Life in the Spirit and the Role of the Law in Pauline Ethics.
So Life in the Spirit - is not to be disguised as such, but really just to be a continuation of Life under the Law.
In Saving us through Christ's Work on the CROSS and the Coming of the Holy Spirit, God created us to be His Eschatological People, who live the Life of the Future in the Present.
This Life Reflects the Character of God. As the Renewed Presence of God, the Holy Spirit having given Life to God's people, now leads them in paths of Righteousness.
What is the ROLE of the LAW in Pauline Ethics?
What happens to righteousness in terms of Behaviour if righteousness is by Grace, a gift apart from the Law?The Spirit and the New Covenant.
Instead of Torah Observance maintained by Judaizers who follow Paul around, Paul argues, the the Spirit and the Spirit alone, identifies the People of God under the New Covenant.
The failure of the Old Covenant though it was Spiritual (given by the Spirit Inspiration) see below
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin;
and it came with "glory".
2Co 3:7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,
The Law was not accompanied by the Empowering of the Holy Spirit.
It is only by the Holy Spirit that we behold - and are being transformed into the glory of the Lord.
Co 3:4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
2Co 3:6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2Co 3:7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,
2Co 3:8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
2Co 3:9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
2Co 3:10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.
2Co 3:11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
2Co 3:12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,
2Co 3:13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.
2Co 3:14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
2Co 3:15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.
2Co 3:16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2Co 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
2Co 3:6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2Co 3:7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,
2Co 3:8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
2Co 3:9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
2Co 3:10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.
2Co 3:11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
2Co 3:12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,
2Co 3:13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.
2Co 3:14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
2Co 3:15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.
2Co 3:16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2Co 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
The Promised New Covenant replaced the Old and the Gift of the Spirit proves it.
This fulfills the promise in The New Covenant.
Jer 31:31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
Jer 31:32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.
Jer 31:33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
God's People are not to be identified by sabbath observance, circumcision, or food laws but by Righteousness from an obedient heart by the power of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces righteousness for both Jew and Gentile. The Holy Spirit makes the new Covenant effective as the central key to Paul's argument for including the gentiles, Torah free.
The Spirit brings an end to Torah Observance.
[In the O.T. itself, it is clear the God's intent with Torah was for His Charactyer to be revealed in the way His people worshipped and lived; hence the critical Role to be played by the Holy Spirit].
The gift of the Spirit under the New Covenant replaces the Torah and the New Covenant replaces the Torah and its righteous requirement is the key to answering one of the nagging questions in our reading of Paul
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