Christian or Catholic?

[padreest]

Catholic Education

Is it possible that I send my child to a catholic school but raise her to believe, have faith, and love no other than Jesus Christ? My husband and I have discussed a local catholic school for my 3 year old daughter. i feel comfortable sending my baby there (for safety, discipline, lower teacher/student ratio, no tolerance for unacceptable behavior, etc) yet, it is my duty to teach her to praise our lord. My husband is christian and i am originally catholic but learning more about christianity. so i ask again is it possible to send my child to catholic school and teach her to pray to no other, other than jesus christ? please let me know yoru thoughts.

I prefer to be known as an Orthodox Evangelical Catholic Lutheran. My reasoning is that many of today's Lutherans are not confessionally orthodox to Luther's discovery of true grace. I am through my ordination a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and hold membership in such a congregation. I believe that we do follow the Scriptures as closely as is humanly possible or I would not remain a part of this organization. I did "Church" shop for quite sometime but returned to this organization. Not all the teachings of Rome were eliminated as a result of the Reformation, only those contrary to God's word. You must needs recognize that your child will receive RC instruction as any other denomination would do. We are told to be alert and on gurard. The devil is only after Christians and even he can subtly deceive believers into believing a lie. I would try another parochial school. Pax Padreest

 

[Bella_1964]

Good. Thanks For The Quotes. Who Am I??? The Trinity.

 

[padreest]

Christian or Catholic

I don't know what I am to respond to, plse advise

 

[pixie]

Prophecy

I always thought that the roman catholic church was mentioned in Jeremiah as a prophecy. Just as many think that the roman catholic church is the ***** of babylon in revelations.

Jeremiah 51

6 Flee from Babylon! Save yourselves!
Don’t get trapped in her punishment!
It is the Lord’s time for vengeance;
he will repay her in full.
7 Babylon has been a gold cup in the Lord’s hands,
a cup that made the whole earth drunk.
The nations drank Babylon’s wine,
and it drove them all mad.

I think also that we are instructed to weep for her, because she has taken so many Christians from the Lord.

8 But suddenly Babylon, too, has fallen.
Weep for her.
Give her medicine.
Perhaps she can yet be healed.
9 We would have helped her if we could,
but nothing can save her now.
Let her go; abandon her.
Return now to your own land.
For her punishment reaches to the heavens;
it is so great it cannot be measured.
10 The Lord has vindicated us.
Come, let us announce in Jerusalem[d]
everything the Lord our God has done.

11 Sharpen the arrows!
Lift up the shields![e]
For the Lord has inspired the kings of the Medes
to march against Babylon and destroy her.

I pray for the peoples of the roman catholic church Lord, may they put a stop to their practices and turn and be healed. I pray for all that have been born into this faith, that it be easy to leave and come into the true teachings of Christ. I also pray that like Ninevah, she the *****, be healed. The LORD'S mercy has no boundaries. I pray that the blow of revelations be softened.

Jonah 3regarding Ninevah)

10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

I pray that the LORD soften His blow, regarding the people of the Lord. I pray for conversion to Christ our Lord.

Amenixie:rainbow:

 

[Sir Knight]

pixie, If the Catholic Church teaches incorrect doctrine, then why do all other Christians follow the Bible that the Catholic Church put together in the late fourth century?

If they teach false doctrine, then they mostlikely included the wrong passages and excluded the right passages. Why follow the bible that they assembled?

Where we differ with you Catholics is that we do not accept church tradition as having equal weight with Scripture.

If the person has any familiarity with Jesus at all, he would find that Jesus taught things in parables to people, but He explained everything to His disciples when they were apart and in private (Mark 4:33-34). Couple that with John's explanation that not everything Jesus did was written down (John 21:25), does that mean that the things Jesus explained in private to His disciples were of no importance? I would think that anything God did would definitely be of importance!

So how do we find out what these things that God did and taught were? Just because they weren't written down, does that mean they are lost forever to the mists of time? No! They survive as Tradition, meaning those things Jesus taught to His disciples in private. How do we know these Traditions are true and right? Because the bible tells us so.(2Tim2:2) They were passed down from one trustworthy person to another.

Landon

You said:



This is directly contrary to Scripture. I will post one of my own small studies on prayer in this thread right after this comment. You may profit from, so please consider. I leave you with this:





His name is Jesus, Landon.

