The old laws of the Old Testament are not good enough for the believer in Jesus. It's no longer good enough to simply "do not murder" but we are to not hate/dislike (after all, God is Love). No matter how often others try to say the gospel is a way of outward rules concerning days (sabbath) and foods, it does not cancel out the fact that every New Testament letter tells us differently. "One person esteems one day above another unto the Lord, and another esteems all days alike, unto the Lord." And meats, unlike Old Testament days, are now laced with antibiotics.
- The Jerusalem Council concluded the matter in Acts chapter 15, saying "it seemed good to us and the Holy Spirit" that gentiles do not need to follow the Laws of Moses to be saved, but are to follow the instructions (commands) of Jesus. [Acts 15:1-31] The ten commandments are fulfilled by Jesus living in us, not by outward observance of days and foods, etc. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, moderation, self control" etc. Fruit which grows by our having the boldness to have a close and ongoing friendship with God through Jesus and his sacrifice, the only sacrifice ever needed. "Love works no ill."
- The conclusion of the matter is this: New Testament believers are transformed from within, not from without. The new way works, and the old way doesn't. Rules, and do's and don'ts actually have a way of making the old man (the fallen man) stronger, and love, the fruit God desires, is usually strangled through frustration and, or pride, and is one of the things which very often repel people from believing.
- "Not of works, so that none, may boast."
- The Jerusalem Council concluded the matter in Acts chapter 15, saying "it seemed good to us and the Holy Spirit" that gentiles do not need to follow the Laws of Moses to be saved, but are to follow the instructions (commands) of Jesus. [Acts 15:1-31] The ten commandments are fulfilled by Jesus living in us, not by outward observance of days and foods, etc. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, moderation, self control" etc. Fruit which grows by our having the boldness to have a close and ongoing friendship with God through Jesus and his sacrifice, the only sacrifice ever needed. "Love works no ill."
- The conclusion of the matter is this: New Testament believers are transformed from within, not from without. The new way works, and the old way doesn't. Rules, and do's and don'ts actually have a way of making the old man (the fallen man) stronger, and love, the fruit God desires, is usually strangled through frustration and, or pride, and is one of the things which very often repel people from believing.
- "Not of works, so that none, may boast."
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