The Mystery of the Ages Revealed!
Followers of the teachings of Herbert W Armstrong will recognize in this post the title of the book which elucidated the most comprehensive and succinct statement of those teachings. According to Armstrong, God had revealed to HIM seven mysteries from the Judeo-Christian canon which had eluded mankind's awareness for centuries: the true nature of God, the nature of angels and demons, the nature and destiny of humankind, the origins of our civilizations, the nature and purpose of Israel, the nature and identity of the Church, and the future scope and structure of God's Kingdom on this earth. Unfortunately, most of the perspectives provided in that book were deeply flawed and based on the faulty reasoning and understanding of its author.
More recently, Pastor Vance Stinson of the Church of God International delivered a sermon on "The Mystery of the Ages" in which he approached the subject from a slightly different perspective, but which resulted in many of the same conclusions which Herbert Armstrong reached about a Christian's obligation to obey parts of the Law of Moses. To his credit, at least Mr. Stinson appealed to Paul's usage of the term in his letter to the saints at Ephesus. Unfortunately, instead of following the scriptural evidence wherever it landed, he ended up twisting it to conform to the teachings about the Law which his church received from Herbert Armstrong!
At any rate, we will begin where he began and take another look at what is revealed in that passage and elsewhere in Scripture. Paul wrote: "For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel "good news". Of this gospel "good news", I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him." (Ephesians 3:1-12, ESV) What or who is this mystery of which he is speaking? Clearly, the mystery is that God is saving humankind through the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth!
Mr. Stinson interprets the passage as revealing that "The mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs," which is certainly a part of the message. Here, and elsewhere, Paul reveals that this salvation is available to both Jews and Gentiles. Nevertheless, the context clearly demonstrates that Jesus Christ is what has been revealed to them - that HE is the vehicle of humankind's salvation. Before leaving this particular passage, we should also note that the phrase "The mystery is...." was added by the translators of the English Standard Version - it does not appear in the King James Version. Moreover, the New Living Translation makes clearer that Paul was speaking about the entire plan of salvation (of which Christ was the focus). This is underscored by the eleventh verse of that translation: "This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:11, NLT)
That this was the mystery that Paul was discussing is made even clearer in the opening to this epistle, and in its conclusion. In the first chapter, we read: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." (Ephesians 1:3-10, ESV) Likewise, toward the end of the epistle, Paul asked the saints to pray "that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it." (Ephesians 6:19-10, ESV) Clearly, the mystery which Paul was speaking about is the plan to save humankind through Jesus!
Indeed, this is the mystery which Paul proclaimed in all of his epistles to the saints of the First Century. In the conclusion of his letter to the saints at Rome, he wrote: "Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." (Romans 16:25-27, ESV) Likewise, in one of his epistles to the saints of Corinth, he wrote: "When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you, I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. (I Corinthians 2:1-8, NLT) Also, in his letter to the saints of Colossae, he wrote: "I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:25-27, ESV)
Nevertheless, in his sermon, Pastor Stinson continued to insist that Christians are obligated to observe some of the tenets of Torah. Indeed, the Armstrongist practice of lifting a few passages out of context and using them as prooftexts was apparent throughout his message. His treatment of the second chapter of Paul's letter to the saints at Ephesus is a case in point. In addressing the Gentile Christians of this congregation, Paul wrote: "Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called 'uncircumcised heathens' by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us." (Ephesians 2:11-18, NLT) What had created this wall of hostility? Could it have anything to do with the fact that the Torah was given to Israel, and that made them very different from the Gentiles who surrounded them? Clearly, Paul thought that Christ had accomplished this by "ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations."
Even so, after reading the italicized portion of the above passage as part of his text, Mr. Stinson pointed to the different courts of the Temple: One for the Jews, one for the Israelites, and one for women. He then proceeded to associate this with the "wall of hostility" which existed between the two peoples (Jews and Gentiles). Wondering where he was going with this? Pastor Stinson asserts that the Law of Moses was intended for EVERYONE, both Jews and Gentiles. What? He proceeded to point out that some Gentiles worshipped the God of the Hebrews and were included in many of the provisions of Torah. To underscore his point, he quoted many of the passages from the Torah which include "the stranger who sojourneth among you." (like Exodus 12:49, Leviticus 16:29, 17:12, 18:26, 25:6, Numbers 15:15-16, etc.)
