Into the Unknown and Unexpected Part 2

So what happened? I tried to live with my struggles against Christian liberty, assuming I was totally wrong to doubt that the Law had completely been done away with except for what was reiterated in the New Testament. Thankfully, God didn't leave me questioning. I met a woman who claimed that she and her family followed a Messianic faith. Although I wasn't sure what that meant, I had heard of others who followed the Torah even though they worshiped Jesus Christ as Lord. Cautiously, because I thought they were wrong, I listened to her explanations and read the material that she suggested that I read. The light bulb went off in my head. First off, the caliber of the material she referred me to was not easy, puffed, or without logic. It spoke to my heart!!

Secondly, the New Testament had been misunderstood when it came to the abrogation of the Law. Jesus followed and kept the Law Himself and never claimed that it was done away with.

Matthew 5:17-19 (KJV):

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Not until heaven and earth pass away will the Law be done away with! Well, how, then can Christian liberty be explained? How can we explain those Bible verses that seem to contradict Matthew 5? Stay tuned for part 3!!

Into the Unknown and Unexpected!!

I've been going along on this Christian journey for a long time! I am fully committed to Jesus! But, apparently, my journey hit a snag; one that caused others to wonder about my faith. Suddenly, I began to follow the Torah! Had I converted to Judaism? Had I become a Pharisaical legalist? The answer to these questions is a resounding, "No!" But let me explain.

I was totally convinced about Christianity and its truth. However, I had one bugaboo. I couldn't understand "Christian Liberty." I had a feeling that the way Christians taught it and lived it could not be accurate. Christian liberty seemed like a legitimization of sin to me.

Christian liberty, as it is sometimes explained, means that Christians are no longer obligated to follow the Torah, or the so called Law of Moses (Romans 3:20-22). Yet, the Torah has many verses that speak of the eternality of God's laws. For example:

Exodus 29:9 (KJV): And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.

Exodus 31:16 (KJV): Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

But how could I believe contrary to all the theologians that have taught, throughout most of Church history, that Jesus had done away with the Law? Initially, I felt compelled to "go along," that  my understanding was incorrect. However, it continued to rub me the wrong way. Would God ever make this concept clear in my mind? Would I come to terms with this teaching?

If you've ever had an issue with Christian liberty, please let me know! I would love to hear from you! Stay tuned for part 2 to see where the Lord took me!