Until you have Him teaching and preaching that the Law was changed or even abolished then you have only silence. As you alluded, the greater part of the Torah was establishing this perfect Law both in function and form and in great detail. So any alteration would also be itemized and need clarification. It was FALSE testimony that claimed Paul taught there was a change in the law.
Jesus taught a new covenant law - all through the Gospels. There was a change in the Law, when Jesus died for the sins of mankind. The Mosaic Law Covenant was founded upon the shed blood of animals. We are no longer under that Covenant.
You are correct however in that change took time and was progressive. Much was added and removed by man's arrogance and traditions evolving into a most idolatrous counterfeit. Same thing happened in the OT.
The Gospel of Christ was founded upon Him, the apostles and prophets. All throughout the NT, the New Covenant is taught - a brand new law, never heard before. The count of commandments is over 1000.
But He taught think NOT He came to change or destroy the Law.
He did change it. He became the High Priest of Melchizedek, replacing the Levitical Priesthood. He replaced the sacrificial system upon which the entire Mosaic Law rested.
In fact, they killed Him because He was restoring the original.
No, they killed Him because He taught a new commandments, called Himself God, and called out the wickedness and hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Then they found false witnesses to bring charges of sedition against Rome to the Roman authorities. That is why Rome eventually took Him to the cross.
He answered "What must I do to be saved?" with "keep the commandments".
It wasn't enough was it? Because Jesus told him to sell everything and follow Him. That is not "Torah".
He taught do what "if you love me"?
New covenant, new contract, but same terms--namely trust and obey.
No, not the same terms at all. The terms of the old covenant was to sacrifice animals for the atonement of sin.
And all 3 times Peter refused as it was unclean food.
Which is why God told him 3 times. He was a blockhead :bang: He finally got it though, because we know later he ate and hung with the Gentiles.
Troubled by the vision, he finally gets it. It has nothing to do with his finally being able to eat bacon, but as he explains, the Gentiles were no longer unclean and should be included.
Do you think God was telling Peter to eat the Gentiles for din-din? :nori::TomO:
To keep the feast was His desire not to end it.
No, not to keep the feast. That is not what He said at all. He said to take wine and bread to celebrate His death till He comes. That is not Passover.
Sabbath and feast keeping is included in Paul's exhortation we follow him as he followed Him...in everything. What's that popular phrase? WWJD...certainly not eat Sunday ham.
Food has nothing to do with the Kingdom of Heaven. As Jesus said, nothing is unclean that goes into the body, but what comes out the other end. What is unclean are the thoughts and evil intents found in the heart.
Had you bothered to read the article that starts this thread you would see not only did he keep the old law tradition but instructed Gentiles to come back the next Sabbath to hear more about the good news. He did not say come back tomorrow the "Lord's day".
Believers did not go back to the synagogue on the Sabbath to hear Moses. They went to preach the Gospel. And just like today, if you go into a synagogue and attempt to preach Jesus they will kick you out.
You would have also read how Acts 15 establishes 4 things required of Gentiles crowding the synagogues on Sabbaths to hear the Law, 3 of these dealt with dietary restrictions.
Nope - believing Gentiles were not "crowding into the synagogues to hear Moses". The Gentiles were considered UNCLEAN, remember? Acts 15 says nothing about a requirement for Gentiles to attend synagogues or observing the Sabbath. Nothing like that is listed in the four commandments given. Around 15 years later it is again confirmed that the Gentile believers were ONLY given those FOUR commandments [Acts 21].
Ironically these restriction were less about being saved and more about "social manners". You see, even before that crises, true believers have always known trying to keep the Law does not save you but you wish to try and keep the Law because you believe you are saved. It's out of gratitude for what was done.
As early at the second century, people actually believed Paul and Jesus, that the Mosaic Law was done away with and the new covenant Law of Christ was in place - the Gospel of Christ and living for Him, without the observance of the Mosaic Law. It had vanished away per 2 Cor 3.
Noah believed first then obeyed building an ark. Abraham had faith and then was obedient even to circumcision. Moses too was already in route to carry out his mission when he was circumcised.
Moses even refused to circumcise his sons, and an angel was sent to kill him. His wife, Zipporah, stepped in and did it herself and called him a bloody husband.
Tell that to Paul who maintained it and Pentecost as well which depends on a count from Passover.
No, Paul did not maintain Passover. He taught the Passover was fulfilled/satisfied in Christ. Jesus is the Passover Lamb. One cannot keep Passover until they take literal leaven out of their dwelling place, and kill a lamb for the atonement for sin.
Paul stated clearly that when he was with the Jews He kept the Law to win them to Christ, but when he was with the Gentiles, he did not keep the Law to win them to Christ. That is defintely rebellion according to the Mosaic Law, so in reality, he was not keeping the Law at all.
Deuteronomy 16:2
Thou shalt therefore
sacrifice the passover unto the Lord thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there.
1 Corinthians 5:7
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.
For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Oh, and well, he did write there ARE shadows and not the past tense WERE.
From the perspective of the Mosaic Law. Paul uses future tense from the past looking forward often in reference to the Mosaic Law.
Jesus is the Light of the World, in Him there is no shadow. He accomplished and satisfied the Law of Moses Covenant 100% and freed all who are in Him from the death, bondage, yoke, and curse of the Law for all eternity. It is over. Done. Accomplished. It is Finished. The veil of the Temple was torn in two, exposing the Holy of Holies, pulling down the partition and reconciling us to God through His blood. We are free from the Law in Him.
