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The old, immature law and covenant also represent the legalist mindset. This is to think we obey the law of God perfectly by simply knowing the law and avoid sinning WITHOUT taking the path of holiness. and being equipped with the spirit of God to works of righteousness. The path where we are tested, tried and educated and purified from sin in the higher school of Christ. We must partake in the sufferings of Christ in order to really learn to hate sin. It is only by hating sin and love God who is contrary to the law of the flesh, that we will really learn to walk by the spirit of God. In this way we will have the law of God inscribed on our hearts, and not just intellectually in our minds. This represent the new law, covenant and kingdom/order.
We must have the word and law of God written, not only intellectually, but also spiritually. In this way we will start to act according to the law of God by the new spirit, by being baptized not only by water, but also by fire and blood. The more devoted we become to God and Christ, the more we will start to act according to His spirit. The holy spirit of God and of Christ.
“If you love me, you keep my commandments,” John 14:15.
THE OLD LAW, COVENANT AND ORDER, which is also the law of the flesh: represent the old, the former, the immature, the typical and literal, the external, the earthly, circumcision in the outer, and the spirit of the world and man, of the flesh, of the natural and elementary order. Same as the spirit and law of the world = salvation in the outer, in the flesh. Emphasis on physical energies, with works in the flesh. Building their tower to heaven, which is Babylon. They walk by sight, not by faith.
THE NEW LAW, COVENANT AND ORDER represent new light, the present, the mature, the spiritual and inner, the deeper, the divine, circumcision of the heart and the spirit of God and Christ. Same as the gospel and spirit and law of Christ. Salvation in the inner, in the spiritual, in the heart. Saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. His Atonement (Justification) and His kingdom in our hearts in the sanctification. His law, His spirit, His character = Image and Kingdom of Christ in our inner, spiritual being, our hearts. This is the righteousness of Christ: to receive his law by grace. The gift of salvation in the atonement and forgiveness for repented sins, and spiritual power to overcome the law and spirit of the flesh and the world, by receiving Christ's law of divine love in the process of His sanctification, by His holy spirit. Hence we are being transformed gradually from walking according to the flesh, to walking according to the spirit, by faith. This is also the mark and seal of God, in a fuller interpretation and context. The 7th day Sabbath stand out in the law of God as a seal within a greater seal, among other things because it identify God as the creator. (See seperate article on this subject alone here ).
Hence it is not about the created, but the creator, the heavenly, God and His spirit and Law. This does not mean we are to forsake the physical and the external, representing the earthly, but there is a clear distinction regarding importance and priority and main focus. They walk by faith, not by sight.
The new covenant represent the covenant that was established when Christ fulfilled His mission on earth and became the antitypical lamb that taketh away the sin of all mankind. He removed the veil that separate mankind from approaching the throne of God, and restored the bridge from earth to heaven, from mankind to God. See Hebrews chapter 5-12. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.» Ephesians 3: 16-17 From immaturity to maturity in Christ. A fuller measure of the spirit means better discernment as you escape increasingly the mind prisons of false beliefs that bind you to this world and the prince of it. False beliefs are both the shadows and types = darkness, and also false light. While the genuine and complete law brings them love and true light, from literal to spiritual. From type to antitype. From Saul to Paul
From literal Jew to spiritual Jew = Christian. Angels loosening the chains and set the captive free, from “mind prisons” and witchcraft of this world. Freed from walking according to the flesh, by sight.
Immature Christians must be fed “milk”. More straightforward, elementary knowledge. Plain reading of the word. Needing to be constantly guarded.
Mature Christians: Set free. More independent. Can tolerate solid food = discern deeper and more spiritual truths. Do not need to be guarded all the time. They walk increasingly in the spirit of God, by faith, by the unseen and heavenly first.
