[DawnDawn]

I have decided to follow Jesus, who do you follow and why? Many Christian churches today quote Paul over and over again but rarely Jesus. Why do you think that is?

[Wondergirl]

Paul wrote a lot more than Jesus did (who actually didn't write anything). Paul offered the early churches practical advice, much of which is still valid and useful.

I do believe Jesus' two greatest commandments are very much talked about in churches today, so am not sure what you are saying with your question.

[DawnDawn]

What I'm saying is this, Paul (a human subject to human error) taught that we are no longer under the law for example people will tell you we don't have to keep the Sabbath anymore because we are no longer under the law. Jesus said emphatically in his sermon on the mount that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it and in Matthew 5:19 Jesus says, "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Guess who teaches men that we no longer need to keep the commandments? That's right. Compare every man's word with Jesus' word if you want to be following the true teachings of God and not man. This lie of Paul's has been perpetuated for 100's of years but the truth is now finally surfacing. Don't be like the followers of Korah (see Numbers 16) who followed man and not God and the earth opened up and swallowed them alive.
16:31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.

[Wondergirl]

Are you a Witness?

Jesus also said that now there are only two commandments, love God and love others.

[DawnDawn]

I am not a Jehova's wittness, I do not belong to any man made doctrine or denomination, I believe in Gods word only. What Jesus said was that all the Law and the Prophets are summed up in those two commandments. If you Love God you will find out what pleases Him and do that. If you love your neighbor you will treat him the way you want to be treated. Please read all of Matthew 5 and ask God for His direction and don't trust me or any person trust Him the Creator only. Remember that Abel found out what pleased God and God accepted his gift where as Cain did not find out what pleases him. He could have found out but he decided to get angry instead. If you want to know what pleases Him ask Him. God speed his love to you.

[DawnDawn]

P.S. I love your signature comment about animals. So True!!

[Wondergirl]

I've been a Christian since before I was born.

Because of Christ's sacrifice, we no longer live under the "don't"s of the Ten Commandments, but can now rejoice in the "do"s of loving God and loving others.

[Fr_Chuck]

The issue is that if you don't accept the complete teachings of the bible, you then pick. What parts of the bible you will accept and not.

You are rejecting early writers who lived with Jesus. Also the words in the bible are not what Jesus wrote, it is what he said, and was some 10 to 20 or more years latter written down by man. So why would the words the bible says are from Jesus be any more true or not true, if you want to blame human error.

[classyT]

The law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth CAME through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

When you read the Word it is important to remember to put everything into context. We are instructed to rightly divide the Word of truth. I believe this means to understand the difference between what is written under the law and what is written to the church today under Grace.

The reason SOME preachers may preach a lot from Paul is because his epistles were written directly to the Church today. And make no mistake about it... what Paul taught came directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. However to understand any book in the bible... it must be put into context. Who is the book written directly to? Why was it written? And in the gospels... make sure you understand WHO Jesus is talking to. Is he speaking to the rich young ruler who came to the Lord with the law and all the works he had done? Or is he speaking to Zacchaeus who is a sinner in need of grace and receives it... no strings attached. Because Jesus responds totally differently to them. Rightly divide the Word of truth... you won't understand the Bible if you don't.

[classyT]

As far as the sermon on the mount... come on!! Read it... there isn't person on the PLANET that can possibly keep it. That is God's law in the fullest extent. It goes beyond the 10 commandments. No longer is Jesus saying just murder is wrong.. no... hating is the same thing. Adulty is wrong but we find out LUST is the same thing. SEE That is GODs perfect standard. And we can't do it. And God knew we couldn't. But Jesus didn't STAY on the Mount. He came down off that mount and what was the first thing he did? He touched an UNCLEAN leper. Do you know how many laws that leper broke being there? Did Jesus FREAK out and tell him all the laws he had just broken? No! In fact Jesus TOUCHED the leper. Because only Jesus can touch a unclean thing and make it clean. Because Jesus is full of Grace and Truth and mercy. AND only after he rose from the dead did the gospel of Grace come completely understood. And Jesus himself gave Paul that very gospel. Paul didn't make it up. In fact if you are so big into what Jesus has to SAY check out what he DID say to Paul in Acts. Just a thought

[DawnDawn]

Thank you for your comments. I am not saying we are not saved by grace. What I'm saying is that too many people today use the false premise that we no longer are required to keep the law. We are required to keep it as well as humanly possible. If you only knew how many people say to themselves, I can look at this porn, it's not hurting anyone, I'm not under the law anymore. Also the Jews are being kept from believing because they know better than to rebel against God's laws. As far as picking and choosing which scriptures I like, that is exactly what I am saying not to do. Far too many pick the false teaching that we are not under the law and disregard the rest. I do not wish to debate with any of you. I just wanted to know if there was anyone else out there that has been given this knowledge about the false teachings. You have every right to believe as you wish.

[Wondergirl]

But we aren't required to keep the Law any longer. We are not under the Law. If you believe that, you are totally missing the point of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

[DawnDawn]

These are the scriptures I was led to after reading your email: John 10 - his sheep follow him (Jesus) because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Ezekeil 2:7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.

