Dear fellow Christian forumgoers,
Since I would like to introduce myself, let me state that I am committed to the Lord Jesus and to hearing and carefully listening to his Word dutifully spoken in worship. I am claimed in Baptism by the grace of God since 2002, and only by Scripture; only by faith in the Holy Bible do I know what the Lord says. I see myself as being primarily concerned with pleasing God, and Scripture tells us exactly the best ways to do that faithfully.
My favorite passage of the Bible is Romans 7:6, "But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit." (NLT, Tyndale House)
A Christian obeys the law, but not necessarily because the law does anything other than protect one from sin. This is not enough to please God, for his Holy Spirit is active and present, he is the Paraclete, the Advocate, and he knows that we cannot uphold the letter of the law.
However, according to Matthew 5:17-18 Christ tells us, "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved." (NLT, Tyndale House)
Clearly, Scripture is the perfect expression of God's law and it instructs us in our prayer, our domestic life, our worship, and every other important aspect of Christianity, even to the earliest days when subjects of Caesar paid taxes to Rome throughout the provinces, even Germania, Latium, and Israel. Not a single detail is lost in the oversight of Jesus, who alone is perfect in keeping the letter of the law, even by suffering a soldier's toss.
There is no sorrow in contemplating the Cross. The grace of God is freely given as a precious inheritance to those he has saved. And I know that I will protect my salvation.
Grace and peace,
Nils
Since I would like to introduce myself, let me state that I am committed to the Lord Jesus and to hearing and carefully listening to his Word dutifully spoken in worship. I am claimed in Baptism by the grace of God since 2002, and only by Scripture; only by faith in the Holy Bible do I know what the Lord says. I see myself as being primarily concerned with pleasing God, and Scripture tells us exactly the best ways to do that faithfully.
My favorite passage of the Bible is Romans 7:6, "But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit." (NLT, Tyndale House)
A Christian obeys the law, but not necessarily because the law does anything other than protect one from sin. This is not enough to please God, for his Holy Spirit is active and present, he is the Paraclete, the Advocate, and he knows that we cannot uphold the letter of the law.
However, according to Matthew 5:17-18 Christ tells us, "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved." (NLT, Tyndale House)
Clearly, Scripture is the perfect expression of God's law and it instructs us in our prayer, our domestic life, our worship, and every other important aspect of Christianity, even to the earliest days when subjects of Caesar paid taxes to Rome throughout the provinces, even Germania, Latium, and Israel. Not a single detail is lost in the oversight of Jesus, who alone is perfect in keeping the letter of the law, even by suffering a soldier's toss.
There is no sorrow in contemplating the Cross. The grace of God is freely given as a precious inheritance to those he has saved. And I know that I will protect my salvation.
Grace and peace,
Nils
