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Posts: 4849
Wed, 18-Sep-13 11:01:15
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mark wrote:Christian scripture makes this very clear:In John 14:15, Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commands." In Matthew 5:19 he says, "Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." In James 2:26, James says, "faith without works is dead". In Ephesians 2:10, Paul says, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
mark wrote:Of course, Christian scripture also says that this does not mean that Gentiles are expected to keep Jewish law, or try to convert. Acts 15:19 and 1Corinthians 7:18 say this very explicitly.On the other hand, and I think this is really the point where we disagree, Christian scripture also says that we cannot be justified (made righteous) by our attempts to keep the law, since nobody can do that perfectly.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14(JPT) -11. For this commandment which I command you this day, is not concealed from you, nor is it far away. יא. כִּי הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם לֹא נִפְלֵאת הִוא מִמְּךָ וְלֹא רְחֹקָה הִוא 12. It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us and fetch it for us, to tell [it] to us, so that we can fulfill it?" יב. לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִוא לֵאמֹר מִי יַעֲלֶה לָּנוּ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וְיִקָּחֶהָ לָּנוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵנוּ אֹתָהּ וְנַעֲשֶׂנָּה 13. Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us and fetch it for us, to tell [it] to us, so that we can fulfill it?" יג. וְלֹא מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִוא לֵאמֹר מִי יַעֲבָר לָנוּ אֶל עֵבֶר הַיָּם וְיִקָּחֶהָ לָּנוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵנוּ אֹתָהּ וְנַעֲשֶׂנָּה 14. Rather,[this] thing is very close to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can fulfill it. יד. כִּי קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשׂתוֹ
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