Tuesday: Paul and the Law
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law (Romans 3:31 NIV) . What law must Paul be talking about here?
In English translations of Paul’s letters, the word law appears about one hundred thirty times, and in the Acts of the Apostles, about twenty times. Paul endeavored to get his hearers and readers, regardless of cultural background, to understand that law carried several meanings, especially for Jews.
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Laws such as the Ten Commandments are in force for all people at all times. But other kinds of laws in the Old Testament and in Jewish culture, Paul did not consider in force for Christians.
In his writings, the apostle used the word law broadly in reference to rules for religious ceremonies, civil law, health laws, and purification laws. He wrote about being under the law (Rom. 3:19) and about being released from the law (Rom. 7:6) . He described a law of sin (Rom. 7:25) but also law [that] is holy (Rom. 7:12) . He mentioned law of Moses (1 Cor. 9:9) but also law of God (Rom. 7:25) . Confusing as these phrases may seem to non-Jews, for the Jewish believer brought up in the Hebrew culture, the context would make clear which law was meant.
Read Romans 13:8-10; Romans 2:21-24; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Ephesians 4:25, Ephesians 4:28; Ephesians 5:3; Ephesians 6:2. How do these verses help us to understand that God’s moral law, the Ten Commandments, was not nullified at the cross?
Paul realized that the ceremonial laws, detailing how one approached God through priesthood, Hebrew sanctuary, and sacrifices, ceased to be valid after the crucifixion. They had served their purpose in their time but were now no longer needed. (This point would become especially apparent after the destruction of the temple.)
With the moral law expressed by the Ten Commandments, however, matters are different. In his letters, Paul quotes some of the Ten Commandments and alludes to others as universal ethical demands on all people, Jewish as well as Gentile. Having written against the practice of sin, Paul would not in any way have diminished the very law that defines what sin is. That would make about as much sense as telling someone not to violate the speed limit while at the same time telling them the speed limit signs are no longer valid.
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Did Paul abolish the health laws in Romans 14:2 or elsewhere? Perhaps on account of the epistle to the Romans some among the remnant believe health laws are not on the same level as the Ten Commandments. So are they not?
SDA’s have long understood that knowingly eating pork, among other things is sin, given the commands of Leviticus 11 and scientific knowledge. If this is so it is a moral issue. Is it then a lesser sin than gossiping or coveting (Ten Commandments)? Are there different levels of morality attracting different levels of penalties or requiring different levels of atonement? (Romans 6:23; James 2:10).
On the other hand if health/natural laws are optional and are not connected to sin does it matter if one knowingly ingests poison, and die immediately, or a short time later or sometime later (years maybe) as long as they can show that they have kept the Ten commandments? (1 John 2:3-5)
In reality it is only a narrow view of the Ten Commandments which allows one to separate out health/natural laws and make them inequivalent; for they are covered under the first and sixth commandment (Exodus 20:3, 13).
Having no other gods includes loyalty and honoring God’s temple (the body) by caring for it according to the best knowledge one has, as opposed to pleasing self and indulging appetite (Genesis 2:16, 17; Philippians 3:18-20).
As well the sum of valid health laws amount to abstaining from destroying (killing) oneself (1 Corinthians 3:17). To this end intemperance is sin as Jesus noted (John 5:14).
How one works through the details depends on knowledge and understanding and the Spirit’s leading. Still it is better keep a law which is not mandatory intending to please God, than to please self first in measure and reserve the bare minimum with which to honor the Creator (Matthew 5:19, 20).
Much as I understand that Pork and those other foods are not good for ones health but I still struggle to convince someone to them being sinful. Anything including beef if taken in excess becomes dangerous to one health including shortening his/her life. This will then link to the 6th commandment.
I have not eaten Pork since becoming an Adventist because the church manual and regulations does not allow us to that and it is not healthy just like other fast foods. Some things I do not understand why but belief there is good reason for us not to do that as Jehovha has and the church itself is inspired of Gods wisdom.
Since Paul claimed that he received the gospel message directly from Christ(Gal1:11,12), I think if we consider how Christ Himself related to the Law, the Old or Mosaic Covenant, we can get insights into “Paul and the Law”.
Christ was born of the Spirit, a Son, SON OF GOD, under Law, “so that He might REDEEM those who were UNDER Law (held in bondage or custody under Law Gal 3:23) so that WE might receive the adoption as SONS. Because you are SONS, GOD has sent forth the SPIRIT of His SON into our hearts, crying, “Abba! FATHER!”. Therefore you are no longer a SLAVE, but a son, then an HEIR through GOD(Gal 4:1-8).