John 1:1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 5:43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

Paul tells his followers in 1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Paul says all things are lawful in 1 Cor 10:23 "all things are lawful for me but all things are not expedient..."

Rev 22:12 behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be.

Yes it is true we can not be saved by our works alone, we need the blood of the lamb because we are human but we are to strive for perfection and ask for forgiveness when we fail. We are not to use Paul's teachings as an excuse to do what ever we want.

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other...

Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Listen was the history of the world divided by Paul's life? BC & AD
Were the prophecies about Messiah fulfilled by Paul?
Did Paul die on the cross for our sins?
Yet we continually quote Paul and Peter because it is a less demanding religion. Do not toss out Jesus' teachings just because they hard. Strive to serve Him the best you can and don't let the enemy deceive you anymore. (I say we because I was deceived as you are now about the law issue) All your arguments are not new to me. I embraced them just as you do, just as most Christians do. It is a hard thing to accept and took me years and tears and much praying to finally believe the truth.

Deuteronomy 30:19... I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

Brothers and Sisters, don't you know the voice of the enemy, the deceiver who came to rob and kill? When I tell you Jesus said we are still under the law, who do you think it is that is whispering in your ears, "Did Jesus really say that?"

Genesis 3:1 3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’? ”

Did God really say that? Yes He did.

[ScottGem]

I follow my intelligence and my conscience.

[NeedKarma]

I follow my intelligence and my conscience.

Same here.

[Wondergirl]

I follow my intelligence and my conscience.

And that is what Christians are to do.

[classyT]

DD-
Did you know below are verses written directly to the church:

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.Romans 5:20... Read it again. Law entered, so our sin my abound. WOW! That is why the law was given in the first place. Not to keep mankind "good".

Now how can we keep the law when it was given that sin might get worse in our lives? That was the whole purpose... to make people come to the end of themselves and realize they cannot keep the Law. But that isn't all the Bible says... get this:

the STRENGTH of sin is the Law. 1 corinthians 15:56
Read that again!! It is very plain English AND guess what? That was written directly to YOU or directly to the Church. The Law is what gives sin strength! Amazing. Bet you haven't heard a Pastor preach that before.And those two verse were written TO the church today.

One more thing... Jesus was NOT speaking to Christainity.. not to Christain churches... not to SAVED people in the gospels. ( mathew, mark, luke and John) He hadn't yet died or rose. He came to the Jewish people under the law. But those words he said were not written directly to the Church or body of Christ today. OH it is for us to read and understand... but it isn't TO us. This is where we need to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the WORD OF TRUTH. Don't mix law with grace... try it you will like it and the Bible will begin to make more sense to you.

[DawnDawn]

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Jesus said to teach all the nations everything that He taught them. All nations. This is the great commission. Haven't you read the gospels?

John 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

One flock, one shepherd, that means Jew and Gentile.

All the arguments I have been hearing are the same arguments I used to tell myself. The truth is God has called us to keep his commandments. These are His words not mine. If you think your arm is long enough to box with God then continue by all means.

Yes we are saved by grace, yes we are still to keep His commandments. It's not complicated.

[Wondergirl]

Yes we are saved by grace, yes we are still to keep His commandments. It's not complicated.

But the reason why is different because of Jesus. We keep them out of love (NT) for God and our neighbor, not out of fear (OT) of God's wrath and punishment.

[classyT]

Yes we are saved by grace, yes we are still to keep His commandments. It's not complicated.

Seriously? Read what you just said... it doesn't make good sense. You say we are saved by grace which is unearned, unmerited, undeserved favor. But then you turn around and say BUT we still keep his commandments. Well? Which is it. You can't have it both ways. It is either by grace or it is by keeping the law.

In Romans Paul tells us the Law is the MINISTRY OF DEATH. That is a big deal. Putting yourself under law is the ministry of death?! Take that in... don't just read over it. Then he goes on to say that the strength of sin is the law. WOW. Again... HUGE statement some Christians don't really take a look at. Paul is clear that the reason the Law was given to mankind in the first place is to show man he can't do it. He needs a savior. That and ONLY that is the reason the 10 commandments were given. So why would the Lord die on the cross, become SIN for us, take the curse for us.. only to put us back under it. That's nuts.. and he didn't and if he did it wouldn't be Grace.

Now don't get me wrong. Sin is still sin and God hasn't gone soft on it. But RIGHT believing produces RIGHT living. However putting yourself under the law only keeps you in sin. Hey... I didn't say it the Bible did.

Incidentally, when is the last time you love the Lord you God with all your heart soul and mind and then loved your neighbor as yourself? Because I don't know about YOU but I don't do that everyday. And when I think on doing that... guess what? I fail. However when I think on what the Lord has done for me and how much he loves me I get my mind off me and the Holy spirit takes over and it all comes so naturally. I find myself loving the Lord and people. See? Right believing produces right living. All the Law can do is point you to YOU and how you can't do it. Grace points you to JESUS and how he DID do it for you. Law points to self... Grace points to Jesus.

Grace is unmerited, undeserved favor. That is how we are saved... that is how we stay saved. If you add keeping his commandments to that it is the same as me telling you I am giving you a FREE Porsche and you only have to pay $100 bucks a month for it. Like I said... you cannot have it both ways.