Why Did Jesus Speak In Parables?

[Yieu]

Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[c]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

I find the bold portion very interesting, and I believe it hints that the same God was the source for other major religions.

Hints? No, I think it states it outright.

 

[AFPVet]

No one deserves mercy. In fact, we de-deserve it. We deserve punishment. That He chooses to show mercy to any is the amazing thing about grace.

All those who have ears to hear know the true condition of their heart. When God opens up your eyes, He shows you a glimpse of the depth of your sin and the holiness of who He really is. The reason most people don't think they deserve punishment for their sins is because the Spirit has never convicted them. But what a blessing that conviction is.

We don't need punishment... we need help. Yes, the knowledge of good and evil is encoded in our DNA; however, we don't need to be punished; rather, we need to be taught! This is akin to putting down a breed of dog—not because it has bitten anyone—but because the breed has the largest statistical probability of attacking someone. Interestingly, that same breed could be just as gentle as any other if kept in a loving and caring home.

 

[UK4Paul]

I must make my calling and election sure:

If I fall away, it was because I was not chosen.

So then, from your own personal perspective, YOU do not know whether you are elected or not until "the end", because you might fall away.

So from a human perspective, "pre-destination" is just an intellectual debate.

This is why I prefer to talk about God pre-destining GROUPS. The "elect" might be pre-destined, but you do not KNOW personally that you are of the elect, because as you acknowledge, you have to make your calling and election sure.

Paul is speaking about the elect Jews in these passages, not national Israel. The Bible does not teach dispensationalism and it does not teach salvation by any other way than grace through faith. Abraham was justified before God by faith...so are the elect Jews...so are the elect Gentiles.

Not so. Paul has already identified the believing Jews in his argument...

"What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened..." (11:7)

He then goes on to ask: "So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall?" (11:11)

He is obviously talking about non-believing Israel here. THEY were the ones that stumbled. Then he goes on to say:

"By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!" (11:11,12)

Make who jealous? ISRAEL... physical Israel. Why would spiritual Israel be jealous?

If THEIR trespass... whose trespass? PHYSICAL ISRAEL... means riches for the world... and their failure [physical Israel's failure] means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their [physical Israel] full inclusion mean?

Paul is talking to the nations about his physical brothers the Jews.

"Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?"

"For if THEIR REJECTION [that is, the Jews' rejection] means the reconciliation of the world, what will THEIR ACCEPTANCE [the Jews' acceptance] mean but life from the dead?"

You're right that there is only one people of God... but you are also missing the fact that Paul argues, and lays out the plan, for how God intends to graft back in PHYSICAL Israel.

"And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree." (11:24)

For someone who believes in the power of God and election, it seems you pick and choose which verses you actually HEAR.

Paul is talking about JEWISH unbelievers. They were "natural branches", and therefore "much more" able to be grafted back INTO THEIR OWN OLIVE TREE!

This is why Paul says "a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in..."

Yes, you're right that God hardened Israel, but notice that word... UNTIL.

It is a hardening of LIMITED DURATION.

When Paul said, "all Israel would be saved"... if he meant simply that all of God's people are now "Israel", then he wouldn't have talked about them being grafted in again, immediately before

Paul is making the case that not only CAN they be grafted back in, but they WILL be.

Indeed, notice also what Paul says immediately AFTER his famous "all Israel will be saved" statement...

"As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (11:28)

So while I agree with you: Paul IS making a case that Israel is not just the physical nation of Israel... he is also making the case that the physical nation of Israel will eventually be grafted back into their own olive tree, "that he may have mercy on all." (11:32)

Remember... "a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in..."

UNTIL.

The hardening of Israel was to be of limited duration. And if God did the hardening, then He will do the softening again.

This is the real "mystery" that Paul revealed, but that even Gentile Christians like yourself find hard to grasp... perhaps because we, too, can be blinded.

 

[Sola_Fide]

Romans 11:25-27 NASB

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery-so that you will not be wise in your own estimation-that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

"THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM,
WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."

Not "THEN all Israel will be saved", "SO all Israel will be saved".

National Israel will continue to be spiritually blind, except for a remnant chosen by grace, as long as there is one Gentile, or non-Jew, anywhere in the world, who is still to be saved. In our generation, Israel has been a nation for over 50 years, and they are as adamant about their opposition to Christ as the Messiah as they were at any time in their history.There has been no change, and there will be no change. God says that their condition will remain the same until the last person who is of the elect of God becomes saved. When the last Gentile has become saved, it will be the end of the world. The world will continue to its predetermined end, but before the world can end, all those who have been elected to salvation will have become saved.

Then we read in the first part of Romans 11:26: And so all Israel shall be saved. . . .