The problem with Mr. Stinson's thesis, of course, is that ALL of these instances involve aliens/Gentiles who were then residing within the boundaries of the Promised Land. In other words, the Law of Moses did NOT generally apply to the Gentile peoples of the earth! Indeed, over and over again (as I have pointed out many times), we read in Torah "Speak unto the children of Israel." In other words, there is absolutely no disputing the fact that the Law of Moses was addressed to the "children of Israel!" Now, sure, illegal immigrants to the United States are still subject to the laws of this nation, but there is no escaping the fact that those laws were designed and intended for the citizens of the United States - NOT them.
No, Armstrongites can try to twist and reason their way around the PLAIN TRUTH that God's plan to rescue humankind from sin and death through Jesus Christ is the "mystery of the Ages" which God has revealed to the ones "he" has called out of this present system! The truth remains undiminished that the Law of Moses was an iteration of God's Law intended for the people of Israel and embodied the tenets of God's Covenant with THEM! As Paul wrote long ago to the saints of Galatia about his confrontation with the Apostle Peter over this very question of Christian observance of the Law: "When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, 'Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions? You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.' But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So, I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die." (Galatians 2:14-21, NLT)
Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix
26 comments:
"Unfortunately, instead of following the scriptural evidence wherever it landed, he ended up twisting it to conform to the teachings about the Law which his church received from Herbert Armstrong!"
Oh Lonnie! That's rich, coming from you. You are the Twistmaster!
All I can think of while reading this is that the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, neither can be. Those outside simply cannot understand the plain truth, no matter how clearly it is delivered to them.
We take solace in knowing that one day it will all be made clear to them. I'm certain that a great many will accept it and ultimately be in The Kingdom of God.
https://godcannotbecontained.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-plainest-truth.html
Do the first commandment with promise. Oh wait! That's right out of the law of Moses! Eph 6:2.
Love for God and loving each other as you love yourself and treating others in the same way that you would like to be treated is consistent with the written commandments of Torah. For instance, honoring one's parents, not stealing from anyone, not being unfaithful, not murdering someone, etc. God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit expect their people to reflect the LOVE which they epitomize. Hence, while the specific commandment to honor one's father and mother, found in Torah, is no longer necessary, doing so is still consistent with God's expectations. Once again, we could say that about many of the commandments found in the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Miller:
Solid exposition. I have a few comments. What this section of Ephesians does is establish that there is an equivalency in salvation between Jews and Gentiles. Josephus wrote that there were signs in the Temple in Greek and Latin that warned Gentiles not to proceed beyond the outer court. Archaeologists have excavated these signs imprinted on limestone blocks.
The problem, of course, with the interpretation that this preacher used is that, focusing on Ephesians alone, there is no exegesis that establishes that the Jewish Christians at this time were observing the Law of Moses as a pathway to salvation. As you point out, the opposite is asserted in Ephesians. Paul states that Christ:
“…has broken down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances..”
The Jewish Annotated New Testament associates this passage with the Law of Moses. I do not think there is a reasonable exegesis that would confine this to the sacrifices and Tabernacle practices. So, arguing in such a way that the Law of Moses is presumed as a requirement indicates the Preacher is relying on background arguments that assert the Law of Moses as the pathway to salvation – likely the documented HWA/Meredith/Hoeh position.
I don’t want to be alarming but, as I have written before, the HWA/Meredith/Hoeh position essentially cancels salvation for members of Armstrongist denominations because they do not keep the Laws as HWA/Meredith/Hoeh prescribed. Meredith and Hoeh both published articles that are a part of the Armstrongist booklet theology that state that not only is the Decalogue to be kept but all the statues, judgements and laws (apparently any laws other than the Decalogue) should be kept because they are derived from the Decalogue. And nobody in the Armstrongist denominations does this. The lay membership better hope that this preacher is not right.
I think you and I may suffer from the same writing issue. I don't believe Armstrongists read anything of any length. This is because they have surrendered their capability to read and understand theology to their ministry.
Scout
True! Paul extensively taught that the law of Moses was nailed to the cross and New Testament Christians were not required to keep the Levitical law of Moses which consisted of Feast days and tithing to the Levitical priesthood. The Feast Day festivals were part of the added law given by Moses whereas the Ten Commandments were instituted at creation, not at Mt. Sinai. There were no feast day celebrations until many years after the creation. The laws of Moses were added because the Israelites disobeyed God’s laws (10 commandments).
