Who is right—Paul, David, or are they both right?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
I took this to mean that I said salvation requires perfection, and of course it does not.
Well the law does require perfection. Hence the God-man Jesus Christ, fulfilling the law perfectly in our stead.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
My aim is not to argue with you or anyone, and I most certainly absolutely would not want to say anything about you that is not true. I am not speaking on this side about you at any time, I am speaking about scripture,

You asked Tararose if she would disagree with Blik who said we are to obey the law since the requirement is perfection.

I took this to mean that I said salvation requires perfection, and of course it does not. It requires faith. If you agree that I say it requires faith not perfection, then it is true that I completely misunderstood you.

Please, please we are speaking of scripture without judging people. Any accusing of others is completely out of line and just interferes with our search for the true God of scripture. If I have accused you of anything, please forgive me. I did not mean to.
Why is it you can not understand anyone?

did I mention salvation? No. so why did you mention salvation?

our conversation is the requirement of the law as given. Not salvation

yes we are talking about scripture. And you want to talk about Paul and moses

i told you what they both said about the law. Yet you refuse to talk about what they said.

so who is being insincere here madam?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
All the verses that tell us to repent of our sin. Also Matt. 5:48.

Scripture tells us to repent, that we lie if we say we are perfect, that obedience is not what God bases forgiveness on, that we are to be perfect, that we are made righteous only through Christ. All of these scripture are truth.

One poster tells us that if we repent of our sins so we want to be perfect, we are saying that we are, of our own doing, telling a lie for if we said that we would be lying. To say we repent of sin and want to be perfect is NOT stating that we have, of our own doing, made ourselves perfect.
Mathew 5 ? There is no one regenerated/ baptised into the body Christ, spiritually circumcised , sealed by the Holy Spirit ect in Mathew 5 . Not until Acts 2 .
 
Apr 21, 2021
72
11
8
David gave us the 119th psalm, it is 176 verses in praise of the law, yet Paul tells us the law is abolished. God would not abolish anything that He gave us that benefits us as David explains the benefits of the law for us, yet scripture plainly states God abolished law.

Can anyone explain this?
Sure.

They're both right.

They were both law-keepers.

As was Jesus to His very last breath.

As were ALL His disciples and ALL Christians for about 300 years thereafter.

I think you missed this in your 'Repentance/Salvation' thread, Blik:

S3RV4NT said:
Most Christians believe, because they are told incessantly, that the Law is expired and nobody should obey ALL of the 10 commandments anymore. It is widely held that Acts ch. 15 proves this, but ch. 21 of that very book proves that Paul always kept the Law.

"... (that) all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee (rumors against Paul), are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law."
(Acts 21:24) KJV

There is also proof in Acts 13:42-44 that Paul always observed the 4th Commandment Seventh Day Sabbath.

In Romans, Paul states: "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."
Both King David and Paul the Apostle were loyal to God's/Jesus' 10 Commandments.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
Sure.

They're both right.

They were both law-keepers.

As was Jesus to His very last breath.

As were ALL His disciples and ALL Christians for about 300 years thereafter.

I think you missed this in your 'Repentance/Salvation' thread, Blik:



Both King David and Paul the Apostle were loyal to God's/Jesus' 10 Commandments.
David may have loved the law, but I wouldn't call him a law keeper...adultery...plotting murder..covering up his murder, numbering his troops against the advice of his general etc.
Paul didn't fare much better acknowledging himself as the chief of sinners.
 
Apr 21, 2021
72
11
8
David may have loved the law, but I wouldn't call him a law keeper...adultery...plotting murder..covering up his murder, numbering his troops against the advice of his general etc.
Paul didn't fare much better acknowledging himself as the chief of sinners.
Well, ... everybody has sinned ...

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us."
(1 Jn. 1:8-10)

... and everybody does sin.

"For we all stumble in many things..."
(Jam. 3:2)

In order for it to be a stumble, we must first be striving to walk upright (righteously).

We cannot live in habitual sin and expect Jesus to continue to wipe up our continual/intentional mess.

When we strive for righteousness, obedience to God's/Jesus' Commands, He sees our heart's intention and He supports our efforts with His Holy Spirit - guiding and giving strength to live holy lives; just as Jesus did.

"He who says he abides in Him (Jesus Christ) ought himself also to walk just as He walked."
(1 Jn. 2:6)

Jesus was 100% sinless when He took His last breath on the Cross of Calvary. None of us are, but we CAN strive to imitate our beloved Master. Every servant goes where his Master goes in the end - if he is a true servant.

All that is needed to decide is ... Who is your Master, the World and the approval of man ... or God and His Son who lived a life of obscurity that culminated in persecution and suffering.

"Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
(1 Pet. 1-2)

ETA: Paul referred to himself as the chief of sinners in reference to his time before he was converted on the road to Damascus. Before that, he was an outright murderer. I'd say he made up for it by penning more books of the Bible than anybody else.
 