All kinds of Bible teachers do terrible violence to this verse. They understand this verse to say, “And then all Israel shall be saved.” In other words, they change the word “so” to “then.”

They teach that after the Gentiles have been saved, God is going to do a work in national Israel.First of all, that does not make any sense because national Israel, that is, the blood descendants of Abraham, have been on earth for 4,000 years.

What about all the Jews who lived and died unsaved during the past 4,000 years?

They are part of national Israel. They are not going to be resurrected and have a second opportunity. More than that, the word “so” does not mean “then.” “So” is not a chronological word. “So” means “in this manner,” or “thus,” or “in this way.”In what way?In what manner?

In the manner in which God describes in Romans Chapter 11, namely, that most of national Israel is blinded, but there is a remnant chosen by grace. In this manner, all Israel that is to be saved, shall be saved. This is not talking, in any sense, about a future change in God’s plan. It simply ties back into everything that has gone before, as God has reported in the previous 25 verses. God explains why His salvation can come to the remnant of national Israel that is chosen by grace.

He says in the second part of Romans 11:26-27: . . . as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

When Christ came and took on a human nature, to whom did He come?

He came to the Jews. He was born in Bethlehem, a Jewish city. He was reared in Nazareth, a Jewish city. He was crucified in Jerusalem, a Jewish city. For three and half years, He ministered mainly around the Sea of Galilee, a Jewish area. He came to the nation of Israel, and a remnant of national Israel was chosen by grace. Later, He told the disciples that they were to go into all the world with the Gospel because salvation was to come to Gentiles as well. These verses are easy to understand if we read them carefully.

We cannot superimpose something we have been taught upon these verses. God does not have a future plan for national Israel; that idea is not found anywhere in the Bible. The Bible indicates that we are in the last days; we are headed right toward the end of time. When the last Gentile has become saved, that will be the end of the Gospel era. It will be the end of the world.

Beside the side discussion we are having about eschatology here (your interpretation makes no sense to the 4000 years of Jews who already existed and died), you are clearly conceding that God does interfere with man's will through hardening and softening. Which is my entire point, and something you now concede.

God hardens and softens, and He does it based on His good pleasure and will, not ours.

 

[Sola_Fide]

Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[c]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by houman design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Yes, God made man to seek Him. But what is missing here? Man has REJECTED God. We have fallen in to sin. We now have depraved minds who are given over to idols. We do not seek for the triune God, we suppress His truth in unrighteousness.

Romans 1:18-32 NASB

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

What is missing (as usual) from your painting of the picture here is man's spiritual deadness and God's wrath against sin.

 

[moostraks]

Yes, God made man to seek Him. But what is missing here? Man has REJECTED God. We have fallen in to sin. We now have depraved minds who are given over to idols. We do not seek for the triune God, we suppress His truth in unrighteousness.



What is missing (as usual) from your painting of the picture here is God's wrath against sin.

Are you arguing with Luke?

So you read Romans 1 till the end did you continue to 2?

Romans 2:5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”a 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.

12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.


Acts 10:30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.

 

[Sola_Fide]

Are you arguing with Luke?

So you read Romans 1 till the end did you continue to 2?

Romans 2:5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”a 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.

12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

No, I'm not "arguing with Luke", I am explaining the gospel of Jesus Christ to you which you do not understand yet. You are confusing law and gospel, which is erroneous.

What do you not understand about about Romans 2??? Yes, EVERYONE will be judged by the law. EVERYONE, Jew and Gentile will be judged and condemned under the law.

What don't you understand? "Only the DOERS of the Law will be justified.". Who is a "doer" of the Law? NO ONE. The standard for the Law is perfection, and there has only been one man who was a DOER of the Law, Jesus Christ. That is why salvation is only found by having faith in HIS merits, not my own. I am not a doer of the Law and no one is.

Paul is saying in Romans 2 that the MERE POSSESSION of the Law does not justify you, so the Jews should find no comfort in merely possessing the Law. Likewise, what justifies you is to DO the Law, perfectly. So Paul is telling us here that everyone is alike under the condemnation of the law, first the Gentiles in Romans 1, and then the Jews in Romans 2.

Acts 10:30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.

Yep. God is not just merciful to national Israel, but He is merciful to all nations of the Gentiles. He is going to save His elect from every "tribe, tongue, and nation".

 

[Sola_Fide]

Originally posted by UK4Paul

So then, from your own personal perspective, YOU do not know whether you are elected or not until "the end", because you might fall away.

So from a human perspective, "pre-destination" is just an intellectual debate.