Hisalone

But before Paul's teaching about Jesus as the "one mediator," (1 Tim. 2:5) Paul urges supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. (1 Tim 2:1-2) Paul is thus appealing for mediation from others besides Christ, the one mediator. Why? (1 Tim 2:3) because this subordinate mediation is good and acceptable to God our Savior. Because God is our Father and we are His children, God invites us to participate in Christ's role as mediator.

The answer is in front of your face, you even quoted it.

"I care what Jesus did and what GOD's Living Word, the Bible says. It is truth"

What Scripture itself says is solely what I believe is truth from GOD. Its very simple and basic. No hidden secrets, no tricks, no swaying around with traditional man-made doctrines.

The bible commands us to hold fast to BOTH the written word AND the ORAL TRADITIONS that are passed down to us (see 2 Thess. 2:15) -- placing the traditions of the church equal to that of the written word found in the bible. And, by not holding fast to these Oral Traditions of the Church, you are also not obeying the written commands of the bible which tells us to obey them.

You are wrong, no one here is even allowed to share opinions, but only Truth when it comes to the Word of GOD. The RCC is a perversion of GOD's original Word. We do not support that insult towards our Creator.

I ask again, then why do you use the bible that the RCC put together?

My bro in law is currently volunteering in Africa for a few months and has said how angry he is that the Catholics there have banned condoms. The AIDS virus is spreading at a fast rate and peple are dying. His gf is working with children who have AIDS and is also angry.

Doesn't scripture tell us that sex outside of marriage is sinful and offensive to God? Are you saying that the Catholic Church should support actions which are sinful and offensive to God?

The 'dogma and tradition' of the RCC does not just seem to be a lie,
according to the Word of God it IS a lie, and as such an abomination to
God.

According to YOUR interpretation of the Word of God, you see it as a lie. Yet, the Bible itself warns AGAINST privately interpreting scripture.

 

[Coconut]

If the Catholic Church teaches incorrect doctrine, then why do all other Christians follow the Bible that the Catholic Church put together in the late fourth century?

If they teach false doctrine, then they mostlikely included the wrong passages and excluded the right passages. Why follow the bible that they assembled?

You appear learned...so I gotta ask...are you kidding me? That was a rhetorical question meant to trip somebody up right? I`m mildly amused...

Are you crediting the Catholic Church for the original manuscripts too?

So how do we find out what these things that God did and taught were?...They survive as Tradition

Tradition can only be accredited to men, not God. 2Ti 2:2 is no basis for toting tradition as a reliable source of 'Thus saith the Lord'

1Th 1:4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. (All Scripture is given to us by inspiration from GOD would apply here...)

I would think that anything God wanted us to know He would have surely had written down. (The Ten Commandments written in stone certianly offer more validation here than the arguement you use) After all, the religious world is proof enough of what happens when carnal men are entrusted with a truth. It gets twisted and warped and fragmented till there is barely enough left of the original to recognize the authors stamp of approval. Like the jewelry (God told them to wear) that the Israelites had melted into a golden calf. Possesing the gold, in another form, is not is not enough to claim Gods approval. What we call tradition (we need something concrete to bow down too) God calls idolatry.

Paul is thus appealing for mediation from others besides Christ, the one mediator. Why? because this subordinate mediation is good and acceptable to God our Savior.

There`s a prime example of the twist. There is ONE mediator between God and man, and its not, nor ever has been one of us.

According to YOUR interpretation of the Word of God, you see it as a lie. Yet, the Bible itself warns AGAINST privately interpreting scripture.

I invite you to show me the scriptural truth in the 'dogma and tradition' of the RC church, without using YOUR interpretation. You cannot. In the mouth of two or three witnesses ...

 

[Chad]

pixie, If the Catholic Church teaches incorrect doctrine, then why do all other Christians follow the Bible that the Catholic Church put together in the late fourth century?

If they teach false doctrine, then they mostlikely included the wrong passages and excluded the right passages. Why follow the bible that they assembled?

If the person has any familiarity with Jesus at all, he would find that Jesus taught things in parables to people, but He explained everything to His disciples when they were apart and in private (Mark 4:33-34). Couple that with John's explanation that not everything Jesus did was written down (John 21:25), does that mean that the things Jesus explained in private to His disciples were of no importance? I would think that anything God did would definitely be of importance!