Apr 21, 2021
72
11
8
Another thing many don't acknowledge is that Jesus 'IS' God.

"In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."
(Jn. 1:1-4)

Therefore, Jesus' Commandments are God's Commandments.

"If you love me, keep my Commandments."
(Jn. 14:15 Jesus speaking)

"You are my friends if you do whatever I command you."
(Jn. 15:14 Jesus speaking)

When God "MADE" the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai, by physically writing in stone with His own finger ... TWICE, Jesus was the operative force behind that action. Not just present, but fully responsible for the giving of the Commandments.

So not only did Jesus "CREATE" the 10 Commandments, but Jesus instituted the Sabbath Day at Creation.

Jesus' Commandments are God's Commandments. He not only made it conceptually simple - 10 straight forward Commandments to live by - but He also made the incident itself extremely dramatic. Yes, writing them IN STONE ... TWICE !
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
5,075
1,279
113
So not only did Jesus "CREATE" the 10 Commandments, but Jesus instituted the Sabbath Day at Creation.
Nothing was "instituted". God rested that day but there is nothing about him telling anyone about it at the time. The first time people were told about the Sabbath was after they left Egypt. That's when it was first instituted.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
Well, ... everybody has sinned ...

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us."
(1 Jn. 1:8-10)

... and everybody does sin.

"For we all stumble in many things..."
(Jam. 3:2)

In order for it to be a stumble, we must first be striving to walk upright (righteously).

We cannot live in habitual sin and expect Jesus to continue to wipe up our continual/intentional mess.

When we strive for righteousness, obedience to God's/Jesus' Commands, He sees our heart's intention and He supports our efforts with His Holy Spirit - guiding and giving strength to live holy lives; just as Jesus did.

"He who says he abides in Him (Jesus Christ) ought himself also to walk just as He walked."
(1 Jn. 2:6)

Jesus was 100% sinless when He took His last breath on the Cross of Calvary. None of us are, but we CAN strive to imitate our beloved Master. Every servant goes where his Master goes in the end - if he is a true servant.

All that is needed to decide is ... Who is your Master, the World and the approval of man ... or God and His Son who lived a life of obscurity that culminated in persecution and suffering.

"Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
(1 Pet. 1-2)

ETA: Paul referred to himself as the chief of sinners in reference to his time before he was converted on the road to Damascus. Before that, he was an outright murderer. I'd say he made up for it by penning more books of the Bible than anybody else.
Oh, I thought you said, "
Both King David and Paul the Apostle were loyal to God's/Jesus' 10 Commandments." and "They were both law-keepers."

As far as Paul saying he was chief of sinners, it was three times he referenced it.

Each time revealing deeper awareness of his depravity. Something most of us Evangelicals could use a few more doses of.
 

Tararose

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2020
753
565
93
Uk
www.101christiansocialnetwork.com
Moses said perfection is required according to the law
Paul agreed. and stated plainly whoever is under the law is under a curse. Because no one is pefect
James said if we keep the whole law (perfect) Yet stumble in one area, we are guilty of the law (cursed)

do you agree with these three men?
Heb 10 14 For by one offering he hath (PAST TENSE) perfected for ever them that are sanctified

It appears you do not agree with this.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,623
13,868
113
You are saying if we follow scripture, we would not obey law. There is no scripture telling us to disobey the law, you are making a serious mistake to disagree with scripture.
The problem is quite simple:

You can't seem to comprehend that there is anything other than "obey the Law" and "disobey the Law".

Until you do comprehend that, you cannot understand the truth of the Christian's relationship with the Law.
 

Tararose

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2020
753
565
93
Uk
www.101christiansocialnetwork.com
I would like to clarify my stance as all this bit ting and bobbing, responding to posts and replies, can lead to the wrong impression or Misunderstandings.

I believe we are not under law - but are free to follow it if we are so convinced/convicted.

The one should not condemn the other.

Salvation does not depend on observing law - any more than it depends on someone not observing it.

JESUS is and always will be the perfection of believers.

As we are hidden in Him so He is our perfection.

Thus we are perfect, righteous, clean and so on already - IN CHRIST..
Observing the law is no hinderance to that, unless you
- trust in it to save you
- Act arrogantly towards those who do not concern themselves with law.

This Status of perfection is not attained nor earned By ourselves. Humans cannot be perfect on their own merits and efforts. However as much as we are justified, righteous etc, so to we can be perfect if that comes from Christ and we hide ourselves in Him and bear fruit for Jesus.
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
5,075
1,279
113
Heb 10 14 For by one offering he hath (PAST TENSE) perfected for ever them that are sanctified

Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Code: V-PPP-APM
Long: Verb - Present Passive Participle - Accusative Plural Masculine

The perfected part is what happened at the cross so it was past tense to this verse but the sanctifying is in the present tense because it was happening at the time of this verse. It continues to happen today.
 
