Godsloveandlaw's Blog

On my last post I mentioned what a thrill it was to have a prayer answered so quickly. But unfortunately someone close to me, who means well, took exception to it. He basically in effect said I was living under “bondage”.  In this post I will hopefully shed some light to his misguided thinking. While I am under no  illusion that it will open his eyes to scripture, it must nevertheless be brought out.

In his first point he says “We are not under ‘law’, but under the ‘law of the spirit’ in Christ Jesus. It has set me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom.8:2) My first point is if we are not under law then I guess I’m free to murder, steal, commit adultery, etc, right? After all I’m not under the “law” any more , right?  Ofcourse not.  The great 10 commandment Law is for OUR BENEFIT to live holy Christ like lives! Surely we can live a holy life and ignore His great Law right? Again ofcourse not.  What the verse means , is that we are no longer under the “Mosaic law”. Specifically, it’s rituals and sacrifices. Christ was the ultimate sacrifice so we don’t need to sacrifice animals anymore for our sins. When it says “set us free from the law of sin and death” it means the sacrifical law  , which atoned our sins and completed it with an animal death. Who can say the “Moral Law” has sin and death in it?  Ofcourse NO ONE.

Next  he raised the point Paul says we can eat whatever meat as long as it’s not been offered to an idol. But this can’t mean “abomination” meat such as swine and mouse. Why? Because Paul himself said he believes ALL things WRITTEN IN THE LAW and in the Prophets (Acts:24:14) When Paul was brought before the Jewish leaders and Pharisees, they would have most certainly accused him of breaking the law of eating unclean meats, right? I mean they had spies and they were watching this “trader” and his every step. Now, think about this for a moment, wouldn’t Paul be the BIGGEST HYPOCRITE in the world if he was telling Christians to go ahead and eat abomination meats if they want and he himself religiously obeyed the “eating clean meat commandment” . Further more the  law of clean meats is for OUR benefit! The Lord knows such things as swine and mouse  have a “large” degree of parasites and other “bad” things for our health. So, to summarize, (1 cor.10:23-31) is talking about things other than abomination meats . I for one will not call the Lord a liar and tell Him “oh yeah Lord, you said it in (Isaiah 66:17) but I DON’T BELIEVE YOUR WORDS”  because you change everything”  that’s foolishness.

Again Paul is talking about not letting anyone judge you in  food and drink or feasts, or new moon, or Sabbaths (with an S) because these were very much a part of the rituals and customs of the Mosiac laws. Once we become a Christian we are “free” from observing those laws. Ofcourse we cannot be free from the aforementioned abomination meats. The Lord said he will destroy those people and I must believe His words (and His answer to my prayer about it) Regarding Sabbath, notice in the true greek translation it say Sabbath(S) not THE SABBATH DAY. The Mosiac customs had several “annual” Sabbaths that were observed. Paul was saying we are now free to obey them or not. NOT THE HOLY SEVENTH DAY SABBATH!

Again,  is it not easy to understand when Paul says “why….do you subject yourself to regulations, do not taste,touch,or do not handle” He is talking about controversial foods and drinks of the day NOT about abomination food, that were condemned by our Lord to eat. Doesn’t it  make foolish sense to you that our Lord , first says,  He’ll destroy people who eat abomination foods, then our Lord wishy washy CHANGES HIS MIND??  The Lord changes NOT! As scripture says. Here’s something to REALLY think about. Let’s say for argument sake your right. The Lord has now OK’d the eating of swine amd mouse. Why are they STILL some of the most filthly foods in the world to eat today? The Lord didn’t ok these foods so we could  HARM ourselves! Ask any Food scientist who is honest. Or better yet google “the dangers of eating pork”. It’ll amaze you. Our Lord KNOWS what He’s talking about.

 Your sounding like the blood sacrifice of our Lord was just to OK everything  and just “love Him” YOUR way and all will be fine. That’s exactly Saul’s thinking remember?And how did the Lord respond to disobedience? The Lord wanted obedience and STILL want’s it.

Lastly,  your “this puts a lid on it”— “according to the commandments and doctrines of men”  Think about what that says. Is the words of the Lord considered a “commandment of man”? Ofcourse not. Your idea that somehow I’m getting hoodwinked into thinking the Lord ‘s commandments are from man is not correct. The Lord and HIS WORD is my guide NOT man. I’m sorry you got involved with a church that you felt held you in “bondage” but I feel free and alive and am very happy to know He answers my prayers. Why? because I try to  follow and obey the Lord’s teaching.(John 14:21)

Stay away from PORK. I didn’t say that the Lord did. (Isaiah 66:17)

  The story of Saul in the old testament is a very sad,sad story. The people had lost trust in God and wanted a King to rule over them. The Lord had miraculously delivered their forefathers time and again yet their faith was so small they wanted “someone else” to rule over them. So God searched His land and found someone. A tall upright man called Saul to be their “King”. The Prophet Samuel (whom God spoke through) anointed Saul to be officially their first king.

Saul led Israel into many wars, and with God’s hand they defeated their enemies. Saul became a forceful leader among the people. But Samuel was getting alittle restless with Saul because of Saul’s tendency to “think for himself” and NOT for God’s ways.

But the final straw came when Samuel was led by God to tell Saul to go into the land of the Amalekites and utterly destroy “everything” people, cattle, homes, you name it. It was to be ALL destroyed. For these people had “waylaid” God’s people when He brought them out of Egypt. So God’s justice must be complete Samuel told Saul. Saul heard it and acted swiftly. He gathered over 200,000 men for battle.

Saul began the attack and destroyed everything BUT and here is the fateful  BUT, he spared the best  sheep and cattle. Saul wanted to sacrafice them to the Lord. Saul was in effect saying “I know how to obey you Lord, better than you know how to tell me to”   Now Samuel was a Prophet of God, meaning God spoke clearly to him. And God spoke to Samuel  ” I am grieved that I made Saul king, because he has turned away from me, and has not carried out my commands” Samuel was also grieved all night and cried. He could see the writing on the wall. Saul was not fit to follow the Lord. How sad he must have felt to know his people’s first king would be a total failure!  How many today are saying “oh I love the Lord”  But  don’t want to love Him like He said to do?

Saul was soon informed by Samuel that his kingship would be taken away. And so Saul began a downward spiral spiritually. And he tragically died soon after.

But when we look at this story we find some powerful truths.  Saul decided on his “own” what was more pleasing to God than what God said himself! Instead of obeying God’s word completely as given by Samuel, he obeyed “some” of His word. Then he exalted his own opinion  by “showing” God he knew how to love  Him and obey Him better. Wow, is this not what is happening today? Look around the Christian world. So many are saying ” I don’t have to obey God’s commandments, I’ll love Him MY WAY, and God will be happy”.  Jesus said emphatically how to love Him. In (Joh 14;15) He says “If you love me, KEEP my commandments” Plain and simple even the  uneducated man can understand these instructions. Can you see the same similarities with Saul? God wants truthful obedience not partial obedience. So if we obey 9 of the 10 commandments, is this complete obedience or partial?

I think Saul’s example should show us that GOD is the one who commands and directs us through His word. And when WE decide what God wants, and it’s in direct contradiction  to His holy word, we setting ourselves up for failure, just like Saul did.