Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am not the best editor.
Old laws are fleshly, new are spirit. If we live under the old laws and not the new covenant then we will not be covered by the new covenant because the new covenant teaches us to walk by spirit , the heavenly kingdom is a spiritual kingdom with Christ as our king. So if we walk by the old laws we are not covered by the ransom sacrifice of Jesus the that sealed the new covenant. We are no longer slaves to law but we have been freed and are servants of Jehovah. If we believe the physical nation of Israel is God’s people then we are rejecting Jesus and the new covenant. This covenant was promised to Abraham when the old covenant had been fulfilled. In fulfilling the old covenant and forming a new one, a new nation of Israel arose. It is a spiritual nations. This nation is ruled by Jesus who is sitting on the heavenly throne. Those who enter the narrow gate can be a part of the new kingdom. We enter the narrow gate by having faith and being obedient to God. We also believe Jesus died for our sins and was resurrected and is now sitting on the heavenly throne.
Many say God does not change so the old covenant would still be valid. God did not change. A covenant is a contract when the things agreed upon in that contract have been fulfilled then the contract is completed. God prophesied Jesus would fulfill that covenant. So God did not change, it was all in his arrangements. He even stated there would be a new covenant when the old one was fulfilled. To state that the physical nation of Israel is God’s people would be rejecting the new covenant and the one who sealed it Jesus. If we live by the old laws the ransom does not cover us because the new Israel is a spiritual nation and we must live by the spirit.
If we walk by flesh we cannot walk by spirit they will be in conflict. That will still keep us from being under the new covenant. Being a part of the covenant worshiping in spirit is a requirement. Jesus taught us how to worship in spirit so if we do our best to imitate him then we can learn to worship in spirit.
If we live by spirit we will receive its fruits. By those fruits we will show God it reveals who is obeying God and who is not. The most important of the fruits is love. The new covenant makes love a priority, and we must worship in spirit. God blesses us with the spirit but we have to ask for it.
We must imitate Jesus with acts of compassion, generosity, and kindness. There were times the bible said Jesus was exhausted and he still continued to help others. He had no home, one set of clothes but still put spiritual matters first. He never stopped showing empathy and compassion not matter how tired , abused or tortured he was. He was the perfect example to follow to learn how to truly love. Love requires we be patient and forgiving Jesus always was. Love doesn’t put it’s own interest first. Jesus never did. It does not become provoked. Jesus did not get angry and seek revenge. When Jesus was wronged he did not keep account of it and continually throw it in peoples face he put it in prayer to Jehovah and he remembered that we are all imperfect humans. Because of this Jesus was able to bare many peoples sufferings along with his own.
Love fulfills the law thus we would not be under the old laws. If love guides all we do then we are under the new covenant and the ransom that sealed that covenant which was when Jesus gave his life for man. The bible says God is love. Jesus stated he did what he saw his father doing when he was by his side in heaven. Jesus perfectly mirrored God so if we imitate Jesus we can learn to love as he did.
When we live by spirit we must prove it by working towards things that show we are living by spirit and not flesh. We must follow the teachings of Jesus and the new Covenant and exercise faith in him as our appointed king. We must prove our works. All those who learn to live by the spirit will be covered by the ransom. By treating all as Jesus did it works as a protection for us. Not only that but how do you know that you are not in the presence of an angel of Jehovah’s. How would you feel if you knew an angel of Jehovah had come to observe you and you didn’t know it?
It isn’t works of the law but works of faith that proves to Jehovah whether we are righteous or not. There will come a day when we will no longer be able to do works of faith so we need to seize the opportunity now before it is too late.
We exercise to build endurance. If we do not exercise our love and faith towards others how can we build the spiritual endurance and faith we need. How will others learn to do that if you do not set an example for them and follow Jesus example of selflessness and love. He also worked very hard to teach others how to live spiritually. To exercise faith we need to trust God’s word to guide us an not rely on our own understanding or put our faith in the world or things in the world which will be gone soon.
In doing the above mentioned things we keep ourselves in God’s love and become a new creation. This is not a one time thing, it is a daily thing, as we learn God’s word and apply it and let it guide us and obey it and put our faith in him each day we grow spiritually so are a new creation daily.
The old law of convenant was to teach what sin was. It did not give the benefit of the ransom sacrifice that the new covenant has. They were still enslaved by the sin which we know results in death. Those who followed the old covenant knew about the new one and put faith in what would come of the new covenant so they were still covered by the new covenant even though it had not come about yet. The laws also protected Gods people and kept them under God’s care. As long as they followed the laws they would have God’s protection and they would avoid making serious mistakes. So we could benefit from studying them and applying them.
Following Jesus footsteps we will not have to worry about breaking the old laws because he upheld them. Even though we are no longer slaves to the old covenant they still work to protect our relationship with Jehovah and to keep us from smearing his name so it is good to apply the jist of them in our lives. Some of the laws like abstaining from eating certain things was to guarantee that Abraham’s bloodline would not contract disease and it would continue so that the promise messiah would be fulfilled.
(Romans 8:5) For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those in accord with the spirit on the things of the spirit
(Hebrews 8:7-10) 7For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second; for he does find fault with the people when he says: “‘Look! There are days coming,’ says Jehovah, ‘and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant; 9not according to the covenant that I made with their forefathers in [the] day of my taking hold of their hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant, so that I stopped caring for them,’ says Jehovah.” 10“‘For this is the covenant that I shall covenant with the house of Israel after those days,’ says Jehovah. ‘I will put my laws in their mind, and in their hearts I shall write them. And I will become their God, and they themselves will become my people.
