Old Testament via the New Testament – Law Judgment Love

 

 

Here are three examples based on “Law”, “Judgment” and “Love” from the Lost Orthodoxy Book.

 

1) Law (Pages 512 – 516)

 

To Quote:

 

The ‘Law of Liberty’ example as Irenaeous explains above in regards to ‘tithes’ as well as other Laws (“Torah”) in the Context of Matthew 5:20 in his writing in that same chapter above (can be seen in the link and in “P/S” below) ——> points to Two Important Facts:

 

1. a) Fact 1: Some Old Testament Laws are Replaced by Greater Ones with the “former” having NO need to be practiced at all under the New Testament for Gentile Believers (e. g. ‘the Tithing Law’ example illustrated above) —–> because the ‘latter CAN be practiced without the former’ (e. g. ‘you CAN practice giving as you purposed in your heart without practising the 10% tithing rule’).

 

1. b) Fact 2: Some Old Testament Laws are ENJOINED together with Stronger Ones with the “former” having a need to be practiced TOGETHER —-> with these NEW New Testament LAWS for Gentile Believers as {illustrated below} —> ‘because you CANNOT practice the latter without practicing the former’ (e. g. ‘you CANNOT practice don’t hate others by not practicing don’t murder first’).

 

Example: The “Thou shall not Murder/Commit Adultery” Old Testament Law must be kept together with the NEW Testament’s Stronger Command to “NOT be in hate/lustful thoughts either even” as Irenaeous explains in his own words below too:

 

“And for this reason did the Lord, instead of that [commandment], “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” forbid even concupiscence; and instead of that which runs thus, “Thou shalt not kill,” He prohibited anger;…” (St. Irenaeous of Lyons, ‘Against Heresies’, Book 4, Chapter XIII, Point 3)

 

Why?

 

“For the LAW, since it was laid down for those in BONDAGE, used to instruct the soul by means of those CORPOREAL OBJECTS which were of an EXTERNAL NATURE, drawing it, as by a BOND, to OBEY ITS COMMANDMENTS, that man might learn to serve God.

 

But the WORD set FREE the soul, and taught that through it the body should be WILLINGLY PURIFIED. Which having been accomplished, it followed as of course, that the BONDS of SLAVERY should be REMOVED, to which man had now become accustomed, and that he should FOLLOW GOD WITHOUT FETTERS: moreover, that the LAWS OF LIBERTY should be EXTENDED, and subjection to the king increased, so that no one who is convened should appear unworthy to Him who set him free, but that the piety and obedience due to the Master of the household should be equally rendered both by servants and children; while the children possess greater confidence [than the servants], inasmuch as the WORKING of LIBERTY is GREATER and MORE GLORIOUS THAN that OBEDIENCE which is RENDERED in [a state of] SLAVERY.” (St. Irenaeous of Lyons, ‘Against Heresies’, Book 4, Chapter XIII, Point 2)

 

Emphasis, please note from the above:

 

“BONDS of SLAVERY should be REMOVED” —> [from Obeying some Old Testament Law], —-> which are CORPOREAL OBJECTS of an EXTERNAL NATURE —-> “to which man had now become accustomed”

 

“and that he should FOLLOW GOD WITHOUT FETTERS” —–> [No tithing rule for example] —–> “moreover, that the LAWS OF LIBERTY should be EXTENDED,” —–> [Greater or Deeper New Testament Laws which give a ‘range of obedience according to what the Commands of the Blessed Lord are toward Gentile Believers as it is Written’] —-> I add, example: “any of apostle Paul’s Inspired Commands of the Lord in his epistles which applies to any Gentile Believer” (1 Corinthians 14:37).

 

P/S: Matthew 5:20

 

In discussing the above, Irenaeous did discuss it in the Context of Matthew 5:20 too as follows:

 

“He does Himself declare: “Unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

 

For what meant the excess referred to? In the first place, [we must] believe not only in the Father, but also in His Son now revealed; for He it is who leads man into fellowship and unity with God.

 

In the next place, [we must] not only say, but we must do; for they said, but did not.

 

And [we must] not only abstain from evil deeds, but even from the desires after them. Now He did not teach us these things as being opposed to the law, but as fulfilling the law, and implanting in us the varied righteousness of the law.

