Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
What does is mean when it says we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter? Why does the letter of the law kill, but the spirit gives life? I've heard many people give their opinions. But Jesus has the opinion which matters most so let's see what He says.
Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Verse 21 describes the letter of the law which is don't kill people. Also notice Jesus states "it was said of them of old time." This is the "oldness of the letter" as described in Romans 7:6. Then in verse 22 "newness of spirit" is described which says merely being angry without justification is as bad as killing. So the spirit of the law is to obey the letter of the law but then go the extra mile out of love. You obey the letter out of duty, but have the spirit when your love for God is so great that simply obeying the letter makes you feel like you are shortchanging the Lord. This gives new meaning to the phrase "love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10; see also Galatians 5:14 & James 2:8).
Here's another example:
Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
The letter of the law - Don't commit adultery.
The spirit of the law - Don't even entertain the thought.
In Isaiah 42:21 the Lord promises to "magnify the law" and that is exactly what Jesus has done. Now do you understand why 2 Corinthians 3:6 says the letter kills, but the spirit gives life? Jesus is saying if you only obey the letter you will be in danger of hell fire! The letter kills because it is the bare minimum one can do and shows a lack of desire to go the extra mile. But if you love the Lord with all your heart and let the Holy Spirit lead you then the spirit saves. For "if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18).
As witnesses for Christ we are commissioned to obey the spirit of the law. The heretical claim made by some people within the church that the 10 Commandments were only for the Jews is completely false. I find it astonishing some Christians have been deceived into believing the 10 Commandments were only valid under the old covenant. They often cite some of Paul's writings as their proof but they are quite mistaken. In particular they cite Colossians 2:14 to claim the 10 Commandments were nailed to the cross and abolished. Paul was talking about the sacrificial ordinances which were made obsolete when Jesus offered Himself as the supreme sacrifice for sin. For "we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). Jesus didn't abolish the law, He magnified it. The new covenant is to let the Holy Spirit dwell within you, teaching you to obey God out of love not obligation. I'm going to end this post with a handful of verses to demonstrate that point.
Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
2 Corinthians 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Isaiah 42:21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
Amen.
============
(UPDATED ON 6/25/16)
I found a couple of things which I think make good additions to this post.
Deuteronomy 28:47 Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
The spirit of the law is to obey God with joyfulness and gladness of heart... not with the attitude of "sigh... okay I'll do it because I have to." So let's take what God says about the Sabbath to heart.
Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Now there is something I've been guilty of. It's not enough to observe the Sabbath day as the Lord commands, it needs to be with joyfulness and gladness of heart too. Ever get impatient or restless for the Sabbath to be over so you can do your own thing? I have and it is to my shame that I admit it. The Sabbath is our day to commune with God, to rest also, but not to do your own thing while He is furthest from our minds. It's a day to get rested up and it's a day to assemble and have fellowship with other Christians, but most importantly it's a day to spend with God in you heart and in your thoughts all throughout the day. Fact is, far too often I haven't even observed the Sabbath to the letter, let alone the spirit. I've been guilty but I want to be clean from here on.
Thank you Father for the blessed Sabbath day.
2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
What does is mean when it says we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter? Why does the letter of the law kill, but the spirit gives life? I've heard many people give their opinions. But Jesus has the opinion which matters most so let's see what He says.
Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Verse 21 describes the letter of the law which is don't kill people. Also notice Jesus states "it was said of them of old time." This is the "oldness of the letter" as described in Romans 7:6. Then in verse 22 "newness of spirit" is described which says merely being angry without justification is as bad as killing. So the spirit of the law is to obey the letter of the law but then go the extra mile out of love. You obey the letter out of duty, but have the spirit when your love for God is so great that simply obeying the letter makes you feel like you are shortchanging the Lord. This gives new meaning to the phrase "love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10; see also Galatians 5:14 & James 2:8).
Here's another example:
Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
The letter of the law - Don't commit adultery.
The spirit of the law - Don't even entertain the thought.
In Isaiah 42:21 the Lord promises to "magnify the law" and that is exactly what Jesus has done. Now do you understand why 2 Corinthians 3:6 says the letter kills, but the spirit gives life? Jesus is saying if you only obey the letter you will be in danger of hell fire! The letter kills because it is the bare minimum one can do and shows a lack of desire to go the extra mile. But if you love the Lord with all your heart and let the Holy Spirit lead you then the spirit saves. For "if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18).
As witnesses for Christ we are commissioned to obey the spirit of the law. The heretical claim made by some people within the church that the 10 Commandments were only for the Jews is completely false. I find it astonishing some Christians have been deceived into believing the 10 Commandments were only valid under the old covenant. They often cite some of Paul's writings as their proof but they are quite mistaken. In particular they cite Colossians 2:14 to claim the 10 Commandments were nailed to the cross and abolished. Paul was talking about the sacrificial ordinances which were made obsolete when Jesus offered Himself as the supreme sacrifice for sin. For "we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). Jesus didn't abolish the law, He magnified it. The new covenant is to let the Holy Spirit dwell within you, teaching you to obey God out of love not obligation. I'm going to end this post with a handful of verses to demonstrate that point.
Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
2 Corinthians 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Isaiah 42:21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
Amen.
============
(UPDATED ON 6/25/16)
I found a couple of things which I think make good additions to this post.
Deuteronomy 28:47 Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
The spirit of the law is to obey God with joyfulness and gladness of heart... not with the attitude of "sigh... okay I'll do it because I have to." So let's take what God says about the Sabbath to heart.
Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Now there is something I've been guilty of. It's not enough to observe the Sabbath day as the Lord commands, it needs to be with joyfulness and gladness of heart too. Ever get impatient or restless for the Sabbath to be over so you can do your own thing? I have and it is to my shame that I admit it. The Sabbath is our day to commune with God, to rest also, but not to do your own thing while He is furthest from our minds. It's a day to get rested up and it's a day to assemble and have fellowship with other Christians, but most importantly it's a day to spend with God in you heart and in your thoughts all throughout the day. Fact is, far too often I haven't even observed the Sabbath to the letter, let alone the spirit. I've been guilty but I want to be clean from here on.
Thank you Father for the blessed Sabbath day.
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