But you haven't explained anything. He 'fulfilled the law'...Does that mean it's no longer applicable? Ive seen people say that my whole life but no one can explain what that actually means. It seems to be a bit of a NPC response whenever discussing an evangelicals ungodly and sinful ways like it covers them or something.
And im not sure about this exquisite detail you are referencing. If the details were so exquisite why the centuries long debates over its interpretation?
The exquisite detail I see are all of the scriptures that say you will be saved, blessed, and brought into fellowship...If you follow the commandments.
I'm not sure we disagree. I think the Ten Commandments are clearly still meant to be valid as are the Old Testament Teachings, that is what Christ meant when he said, "Law of the Prophets," meaning all the teachings of the Old Testament from God.
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law (Not my words, the title of the New Testament Passage from Matthew)
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to
fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until
all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- The fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham, Isaiah, and proclaimed by John the Baptist
- You must be better/holier/more faithful than the Pharisees who mostly did not practice what they preached
(Romans 3:27-31 is also very relevant.)
The New Testament obviously renders some parts of the Old Law obsolete
- blood sacrifice, the eating of certain foods, and basically kosher lifestyle and behavior, including circumcision.
Jesus Christ, apart from all the miracles and such, also did three brilliant things, as he said - 1 introduced God's new way of thought and action for mankind, 2 - presented the Old Testament in how it should apply to mankind in the new age, 3 - summarized much of the Law of the Prophets for clearer understanding
Quite the theological trifecta.
Thanks for the questions as well, it is good for shoring up Biblical knowledge. It is one thing to say, "Oh I know this!" and another to demonstrate the knowledge.
Cross reference:
2 Corinthians 3:4-6 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
To make it very, very simple while Christ "saved from sin and death," it does not mean that we should not do what is right and what God said he wanted, which Christ and his promised message through Paul and Peter go at lengths to reinforce.