The law, (Levitical laws of Moses), was a schoolmaster (Galatians 3:23-26) to teach the way of God and how He wanted them (Israel) to live, it was carnal commandments, (Hebrews 7:16), was a yoke of bondage, (Galatians 5:1), was against us, (Colossians 2:15), a shadow of good things to come, (Hebrews 10:1). The law spoken to by Moses, (Deuteronomy 1:3), written by Moses (Deuteronomy 31:24-26), was not good, (Ezekiel 20:25), made nothing perfect, (Hebrews 7:17-19), nailed to the cross, (Colossians 2:14), was added, (Galatians 3:19), CURSED are the ones that continue in the Law, (Galatians 3:9-12), why tempt ye God to put a yoke on the neck, (Acts 15:8-11), except ye be circumcised, (Acts 15:1), debtor to the whole law, (Galatians 5:2-3), justified by the law, ye have fallen from grace, (Galatians 5:4), was added because of transgressions, (Galatians 3:19).
It was the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 3:9) that captured the church of God at the advent of the Philadelphian era to introduce the damnable heresy (2 Peter 2:1) of keeping the law of Moses (Feast days), effectively denying the sacrifice of Christ who nailed this law to the cross. Peter correctly predicted that many would follow this pernicious way (2 Peter 2:2) as WCG had more than 100,000 baptized members at its zenith. All the splinters that came off WCG have continued to keep the law of Moses which Peter described as a covetous act supported by clever lies to make merchandise of God's flock (2 Peter 2:3).
G.D.
I am in agreement with you in principle. You have stated much in a few words. I do not know of a detailed history of the Synagogue of Satan, however. I have never researched it much. It is plausible that it refers to people who, though Gentile, appropriated a Jewish identity including a fascination with the Law of Moses. It is plausible because many of the early heresies involved belief in some form of the Law of Moses - the Gnosstics, the Ebioinites and the Colossians. The archetype heresy is the Circumcision Party that professed belief in Jesus but asserted that the Law of Moses, including circumcison, must be kept. HWA "rediscovered" a version of this after 18 and a half centuries.
Scout
"Hence, while the specific commandment to honor one's father and mother, found in Torah, is no longer necessary, doing so is still consistent with God's expectations."
====================
Lawless. Irony: ....the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless....1Tim 1:9.
Lonnie, why not invite Vance on stage for a friendly debate? Ian used to do that in Puerto Rico.
But, the more I think about it, it would be like Biden debating Trump. Yeah, you probably shouldnt.
GD 535
I'm surprised Scout is in agreement with you, seeing that your hodgepodge of scriptural quotations can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Plus, some quotes are complete mis-quotes, while others just do not say what you claim they say.
Your hostility against the law of Moses is noted, and I will not attempt to answer every objection, even though Paul's affirmation of said law in 1 Corinthians 9 explodes about half of your assumptions.
--The law of Moses was nailed to the cross? This is pure assumption. Colossians 2:14 does not say this.
-The Feasts were part of the added law? Scripture please!
--The law was not good? even though God says it is? Many study helps will properly explain Ezekiel 20:25. Even the Living Bible gets it right.
--Cursed are the ones who continue (?) in the law? You left out the word "not"! Big difference.
--The law is against us, Colossians 2:15? Wrong scripture. Btw, if you want to know what was blotted out, see Acts 3:19.
--The damnable heresy of keeping the feast days, which deny the sacrifice of Christ? You got all that from 2 Peter 2:1?
--The law of Moses made nothing perfect, Hebrews 7? The fact is, there is no law of any kind that makes one perfect. Even as justification by any law is a fall from grace, Gal.5:4.
--The advent of the Philadelphian era? I could be wrong but I didn't think Scout believed in church eras!
Scout is usually annoyed with prooftexting and cherry picking but I guess he's willing to overlook it if you're willing to join him in trashing God's law, which according to the Apostle to the Gentiles is " good if a man use it lawfully".
Vance and I have had public and private discussions about these issues, and I find him to be much more adept at debate than the current president.