This is why I prefer to talk about God pre-destining GROUPS. The "elect" might be pre-destined, but you do not KNOW personally that you are of the elect, because as you acknowledge, you have to make your calling and election su

Well, from my own personal perspective, I do have the comfort of salvation, because the Spirit of God bears witness with my spirit. So there is that personal component.

In regards to our eternal security, it is unquestionable that a Christian HAS (past tense) been justified. Romans 8 in the golden chain of redemption makes it clear that our justification is a legal imputation that has already occured. We don't work for our justification (salvation). It is something God does alone.

But in regards to our Christian life, Paul's exhortation is something I keep in mind:

Philippians 2:12-13 NASB

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

Most people stop at this verse, but the next verse says:

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

So I work out my salvation with the knowledge that it is God who is working in me to even make me able to do it. ALL the glory for my salvation goes to God.

 

[moostraks]

No, I'm not "arguing with Luke", I am explaining the gospel of Jesus Christ to you which you do not understand yet. You are confusing law and gospel, which is erroneous.

Why do some people not believe?


The reason people don't believe is that they are not of His sheep. His sheep hear His voice, and the Shepherd lays down His life only for His sheep. The ones who hear are the ones who have "been given to the Son" by the Father.


God purposes that some people do not believe

Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[c]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent

What do you not understand about about Romans 2??? Yes, EVERYONE will be judged by the law. EVERYONE, Jew and Gentile will be judged and condemned under the law.

mmmhmm...I agree

Matthew 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

What don't you understand? "Only the DOERS of the Law will be justified.". Who is a "doer" of the Law? NO ONE. The standard for the Law is perfection, and there has only been one man who was a DOER of the Law, Jesus Christ. That is why salvation is only found by having faith in HIS merits, not my own. I am not a doer of the Law and no one is.

Paul is saying in Romans 2 that the MERE POSSESSION of the Law does not justify you, so the Jews should find no comfort in merely possessing the Law. Likewise, what justifies you is to DO the Law, perfectly. So Paul is telling us here that everyone is alike under the condemnation of the law, first the Gentiles in Romans 1, and then the Jews in Romans 2.

Romans 2:12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching all the innermost parts of his being.

John 1: 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every ma 10He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

I Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it

 

[Yieu]

Matthew 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

This is indeed the most important commandment, and it is universal to the major world religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism.

It is a commandment we can all strive to follow.

I find it interesting that it seems Jesus would appear to be rather accepting of me. . .

 

[Sola_Fide]

mmmhmm...I agree

Matthew 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”




Romans 2:12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching all the innermost parts of his being.

John 1: 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every ma 10He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

I Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it

Still not getting it and still confusing law and gospel.


So I will ask again: WHO CAN POSSIBLY BE A DOER OF THE LAW?

The answer to that question will tell you why you do not understand what Paul is saying in Romans 2 and why you do not understand what Jesus said to the rich young ruler.

 

[Sola_Fide]

This is indeed the most important commandment, and it is universal to the major world religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism.

It is a commandment we can all strive to follow.

I find it interesting that it seems Jesus would appear to be rather accepting of me. . .

God is not accepting of you because you have not followed that commandment nor have you followed any other of the commandments.

The standard for the Law is absolute sinless perfection. You have broken the Law and therefore condemned yourself.

To stand in the presence of a holy and righteous God, you must have lived a sinless life. There is only one man who has lived a sinless life, Jesus Christ. Salvation can only be obtained by having faith in Christ's perfect righteousness.

God will only accept one righteousness, Christ's righteousness. He will not accept your works. Your works will condemn you, I say this as your friend:


Please read and understand:

Galatians 3:9-11 NLT

So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”

So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law.

For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

 

[Sola_Fide]

Please read the entirety of the account of the rich young ruler:

Matthew 19:16-26 NIV

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments."

"Which ones?" he inquired.

Jesus replied, "'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shal

l not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

After the rich young ruler said that he had followed the commandments, Jesus said "If you want to be PERFECT, go and sell all your possessions". And the rich young ruler went away dismayed.

Jesus was teaching this man (and us) that PERFECT obedience to the Law is the only way to be justified. Jesus taught that rich self-righteous ruler that he was not perfect...so Jesus brought him to the place where he was a law-breaker (he loved his wealth more than God).

When the disciples understood that Jesus was teaching that perfection was the only way to be justified, they asked, "who then can be saved"? And Jesus replied, "WITH MAN THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE".



All those who seek to be right with God by how good they are will fail and be condemned, because no one has the perfection required to stand in the presence of God. A man is saved when he has faith in Christ's perfect righteousness alone. Man's "righteousness" will only condemn him.


This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no other gospel other than this.

 

[Yieu]

God is not accepting of you because you have not followed that commandment nor have you followed any other of the commandments.