So how do we find out what these things that God did and taught were? Just because they weren't written down, does that mean they are lost forever to the mists of time? No! They survive as Tradition, meaning those things Jesus taught to His disciples in private. How do we know these Traditions are true and right? Because the bible tells us so.(2Tim2:2) They were passed down from one trustworthy person to another.



But before Paul's teaching about Jesus as the "one mediator," (1 Tim. 2:5) Paul urges supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. (1 Tim 2:1-2) Paul is thus appealing for mediation from others besides Christ, the one mediator. Why? (1 Tim 2:3) because this subordinate mediation is good and acceptable to God our Savior. Because God is our Father and we are His children, God invites us to participate in Christ's role as mediator.

The bible commands us to hold fast to BOTH the written word AND the ORAL TRADITIONS that are passed down to us (see 2 Thess. 2:15) -- placing the traditions of the church equal to that of the written word found in the bible. And, by not holding fast to these Oral Traditions of the Church, you are also not obeying the written commands of the bible which tells us to obey them.

I ask again, then why do you use the bible that the RCC put together?

Doesn't scripture tell us that sex outside of marriage is sinful and offensive to God? Are you saying that the Catholic Church should support actions which are sinful and offensive to God?

According to YOUR interpretation of the Word of God, you see it as a lie. Yet, the Bible itself warns AGAINST privately interpreting scripture.

Well right off the bat I'm not going to waste my time welcoming you to the forum due to the fact that your very first post here is to come butcher peoples' posts right in this thread, and you did not bother introducing yourself at least in the new member forum. So your motives are clear, just as clear as your lack of understanding of the Word and lack of respect for others.

You claim we believe in the Bible that the RCC put together in the 4th century. This is entirely false. Get your facts straight. You are according to your profile a Roman Catholic. So its obvious your likely an arrogant one who goes around defending the stained glass windows and the army-like traditions.

<dt class="smallfont">Biography:</dt><dd class="smallfont">Roman Catholic -- not looking to convert anybody but just to set the records straight</dd>

What record? Set who straight? Who are you to set any record straight? Is it your Word? Are you called by GOD to go around forums posting things that even you do not understand nor have any deep and true insight in the subject you discuss?

I have to ask you why do you need the roman catholic church (lowercase intended)? Is Jesus and His Word not enough? Traditions? Show me where traditions were mandatory and Scriptural. Quote from the Bible, not the "catechism". I'm sure you would not mind that since you claim the Bible we read is put together by RCC.

Ignorance is not bliss in the end.

 

[Coconut]

Roman Catholic -- not looking to convert anybody but just to set the records straight

I`ve done a lot of reading of the "records" of early christianity, including that of the Roman Catholic Institution. Tho i dont profess to be anywheres near an authority on the subject, there is`nt much that I have found can be said to be "straight" about it. (I know that is a play on words...my bad.) I do strongly suggest that any serious student of the Word, make good use of the information abundantly available to them on Christian history, part of their studies. Its like peeling away the layers of an onion (plenty of reason for tears) and finding what is at the root of our religious mindsets. Tho if any have a mind set in religious concrete, it probably wont benefit them much.

I myself profess to be neither Roman Catholic, nor Protestant, nor Orthodox, but simply a Christian. (with much reason)

That being said let me quote J.A. Wylie, LL.D. because he sums up most profoundly what I have read of the "records" of the Roman Catholic Church.

J.A. Wylie, LL.D.
circa 1851 in,
"History of the Papacy"

"...the Church (so-called) of Rome has no right to rank amongst Christian Churches. She is not a Church, neither is her religion the Christian religion. We are accustomed to speak of Popery as a corrupt form of Christianity. We concede too much. The Church of Rome bears the same relation to the Church of Christ which the hierarchy of Baal bore to the institute of Moses; and Popery stands related to Christianity only in the same way in which Paganism stood related to primeval Revelation. Popery is not a corruption simply, but a transformation. It may be difficult to fix the time when it passed from the one into the other; but the change is incontestable. Popery is the gospel transubstantiated into the flesh and blood of Paganism, under a few of the accidents of Christianity."

history2

(not endorsing the website, simply crediting the author of the article where I read this quote, and the article itself is a worthwhile read)

 

[Laudite]

Brothers! I pray that we might find God's peace through His Word.