The Epistles of Paul are only easy to understand if you can separate the context of the law. Paul clearly taught that the law of Moses (keeping of the Feast Days) was nailed to the cross but the law of God (Ten Commandments) was holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). In Paul's time, they fully understood the law of Moses was a shadow pointing to Christ and was fulfilled by Christ but the ten commandments were still to be kept. The key is to understand what exactly the law of Moses is, and scripture does not fall short of answering this fundamental question.
2 Chronicles 33:8 and Deuteronomy 31:24-26 clearly explain that the book of the law (of Moses) which was "against thee" was written by the hand of Moses, "...ordinances by the hand of Moses" (2 Chronicles 33:8) and was kept in the side of the ark of the covenant. The two tablets of stone of the Ten Commandments were kept inside the ark (2 Chronicles 5:10) and were written by the finger of God (Deuteronomy 9:10). Two different laws.
Colossians 2:14 says that the handwriting of ordinances was against us and was nailed to the cross. So it is the book of the law containing the handwriting of ordinances that was nailed to the cross. Let’s be more specific. What are these meat, drinks, holy days, new moons, and Sabbath days that Colossians 2:14 mentions?
2 Chronicles 8:13 – “ Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, [even] in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles".
This is not talking about the Ten Commandments of God. It is talking about the three Feasts in the year, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, and Feast of Tabernacles, these are the three that only male circumcised Israelites could keep, and these three Feasts contain all the elements we find in Colossians 2:16; Sabbath days, new moons, holy days. And with these three Feasts, you had to eat a certain way, you had to keep the Sabbath at the start of the Feast and at the end. This is not the seventh day Sabbath. These are the Feasts that were nailed to the cross which were a shadow pointing to the substance of reality which is Jesus Christ.
The purpose of the law of Moses (Feast days) was to bring sacrifices to God (Leviticus 23:37) that pointed to the real sacrifice of the lamb of God, Christ. Once Christ fulfilled the law of Moses, there was no need to continue to keep the shadow that pointed to Christ. Doing so is denying the sacrifice of Christ to return to the beggarly elements, "whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage" (Galatians 4:9)
BP8 7:11 wrote, “Scout is usually annoyed with prooftexting and cherry picking but I guess he's willing to overlook it if you're willing to join him in trashing God's law…”
You cite 1 Timothy 1:8 about using the law “lawfully.” I agree with Paul on that statement. There is an ethical value for some in trying to observe the letter of the Law of Moses. I am sure some early Christians in Jerusalem made such an attempt. But Paul says there is a pitfall here. Preoccupation with the Law of Moses can lead to losing sight of charity (agape, love) which is the object or goal (telos) of the commandment of Christ (see also verse 1). This is an effective critique of Armstrongism. In their apotheosis of the Law of Moses they have swerved aside into “vain jangling.”
There is an issue here with Paul’s writing. He uses “commandment” to refer to the Law of Christ (verses 1 and 5) and “law” to refer to the Law of Moses in verses 8 and 9. The distinction can be made semantically by noting that Paul makes the “law” conditional in verse 8. So to speak, he is saying, “Its OK if you use it in the right way.” Whereas, when he uses “commandment” in verse 5, it is not conditional. It is the standard from which the Law of Moses keepers may have swerved. Unless this is sorted out, what Paul states can be internally inconsistent like the Armstrongist view.
I am sorry you believe that I have trashed “God’s Law.” I should point out that God’s Law for me at this time is the Law of Christ. For you, it seems to be the Law of Moses which in the letter has been superseded. Like Paul, I believe there is ethical value in the Law of Moses and whatever is of value in the letter has been captured and carried forward into the Law of Christ. No offense meant, but what you have written about my viewpoint indicates that you have a very poor understanding of this.
Scout
;-)
GD 316
Your explanation sounds like the typical 7th day Adventist argument. I once believed like you, that there were categories of law that remained in force (the 10 c) and categories that were abolished (law of Moses). The problem was, I could no longer defend the concept. Why not? One thing is, like Scout and others, I believe the law to be a monolith, which is apparent in Scripture.
Several points prove this:
--The new covenant, where God says, "I will write my law(s) on their hearts", which is not only the 10 c. but also the statutes, judgements and ordinances
(See Jer 31, Ezekiel 11:19-20, 36:26-27).
