There is NO real difference between working at the law and works of the law.
One describes an action, working.
The other describes the noun, what they are, works of the law.
A person is working at the law and the result of that is works of the law.
But that is neither here nor there.
Paul doesn't separate the law into compartments and say "It is ok to work at this part but the Lord Jesus has abolished that Part".
The Lord Jesus Himself doesn't separate the law into compartments and say "I came to fulfill part of the law but the rest is on you".
So I would say this is your own construct and I suppose you must show how you came to this conclusion that the 10 commandments, sacrificing animals, and Moses instructions could be separated and abolished separately while some could still stand on their own.
I categorically disagree with that stance, btw, which I am sure you already know.... Which is the reason it is so difficult for us to have conversations on the bible and Christianity, imo. You have made Christianity about abolishing 2/3 of the law but continuing to work at the 10 commandments. IMO Christianity is ALL about our blessing in Christ and the WHOLE LAW, moses, sacrifices, and 10 c's are all finished for Christians.
My opinion is that it is only by the Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT that the 10 commandments are obeyed. Not by people who look back to the 10 commandments to work at them in their own understanding.
In other words, the 10 commandments aren't for Christians. The Holy Spirit is for Christians. And the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit will not cause us to be ashamed before God.
But peoples work at the 10 commandments WILL cause them to be ashamed before God.
I tried to say all this without being accusatory. I hope I succeded in showing my extreme disagreement with your premise without including any kind of offense to you personally, if that can be done.
No, I respect you not being accusatory or using labels this time around while still disagreeing.
But....
.....you did change/add points to what we agreed to discuss, which I thought we weren't going to do.
So I hope you don't mind me addressing the new points since you've made them?
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I think it's critical to note the difference between the phrase "working at the law" and "works of the law".
In the scripture we find the phrases:
- good works
- dead works
- works of the law
...but not the phrase "working at the law", which gives a different connotation.
Titus 2:14 (berean)[bracket mine]
[Christ] who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness and might purify to Himself a people specially chosen, zealous for good works.
We are told that Christ's purpose is to purify for himself a people ZEALOUS for good works. The word zealous means "passionate; fervent; devoted". So Christs purpose is to create people passionate, FEVERENT about doing good works.
But what are "good works" in this context? Well scripture explains that dead works are "sins"; acts that lead to death (Hebrew 6:1). So good works are the opposite of "sins". Notice Christ redeems from lawlessness.
The law was indeed first provided as a code separated into different categories/compartments.
Genesis 26:5
because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, (1) My commandments, (2) My statutes, and (3) My laws.”
Deuteronomy 6:1
Now these are (1) the commandments, (2) the statutes, and (3) the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
Leviticus 26:3
If you follow (1) My statutes and carefully keep (2) My commandments,
Exekiel 11:20
so that they may follow (1) My statutes, keep (2) My ordinances, and practice them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.
Another version will say "the commands, decrees, and laws". It's always been divided into categories/compartments, just like we have the legislative, executive and judicial sections of our laws and government.
One section of our law deals with how to operate day to day...
One section deals with how to handle crimes...
One section deals with how to handle disputes, etc.
The same is true for Yah's government. The commandments are how we are to operate, the judgments deal with our crime/sins (also involving the temple), the statutes deal with disputes, etc.
Again this is a government setup by the King. He's free to establish and then change sections of his law as necessary. And whatever he changes it to because the WHOLE LAW at that point. And as Hebrews explains he changed the law with regard to judgment (i.e. how to handle our crimes/sins).
Thanks for your respectfulness.