God's Word is the Truth. No Christian (well, with a few minor exceptions not really important to this point) would ever dispute this claim. So many of you seem surprised and indignant that people would incorrectly interpret his word. It seems to me that you must have forgotten that same word! Indeed, do we not hear that EVERY interpretation of God's word is incorrect? Consider Paul's words to the Romans: 10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12: They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Brothers, truly and with a loving heart I implore you to read this, consider, and before replying, to read carefully the first 4 chapters of Paul's letter to the Romans.

If I might offer a commentary to support this, the first chapter explains the various evils that some of the Roman Church (somewhat ironic given the topic) had done. Consider, given this, do the Catholics do anything that could be considered worse? and even if they do, is not the end result (that they pervert their understanding of God) the same?

It seems to me that the second and third chapters are written to you. There is no man who understands, and no who does any good. We may see the sins of our brothers, but we have sins likewise ourselves. THIS IS OF THE MOST DIRE IMPORTANCE!
Paul tells us that (from the beginning of Chapter 2): 1: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2: But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3: And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4: Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5: But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6: Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9: Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10: But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11: For there is no respect of persons with God. "


Brothers, again with only the most honest and loving of intentions I must tell you that reading your posts I think I see indignation. Truly, I urge you to examine your souls most closely for indignation because any such indignation is PRIDE which truly will condemn your soul. It is true that the word of God is without flaw. But to propose the word as absolute truth is condemning another is to assume that we understand the word ourselves- and therefore to declaim the mote in our brother's eyes while ignoring the beam in our own.

Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, be upon you all.

 

[spirit1st]

That is just the reason ,HE makes us NEW CREATURES , Who Do seek truth and understanding and will serve HIM perfectly!

We are New spirit beings, Made like our LORD JESUS CHRIST!

We live though our Spirit!

1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?


Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.



2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.


Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.


Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.


Rom 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son


Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Phm 1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Gal 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
THIS IS OUR SPIRIT,We are to walk in !

 

[Property Of God]

I want to add something but please don't get me wrong or anything, i'm not even Catholic but i don't think it'll make us any better if we keep judging others, especially Christians like ourselves, Jesus never divided us into Churches, man did, and in old churches Christians used to kill each other so that others will follow a certain church.

I mean we keep focusing on the small picture while the big picture is to entirely focus on God and our faith and being better humans, so i don't care what church you follow as long as you admit that Jesus is God and i don't think God thinks like us humans and he sees the big picture and watches it all.

God bless you.

 

[spirit1st]

THE BOND is JESUS CHRIST and the CROSS!
Listen , I do not agree with the catholics.
But,if they were not here, It would be worse for us!

Because, they do stand for some things we do!

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Indeed, do we not hear that EVERY interpretation of God's word is incorrect? Consider Paul's words to the Romans: 10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12: They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 3 :10-12 is copied from Psalms 14 & 53 and refers to people who are under the law, and therefore under sin; who do not have God's Spirit working in their lives.

There is no way that you can use that citation to give legitimacy to your claim that all Bible translations are innacurate because the true Christians who produced those translations did so depending on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.


SLE

 

[Laudite]

Romans 3 :10-12 is copied from Psalms 14 & 53 and refers to people who are under the law, and therefore under sin; who do not have God's Spirit working in their lives.

There is no way that you can use that citation to give legitimacy to your claim that all Bible translations are innacurate because the true Christians who produced those translations did so depending on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.


SLE

This is interesting, because I think I agree with what you've said. I've no dispute with the psalm to which Paul alludes. I am uncertain as to exactly what you mean as to 'under the law and therefore sin'. I don't think that's your fault as its difficult to follow Paul in his muliple references to the law in romans. Anyhow, I think we can clean this up without all the 'I'm referring to the law in chapter three as contrasted to chapted two (which is the peril of our unfortunately inadequate english translations) if we spoke of general principles. I understand the first chapters of Romans to refer to a split between the jewish and gentile members of the church of rome. The romans did some Roman stuff (like orgies and whatnot) that didn't fit with the Jews sense of godliness at all. I think that when Paul addresses this problem, his point is that 'yes, the romans don't follow god, but neither do you. We are all sinners and therefore fall short of God's law. As a philosophical aside, I think Paul thinks that it is possible only in the hypothetical to be justified by the law, its just that no human has or will ever measure up because we sin. As sinners, then, we can't follow God's law or even understand Him (which is, of course, why Christ's forgiveness is paramount.) The Jews in the Roman church then can't condemn the practice of the Romans without questioning the very infinity of the forgiveness upon which they depend. It seems exceedingly clear that Paul tells the Roman Jews that they are in no position to condemn their brothers. I don't see any reason I can separate myself from the Jews of the Roman Church.

