For those who don't think the Commandments apply anymore, but still call themselves Christians?

Question

What is the difference in saying God's will be done and God's laws be followed? Isn't one the same as another?

Answer 1

The Commandments, in the form that was readopted and readapted by the Catholic Church, certainly do apply ... but they do not apply the same way they did in old testament times.

In days of old, before Jesus Christ, if you broke one of the commandments, in even the slightest way, you broke them all, and you were condemned. Case closed.

Today, we use the commandments as a guide. Breaking them is still a sin, but all we need to do is apologize to God and repent, typically through the sacrament of reconciliation, and the condemnation is absolutely taken away, courtesy of Jesus, his grace, his church, his sacrament, and his priest.

This is what the Catholic church officially teaches on the matter:

Pius XII: Mystici Corporis, 29: "And first of all, by the death of our Redeemer, the New Testament took the place of the Old Law which had been abolished; then the Law of Christ together with its mysteries, enactments, institutions, and sacred rites was ratified for the whole world in the blood of Jesus Christ...but on the Gibbet of His death Jesus made void the Law with its decrees fastened the handwriting of the Old Testament to the Cross, establishing the New Testament in His blood shed for the whole human race. "To such an extent, then," says St. Leo the Great, speaking of the Cross of our Lord, "was there effected a transfer from the Law to the Gospel, from the Synagogue to the Church, from the many sacrifices to one Victim, that, as Our Lord expired, that mystical veil which shut off the innermost part of the temple and its sacred secret was rent violently from top to bottom."
30: "On the Cross then the Old Law died, soon to be buried and to be a bearer of death, in order to give way to the New Testament of which Christ had chosen the Apostles as qualified ministers"
Council of Trent, ch 1, 793: "but not even the Jews by the very letter of the law of Moses were able to be liberated or to rise therefrom"
Council of Trent, Session 6, ch 2: "that He might both redeem the Jews, who were under the Law"
Council of Trent, Canon 1: "If anyone shall say that man can be justified before God by his own works which are done through his own natural powers, or through the teaching of the Law...let him be anathema."
Council of Florence, DS 695: "There are seven sacraments of the new Law: namely, baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, extreme unction, orders, and matrimony, which differ a great deal from the sacraments of the Old Law. For those of the Old Law did not effect grace, but only pronounced that it should be given through the passion of Christ; these sacraments of ours contain grace, and confer it upon those who receive them worthily."
Council of Florence, DS 712: "It firmly believes, professes, and teaches that the matter pertaining to the law of the Old Testament, of the Mosiac law, which are divided into ceremonies, sacred rites, sacrifices, and sacraments, because they were established to signify something in the future, although they were suited to the divine worship at that time, after our Lord's coming had been signified by them, ceased, and the sacraments of the New Testament began; and that whoever, even after the passion, placed hope in these matters of the law and submitted himself to them as necessary for salvation, as if faith in Christ could not save without them, sinned mortally."
"All, therefore, who after that time observe circumcision and the Sabbath and the other requirements of the law, it declares alien to the Christian faith and not in the least fit to participate in eternal salvation, unless someday they recover from these errors. Therefore, it commands all who glory in the name of Christian, at whatever time, before or after baptism' to cease entirely from circumcision, since, whether or not one places hope in it, it cannot be observed at all without the loss of eternal salvation."
Pope Benedict XIV, Ex Quo Primum, #59: "However they are not attempting to observe the precepts of the old Law, which as everyone knows have been revoked by the coming of Christ."
Pope Benedict XIV, Ex Quo Primum, #61: "The first consideration is that the ceremonies of the Mosaic law were abrogated by the coming of Christ and they can no longer be observed without sin after the promulgation of the Gospel."
Pius VI, DS 1519-1520 (condemned the following): "Likewise, the doctrine which adds that under the Law man 'became a prevaricator, since he was powerless to observe it, not indeed by the fault of the Law, which was most sacred, but by the guilt of man, who, under the Law, without grace, became more and more a prevaricator'; and it further adds, 'that the Law, if it did not heal the heart of man, brought it about that he would recognize his evil, and, being convinced of his weakness, would desire the grace of a mediator'; in this part it generally intimates that man became a prevaricator through the nonobservance of the Law which he was powerless to observe, as if 'He who is just could command something impossible, or He who is pious would be likely to condemn man for that which he could not avoid' (from St. Caesarius Serm. 73, in append., St. Augustine, Serm. 273, edit. Maurin; from St. August., De nat, et "rat., e. 43; De "rat. et lib. arb., e. 16, Enarr. in psalm. 56, n. I),-- false scandalous, impious, condemned in Baius (see n. 1504).
1520 20. "In that part in which it is to be understood that man, while under the Law and without grace, could conceive a desire for the grace of a Mediator related to the salvation promised through Christ, as if 'grace itself does not effect that He be invoked by us' (from Conc. Araus. II, can. 3 [v.n. 176]),-- the proposition as it stands, deceitful, suspect, favorable to the Semipelagian heresy.

Answer 2

Christians believe that the Law is a mirror to show them how they sin. The Law is much more then the ten commandments but most Christians just stick to those. But they also believe that no one can uphold the Law and that only believing in Jesus can save them.

There are Christians, some right here, that say that there is no use for the Old Testament. They claim it is 'old' for a reason and they have no need to follow anything in it.

Unfortunately they are missing the part where G-d tells us that he is unchanging. Which means both his covenants and laws are unchanging. What was offensive to G-d before Jesus is still offensive now. The guidlines to life aren't going to change.