The problem here is that is only your opinion.

God will be the judge.

I feel he will be a kinder judge than you are.

Edit: Wait... you appear to be confusing The Law of the Torah and the commandments of Jesus that I was quoting.

I am not attempting to be a "follower of the law" as described under the verse you had quoted in response to me.

That is "The Law" of the Torah, which is not the same thing as the less strict commandments which came from Jesus.

 

[Yieu]

When the disciples understood that Jesus was teaching that perfection was the only way to be justified, they asked, "who then can be saved"? And Jesus replied, "WITH MAN THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE".

I agree 100%. We do not disagree on this point.

Only God can save someone, we cannot save ourselves. I do not dispute that.

We can only be saved by God's mercy. We cannot make God save us by believing one way or another, or doing one thing or another.

I do not see where this sends me straight to hell automatically.

God can make the choice to save me if He wants. I will do my part to obey and worship Him as He commands it.

 

[Sola_Fide]

The problem here is that is only your opinion.

God will be the judge.

I feel he will be a kinder judge than you are.

Bro, He won't be kinder than me. That's the entire point. He is absolutely holy and righteousness and the standard for His judgement against you is absolute sinless perfection.

Yieu, you do not have this perfection....and please believe me, you do NOT want to be judged by God on the basis of your own works. As I quoted for you in Galatians, no man will be made right before God by how well he follows the law.

Time and time again Jesus told the Pharisees that their righteousness was not sufficient to stand before a holy God. And to this day, we live in a world of Pharisees who think they are good enough to stand before God. Bro, I plead with you that to read the Bible and understand that you are not.

 

[Yieu]

Bro, He won't be kinder than me. That's the entire point. He is absolutely holy and righteousness and the standard for His judgement against you is absolute sinless perfection.

Yieu, you do not have this perfection....and please believe me, you do NOT want to be judged by God on the basis of your own works. As I quoted for you in Galatians, no man will be made right before God by how well he follows the law.

Time and time again Jesus told the Pharisees that their righteousness was not sufficient to stand before a holy God. And to this day, we live in a world of Pharisees who think they are good enough to stand before God. Bro, I plead with you that to read the Bible and understand that you are not.

Read the edit I made to the post you responded to for my response to this post.

I am not perfect, and I do not pretend to be. But I do not intend on being saved on my own efforts.

I grew up a Christian, but I had questions that could not be answered by it. I found the answers to those questions, and now I worship the same God, but slightly differently.

Sometimes, it seems to me like religion is used as an artificial reason to reject other humans you know and disown them. At least it seems that way from my experience with my family and those who try to reject as many people as possible.

 

[Sola_Fide]

Edit: Wait... you appear to be confusing The Law of the Torah and the commandments of Jesus that I was quoting.

I am not attempting to be a "follower of the law" as described under the verse you had quoted in response to me.

That is "The Law" of the Torah, which is not the same thing as the less strict commandments which came from Jesus.

No, certainly not. Jesus brought the law into GREATER focus. Time and time again, He kept telling the Pharisees that they were NOT following the Law:

Matthew 5:27-28 NASB

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:21-22 NASB

"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

You see? Jesus brought even more attention to the Law. He brought it in to greater focus. Why? Because He was teaching us that WE ARE ALL LAW BREAKERS, and there is no one righteous, no not one.

You, just like the Pharisees, are saying your righteousness is enough to make you stand in the presence of God, but Jesus is telling you that the standard is absolute perfection!

 

[moostraks]

No, certainly not. Jesus brought the law into GREATER focus. Time and time again, He kept telling the Pharisees that they were NOT following the Law:






You see? Jesus brought even more attention to the Law. He brought it in to greater focus. Why? Because He was teaching us that WE ARE ALL LAW BREAKERS, and there is no one righteous, no not one.

You, just like the Pharisees, are saying your righteousness is enough to make you stand in the presence of God, but Jesus is telling you that the standard is absolute perfection!

you are putting words in yieu's mouth that were not spoken

 

[Yieu]

No, certainly not. Jesus brought the law into GREATER focus. Time and time again, He kept telling the Pharisees that they were NOT following the Law:

You see? Jesus brought even more attention to the Law. He brought it in to greater focus. Why? Because He was teaching us that WE ARE ALL LAW BREAKERS, and there is no one righteous, no not one.

You, just like the Pharisees, are saying your righteousness is enough to make you stand in the presence of God, but Jesus is telling you that the standard is absolute perfection!

Ah, it appears I may not have been as clear in my wording, because you still think I was referring only to "The Law of the Torah".

The commandments of Jesus are separate from "The Law of the Torah".

He gave them as a path to salvation -- a separate path from the path of "The Law of the Torah".