One of the contentious incidents in Christ’s life clarifies the relationship of the Law to sons and slaves in the house. Peter was asked if Christ would be paying the temple tax. Peter said “Yes”(Matt17:24-27). Jesus, however,affirmed that “SONS are FREE” v26. Because the temple is God the Father’s own house, the Son and those He has brought into the Father’s family (Matt 12:48-50) are exempt from the temple tax, signaling that, with the coming of the kingdom, believers are no longer under the OT law but the Law of Christ (Gal 6:2; Rom 8:2; 1Cor 9:21; James 2:12; 2Pt 3:2). However, He paid the tax to avoid causing offense(others to stumble). Kingdom freedoms are constrained by concern for others.
Christ told Israel that they were slaves,“slaves of sin”(Jn 8:34-36) and that “the slave does not remain in the HOUSE forever, the son does; so if the Son make you FREE you will be FREE indeed”. Christ is here identifying just who “Israel according to the flesh” is -the ISHMAEL antitype - who contended with the “Son of Promise”, “born of the Spirit”(ISSAC) [Gal 4:21-31). One born a slave, the other born FREE. Christ is the Isaac antitype. This was fulfilled in the contentious relationship between the Jews and Christ and His seed.The Law was not made for a righteous man but for SLAVES OF SIN (1TIM1:9-11; Dt 5:2-5)
Christ purposely touched the Leper. He didn’t have to. According to Law He should be unclean. But that Law did not apply to Him in any way. On the contrary He cleansed the leper and Christ commanded the leper to go perform the necessary requirements of the Law. The leper was obligated, subject to the law(UNDER LAW), NOT CHRIST. Christ was born of the Spirit and was LED by the Spirit, the same Spirit whom Christ, according to promise, sent to LEAD the NEW COVENANT church. He that is born of the Spirit is Spirit. He is spiritual not fleshly or earthly. Christ touched the dead and did not become unclean but raised the dead to life.
Why did Christ purposefully tell the Pool of Siloam’s impotent man to “Get up pick up your pallet and walk”?(Jn 5:8) Christ knew that would be breaking the Sabbath law. He answered the accusations: “My Father is working until now, and I am working”(Jn 5:17). “For this reason therefor the Jews were seeking the more to kill Him, because He not only was BREAKING the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God” v18.
According to the Sabbath Law, every one MUST CEASE their work on the Sabbath. Christ NEVER ceased His work. He broke their Sabbath every Sabbath. The synagogue officials didn’t object to Christ healing people but healing on Sabbath meant that Christ was continuing His work on Sabbath (Luke13:13,14).
God rested on the 7th day. GOD is SPIRIT. God’s rest is therefor SPIRITUAL! God gave to Israel the Sabbath. He said it was a memorial of their redemption from Egypt(Dt 5:15). One day of physical rest. God distinguished His Sabbath rest from Israel’s Sabbath rest - “I swore in My anger, truly they shall not enter into My rest”(Ps 95:11). God emphasized that the Old Covenant(Mosaic) was made with Israel of the flesh only, not with their Fathers or anyone else (Dt 5:3). The Law has only shadows of the future good things(Heb 10:1; Col 2:16,17). God’s eternal plan has Christ, His SON, as fulfilling every promise of His plan. “For as many are the promises of God, in Him(Christ) they are Yes, therefor also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us (Cor 1:19,20). So God’s promise of REST can only be fulfilled in Christ. So He declares “Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest....unto your souls”(Matt 11:26-29). As simply as that Christ introduces himself as the promised SABBATH! Read HEB 4.
Thanks for broadening my view on the moral law. In verity health and civil laws are also in the commandments.
I have a question, I don't understand what the Phrase "being under the law and being released from the law' means, anyone with help can intervene!
God is love and created us to be in a relationship with Him. The LORD created human beings perfect in His image and his desire is to restore us to be like him.
Some laws like the 10 commandants give us a short summary of the character of a person who has been restored others go into more detail.
Some laws like those about sacrifice and sanctuary are object lessons to show us how to restore our relationship with the LORD.
The Bible uses different ways to describe the fact that our character is no longer perfect and that our relationship with the LORD is broken, like lost/found, blind/see, sick/healed, dirty/clean, debt/paid.
And then there is the one you mention: which is the legal system or the law of the land: if you break the law you go to jail. you are under the law, you have been convicted, you have to serve your sentence, however if the Governor gives you a pardon then you get out of jail and don't have to serve your sentence and are free from that law.
It is important to remember that these are all just examples to help us understand that the LORD wants to restore our relationship with Him and to restore our character to be like Him.
Thanks Hugh for your comment,
The issue on Romans 14 is not eating healthier as instructed by health messages, its was a gray issue between Jews and Greeks who were converted.Jews held Mosaic instructions and Hellenic Jews held their former believes on eating flesh.paul is creating a conducive environment as he does in 1 Cor Chapter 3, 8-10.It has nothing to do with lev 11 and health message