Author Topic: Binding Aspects of the Mosaic Law  (Read 131614 times)

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Richard Myers

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Binding Aspects of the Mosaic Law
« on: May 15, 2007, 06:22:00 PM »
Parts of the Mosaic law were types and shadows that ceased to be binding at the death of Christ. Other aspects were only for the state of Israel which was a theocracy. But, there are other parts of the Mosaic law which remain binding today. They are a revelation of the laws of our being. Like the health principles revealed, there is much that many do not wish to bring into their lives because they do not desire to give up a perverted heart. Let us study this subject that we might receive the blessings God has for us in the Bible.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Sister Marie

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Binding Aspects of the Mosaic Law
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2007, 11:25:00 PM »
A great subject. Where shall we start?

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Thomas M

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« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2007, 02:55:00 AM »
I am partially responsible for the introduction of this new thread, which is a positive and constructive response in part to my throwing out red herrings.
Traditionally, Adventism considers the annual feasts to foreshadow Christ and to end with him. I think that is a consistent view. Having read the extensive discussion of the Feast of Tabernacles on this forum, I notice that an essential issue was never noted. Those suggesting that the observation of the annual feasts was binding, never discussed the timing of the feasts. If I understand correctly, we do not have access to any Biblical calendar with certitude. The present Rabbinical calendar represents a development in tandem with Christianity from the time of Hillel II (two centuries after the New Testament) and extending over a period of several hundred years before being finally fixed. While we do not know the dating of the feasts at the time of Christ (and Paul), we do know that they were NOT calculated or observed by the same calendar that Jews use today. Thus in order to observe them, we would have to accept Rabbinical authority on one hand, or else determine the proper dating on the other.
At the time of Christ, there were at least two datings for the annual feasts and new moons: that of the Sadducean authorities at the temple in Jerusalem, and that of the Qumran sectarians, based on the solar Jubilees calendar. These datings differed from each other and from the present Rabbinical calendar in ways that cannot be determined with exactitude. Even the dating of the "new moon" is at question, whether it should be calculated or observed, whether it relates to the lunation or the sighting of the crescent, whether it relates to the new moon or the full moon, and whether it relates rather to the first day of the month disregarding the moon altogether as calculated in the Qumran Jubilees calendar. As the Jubilees calendar is over one day short of the solar year, it also presents a problem that we have no certainty of. We do not know if at the time of Christ an intercalary week was periodically inserted, or whether the users of the calendar adjusted it to the solar year periodically or not. If they did not, we cannot recuperate it. If they did, we would have to know the method of intercalation that they used in order to recuperate it, which we do not.
The date of neither annual feast nor new moon as observed in Bible times can be established today. The only day that is established with absolute certainty is the Sabbath. Therefore, only the Sabbath can be seen as a duty.
It is of no use to discuss the obligation of keeping an Old Testament ordinance, if we cannot establish the necessary perameters of doing so. If we could establish the duty of keeping annual feasts, based on theological reasoning or reading of the Scripture, we still could not keep them, since we do not know when they occur.

quote:
Originally posted by Richard Myers:
Parts of the Mosaic law were types and shadows that ceased to be binding at the death of Christ. Other aspects were only for the state of Israel which was a theocracy. But, there are other parts of the Mosaic law which remain binding today. They are a revelation of the laws of our being. Like the health principles revealed, there is much that many do not wish to bring into their lives because they do not desire to give up a perverted heart. Let us study this subject that we might receive the blessings God has for us in the Bible.


Sister Marie

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Binding Aspects of the Mosaic Law
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2007, 08:06:00 AM »
A very interesting point brother Thomas, and one that I had never thought of before. I'm glad that you mentioned that as it makes a lot of sense. The Sabbath, on the other hand, has never changed. Like the Bible, God has preserved it all these years.  :)

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Richard Myers

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Binding Aspects of the Mosaic Law
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2007, 10:24:00 AM »
Most of the Christian world accepts that the shadows have passed away and that the reality is Christ. We do not observe the Passover, but rather the Lord's supper has taken its place.

