I disagreed with a lot of the perspective you took regarding the law of God, but I'd like to start with two points in particular. I will probably answer comments here at least for a little bit and am open to having a conversation over the phone or zoom sometime if you think my points are worth pursuing. 1. I think a major issue with reading Matthew 5: 18 the way you did is Matthew 5: 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." Christ goes on to talk about the kingdom of heaven, which from dozens of references in Acts and the epistles we know is fully associated with the New Covenant. Yet, Christ ties keeping and teaching "these commandments," the ones from the law He just referenced, to status/reward in the kingdom. 2. The very first verse of the Bible uses "Heavens and earth" literally and so we must fully evaluate the possibility that that is the sense in which Christ uses the phrase. A passage I find very telling on this Jeremiah 33: 15-26. It is a messianic kingdom prophecy where it states that the Levites will "kindle meat offerings" "continually" and comes with this key statement: "Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers." God ties his covenant keeping with the Levites (including those sacrifices found in the law) to whether day and night continue. As long as we have a literal heavens and earth, we have day and night. God directly promised this in the Noahic Covenant. It seems to me that taking all the language in the Old Testament about "everlasting covenant" and "throughout your generations" and "forever" as truly meaning what it says is the most consistent option. Even the New Covenant is one where God will "write my laws on their hearts" so it doesn't need to be seen as negating God's laws, but rather establishing them in our hearts so that we will DO them rather than fail them. Jeremiahs 33:15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this [is the name] wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. 17 ¶ For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; 18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually. 19 And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, 20 Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; 21 [Then] may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. 22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me. 23 Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. 25 Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant [be] not with day and night, [and if] I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; 26 Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, [so] that I will not take [any] of his seed [to be] rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them."
This is one of the most depressing things to watch coming out of the mouth of a young person, it's not like we didn't already finish this debate hundreds of years ago. Gross.
@@ChristCenteredEschatology Chris wouldn't be the one forcing his religion on everyone else. It would be fallible men with fickle ever changing beliefs wielding the monopoly on violence that is the government against everyone else including you if you happen to disagree with their particular brand of Christianity. Romans 8:7-9 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. The government is a carnal weapon and you want to wield it against people that literally can't do what you want them to do. Without the Spirit of God people can't do what you want them to do. How can you get them to do what you want them to do? Share the Gospel. That's how people either get the Spirit or don't. That's the only way to please God. Otherwise you're only subjugating people to get them to behave so you're more comfy before you graduate to the next life. Which is not nice and I'm pretty sure is not of the Spirit. Leave people alone. Share the Gospel. Use persuasion not coercion.
I disagreed with a lot of the perspective you took regarding the law of God, but I'd like to start with two points in particular. I will probably answer comments here at least for a little bit and am open to having a conversation over the phone or zoom sometime if you think my points are worth pursuing.
1. I think a major issue with reading Matthew 5: 18 the way you did is Matthew 5: 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." Christ goes on to talk about the kingdom of heaven, which from dozens of references in Acts and the epistles we know is fully associated with the New Covenant. Yet, Christ ties keeping and teaching "these commandments," the ones from the law He just referenced, to status/reward in the kingdom.
2. The very first verse of the Bible uses "Heavens and earth" literally and so we must fully evaluate the possibility that that is the sense in which Christ uses the phrase. A passage I find very telling on this Jeremiah 33: 15-26. It is a messianic kingdom prophecy where it states that the Levites will "kindle meat offerings" "continually" and comes with this key statement: "Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers." God ties his covenant keeping with the Levites (including those sacrifices found in the law) to whether day and night continue. As long as we have a literal heavens and earth, we have day and night. God directly promised this in the Noahic Covenant. It seems to me that taking all the language in the Old Testament about "everlasting covenant" and "throughout your generations" and "forever" as truly meaning what it says is the most consistent option. Even the New Covenant is one where God will "write my laws on their hearts" so it doesn't need to be seen as negating God's laws, but rather establishing them in our hearts so that we will DO them rather than fail them.
Jeremiahs 33:15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this [is the name] wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
17 ¶ For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
19 And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,
20 Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;
21 [Then] may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
23 Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,
24 Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.
25 Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant [be] not with day and night, [and if] I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
26 Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, [so] that I will not take [any] of his seed [to be] rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them."
This is one of the most depressing things to watch coming out of the mouth of a young person, it's not like we didn't already finish this debate hundreds of years ago. Gross.
Christian's morals have changed over time. You can't say a Christian nation would benefit all people. Historically that is absolutely incorrect.
Don't confuse Christians failing to live up to Christian morals with actual Christian morals. Christian morals come from Christ who never changes.
@@ChristCenteredEschatology Chris wouldn't be the one forcing his religion on everyone else. It would be fallible men with fickle ever changing beliefs wielding the monopoly on violence that is the government against everyone else including you if you happen to disagree with their particular brand of Christianity.
Romans 8:7-9
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.
The government is a carnal weapon and you want to wield it against people that literally can't do what you want them to do. Without the Spirit of God people can't do what you want them to do. How can you get them to do what you want them to do? Share the Gospel. That's how people either get the Spirit or don't. That's the only way to please God. Otherwise you're only subjugating people to get them to behave so you're more comfy before you graduate to the next life. Which is not nice and I'm pretty sure is not of the Spirit.
Leave people alone. Share the Gospel. Use persuasion not coercion.
LOL,..Bible doesn't say anything about a Christian government on earth.