June 18, 2013
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Between the Extremes
I am not Antinomian. I do not reject the proper application of Biblical, moral laws.
Antinomianism (Greek anti,"against"; nomos,"law") is the doctrine that faith in Christ frees the Christian from obligation to observe the moral law as set forth in the Old Testament. The insistence in the Epistles of St. Paul upon the inadequacy of the law to save, and upon salvation by faith without "works of the law" or "deeds of righteousness" (see Romans 3:20, 28; Ephesians 2:9; 2 Timothy 2:9; Titus 3:5) could easily be interpreted as a claim of freedom from all obligation to obey the moral law. Thus, righteous persons might well hold such a doctrine and behave in an exemplary way, not from compulsion but from a devotion higher than the law. (That describes me! Notice though, that the Holy Spirit dictates what shall be exemplary, not other people!)
The word antinomian comes from the Greek anti (against) and nomos (law), and refers to the doctrine that it is not necessary for Christians to preach and / or obey the moral law of the Scriptures. There have been several different justifications for this view down through the centuries.
Some have taught that once persons are justified by faith in Christ, they no longer have any obligation toward the moral law because Jesus has freed them from it. A variant of this first position is that since Christ has raised believers above the positive precepts of the law, they need to be obedient only to the immediate guidance of the Holy Spirit, who will keep them from sin. My personal position embraces that last one, but recognizes the need for believers to “grow up” into such maturity, ie. progressive sanctification. Paul speaks to "those of you who are spiritual," thus acknowledging that many are NOT "spiritual."
But neither am I a Legalist. I do not believe that every written instruction applies to every Christian in every circumstance! There are “mere babes” in Christ. And there are “still carnal” in Christ. And these do well to stay safely within the written moral codes of the New Testament Epistles.
However, I believe that Christians should “grow up,” building upon the foundational Laws of Christ:
1. Love God with all your heart, soul and strength.
2. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. (Treat others as you desire to be treated.)
And 3. Love your brother and sister as Christ has loved you! (Christ continuously sacrificed Himself for the greater good of you and me!)
Christians can only successfully “grow up,” by seeking and learning to be led personally and intimately by the Living Spirit of Jesus, growing progressively more "spiritual," and less and less "carnal" throughout our lives.
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Comments (11)
I don't believe we are subject to the Old Testament law... according to the fulfillment of it in Christ in the N.T. Love fulfilled the Law... hence it is the moral code and so long as love is at the core of our actions, the law is fulfilled.
I really enjoyed my study of the law. It was very interested and brought grace and love into a whole new level for me. I was surprised to find that not keeping the Sabbath was not a sin for me. Blew my mind. BUT, I was raised pretty strict and my denomination picked and chose various O.T. laws to apply.... bizarre now that i look back.
Great post =]
@xXrEMmUsXx - Jesus said the exact opposite, that the law will not change until heaven and earth disappear. Then paul (who never met jesus) came along after he died and invented the "the old laws no longer apply" theology. The problem of course is that don't murder, don't steal, the golden rule etc all come from the old testament. And that he was contradicting jesus and twisting jesus' asking the apostles to remember him when they eat and drink as invalidating the whole of scripture simply because he said it was a covenant (promise). If I ask you to promise something and you do, does that invalidate all promises ever made to anybody in the history of the world?
It's all just people making up what they want to believe and pretending it's not their opinion to avoid having to justify it when things go wrong.
@agnophilo - I totally disagree that Jesus said the exact opposite. got a scripture reference for that? I'll be looking it in a second.
The law was made to be fulfilled - THROUGH CHRIST. Old Testament is complete - period. All that remains is love.
@xXrEMmUsXx - “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-20)
The theology that jesus "fulfilled" the law by dying on the cross can only be accepted if you selectively ignore some of what he says.
Now you quote where he says him dying on the cross invalidates the old testament.
@agnophilo - well that didin't take long...
New American Standard Bible (©1995) matthew 5:18
"For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
- the Law is ACCOMPLISHED - fulfilled. It could not be dismissed and had to be completed - through the death of and resurrection of Christ.
New American Standard Bible (©1995) gal. 5:14
For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
Romans 13:8New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves ]"="">[a]his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Romans 10:14 (3 dif trans)
New Living Translation (©2007)
For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
English Standard Version (©2001)
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
@agnophilo - fulfilling is NOT invalidating but FINISHING that 'first' work.
The law was meant to teach us that we cannot keep it perfectly. If it was not completed there would be no room for a NEW COVENANT.
Hebrews 1-:16New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM," He then says,
Love is the centrality of who God is... what God is and why God is. Our hearts being made clean etc.. allowing love to change us... it is the purpose of the new covenant. If the law could have saved us, Christ would not have needed to die. period.
@agnophilo - it is interesting that we use the same scriptures in Mathew for different views... I use it to completely support my view and others use it to support their opposing view of the law...
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-20)
I think you know what fulfill, abolish, accomplish mean... so i'm not going to post a bunch of definitions...
We have to take into account that Christ was still walking the earth here before his death and resurrection... the law was in full effect. Also... only the Jews were subject to Jewish laws. That is a completely different study, but very related as far as me being a Gentile is concerned in regard to keeping O.T. laws.
@xXrEMmUsXx - Regarding all of your comments above responding to agnophilo, WELL SAID!!
@JerusalemHill - Thanks... this is one of my 'fresher' studies so I enjoy talking about it and making sure it stands as I understand it.
It would seems that you and I believe very similarly concerning the Law, the fulfillment thereof, and how we continue to carry it through today. Holland's ten Boom family brought many faithful Jews into the complete fulfillment of that faith (belief in Jesus Christ) by showing them that putting their trust in Christ does not abolish their Jewish heritage, but rather, does the opposite; it makes them a completed Jew by trusting in the Ultimate Jew. This DOES change the way we follow the Law! Not because it is abolished, but because we are following the Spirit, through Whom the Law is inevitably satisfied. The Spirit will guide one into a love for the Lord that transcends love for all else, a love for those around us that is beyond what we could accomplish on our own, and a love for others that is willing to sacrifice even unto death. Christ said that this sums up the Law and the prophets.
All of that being said, I would like to share with you what I have recently discovered. The book of Deuteronomy is amazing! There is so much in it that I never realized before! The entire Gospel of Jesus Christ is written right there in the OT book of the Law. People who say that God changed after He had a son, has clearly never read Deuteronomy!
I've been away, hence I'm late to thank you for your comment.