Terry wrote:
I am teaching nothing. I am giving my opinion.
I understand the humility here, Terry, and I don't want to split hairs on
this, but your opinion certainly can be taken to be teaching.
You can take it any way you want it, or you can take it as I intended it. I am always learning. I am not always teaching
Terry wrote:
I have no argument with what jesus said in chapter
five, but keep in mind that He was speaking to people
still under the law.
Not exactly right. Nobody under law is in the kingdom of heaven, and he is
speaking about those in the kingdom of heaven. I think we agree that
righteousness does not come from the law. Righteousness does not come from the law. The law can only condemn. Still those who were being spoken to were under the law, as all Jews were, including Jesus, until the moment that the veil in the temple was rent.
Terry wrote:
At that time, it had not been fulfilled.
And it is still not fulfilled. Jesus said that the law would continue until
heaven and earth passed away. Look again. Had the law not been fulfilled, one jot or tittle would not have passed away, but Christ fulfilled the law, morally, sacrificially, and legally. He is the only one who ever did, but it has been fulfilled, and for every one who trusts in Christ finished work, it is fullfilled. No born again belliever is under it today. Has heaven and earth passed away? No.
We are no longer UNDER law, but the law has not been done away. Important
distinction. Man's covenant under law is what has changed, not the law per
se. The law and grace are partners in the sense that they are both after
the same goal. The law points the way, but grace is the means by which we
get there.
Terry wrote:
He spoke of those who kept the least and those who did
not keep the least. He said nothing about those who were
not under the law, the Gentiles.
On the contrary, he said EVERYTHING about those who were not under law. The
entire message of Matthew 5 cannot be heard by anyone under law. It would
be too heavy and too grevious. Those under the law could not hear "thou
shalt not covet" and "thou shat not commit adultery." Do you think they
could now hear "thou shalt not call your brother a moran" and "thou shalt
not look to lust after women"?
Except for Jesus Christ himself, the greatest ones who were under law were
who? They were the scribes (scholars) and the Pharisees. And Jesus makes
it clear that he was not talking about them, because he said, "except your
righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,
ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Those under the law
were not in the kingdom of heaven. Not even John the Baptist.
Matthew 11:11-13
(11) Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not
risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in
the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
(12) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven
suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
(13) For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
People were indeed entering into the kingdom of God at the time when Jesus
taught Matthew 5. There were those present who were under law when he
taught, but his message was primarily for those who were getting out from
being under law and to being under Christ. Whether they understood this or
not, does not matter. This is what was happening.
Terry wrote:
Please explain what I have said that is contrary
to the teachings of Christ.
Terry, you wrote:
When God gave Moses the law, He knew that
it could not be kept. It was an impossible goal.
Something to strive for, but never attainable.
I see the command to be perfect in the same light.
We strive to be perfect. Some come closer than
others, but we all come short. It is an impossible
goal. God knows that. It is to show us our
shortcomings, our need for a Savior, who was
perfect and took our place.
Jesus teaches us to be perfect, and he also provides the way to do that.
You say that it is impossible. Paul teaches in the name of Jesus Christ:
1 Corinthians 10:13
(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but
God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are
able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be
able to bear it. God is not the problem. Temptation is not the problem. The flesh is the problem. He makes a way to escape. We do not always take advantage of that way. Jesus teaches:
Matthew 5:6
(6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled.
Yet your words controvert this, saying that it is impossible. Hungering and thirsting for righeousness is the thing to do, and if we try with all our heart, God, in His grace, will consider us righteous. Not because we have attained perfection, but because we want to be right with God as bad as we want food and water. I am not talking half hearted effort. I am saying that I and many others have tried to be flawless and none of us are there. If I must be flawless to be pleasing to God, I might as well give up now and go back to getting drunk, getting laid and getting in fights as was once my pattern, at least on Saturday nights. I no longer want that. I want to follow Christ, and I am going to continue to do that to the best of my ability, but though I follow Him, I am not yet like Him, and do not expect to be. There has only been one sinless man, and neither you or I are going to be the second.
Jesus commands people to "go and sin no more." He meant it. You say,
"sorry, but Jesus knew it was an impossible command." Furthermore, you cast
the teachings of Christ concerning perfection in the same light as the law.
You present the idea that the law and grace are no different in regards to
accomplishing righteousness within us. Under both covenants, you express
the idea that everyone falls short. Whether in Christ or not, nobody
actually walks in the righteousness that Christ walked in, according to your
opinion. You are quoting me correctly. We are considered righteous because of the finished work of Christ. Being considered righteous by God makes us righteous in His sight. Don't get the idea that you have achieved perfection. It is his consideration, not your ability to live a sinless life that will save you.
Have to go do some honeydoos. No time to consider what I have just
blurted out. Pick this apart and I'll get back later.