Apr 21, 2021
72
11
8
Nothing was "instituted". God rested that day but there is nothing about him telling anyone about it at the time. The first time people were told about the Sabbath was after they left Egypt. That's when it was first instituted.
There are no verses there to prove He told anybody about the Sabbath at that time, you are correct. But why wouldn't He? It was a pretty big deal to Him.

And if you look in Exodus chapter 16, it is clear that the Commandments were already known before they were given at Mt. Sinai and written in stone in chapter 20.

"Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota everyday, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My Law or not. And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily."
(Exod. 16:4-5)

Now, we could debate this all night long, but it's pretty clear this was because the 7th Day Sabbath of Creation was the following day and they were not to gather on that day. This was a while before Mt. Sinai and the Official delivery of the 10 Commandments in chapter 20. One could say they had been taught this within the time frame just after the Exodus from Egypt, but it doesn't make a lot of sense that God would teach them His laws casually during that time period and then do so in a MAJORLY dramatic way at Mt. Sinai with entire MOUNTAIN ablaze and a booming God's voice that almost stopped hearts in chests, etc. I think it makes more sense that these laws, at least the Sabbath, had been known for quite some time and were reiterated at Mt. Sinai once and for all.

That's just what I get outta the scripture about it all.
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
5,075
1,279
113
There are no verses there to prove He told anybody about the Sabbath at that time, you are correct. But why wouldn't He? It was a pretty big deal to Him.
That's why. It was for Him. Mankind had fallen so why give them a Sabbath immediately? All the rules and details about man's Sabbath was only given near Sinai. Had it been given before that I am certain we would have all of those rules listed. It's pretty clear that Israel was learning of this new law right there in Exodus.
 
Apr 21, 2021
72
11
8
Oh, I thought you said, "
Both King David and Paul the Apostle were loyal to God's/Jesus' 10 Commandments." and "They were both law-keepers."

As far as Paul saying he was chief of sinners, it was three times he referenced it.

Each time revealing deeper awareness of his depravity. Something most of us Evangelicals could use a few more doses of.
I have a hard time believing Paul was a depraved 'sinner.' I also don't embrace the modern statement of Christians being 'sinners.'

Not only are there countless verses in scripture about how much God 'Hates' sinners, but to call oneself a sinner is to accept sin in your life. To completely embrace sin and give up on even trying to fight it.

The True Christian experience is about battle, spiritual battle. It's about self-denial and change. A Christian should be constantly changing, little by little to become more and more like Jesus and less like ourselves. That's why reading the Bible daily is so important. It's the power of God's Word that chips away at our worldly habits and mental stances over time.

Christians sin, yes. But to call oneself a sinner is, to me, to forfeit any separation/sanctification from sin which separates us from God.

I dunno, ... maybe I'm just too much of an idealist. I truly believe God desires that we be perfect and actually strive for that. It's ok to miss the mark if you continue to hold fast to the ideal and keep striving for it with all that you've got for the rest of your days upon the earth.

"... be imitators of God ..." (Eph. 5:1)
"... be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5:48)
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
5,075
1,279
113
I have a hard time believing Paul was a depraved 'sinner.'
1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.


Paul was not only a sinner, but said he was the chief or biggest sinner of all. That's because he had hunted Christians and had them killed.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
I have a hard time believing Paul was a depraved 'sinner.' I also don't embrace the modern statement of Christians being 'sinners.'

Not only are there countless verses in scripture about how much God 'Hates' sinners, but to call oneself a sinner is to accept sin in your life. To completely embrace sin and give up on even trying to fight it.

The True Christian experience is about battle, spiritual battle. It's about self-denial and change. A Christian should be constantly changing, little by little to become more and more like Jesus and less like ourselves. That's why reading the Bible daily is so important. It's the power of God's Word that chips away at our worldly habits and mental stances over time.

Christians sin, yes. But to call oneself a sinner is, to me, to forfeit any separation/sanctification from sin which separates us from God.

I dunno, ... maybe I'm just too much of an idealist. I truly believe God desires that we be perfect and actually strive for that. It's ok to miss the mark if you continue to hold fast to the ideal and keep striving for it with all that you've got for the rest of your days upon the earth.

"... be imitators of God ..." (Eph. 5:1)
"... be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5:48)
If we, as Christians (Paul included), compare our best works and efforts of righteousness next to the pure, unsullied, holy righteousness of Jesus Christ, we would have to cry out with Peter...

Luke 5:8 (KJV) When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

or with Isaiah....

Isaiah 6:5 (KJV) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.


Paul was not only a sinner, but said he was the chief or biggest sinner of all. That's because he had hunted Christians and had them killed.
Also because his righteousness was based on the law (which tends to proud boasting) and not based on faith in Christ ...

Philippians 3:9 (KJV) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: