Whenever the article is used before the word "law" in the writings of Paul, the reference is to the law of Moses. However when the anarthrous word is used it is referring to law as a principle; that is law as a means by which righteousness, or right standing with God can be achieved. Very often the distinction is not maintained in English translations and the original Greek needs to be consulted. Paul clearly taught that the any attempt to become justified through the principle of law, that is, keeping any set of rules to attain righteousness before God was antithetical to the Gospel.
You are either saved by law - in which case you have earned your salvation; or you are saved by grace, as a free undeserved gift apart from works of law. If justification, or righteousness comes keeping a law, then Jesus Christ died for nothing.
NOTHING is more strongly emphasized in the teachings of Paul.

Answer 4

Paul is arguing that salvation could on no account be with the aid of works of the regulation because of the fact Genesis 15:6 says that, "Abraham believed God and it replaced into reckoned to Him as righteousness". The regulation replaced into given to Moses upon Mount Sinai 1000's of years later. So salvation replaced into on no account gained as a effect of retaining the regulation. It has consistently been with the aid of believing in the ensures of God, even inspite of the shown fact that they won't have been a completely sparkling presentation of gospel certainty on the time. the nice and snug button is they exercised faith in the ensures of God that have been given to them at that component. The upshot of all of it is this: Abraham replaced into not justified with the aid of the works of the regulation, and nor is absolutely everyone else. The regulation replaced into purely given to codify sin and to instruct us that we are all sinners who stand condemned earlier God.

Answer 5

well The way I explain it is: The law showed what is right and wrong and gave punishment for them. We do not stone people for adultery, but adultery is still wrong..ect.. Just because Jesus fulfilled the law doesn't mean that wrong is now right.. Many things in the New Testament are tougher.. Lust.. If you look at a woman in lust it is a sin..
Jesus took our punishment of the law, but he didn't make the sin to be correct..
The woman caught in adultery, she was not stoned, but she was told to "go and sin no more" in other words repent..
New Testament. Adultery is wrong and you won't be stoned, but you need to repent.
Homosexuality is wrong but we don't stone them now days.. They are told to repent of their sin..

Answer 6

The law serves as a mirror to show us our need of a Savior. But after receiving Jesus, we are given the Holy Spirit who guides us into all righteousness (if we walk by the spirit and not the flesh).

Answer 7

Because Paul never said he was speaking only of a portion of the law.

The new covenant was NEW ... not RECYCLED ... and the old law (not one jot or tittle of it) ever saved anyone.

The Church and God's grace constitute the authority of the new covenant, and CERTAINLY NOT ANY of the old laws, statutes, or ordinances.

Answer 8

levitical Law was referred to as The Law thus in the verses you refer thus your argument is moot The Law was fulfilled by Gods Grace--not another law

Answer 9

A tree grown from the seed of the gospel will produce fruit. If there is no fruit, there was no salvation to begin with. It's not a matter of needing works to "earn" salvation, but works prove salvation. That is what "faith without works is dead" really means.

Answer 10

I'm Christian, I know we must still follow the ten commandments.
I know it's more then believing in Christ. The devil believes in Christ, but he's not saved.
I think you've taken it out of context. You sound anti-christian. I never thought that just because I believed in Jesus that I could do what I want. It's probably just someone telling you that's what Christians think, but I don't.