We Christians now serve after the inward man the law in newness of spirit (Romans 7:6-7, 25) which includes the law of Moses and Feast days. (1 Corinthians 5:7-8, 9:7-11). Romans 8:4 says, " the righteous requirement of the law, the entire law, might be fulfilled in those who are walking after the spirit".
When the Messianic kingdom is restored at Christ's coming, the law will go forth out of Zion (Isaiah 2), which includes the Feast days (Zech.14) and other specific components of the law of Moses.
I think most on this site believe a version of this scenario, but we can't seem to agree on which designation to use for the law. Some prefer the law of Christ, which is fine, but for me, I'm content with the entire spectrum of scriptural language used, the law, God's law, law of Moses, etc.
Scout
The thing that irritates me about your viewpoint is that it's constantly evolving when it comes to Armstrongs version of the law. I was there for many years and I know what they "officially" taught, and many things you accuse them of are totally foreign to me. Sure, we all heard a lot of bull shit from the pulpit, and they were notorious for "binding heavy burdens", and " saying but doing not", but officially, I never heard or read the requirement where I had to shout unclean, unclean, for a case of acne!
Also, you always seem to work in the idea that one is advocating salvation by law keeping when they advance certain ideas different from yours. 99% of the time, they are not!
Good points Scout, as Armstrongism neglects the important matters of the Law. They are like pharisees.
Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith
We are on this program (The Law of Christ):
Galatians 6:1-3 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
BP8 9:00 wrote, "but officially, I never heard or read the requirement where I had to shout unclean, unclean, for a case of acne!"
No they never did. And that his not what I am saying. Read it carefully again. I am saying that those who observe the Law of Moses should have required that a case of acne be treated in this way. Armstrongists have never done this with acne or any other skin blemish as they have never done many things that pertain to the Law of Moses.
Because they say and do not do, they have worked themselves into a situation where their salvation is cancelled - if you believe HWA, Hoeh and Meredith.
Scout
Acne is not contagious.
Anonymous 5:10
The Law of Moses does not make the contagious/non-contagious distinction. We have imposed that on the scripture based on the modern undestanding of Germ Theory. I believe that the Law of Moses was concerned with ceremonial uncleanness. Anything that oozed from your skin could render you and those you touch to be unclean, including a little harmless acne.
Scout
I once believed the damnable heresy that was introduced to the church by HWA in 1936 of keeping the law of Moses but was shocked that the SDA was correct to reject this teaching. Your belief of the law to be a monolith is not apparent in Scripture. The law of Moses is not a moral institution but was only added when Israel left Egypt. Passover was instituted in Exodus so there is no moral obligation because the people before the Exodus did not keep the Feasts neither does the New Testament Christians.
Only the circumcised male of Israel kept the Feast and any foreigner had to be circumcised first to keep the Feast (Exodus 12:43-44). The restriction here is that you must be an Israelite, you must be circumcised, meaning male. These restrictions were never lifted in the NT. There is no text in all of the Bible that says these restrictions were lifted. So if you want to keep the Feasts then the restrictions still apply.
It’s also fascinating to note that in the Gospel of John, especially John when he talks about the Feasts taking place he would say the Feast of the Jews. The Sabbath is mentioned in the NT but it never says the Sabbath of the Jews because the Sabbath is a moral issue. It’s the fourth commandment given to all mankind but the Feasts were only given to the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 16:5-7 shows the Passover started with a family celebration then God changed it to a designated place which was the Temple. When Christ was twelve year old, He travelled with His family to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Passover according to His Custom (Luke 2:42). All the Feasts were now now kept at the Temple in Jerusalem by circumcised males and these restrictions were never lifted. After Paul was converted, he never went to Jerusalem for 3 years (Galatians 1:17), then 14 years (Galatians 2:1). Paul understood the liberty of Christ from bondage to keep the law of Moses. (Galatians 2:4). There was no need to keep the Feast days after Christ fulfilled the law of Moses.
If you have to keep the Feasts of Leviticus 23 (Law of Moses), then you need to be physically circumcised and keep the Feasts at a temple in Jerusalem otherwise, "cursed is every one that continues not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law [law of Moses] to do them'' (Galatians 3:10). It is only the law of Moses that was written in the book of law (Deuteronomy 31:24-26). This is the context of the next verse in Galatians, "But that no man is justified by the law [of Moses] in the sight of God [it is] evident: for, the just shall live by faith". Well, this is what is apparent in scripture!
