You cant obey the law
Thats the point your missing
We need to work to be righteous, and breaking the law is sin, but we cant keep the law so why try to do what you cant do,
As I am sure you know, from chapter 40 through 48, Ezekiel is talking about the "Millennium". As that is future to us and this verse made me think, hum,
Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
Ezekiel 44:24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment and they shall judge it according to my judgments and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
I obey through the spirit. I obey through the law. I can follow the law, just
not perfectly, but all that "I can't do", I receive forgiveness for and hopefully I never do it again and when I don't do it again I am that much more like Christ. As Jesus walked like God told him to, I try to walk like it is written for me. I don't understand why you have such, a law or line in the sand or ???, instilled in you that you see it as
impossible to walk in love and obey in love at the same time.
I believe the disciples were called disciples because they were disciplined. That takes work and effort on my part. I already received the gift of salvation but when I stand before God, it isn't just going to be about "what He gave me". I myself, don't quit trying because "I can't do it perfect". If I did, I would do nothing at all.
I keep trying so that I may get as close to it as I can. It is what I
want, possibly need to do. Not something I have to do. And, when I get to God I want to
be better than I was when I took that first step. I know you do not understand, because you do it all through love, but I need my mind in "the game". I like knowing the rules and regulations.
I believe His "sayings" include commands, not just love. These are His words, Gods words. I can't separate the law from the love. I have to obey. My Dad and Mom gave me laws, thank God. I learned a ton and kept out of a lot of trouble because they enforced them. I don't think, My Father which art in heaven, who loves me enough to lay down His life for me, is that much different when it comes to rules. He was pretty strict with His Chosen people the first time. I don't think he threw up his hands and said, let'em just love me however, that is all they need to teach each other. I think you keep missing the part where it isn't just about us, but about where do we take it and how do we do that.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
We may be under a New Covenant, but I take clues from verses like this as to "What" God is about
Jeremiah 11:3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant
And I think to myself, man, they didn't even have the gift of the Comforter to help them along and
I do. They also had a much more "physical" law too. The love part is easy for me. And I think I can safely say, the law part is/has become the same. But it didn't start out that way. Is that all of the "spirit" ? I don't know. But I see progress, I feel progress. I obey gladly, cheerfully.
Romans 6:12
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
For me this says that I am not to let sin reign. If it was the spirit it would read "And the spirit will not let sin reign"
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
For me this says "do what is right". If it was only about the love it would say "the spirit will keep your members from unrighteousness"
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
For me this says I am not under the law of Moses that provided no forgiveness, but under the grace of God it does.
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Don't transgress the law, that is sin. I say I better know the law, and teach the law.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Obey God or not, your choice. To obey Him I must know what it is I am to obey. That is His law. Not the law of Moses, to be clear.
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that
form of doctrine which was delivered you
And that form is the written word which contains the commands to love God, love my neighbor, and obey commands, so that I don't sin, at least in those ways.
So I am not missing the point you are trying to make. I just have a different take.