Dedicated to Purpledawn who as asked to see a list of christian laws.
Unlike the Mosaic Law, the Christian laws are not given as one continuous list of laws. They are found throughout the writings of the NT in discussions and discourses given by the Apostles. So you need to read the NT in its entirety to find them.
At 1 COR 9:21 the Apostle Paul said
quote:
"I am not without law toward God but under law toward Christ"
So what exactly is the Law of the Christ?
It was always Gods purpose to remove the burden of the Mosaic law from the people and given them a new one.
"Look! There are days coming and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a NEW COVENANT; not one like the covenant that I concluded with their forefathers [Mosiac Law]" (Jer31:31)
quote:
Hebrews 9:15So that is why he [Jesus] is a mediator of a NEW COVENANT, in order that, because a death has occurred for [their] release by ransom from the transgressions under the former covenant, the ones who have been called might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance
As you can see it is scriptural. The mosaic law was fortold to be removed and a new covenant, a new avenue of approach to God, was to be put in place. The Apostles of Christ confirmed that the new covenant had come into place and they called it the 'Law of the Christ'
So what is it?
The law of the Christ is repeatedly associated with freedom. The apostles referred to it as "the law of a free people" and "the perfect law that belongs to freedom." (John 8:31, 32 & James 1:25, 2:12)
This is the most unique aspect of the law....unlike the Mosaic law, no one is born into it. One must choose it and no one can compel another to live by it. Also race and place of birth are irrelevant, it is completely based on free will.
While the Mosaic Law was designed to teach man that he is sinful and in dire need of a sacrifice to redeem him, the law of the Christ taught that the Messiah had come, paid the ransom price with his life, and opened the way for us to be freed from sin and death.
quote:
Gal 3:19 "Why, then, the [mosaic] Law? It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the seed should arrive "
Another stiking difference between the two covenants is that Jesus never wrote down a single law. Instead, he lived this law. By means of his perfect life course, he laid down a pattern for all to follow.
So really, understanding the Law of the Christ, means understanding Jesus the Man. This explains why Christianity was called 'The Way' in the first century. It was a way of life that the followers of christ lived. To imitate Jesus was to obey this law. Their intense love of him meant that this law was indeed written on their hearts, as prophesied and because love motivated them, they were not oppressed by the law, it was as Jesus said
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am mild tempered and lowly at heart and you will find refreshment for your souls"
Peter also mentioned this when he said :
quote:
1Peter2:21In fact, to this [course] YOU were called, because even Christ suffered for YOU, leaving YOU a model for YOU to follow his steps closely. ...When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously.
The essence of Christian law is love. They were taught to love as Jesus did. They were to base all their actions on Love and in this way they could fulfill the law of the Christ.
The sermon on the mount and some of Jesus parables such as the good samaritan are codes of conduct that Jesus practiced and worthy of imitation.
Here are a few more...perhaps others can add to the list.
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1. John 13:34I am giving YOU a new commandment, that YOU love one another; just as I have loved YOU, that YOU also love one another.
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2. Galatians 6:2 "Go on carrying the burdens of one another, and thus fulfill the law of the Christ"
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3. 1John 4:21 "21And this commandment we have from him, that the one who loves God should be loving his brother also"
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4. 1John 3:23"Indeed, this is his commandment, that we have faith in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and be loving one another"
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5. Matt 28:18 "And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying:...Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU
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6. Eph 5:33"let each one of YOU individually so love his wife as he does himself; on the other hand, the wife should have deep respect for her husband"
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7. Acts 15:28"For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to YOU, except these necessary things, 29to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication"
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8. Eph 4:29 "Let a rotten saying not proceed out of your mouth, but whatever saying is good for building up as the need may be, that it may impart what is favorable to the hearers."
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9. Romans 13:13 "Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities"
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10. 1Timothy 3:3-12 (these requirements put polygamy on the outer)
"be irreprehensible, a husband of one wife, moderate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach, 3not a drunken brawler, not a smiter, but reasonable, not belligerent, not a lover of money, 8 be serious, not double-tongued, not giving themselves to a lot of wine, not greedy of dishonest gain, 9holding the sacred secret of the faith with a clean conscience.
11Women should likewise be serious, not slanderous, moderate in habits, faithful in all things.
12Let ministerial servants be husbands of one wife
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Please feel free to add NT laws to the list.
Edited by Peg, : No reason given.
™ Version 4.2