Another way to look at this starts with personal reflection. I can tell you that I am a sinner, and that my inequities are manifold and each one known to God. To paraphrase **** Cheney, we have the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns. If I cant even eliminate the sins that are obvious to me, how can I pretend to be certain that I understand all my sins? It seems to me that I can't. On the Last Day Christ will ask me an unanswerable question; why did thou forsake me. I can only weep at my own sin and beg with faith that if He so chooses I will be saved. The point, then is that its hard to condemn your neighbor while weeping on one's knees.

 

[rizen1]

That is just the reason ,HE makes us NEW CREATURES , Who Do seek truth and understanding and will serve HIM perfectly!

We are New spirit beings, Made like our LORD JESUS CHRIST!

We live though our Spirit!

1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?


Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.



2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.


Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.


Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.


Rom 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son


Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Phm 1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Gal 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
THIS IS OUR SPIRIT,We are to walk in !

Amen In Christ alone I stand a new creation holding tides to nothing but the blood.

In John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

 

[montovine57]

Although I believe as Chad there are many corrupt ideas in the Catholic Church; there are also many corrupt ideas in the protestant church of today. We are made to focus on signs, blessings, healings, gifts of the spirit, we are focusing on the minister rather than the one who is being taught about. I believe that revelations is coming alive in the world today, and many Christian faiths are falling to corruption. TV pastors stand adorned in jewles, fancy words, etc. Some, not all, seem to make a mockery of the truth of Gods words. Others bring into their message bits of New Age along with Jesus. My heart truly aches when I see all of this.

 

[eagles12]

Saved former Catholic also...

I am also a former Catholic saved by the grace of God. The difference between Catholic doctrine and Bible doctrine is 2 little letters. Catholicism teaches that you must "do" and the Bible says that it is already "done" by the death of Christ on the cross and His glorious resurrection.

"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" 2 Corinthians 5:21

God bless you all,
Mark
1 John 5:10-13

 

[Chad]

Very good way to put that eagles, never heard it that way. Its true indeed. For catholics, its based on works. For us, its based on faith by grace.

 

[Plankinyoureye]

Amen and Amen. Great post Chad, excellent.

1 Timothy 4:1-3

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth

There is a great video you can watch on Youtube called "Messages from Heaven." About Marian aberrations . It gets awesome in the second half when Scripture really starts to be revealed. I would urge all of you to watch it.

 

[spitnot]

i was thinking of opening another thread about "Law and Grace", but i think it will fit here.

The arguments and questions raised as to the subject of Christians being under the law or grace and the complexity made from both the old and new covenant are all borne out of an inadequate understanding of the agreement made between God and Moses on Mount Sinai.
Properly understanding the covenants and their importance seems to be one of the most eluding pieces of theology for the modern believer. The Mosaic Covenant was directed specifically toward the nation of Israel and was concerned in its chiefest aspect with Israel's inheritance of and blessing in the land of Canaan—the Promised Land. The laws that attended this covenant, while revealing God's desire for this nation to be set apart from all others as an example, do not necessarily give us any perfect basis for understanding morality. This may seem to be a strange statement but consider the following points.
Much of the time when people discuss the “Law,” they are thinking primarily of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments). However, the Law, (i.e., the Mosaic Covenant) contained several hundreds of commandments. Many of which today are not even possible to follow, due to the lack of a Jewish Temple. Yet, biblical morality is not affected by this situation.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus seemingly expanded the understanding of the Ten Commandments saying, “You have heard (from Moses) it was said… but I say (God Himself, the law-giver)….” Rather than just stating that we should not murder, He told us that if we called our brother a “fool,” it was the same as committing murder. So the Ten Commandments were not all encompassing as to morality.