(Hebrews 7:18-22) 18Certainly, then, there occurs a setting aside of the preceding commandment on account of its weakness and ineffectiveness. 19For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in besides of a better hope did, through which we are drawing near to God. 20Also, to the extent that it was not without a sworn oath, 21(for there are indeed men that have become priests without a sworn oath, but there is one with an oath sworn by the One who said respecting him: “Jehovah has sworn (and he will feel no regret), ‘You are a priest forever,’”) 22to that extent also Jesus has become the one given in pledge of a better covenant.
(Colossians 2:13, 14) 13 Furthermore, though YOU were dead in YOUR trespasses and in the uncircumcised state of YOUR flesh, [God] made YOU alive together with him. He kindly forgave us all our trespasses 14and blotted out the handwritten document against us, which consisted of decrees and which was in opposition to us; and He has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the torture stake.
(Galatians 5:16-18) 16But I say, Keep walking by spirit and YOU will carry out no fleshly desire at all. 17For the flesh is against the spirit in its desire, and the spirit against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, so that the very things that YOU would like to do YOU do not do. 18Furthermore, if YOU are being led by spirit, YOU are not under law.
(Romans 8:12-16) 12So, then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh to live in accord with the flesh; 13for if YOU live in accord with the flesh YOU are sure to die; but if YOU put the practices of the body to death by the spirit, YOU will live. 14For all who are led by God’s spirit, these are God’s sons. 15For YOU did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but YOU received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!” 16The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children..
(Galatians 5:22-24) 22On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires.
(1 Corinthians 13:13) 13Now, however, there remain faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7) 4Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, 5does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. 6It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(Romans 13:9, 10) .” 10Love does not work evil to one’s neighbor; therefore love is the law’s fulfillment.
(Galatians 6:1-5) 6 Brothers, even though a man takes some false step before he is aware of it, YOU who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness, as you each keep an eye on yourself, for fear you also may be tempted. 2Go on carrying the burdens of one another, and thus fulfill the law of the Christ. 3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deceiving his own mind. 4But let each one prove what his own work is, and then he will have cause for exultation in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person. 5For each one will carry his own load.
(Galatians 6:9, 10) 9So let us not give up in doing what is fine, for in due season we shall reap if we do not tire out. 10Really, then, as long as we have time favorable for it, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to [us] in the faith.
(Galatians 5:22-24) 22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires..
(Galatians 3:26-29) 26YOU are all, in fact, sons of God through YOUR faith in Christ Jesus. 27For all of YOU who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for YOU are all one [person] in union with Christ Jesus. 29Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.
(Hebrews 13:1-6) 13 Let YOUR brotherly love continue. 2Do not forget hospitality, for through it some, unknown to themselves, entertained angels.
(Galatians 3:24) Consequently the Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith
(Galatians 2:16) knowing as we do that a man is declared righteous, not due to works of law, but only through faith toward Christ Jesus, even we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, that we may be declared righteous due to faith toward Christ, and not due to works of law, because due to works of law no flesh will be declared righteous.
(John 9:4) We must work the works of him that sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no man can work.
(Hebrews 10:35, 36) 35Do not, therefore, throw away YOUR freeness of speech, which has a great reward to be paid it. 36For YOU have need of endurance, in order that, after YOU have done the will of God, YOU may receive the [fulfillment of the] promise.
(Romans 10:9, 10) 10For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.
(James 2:18-26) 18Nevertheless, a certain one will say: “You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith apart from the works, and I shall show you my faith by my works.” 19You believe there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder. 20But do you care to know, O empty man, that faith apart from works is inactive? 21Was not Abraham our father declared righteous by works after he had offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22You behold that [his] faith worked along with his works and by [his] works [his] faith was perfected, 23and the scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he came to be called “Jehovah’s friend.” 24YOU see that a man is to be declared righteous by works, and not by faith alone. 25In the same manner was not also Ra′hab the harlot declared righteous by works, after she had received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way? 26Indeed, as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
(Jude 17-23) 17As for YOU, beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18how they used to say to YOU: “In the last time there will be ridiculers, proceeding according to their own desires for ungodly things.” 19These are the ones that make separations, animalistic [men], not having spirituality. 20But YOU, beloved ones, by building up yourselves on YOUR most holy faith, and praying with holy spirit, 21keep yourselves in God’s love, while YOU are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view. 22Also, continue showing mercy to some that have doubts; 23save [them] by snatching [them] out of the fire. But continue showing mercy to others, doing so with fear, while YOU hate even the inner garment that has been stained by the flesh.
(Colossians 3:8-11) 8But now really put them all away from YOU, wrath, anger, badness, abusive speech, and obscene talk out of YOUR mouth. 9Do not be lying to one another. Strip off the old personality with its practices, 10and clothe yourselves with the new [personality], which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it, 11where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, foreigner, Scyth′i·an, slave, freeman, but Christ is all things and in all.
(Galatians 3:19-22) 19 Why, then, the Law? It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the offspring should arrive to whom the promise had been made; and it was transmitted through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now there is no mediator when just one person is involved, but God is only one. 21 Is the Law, therefore, against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, righteousness would actually have been by means of law. 22 But the Scripture handed all things over to the custody of sin, so that the promise resulting from faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those exercising faith.
(Galatians 3:23-25) . . .. 24 So the Law became our guardian leading to Christ, so that we might be declared righteous through faith. 25 But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a guardian. . .
(Hebrews 8:5, 6) . . .” 6 But now Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry because he is also the mediator of a correspondingly better covenant, which has been legally established on better promises.
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