If the law was abolished how do you explain what Paul wrote in Romans 13:8-10?
Romans 13:8-10: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.
2009-09-26T18:21:20Z
@ Radiant, thanks for your answer but this is an open forum where people should be allowed to express their ideas without receiving rude and condescending remarks. Do not worry about my understanding.
Ernest S2009-09-26T17:58:55Z
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The Law has not been abolished but it has been fulfilled by and in Christ.
Those in Christ who live and walk after His Spirit have His life which fulfilled the Law. As they are obedient to Him, as they live His life so they must fulfil the Law.
By Law what is meant is the whole Jewish system of rules in fine detail to carry out to "do righteous deeds" so to speak. I.e the idea that you have to do that to get right with God. In particular the Jewish Law had many finicky rules, and the rabbis at that time were adding in many even more finicky rules. eg In modern Tel Aviv an orthodox Jew is not allowed to use a lift on the sabbath as this is "work" on the day of rest, and is only allowed to walk a certain distance for the same reason etc.
That is different from having a loving direction, and then following various rules, including those commended by someone such as St Paul. Our salvation is won. We don't have to do the rules to be saved, but we are instructed to do what is right, which can include also sort of rules as a result of being in the grace state.
Because there are three sets of laws in the old testament. One is the moral code, the second the civil law, and the third the ceremonial law. The moral code remains, as the writer describes to the Romans. The ceremonial law of purity is abolished, having been abrogated in favor of the new covenant. The civil code was that body of laws enacted by the ancient Jewish judges. We have a new set of judges, and they are found in the Church.
If you would like to know more you should read the rest of the book of Romans.
The issue is about "fulfilling" the law through love as contrasted to "keeping" the law in the letter as required by that o.c. law.
For example, if you refrain from murdering someone (letter of the law) yet still hate someone, you are technically in compliance with the law, even though you have hatred, which is the spirit of murder.
If you have love even for an enemy, you fulfill the law. All the law was defined as hanging on love of God and fellow man. The law was for those who do not have that love ( I Tim 1:9-10).
Matthew 5:17-20 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. 18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.