From: sheila-mcginty@geotec.net
Date: Thu Jul 24 2003 - 16:18:40 EDT
This reply is a little after the fact because I took quite a bit of time to
meditate on it. The law was given so that we would recognize our sinful ways
but it is only through the law that we get to heaven. [Note: I AM saved by
grace through Jesus Christ, not by works so that I cannot boast.] Jesus Christ
came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it (Matt 5:17). No one can satisfy the
law because everyone has sinned (1 John 1:8-10) but when we accept Jesus Christ
as our personal Savior, follow Him, and obey Him, we will be saved from the
consequences of our sin. This is true because Jesus, Who was without sin
(Hebrews 4:14-15), became sin to take away our sins (John 1:29) to free us from
the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
We have two streets to eternal life. One is by obeying every law and never
sinning, which is impossible. The other is through Jesus Christ. Because the
first is impossible, we know that Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth, and the
Life and no man will go to the Father except through Him. Everyone is judged
according to the law and must pay the penalty for breaking the law BUT, when we
accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, He has paid the price for us that was
demanded by the law by fulfilling the law so that do not have to pay the
price. That is grace. That is mercy that endures forever. That is God.
Sheila
Quoting richard@biblewheel.com:
> Hi Rich,
>
> In post http://www.calvin.edu/archive/asa/200307/0485.html you wrote:
>
> >If there are metaphysics, then the same Law gets you into heaven.
>
> This prompted me to ask for a clarification on your postition on the
> Law,
> since the statement that "law gets you into heaven" seems blatantly
> contradictory to the fundamental message of the Gospel.
>
> You responded in post
> http://www.calvin.edu/archive/asa/200307/0507.html,
> saying:
>
> >Yes, of course, the Law in and of itself gives nothing. Conforming to
> the
> Law gives life.
>
> This seems to suggest that Paul would make a distinction between "the
> Law"
> and "conforming to the Law." I find this difficult to understand in
> light of
> Romans 3.20:
>
> 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.
>
> It seems to me that Paul's reference to the "deeds of the law"
> corresponds
> exactly to your idea of "conforming to the law." Is this correct? And if
> so,
> does it not prove your point false?
>
> Also, we have the foundation of the Gospel to contend with. I speak of
> the
> general idea of Law versus Gospel, as seen for example in Rom 3.28:
>
> Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds
> of
> the law.
>
> And again in Rom 4.5
>
> But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
> ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
>
> Paul *contrasts* works of the Law with the Gospel of righteousness
> through
> faith. Your statement seems to be saying that the Law *IS* the Gospel.
> Could
> you clarify this for us?
>
> Now with regards to your explanation, you said:
>
> >The central demonstration of the technique of conforming to the Law
> was
> provided by Jesus who made the self sacrifice,
>
> Yes, self-sacrifice is taught as essential to the example given by
> Christ,
> as in I Peter 2.21:
>
> For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
> leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
>
> But I never thought of this as a *technique* of conforming to the law.
> Faith
> in God through Christ is the only way to heaven. Is this what you mean
> by
> "conformation to the Law?" If not, then it would seem that your argument
> has
> a fatal flaw. What I mean is that all the good works in the world, all
> the
> conformation to the law, will NEVER get you into heaven because the
> works of
> the Law can be done faithlessly by those who hate God and have no faith.
> The
> central issue is faith and the Bible consistently contrasts that with
> conformaty to the law. These are the issues that must be addressed if
> your
> argument is to advance amongst Gospel Christians.
>
> You also said:
>
> >The law does nothing without the self sacrifice.
>
> Actually the law seems very active apart from self-sacrifice. It is a
> Mirror
> (James 1) designed to expose our Sin (Romans 7). It brings sin to life
> and
> us to death, that all may be made guilty before God. The Biblical
> teaching
> seems supremely self-consistent with regards to the meaning and action
> of
> the Law and its relation to the Gospel, whereas your teaching seems to
> contradict both the letter and the spirit of Scripture on numerous
> points.
>
> I look forward to your response.
>
> B'Shem YHVH Tsidqenu,
>
> Richard Amiel McGough
> Discover the sevenfold symmetric perfection of the Holy Bible at
> http://www.BibleWheel.com
>
>
>
>
>
Sheila McGinty Wilson
sheila-mcginty@geotec.net
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