 

That would have been contrary to the law, if He had commanded His disciples to do anything which the law had prohibited.

 

But this which He did command-namely, not only to abstain from things forbidden by the law, but even from longing after them-is not contrary to [the law], as I have remarked, neither is it the utterance of one destroying the law, but of one fulfilling, extending, and affording greater scope to it.” (St. Irenaeous of Lyons, ‘Against Heresies’, Book 4, Chapter XIII, Point 1)

 

Comment: What does Irenaeous mean by the phrase “neither is it the utterance of one destroying the law, but of one fulfilling, extending, and affording greater scope to it” in the last line above?

 

Examples:

 

(i) Tithes

 

{and INSTEAD of the LAW enjoining the GIVING of TITHES – Old Testament, Compulsion}

 

—-> is Replaced by the FULLER COMPLETION, EXTENSION or the GREATER:

 

{[He told us] to SHARE ALL our POSSESSIONS with the POOR; and NOT to LOVE our NEIGHBOURS ONLY, but EVEN OUR ENEMIES… – Law of Liberty, New Testament, Willingly}

 

Logic: When SHARE ALL is Commanded, it includes ‘giving beyond the 10%’ but not necessarily vice versa.

 

 

(ii) Adultery

 

{instead of that [commandment], “Thou shalt not commit adultery,- Old Testament, Compulsion}

 

—-> is Replaced by the FULLER COMPLETION, EXTENSION or the GREATER:

 

{” forbid even concupiscence; – Law of Liberty, New Testament, Willingly}

 

Logic: When concupiscence is Prohibited, it includes ‘no adultery’ but not necessarily vice versa.

(iii) Murder

 

{and instead of that which runs thus, “Thou shalt not kill,” – Old Testament, Compulsion}

 

—-> is Replaced by the FULLER COMPLETION, EXTENSION or the GREATER:

 

{He prohibited anger – Law of Liberty, New Testament, Willingly}

 

Logic: When anger is Prohibited, it includes ‘no killing’ but not necessarily vice versa.

 

Can we SEE it?

 

P/S 2: Apostle Paul’s Epistles

 

How do we know that the “Gentile Obedience to the Law is not based on All the Old Testament Torah” but based on apostle Paul’s New Testament Writings “only”?

 

Reply

 

Again, Irenaeous in his own words describing this in that same book (Context) in a closely related Chapter as follows, please consider:

 

“… Wherefore also PAUL, since he was the APOSTLE of the GENTILES, says, “I laboured more than they all.” For the instruction of the former, [viz., the JEWS, ] was an easy task, because they could ALLEGE PROOFS from the SCRIPTURES…

 

also, that they who believe in Him shall be incorruptible and not subject to suffering, and shall receive the kingdom of heaven. These things, too, were preached to the GENTILES by word, WITHOUT [the aid of] the SCRIPTURES: wherefore, also, they who preached among the Gentiles underwent greater labour.

 

But, on the other hand, the faith of the GENTILES is proved to be of a MORE NOBLE description, since they FOLLOWED the WORD of GOD WITHOUT the INSTRUCTION [derived] from the [sacred] WRITINGS (sine instructione literarum).” (St. Irenaeous of Lyons, ‘Against Heresies’, Book 4, Chapter XXIV, Point 1, Point 2)

Please note the two points ‘carefully’ based on the above:

 

1. c) All Old Testament Scripture applies to Jewish Believers

 

Instruction of the former, [viz., the JEWS, ] —-> ALLEGE PROOFS from the [Old Testament] SCRIPTURES.

 

1. d) Only Some Old Testament Scripture or Sacred Writing applies to Gentile Believers

 

PAUL, since he was the APOSTLE of the GENTILES —-> preached to the GENTILES by word, WITHOUT [the aid of] the SCRIPTURES —-> faith of the GENTILES is proved to be of a more noble description —–> since they followed the WORD of GOD WITHOUT the INSTRUCTION —–> [derived] from the [sacred Old Testament] WRITINGS (sine instructione literarum).

 

This means that “All Gentiles” are instructed via “apostle Paul, the apostle of the Gentile’s letters” even WITHOUT any OLD TESTAMENT Scripture or Torah being needed, can you see it?