But, what of the other judgments and statutes? What was their purpose? Are they related to the moral law? I think that we can say they are. There were some that were unique to the state of Israel as a theocracy. There is no longer a theocracy, so these statues are not binding upon us today. We can learn from them though. The statutes that are not shadows and are not related directly to a theocracy we have no reason throw away. They are light regarding the laws of our being. They are the instructions God has given that we may be successful in this world and prepared for the next.

At first glance many will seem to be too far removed from our way of life, from modern society. But, upon closer examination we shall find much wisdom in the statutes. What many will refuse to accept is in fact wisdom from God that will bless us as we walk in the light.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Sister Marie

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« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2007, 05:49:00 PM »
Let's not talk just about them as a whole, but would you start with them one by one or a few at a time. As a whole I don't think we will get near the blessing of understanding like we would if we get into each of them.  :)

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Mimi

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« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2007, 08:53:00 AM »
Amen - let's do it. I am particularly interested in those civil laws pertaining to the COI - death penalties having to do with wrongs in the camp, etc.
  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 

Richard Myers

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« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2007, 09:43:00 AM »
It appears that there are "civil" laws that relate only to the theocracy. When God led Israel, He was responsible for the ultimate results of His leading. Not having the direct leadership of a state today, these laws are not applicable as I see it. When we remove these "civil" laws and the "shadows" we are still left with statutes that apply to us as individuals today. Some examples?  How about taking an animal out of a ditch on the Sabbath Day. Or not eating fruit from a newly planted tree. And, letting your land rest to make it more productive? Are there more?

How about not eating fat? Not eating blood? Not drinking alcohol?  We have only begun to scratch the light God has given to His people.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2007, 07:23:00 AM »
Some posts have been transferred to the Moderator Forum for discussion.

The classification of "civil" laws is not easy.  We will need to discover the principles involved in doing so. There are statutes that were restricted to Israel. How do we discover which ones apply and which ones do not?

It is rather obvious that the state is not to stone those who build a fire on the Sabbath. This was a statute that was only to be executed by the theocracy. Same for the death penalty for the glutton. What many pass off as being of little importance is quite important. We must discover how to apply the statutes that we have been given in the Old Testament.

The shadows are only shadows. The theocracy laws were for Israel, but the rest are for our blessing today. A correct application will protect us from those who would attempt to apply the shadows and the civil laws to us today and will enable us to benefit from the laws of our being that have been lost.

The state will yield soon to the fallen churches and make a law which will attempt to force the conscience based on a wrong interpretation of this subject. The statutes regarding punishment for breaking the Sabbath Day were restricted to Israel as a theocracy. Yet, the church is to enforce the seventh-day Sabbath in her realm.

We must not look to man, but we must search the Bible and discover the correct principles in this important subject.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

JimB

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Binding Aspects of the Mosaic Law
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2007, 08:07:00 AM »
 
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Myers:
We will need to discover the principles involved in doing so. There are statutes that were restricted to Israel. How do we discover which ones apply and which ones do not?

I think this needs to be fleshed out before we can go on to talking about examples. I can think of examples to talk about but until we can decide which ones are still binding we will be putting the cart before horse.

By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest.  {DA 291.1}

Mimi

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« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2007, 09:05:00 AM »
May we take it to Mod3 Forum so Thomas and I can participate?
  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 

Richard Myers

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Binding Aspects of the Mosaic Law
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2007, 09:37:00 AM »
The subject is the Death Penalty and it is opened in the Moderator/Member2 Forum. Access is open to members by request. Click on "Contact us" at the bottom of the page and ask for access to Mod/Mem2.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Mimi

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« Reply #12 on: May 18, 2007, 09:57:00 AM »
Thank you!
  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 

Richard Myers

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« Reply #13 on: May 19, 2007, 09:04:00 AM »
Can we agree that the state is not to punish those who build a fire on the Sabbath?

Can we agree that it is sin to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not? It is not good to drink blood. It is therefore sin to him that knows they ought not drink blood. Can we agree?

