Posted by Kynes on October 08, 19101 at 12:52:00:
In Reply to: Re: God also condemns eating pork and women speaking in church posted by TJ on October 08, 19101 at 12:10:24:
I say Old Testament Law in greek sometimes, but my greek isn't that great, so I usually just say it in english. Or sometimes I make my computer say it like Stephen Hawking, all metallic and robotic sounding. That's kinda sweet too.
The essential problem with OT Law is that it couldn't be fulfilled by humans. The use for the law was to show that man(I'm using it as a generic term, like Bible translations use it, gender isn't really relevant here) was flawed and that sin prevented him/her from keeping it. Because of this, the sacrificial system was set up. God said that Israel could make sacrifices once a year to cover their sins. I'm not gonna go post a buncha scripture right here, because I'm presuming you know enough to not feel any need to debate the point.
The good news is (and good news is operative here, since that's what the Gospel means, the "good news") that someone came who could keep and fulfill the law, and by him others would have an opportunity to be saved. Jesus, of course, was this person, and through his sacrifice on a cross(a parallel to Jewish sacrifice) others could be made clean.
The Old Law can certainly condemn a person, but on that same note, a person does not have to fully satisfy the law, and indeed the Bible says humans cannot any longer be free from their sins, those which condemn them by the law, without the blood of Jesus.
Also, one thing to note is that while I say that you do not have to fulfill every word of the law, don't take that to mean that the law is something to just ignore completely. To the contrary, I think it is important to try to fulfill the law, but more important to know that where you have a shortcoming, Jesus can fill that gap.
Since I'm sure most of you knew the basics of the old law stuff, I'll just throw in the references to Jesus and the fulfillment of the law.
"Let it be known to you therefore, brethren, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him every one that believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. " - Acts 13:38-39
"For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, " - Romans 3:20-24
"Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. " - Romans 3:31
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!" - Romans 6:14-15
"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. But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit." - Romans 7:5-6