 

Please note carefully also that Irenaeous ONLY mentions apostle Paul as the apostle of the Gentile Believers where his PREACHING WITHOUT the SACRED WRITINGS or OLD TESTAMENT Scripture is to be ACCEPTED by “any Gentile Believer” ——> and that if ‘any Gentile Believer’ believes apostle Paul’s PREACHING as he WRITES even without any Old Testament Scripture —–> it considered a MORE NOBLE FAITH —–> or in Irenaeous’ words, “faith of the GENTILES is proved to be of a MORE NOBLE description, since they FOLLOWED the WORD of GOD WITHOUT the INSTRUCTION [derived] from the [sacred, Old Testament – Torah] WRITINGS (sine instructione literarum)”.

 

P/S 3: An Edifying Theological Remark

 

“Firstly, we know from apostle Paul’s Writings that the challenge Christ issued in that —> ‘unless your righteousness shall abound above that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall never enter into the kingdom of the heaven’ (in Matthew 5:20 above) —> was NEVER attained by any human being as it is Written —–> “because by the works of the Law no

flesh will be justified in His sight…” (Romans 3:20, NASB) and this aspect of Salvation regarding the Faith of Jesus Christ unto Salvation (for us to obtain the ‘Righteousness of God through Him only’ – Romans 3:21 – 22 toward ALL and ‘those who believe’ too).”

 

The excerpt above is from Page 68 from the Book Lost Orthodoxy in link below:

 

https://www.anonymouschristian.org/download/lost-orthodoxy-heart-of-the-gospel-by-anonymous-christian/

 

2) Judgment (Page 16 & 19)

 

Bible – Old Testament vs New Testament – Inerrant? – Hell’s Logic

 

The Bible is inerrant. Let’s Speak in human terms also:

 

I reject your rejection of it.

 

He commanded those Judgments toward those who did that first toward others – there is no big difficulty there.

 

If your daughter was raped, murdered or dashed upon a rock, as a father would you just do ‘nothing and forgive’ the perpetrators if you ‘had the power to Judge them back?’

 

You might but God isn’t like that because He is the Perfect Father.

 

God Will return the same pain and evil they did on others back to them in this life or next.

 

God only does NOT avenge His Blood Shed on the Cross and thus He Forgives eventually.

 

At the Deeper Understanding level, the Old Testament vs New Testament is about God’s Will in Time, like this:

 

Old Testament reflects the “equal” Judgment back (e. g. ‘eye for an eye’…) which for example is signified by the afterlife Judgments.

 

It doesn’t end there as eventually when the last Penny is Paid (Luke 12:59), as the New Testament Declares (“Prophetically”) in Matthew 5:43 —-> the ‘Hate your enemy’ time will be over and “cancelled” (a time to “hate” – Ecclesiastes 3:8 – during “Fiery Judgment”, the Hate is inclusive of His Love for Correction – Beginning with Retribution, Isaiah 3:11, Galatians 6:7 followed by Cleansing or Restoration with “Fiery Soap”, Malachi 3:2).

 

I repeat, the Hate your enemy part will be over / “cancelled” implying intrisincally that “afterlife Judgments cannot be forever” (His Perfect Principles) —-> and Love your enemy “only” part, Consecutive Verse next in Matthew 5:44 comes in Permanently —> and Restores them (Universalist Verses), the “Perfect having come for each of the all”, the “previous partial” will be “Done Away”, 1 Corinthians 13:10 (Afterlife Judgment, Old Testament, Law etc. Will be over after being fulfilled, Matthew 5:17 – 19, & Vanish away, Hebrews 8:13). The Bible is Infallible and Inerrant.

 

God’s Will in Judgment

 

God’s Will Doesn’t change in Time, it’s specified in Time (what He Will do in) :

 

(i) Old Testament – Retributive Judgment

 

(ii) New Testament – Restorative Judgments

 

Which Proves His Will in Afterlife Judgments too likewise (the ‘Substance in Christ’ for the Judgment Context highlighted here for the ‘shadow’ of the Two Covenants on earth).

 

(afterlife Context – example: Revelation 20:11 – 15).