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Liane H

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« Reply #14 on: May 19, 2007, 01:45:00 PM »
Here is a good example:

Leviticus:

3:17   It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.  

I think of this in the same way as I do unclean meats. What is unclean is still unclean today. Nothing has changed in the unclean meats that can make them clean today.

If a person is unclean then they remain unclean. Only when one is willing to be made clean by the blood of Jesus can a person be made clean.

This is talking about salvation, not food so the food issues is still the same that we are not to eat fat nor blood or unclean things.

Revelation:

18:2   And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.  

Notice the comparison between what is Babylon and that which is unclean. If all was fit for food what unclean bird is God speaking about to John here?

So therefore there still are unclean things to eat even today. Now we come to a very important verses in the Bible in 1 Timothy:

4:1   Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  
4:2   Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;  
4:3   Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  
4:4   For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:  
4:5   For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.  

It does not say all meats, but meats that god had created to be eaten. Did God create unclean meats to be eaten? No!

If we are to speak about every creature of God is good, then man are creatures and is it good to eat each other?  

There has to be logic and reasons that God gives in wisdom and when we seek that wisdom we seek the truth and are blessed.  


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Richard Myers

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Binding Aspects of the Mosaic Law
« Reply #15 on: May 19, 2007, 03:53:00 PM »
So we have statutes and judgments from the Mosaic law that are part of the moral law. They are an extension of the ten commandments. They fill in what it is hard for us to see.

Why is it that we ought not drink blood? The Bible says so, but can we know why the Bible tells us not to drink blood? Can we know which commandment this statute comes close to?

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

asygo

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« Reply #16 on: May 19, 2007, 04:39:00 PM »
 
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Myers:
So we have statutes and judgments from the Mosaic law that are part of the moral law. They are an extension of the ten commandments.

The SOP says that, but I can't remember the quote. Anybody have a clue?

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Mimi

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« Reply #17 on: May 19, 2007, 07:37:00 PM »
Hi, Richard and Arnold. The quote you are looking for is given below in a following post - it is from a Signs of the Times article that is fabulously astounding to those of us who do not recognize the link. These discoveries are such a blessing.

The life is in the blood. I just read it while going through Exodus through Deuteronomy to review the statutes.

You asked:    

quote:
Why is it that we ought not drink blood? The Bible says so, but can we know why the Bible tells us not to drink blood? Can we know which commandment this statute comes close to?

Because life is in the blood - it makes sense (to me) that it would be directly related to the Sixth Commandment. SOP says in the citations given below that the life current is in the blood. And by extention to that commandment it is a direct link to the health message. "Don't eat the blood." Doing so can poison the body, thus harm the temple and possibly kill it.


Ministry of Healing, 271-2
Counsels on Diet and Foods, 91
Counsels on Health, 59, 173
1SM, 114
Testimonies, Vol 2, 525


What also strikes me is the connection of one consuming what is the "life" of another living being.

[This message has been edited by Sybil (edited 05-23-2007).]

  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 

Richard Myers

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« Reply #18 on: May 19, 2007, 07:43:00 PM »
Yes, life is in the blood, therefore we ought to do all that we can to make good blood. One of the great dangers to our blood is found in the blood of diseased animals and humans. Now, who knew that a thousand years ago? But, we know it today and are thankful that God told us to not drink the blood.

For those that refuse to study this subject and continue to eat meat with blood in it, you are at great risk of infection from many diseases and so are your children. The Bible is warning us to refrain from ingesting blood and your doctor will warn you to not even touch human blood. How much worse to touch animal blood....and even much worse to allow it into your stomach. The animals are carrying many diseases and they can be transmitted via blood.

Any other great light in the Old Testament statutes?  Or was it just for the Jews?

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Sister Marie

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« Reply #19 on: May 19, 2007, 10:57:00 PM »
Our bodies, the Bible says, are the temple of God, and also that we are not the owners of it. Our job is to take care of this complete body and not put in it things that will harm it or defile it.

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Marie