The real question then presents itself, “What responsibility does the believer owe to the Mosaic Covenant?”
While the law is good (1 Tim 1:8), it is unable to justify (Gal 2:16). Under the “New Covenant,” Christ is our fulfillment of the law (Mat 5:17). Therefore, as to the question of what responsibility does the New Covenant believer owe to the Mosaic Covenant, the answer is “nothing” for the purposes of salvation (Gal 3:1-3). Some of the standards iterated from God through Moses upon Sinai were directed at the nation of Israel simply as the terms of a CONTRACT for possession of a certain portion of land. Deuteronomy 28 makes clear the stipulations of this covenant; essentially God would bless Israel for obedience by granting great prosperity in the land. But curse Israel for its disobedience with all manner of catastrophe culminating in the loss of Canaan. Despite God's longsuffering, Israel fails to uphold her portion of the covenant and reaps the curses God promised—climaxing in the Babylonian capture in the Seventh Century B.C.
The Law (both the covenantal and the universal, Ten Commandment aspects of it) now serves to lead mankind to understand his corruption. Just as Israel, a nation born of the fruit of God's own grace, could not stand under the righteous requirements of the Mosaic Law, neither can any man stand under the condemnation of God's universal requirement—absolute obedience of mind and action. Paul speaks of the Law as one who leads us step by step to grace, for it points out our dire need of such (cf. Galatians 3:23). And having taken hold of grace by faith, the believer no longer heeds the condemning beckon of the Law (cf. Romans). So then, is there any reason to look to the Levitical laws for ethical guidance unto righteousness? No—for their service now is to guide men to Christ (Galatians 3:24). –this also reasons Christ’s refutation against the Scribes, Lawyers, Pharisees, Sadducees, and the self-righteous who hold much unto the law instead of the Deliverer—Jesus.
What then? Is this freedom merely for the believing Gentile? Or does the believer of Jewish decent likewise bear this liberty? As certainly as the Jewish believer holds to Christ is his freedom from the Mosaic Law assured. The chief redemptive aspect of the Mosaic Covenant has been fulfilled by Christ. The blood of bulls and goats is useless and perfectly replaced by the sacrifice of the one Son of God Himself; to return to the Mosaic Law is to deny the sacrifice of Christ. This was the impetus driving the apostles as they stood against the teachers of Judaism (those who were requiring believers in Christ to bear up under the Mosaic Law) proclaiming, "Beware the dogs, the evildoers, the mutilation!"
Where then do we find our Christian ethic? Quite simply, in Christ's words: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength and you shall love your neighbor as yourself"—these words of Christ sum up the law, the very essence of it. (Mark 12:30-31). If we follow Christ's command, we cannot break any aspect of the Ten Commandments, nor any aspect of God's morality. And we find extrapolation of these ultimate commands in all the writings of the New Testament authors. That is our ethic—and it is borne by our faith in and love and reverence for Christ Jesus RATHER THAN FROM OUR FEAR OF BREAKING THE LAW.
This is what it means when Christians say “we are under the grace of God and not the power of the law”, for law brings nothing but conviction, that no one can perfectly obey its written code. Therefore it brings down judgment and condemnation. Hence it specifies that if you are under the law, you are under the power of sin because it is due to the law that sin is known. (Rom 3:19-20). It is important to take note that the law was given not before the “fall” but some time after (because when there’s the law, then there’s sin). It was given later to point that man is a fallen creature and it needs a Savior. The law was never intended to make man perfect but to emphasize his imperfection. In 2Cor3:3, it states that “you show that you are a letter from Christ (not from the law), the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human heart.”—context wise, this should not be interpreted beyond the message it is presenting. It’s not that the law (the old covenant) is now implanted in our hearts, but this conveys the reality of the grace,—new covenant at work in every believer—the Spirit that dwells within, God the law-giver and not the law. It is through Him we are guided and made righteous in the sight of God. Paul wrote this to refute the Jews who demanded that Christians should still comply with their traditions, rituals and legalistic claims. Take note with emphasis—“the letter kills (law), but the Spirit gives life.”
In contrast, Rom 3:21-22 clearly exposes that our justification and righteousness comes from God Himself and not from our obedience of the law or keeping the law. “But now a righteousness from God, APART from law has been made known….” V.31, “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.” – In other words, it is asking, “should we continue sinning (transgressing the law) then?” the answer of course is NO! Upholding the law means that Believers have perfected the law not out of their obedience to the law but by FAITH, LOVE AND SUBMISSION to Christ who fulfilled the law.

*the emphasis is that it is all about Jesus Christ and not us trying to keep the law.

- we shouldn't look down on anyone... may it be Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, JWs or brothers who do some things in vain. Remember, we are no different from them... we are all like beggars begging for food... we just received the "Bread" and came to friendship with the Giver. Looking at the words of Christ, we find that after all they are our "neighbor".


Some excerpts are from: The Blue Letter Bible CD. CD-ROM, version 2.11. Sowing Circle, 2006.