To Jews, G-d's will is the Law. To follow the Law and make it your life's breath is in reality doing G-d's will. There is no difference for them. To Christian's G-d's will has changed, that it is his will that they believe Jesus has freed them. They are not bound by the formality of ritual anymore.

Answer 3

It depends on whether you are speaking of the commandments of the old covenant or the commandments of the new covenant. When God made the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the covenant that some believe culminated in the giving of the law to Moses on Mt. Sinai, the fulfillment of that law meant following the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, as well as the other laws of the Torah, as close to perfectly as possible. However, when Jesus as the Christ was asked about the commandments, he is said to have replied that the greatest commandment is: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. Now, some people believe that the laws of both covenants essentially imply the same thing. Some, like Messianic Jews, try to live in both covenants. Some people use the new covenant as a guideline, and some people, whether they claim any religion or not, just act like pigs. I suppose it depends on one's perspective, but personally, I believe that the Decalogue should still apply, and I am a postmodern Christian.

Answer 4

According to scripture there were two laws of God. The law of Moses in the Old Testament which demanded to be followed very strictly and was for the Hebrews/Jews only.

These laws and commands included animal sacrifice which if the ten commandments are still to be obeyed, then all the commandments including animal sacrifices and the stoning of those who were required to die by stoning by breaking certain commandments. See the story of Jesus and the woman who was caught in the act of adultery. The Old Testament Law required she be stoned to death. The Jewish leaders were trying to trap Jesus because they knew he preached forgiveness and compassion and in the Law there is no forgiveness or compassion, only strict obedience.

The second law is the law of Christ. Christ fulfilled the law of moses and animal sacrifices and the other strict laws were fulfilled. Christ reinstated the laws such as we should not commit adultery, but without the death penalties or animal sacrifices. People today wanting to obey the Old Testament are usually not Jews by oath or blood and do not understand what all is included in these. They think the simple 10 commandments were it, but they need to buckle down and do some serious study on the subject.

BB

Answer 5

Not technically,

The ten commandments were specifically made for the Israelites to follow. If and when they broke a commandment, they were required to offer a sacrifice to be forgiven. When Jesus Christ came and died on the Cross, he was the ultimate sacrifice, and because he died on the Cross, you are no longer required to follow, nor will you be saved or forgiven for following the ten commandments. Only through accepting Christ as your personal savior can you be saved. In fact Jesus himself states in the Bible that if you don't believe and accept him, God will not accept or know you. It is a good example and way to live, but it does not apply as far as salvation.

Reference -
Romans Chapter 10 Verse 1 through 4
Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 15 & 16
Galatians Chapter 3 Verse 25
Acts Chapter 4, Verse 8 through 12
John Chapter 14 Verse 6 & 7

Answer 6

Dear, I am not answering the question. I am simply stating my 100% belief that there is no difference in the two . I believe GODS laws were given to Moses for us all to abide by. The Lord is the same yesterday today and tomorrow. Those laws still apply in GODS eyes. They are a very important role in our final fate. If of course if they werent they wouldnt be mentioned in the last book of the Bible...

Answer 7

There is no difference. If God's will is done God's laws in and of themselves have been followed. The laws are only a subset of his will. Good luck on what ever you are trying to do.
BTW I don't think anyone can call them-self a Christian only someone else, namely. a non-follower of Jesus can make that assertion about someone. So, I don't call myself a Christian, but I was interested in the main part of your questions regarding God's laws and how they fit into his ultimate will and some people's hope in its accomplishment.

Answer 8

They need to read and study the book of Romans. The book as a whole spells it out.

Here is just one part of it...

Romans 6:1-2
"What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

Although the Bible does confirm it, a real relationship with God is the most powerful thing. There are so many questions and debates over what is right and wrong? Is this or that sin? Of course those are all good questions and all. But when a person really gets to know the person Jesus...the more they know Him, the more they fall in love with Him....the more they fall in love with Him, the more they become like Him. They begin to just naturally hate sin, and they don't want to do it. They become heartbroken over their own sin and sin in general and it's just not fun or desireable anymore. They no longer desire sin, but rather "hunger and thirst for righteousness." (Rom 8:5 and also Matt. 5:6)

Anyway, I'm jumping ahead.

But going back to the question, to make a long story short, there are sadly many people, and many Christians who do not know or understand Christ like that. In that case the whole concepts of law and grace are difficult to understand.

Romans is still the best place to read about all of that because it explains it so well. But just keep in mind there is alot more behind the words.

If it is hard for you to understand, ask God for wisdom and He will give it.

James 1:5
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Many blessings.

Answer 9

God is sovereighn and His will cannot be thwarted (Job 42:1) so He always accomplishes His purpose. He gives us a choice to obey His commands where we will receive the blessings of obedience or disobey and recieve our due punishment. Jesus summed up all the commandments by saying "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as you love yourself" Luke 10:27
If you do these things, you will fulfill the entire Law!
Yes, we must still follow and obey the commands of the O.T.

Answer 10

God's will for you is in addition to the "laws" which are different than The "Ten" Commandments.

Striving to do God's Will for you is much ,much, more difficult than just following the "rule book"

Answer 11

"No slander against Luther has ever long gone unanswered. because of the fact the fees against Luther have become stereotyped, so the rejoinder can not wish to hold forward any new information. in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it form of feels needed that each and every era in the Church Militant be placed for the duration of the previous drills, and learn its fruitful classes of non secular adversity. to that end even those polemical exchanges between Catholics and Protestants grow to be advantages in cover. yet they do no longer influence Luther. The elegant parent of the brave confessor of Christ that has stood towering in the annals of the Christian Church for 4 hundred years stands unshaken, silent, and grand, in spite of the foam it is dashed against its base and the lightning from indignant clouds that strikes its good."