From: redding@itd.dsto.gov.au
Newsgroups: aus.religion
Subject: Re: no thrills from no frills
Date: 3 Sep 92 17:19:45 GMT
Distribution: aus

markc@hydra.maths.unsw.EDU.AU writes:
>Rick Jelliffe (ricko@ee.uts.edu.au) wrote:
>> callum@bain3.bain.oz.au (Callum Gibson) writes:
>> >... Christianity is a No-frills religion. 
>> I disagree: it is incredibly rich and ever unfolding. A puritan style of 
>> religion does suit some people, but it is more bleak than God demands:
>> he enjoys religious acts done by his church.
>Callums replies:

>>What makes you think He enjoys religious acts?  Weren't the Israelites
>>tangled up in trying to earn their salvation through religious acts?  Jesus
...
>>get the impression that Jesus was quite down to earth?  He didn't take any
>>notice of the Pharisees silly rules that _they_ had made up, not God.

>I find this quite a bizarre statement. Jesus may have been down to earth,
>but he was also a practicsing Jew. ( Not that these should be seen as 
>exclusive things). He kept all the Jewish rituals, and indeed said that he 
>had not come to end the law as some believed. Rather that the law would remain
>until the coming of the kingdom of God. What silly rules that the Pharisees made up did he not keep? 

>I must say that I find a lot of christians have a very bizarre attitude to 
>Judaism, which appears to be based upon ignorance for the most part. Of 
>course I am no expert on Judaism, but I do have some orthodox Jewish friends

You seem to be confusing two types of law here: the Law of God, 
given to Moses, and the ceremonial law of the Jews of the Old Testament.
Bare with me for a moment while I give some background.

The Law of God is embodied in the Ten Commandments, and God requires
our _perfect_ obedience to this law in thought, word and deed. Now,
this is clearly impossible, because of our sinful nature, and God
consequently instituted His saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ so
that the Law might be perfectly satisfied for those who believe and have
faith in Him, to show His great mercy, and to glorify Him.

Now, in old testament times, Christ had not of course yet died on the
cross in propitiation for the sins of believers, so this was way
the ceremonial law was necessary. The ceremonial law involved a regular blood
sacrifice by the jews in payment for their sins and in recognition of
the coming saving work on Christ on the cross. 
(Note that God also demanded a sacrifice of the heart in conjunction
with the blood sacrifice e.g. 1 Sam. 15:22 "obedience is better than
sacrifice and to heed than the fat of lambs", and also see Amos 5:21) 
When Christ was crucified, He became the ultimate blood sacrifice for
the sins of believers, and no further blood sacrifice was necessary
(and indeed makes a mockery of what He has done). Before His death on the cross
of course He had not finished His saving work so He observed all the
ceremial law.

Hence Christ came to _end_ the ceremonial law and to
_satisfy_ God's perfect (and eternal) Law for believers.

Nick
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