The rest of Galatians chapter 3 makes it clear we ought not keep the law of Moses (the context of the entire chapter)
"Wherefore then [serveth] the law [of Moses]? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made... (Galatians 3:19).
"But before faith came, we were kept under the law shut up unto faith which would afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law [of Moses] was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER A SCHOOLMASTER. For you are all children of God by FAITH in Christ Jesus".
If you continue to keep the law of Moses, you are denying the sacrifice of Christ to, "turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage" (Galatians 4:9).
Anonymous 10:11 wrote, “All I can think of while reading this is that the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, neither can be. Those outside simply cannot understand the plain truth, no matter how clearly it is delivered to them.”
The writer of this statement struck an Armstrongist note in favor of keeping the Law of Moses. But, from the surrounding context of this scripture, Paul is not making a statement that advocates keeping the Law of Moses in the letter. In Chapter Seven, Paul does an extensive analysis that is summarized in this statement, “…we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code (or letter).”
As a follow-on in Romans 8:2 Paul states: “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” In 1 Corinthians 9:21, Paul describes himself as “not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ.” And in this statement he was talking to an audience of people who were “under the Law”, that is, Jews who were attempting to keep the Law of Moses. In Romans 8:7, Paul is speaking of the carnal (without the Holy Spirit) Israelites trying to keep the Law of Moses. And that this carnal mind was enmity against God and not subject to the Law. And Paul contrasts these people with those who are Christians and motivated by the Holy Spirit.
This can get to be a long statement so let me summarize. If you read Romans 8:7 and understand it to be an encouragement somehow to keep the Law of Moses, you are barking up the wrong tree. Paul is spending Chapter Seven and the first part of Chapter Eight explaining that the Christian condition is to be motivated by the Holy Spirit and keeping the Law of Christ as an antidote to being carnal and trying to keep the Law of Moses. And the Law of Christ is not the Law of Moses or he would not have made a sharp distinction between the two in 1 Corinthians 9:21. And the Law of Christ is compatible with the Law of Moses in moral/spiritual content but not in the letter.
Forgive the brevity but this is not a hip-pocket, sound bite exposition, especially for those who have been profoundly indoctrinated by Armstrongism. I can write longer but this is just orthodox Christian doctrine available in systematic theologies.
Scout
The Law of Christ and the Law of Moses would not be known without the letter - Rom 7:7.
Anonymous 9:42
I am not sure what you are getting at. If there is no letter there is no law. As Solomon said, you can't number something that is not there. But the letters themselves taken together form semantic meaning that can be interpeted in different ways , including in ways that are spiritual. The Law of Christ and the Law of Moses are both letter and spirit/morality. But in the case of the Law of Moses the letter has been in some cases vacated by the New Testament. But the spiritiual meaning may persist. Nobody needs to have their foreskin removed in order to receive salvation. But circumcision now is of the heart in the manifestation of love and kindness. The letter has been vacated but the spirit persists. Different aspects of the Law of Moses are dispositioned in different ways by the New Covenant.
The important matter is that a believer understand that their works of law-keeping are not a cause of salvation. The changed behavior is a product of salvation and not a cause.
Scout
Scout 100:15
Just when I was ready to close the book on this thread, you come up with a gem.
"But in the case of the law of Moses, the letter has been (in some cases) vacated by the NT. Different aspects of the law of Moses are dispositioned in different ways by the NC".
That's quite an acknowledgment.
You continue, " the important matter is that a believer understand that their works of law keeping are not a cause of salvation ". Amen to that!
" The changed BEHAVIOR is a product of salvation and not a cause" . . .which shows that the CHANGE takes place in us-- NOT the law!
This changed behavior is manifested by:
--a different relationship and standing, (dead to the law/ alive in Christ).
--a different service, (newness of spirit, worship in spirit and in truth, John 4:21-24).
--a different emphasis, a better covenant
(Character development, which is God writing his law on our hearts and minds, VERSUS rank bootstrap obedience, "all that the Lord has spoken, WE will do", Exodus 19:5-8).
--a different approach. (The New Man who delights in serving God's law, Romans 7:22,25, VERSUS the old man, who is " not subject to the law of God, neither can be", Romans 8:7).
This may not be your intended meaning, but it's my commentary on it.
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