 

Apostle Paul’s conversion was on earth and ‘he had to suffer many things on earth too’, Acts 9:16 (not afterlife context – whoever repents here gets judged on earth as the quoted verses prove – if not judged, we are bastards, not sons).

 

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:8, KJV)

 

Yes, God’s Love has to render the evil back to the person who did it to others first so they feel their own pain —-> they repent —-> He restores them.

 

3) Love (Pages 463, 211 – 212)

 

We also get this RARELY known RIGHTEOUSNESS without WORKS when we believe in God JUSTIFYING the WICKED (or UNGODLY) too as Prophesied in LOVE by Holy Scripture (God does NOT Change & His Perfect LOVE does NOT Fail NOR End, 1 Corinthians 13 toward His ENEMIES too – Irrefutable, – Matthew 5:44 as He will CANCEL all ‘hate your enemy – Judgment Concept & Sentences’ eventually (Matthew 5:43) as it was with the Old Testament after these are Fulfilled (Hebrews 8:13), Context of Consecutive Verses in Matthew 5:43 – 44, Irrefutable, yet again):

 

“But to the one who does NOT WORK, but believes in Him who JUSTIFIES the UNGODLY [Wicked], his FAITH is credited as RIGHTEOUSNESS,” – apostle Paul (Romans 4:5, NASB)

 

Let’s ‘not’ miss out the ‘fuller rewards’ in light of all these ‘Bible Verses’. Do not lose heart even if you fall because:

 

“Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:35, NASB)

 

To Quote (also):

 

Keys’ are for ‘Unlocking’ Verses:

 

“I will give you the KEYS of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you BIND on earth shall have been BOUND in heaven, and whatever you LOOSE on earth shall have been LOOSED in heaven.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:19, NASB)

 

“and He Who is Living, and I did become Dead, and, lo, I am Living to the ages of the Ages. Amen! and I have the KEYS of the HADES and of the DEATH.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:18,YLT)

 

The time frame of “ages of the Ages” is highlighted in the above to show that HE will use the KEYS to SAVE from those Bound to HADES and DEATH in the LAKE OF FIRE too (e.g. Revelation 14:11, Revelation 20:10 with Revelation 20:14) – Can you see it? (the phrase ‘ages of Ages’ occurs in some of these Verses quoted connecting these together)

 

“From the hand of Sheol I do ransom them, From death I redeem them, Where is thy plague, O death? Where thy destruction, O Sheol? Repentance is hid from Mine Eyes.” – God Speaks (in Hosea 13:14, YLT)

 

Repentance is hid from Mine eyes = God Will NOT Change His Mind from Saving in the afterlife from both SHEOL (HADES) or DEATH as Hosea 13:14 Reveals Majestically even if when these are cast into the LAKE of FIRE for the Final SECOND DEATH (as Revelation 20:14 clearly mentions causing the Mysterious Reconciliation from the Lake of Fire toward these “thirsty ones” as Prophesied Majestically in Revelation 22:17 as well – His Bride and the Spirit calls out to these thirsty ones and only the Lake of Fire makes someone to still be thirsty, right? His Bride or Church, believers are NOT the thirsty ones for we NEVER thirst again after our Resurrection – Isn’t it obvious? Revelation 20:4 – 6, John 4:14, Luke 20:35 – 36).

 

If the time frame of “ages of Ages” is NOT highlighted in Verse above, God knows that some men will ‘add’ to His Holy Word by Claiming that the KEYS to UNLOCK ‘time period is only in the dispensation of Grace now or other man made limits’ which are all REFUTED by this WRITTEN phrase.

 

Source: https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/afterlife-salvation-mysteries/

 

Truly, God Alone is both Good (Mark 10:18) and Perfect (Matthew 5:48)!

 

“You have heard … hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies …” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:43 – 44, BLB)

 

Please note the phrase “But I say to you” carefully in Verses above which proves that God Will CANCEL every HATE YOUR ENEMY concept(including Judgment) eventually and Replace it with LOVE YOUR ENEMIES and that’s why He Commands us to Demonstrate that on earth itself. The LOVE here is AGAPE = The Highest LOVE of GOD.

 

Truly:

 

“But LOVE ye your ENEMIES, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; … HE is KIND unto the UNTHANKFUL and to the EVIL.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 6:35, KJV)

 

Amazing Love Indeed!