AB, I am quite certain you have misunderstood my posts. For whatever reason you seem to feel that I am against the law of God. I am sorry I have given you that impression. I agree that the law of God is holy, just and good, and that it is a transcript of His loving character.

But I also believe the life and death of Jesus is the best and greatest portrayal of God's awesome character ever recorded in sacred history. I'm sure if the sweet psalmist had been alive during the ministry of Jesus he would have devoted more space and time writing about the lovely attributes of Jesus - just like all the other NT authors.

I prefer to see the mouth of God concerning "Thou shalt not kill" (or any other command) in the context of Jesus - who was infinitely more than the commands prohibit. Jesus not only did not kill someone, He turned the other cheek, He went the second mile, and gave His cloak in exchange for hateful treatment. In the example of Jesus I am not left to my own devices to discern what "Thou shalt not" implies.

If I focus on the law in the life of Jesus, does that mean I will be unable to appreciate the life and gospel of Jesus?

Mike: I never said or even implied that you were against or opposed to the law of God in any way, shape, or form. If you say that, then you are misunderstanding my posts!

When the Psalmist says, "Thy commandment is exceeding broad," He is speaking of Christ, because, as you have acknowledged yourself, the commandment is a transcript of the character of Christ! Ps.119:96.

[ April 02, 2002: Message edited by: adventbeliever ]

AB, I still get from your posts what I did from your very first one on this subject: That Jesus desires us to have the "New Covenant" (which has actually been around since the Garden of Eden,) written in our hearts(minds.) That we obey the laws He wrote on stone, because of our "attachment to Jesus."

Someone was telling me last night about a person who had believed the doctrine, of "Once saved, always saved" then, she read about what happens when a branch is disconnected or cut off from the vine, and she realized that it withers and dies. Yes, we keep the laws, we need to know the laws, but, what is the law? Is it not the same as the character of God?

John 14:10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works." NASB

John 14:10 "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." KJV

I can't understand what is confusing about this text.

Good stuff, AB.

Good stuff, Zyph! Good stuff, AB! So much in the Bible is confusing, only because it is made so. I can't see how any of what either of the two of you have said is confusing!!

AB, thank you for the clarification.

Thanks Dora and Zyph! The subject of the law and the Gospel will be forever unfolding. It is exceeding broad! Ps.119:96.

Thanks Mike!

The Psalmist says that God's commandments are "wonderful." Ps.119:129. One of Jesus's name is, "Wonderful." Isaiah 9:6. Christ is the living Word! The commandments are "lively oracles." Acts 7:38. The Word of God's mouth is Christ, the Spirit! How else can we receive the Spirit of Christ other than through the law of God's mouth, and that takes in the whole Bible since it is an extension of the law of God!

The words and commands of God's lips are the impartation of the Spirit, and the impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ! John 6:63; Matt.4:4. Would that not explain why the Psalmist says that he delights in the law of God's mouth, why it is better to him than thousands of shekels of gold and silver! Ps.119:70,77,72,174.

Would that not explain why the Psalmist loves God's commandments "exceedingly?" Ps.119:167.

[ April 03, 2002: Message edited by: adventbeliever ]