Question: Did Christ himself say that he would do away with the Law? [Yanus]

Absolutely not. What he did say was that He came to "fulfill" the law [Mat. 5]. Paul did expound on it later in the doctorinal sense though, which of course later became one of the main tenents of Christianity. So the question becomes, what did Christ mean when he said he came to "fulfill the law".

To understand this, it is important to keep in mind that no one in history, has been able to "keep" the law—Jews included. The veracity in this statement is exemplified by the fact that once a year the high-priest would have to sprinkle himself with blood and enter into the "holy of holies" to atone for the sins of Israel. It is not humanly possible to keep the law. That is why Christ came.

Also, it should be pointed-out, that Christ himself expounded on the Law when he said that a man commits adultry when he looks at a woman lustfully [if I might paraphrase]. The idea being, that sin occurs in the heart. I can’t over-emphisize the point that the purpose of the Law is to illustrate the distance between ourselves and God.

Admittedly, this is a tricky doctrinal precept, even for many believers. But if you submit yourself to the premise that Christians should be under the Law [as my brother Yanniru holds] then the question becomes—why did Christ come and die on the Cross?

Brian

• Repentance does not require blood sacrifice - yunus - May 30, 2001 - 18:40 UTC
  • Forgiveness does - isaiaha41 - June 2, 2001 - 13:55 UTC
    • Please do not misquote me. - yanniru - June 4, 2001 - 12:44 UTC