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready, for you are still worldly. " 1. Cor 3: 1-3
«For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.». -Hebrews 13:9
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasurein earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2. Corinthians 4: 6-7 “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2 Cor 12: 9-10”
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” -Matthew 15:9-11 This does not mean that we can eat what we want, and that what we put in our mouths is not important. Because we are dependent on this physical body in order to live and receive knowledge, but it is the heart and mind, the character that we truly need to have transformed into the likeness of Christ. Christ was not perfect physically when He went through all the sufferings and temptations in an earthen, human vessel. If He had been perfect outwardly, He would be like an angel. Yet He went through everything and yet won, despite having an imperfect physical vessel. That is much of the point. It is Satan who takes great pride in his flesh, his appearance and physical strength and energies. But it is not the physical flesh, however perfect, that ultimately saves. It is spiritual power from the spirit of God, by grace, to transform our inner man, that saves in the end. By the love, power and example of Christ, who demonstrated perfectly also his Father and His character and law. The kingdom of God. That is, we are not saved by perfection in the outer, by physical energies as spiritualism teaches, even if one had the ability to do so. But by a sanctified character (perfection in the inward man). In any case, one will never be able to eat our way back to living for a thousand years, like the first parents. We would have to manage more than that, because we are to receive bodies that will be able to live forever. But remember that Satan and the fallen angels who had superior bodies, were still cast out of heaven due to fault in their character: their morality. So physical perfection will not be achieved in this life. It is the character that must be perfectly adapted to the heavenly society first. But note that we are dependent on our physical bodies while we are here on earth, and we have been given a responsibility by God to respect and treat our physical body by trying to live healthy, eat right, etc. “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” -Matthew 12: 33-37 “ the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All (inner courts: holy of holies) was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle (outer temple) was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.» Hebrews 9: 8-10 Interpretation: The way to heaven and Christ is not so much in the outer, the literal and earthly temple. But in the heavenly sanctuary. And more so in the holy of holies, the innermost chamber. The inner, the spiritual temple . The heart and mind. Again this represent the new covenant, where Christ is our high priest of an everlasting order. This I believe is also the everlasting gospel, and the everlasting covenant, in short. Pharisaism and major focus on the PHYSICAL, the LITERAL, the EXTERIOR = ceremonial.
“Cain and Abel represent two classes that will exist in the world till the close of time. One class avail themselves of the appointed sacrifice for sin; the other venture to depend upon their own merits; theirs is a sacrifice without the virtue of divine mediation, and thus it is not able to bring man into favor with God. It is only through the merits of Jesus that our transgressions can be pardoned. “ -Patriarchs and Prophets p 72 to 73
An emphasis on the wrong things says a lot about who we worship. Do we have a right main-focus on what God values most, or what the world does? The Spirit of God, if it takes increased dwelling in us, if we advance, will make us more balanced and have a more correct main focus on the internal rather than the external. This happens because of grace, through faith. But we must cooperate and actually take up our cross, and walk in the footseps of Christ, with Him as master and Savior.
" Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24. Read also 1. Peter 4: 12-14. .
A healthy diet and vegetables are all well and good and I prop myself full with lots of vegetables and no meat or fish. However, that does not mean that I am saved because of it. If I think that I'm almost like Cain sacrificing vegetables instead of trusting in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God and his spiritual grace for salvation. It has value, yes, but it is still comparatively easy to give up literal meat, compared to that of giving up your spiritual flesh.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; It is not their own work, but the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 The spritual food is still more important than the literal, physical food. Again we speak of a first value and priority, not an either or. How we view things is an indicator of how mature or immature we are in the faith.
Although grace is undeserved power from God to be equipped for righteous deeds, it is in any case not in the right spirit to over-focus esteem highly the outer man, representing the earthly temple vs the heavenly temple.
"so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart." 2. Cor 5:12
Otherwise we become like the spiritualists, who find salvation in physical energies and high vibrations. We become like the Pharisees, like the world and the Nazis. It is not Christ’s way or gospel. Hitler was for instance a vegetarian, a conviction he had received from his prophet, Madame Blavatsky. But Hitler and the Nazis, had an over-focus on the external, which tragically resulted in the the Holocaust. That is why the Nazis also institutionalized their own citizens and brutally murdered them in cold blood: they assessed the value of people based on the external factors, such as genes, physical and mental health, nationality, racial gender, and so on. Not on the internal values: the spiritual , the heart, of eternal value and built by God and His spirit, by grace. Hitler represent a man and a ruler who did not believe or abide by the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He stuck to the old way, the shadows and darkness, the very same spirit and antichristian teachings that crucified our Lord Jesus Christ. Read 1. Corinthians chapter 2. Hence he operated under the spirit and law of the fallen angel, the prince of this world. And as far as we know, without repenting. Continue to part 3. Entire series: "The Old vs. New Law, Covenant and Order"
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