{"id":3160,"date":"2017-03-27T06:02:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-27T11:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/?page_id=3160"},"modified":"2025-08-18T07:16:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T12:16:28","slug":"two-covenants-part-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2","title":{"rendered":"Two Covenants: Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>JESUS AND THE LAW<\/strong><br \/>\nChristians readily accept that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/5-17.html\">Jesus fulfills the law, <\/a>but they are unclear about which law he fulfilled. They are reasonably sure that Jesus did not fulfill the literal <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Law_of_Moses\">Law of Moses<\/a> because they make no attempt to fulfill the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewfaq.org\/613.htm\">many written and oral laws<\/a> that religious Jews try to observe. Furthermore, many Christians are still offended that Jewish <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:1-14;+luke+6:6-10;+luke+13:10-17;+luke+14:1-4;+john+5:5-18;+john+7:19-26;+john+9:19-27\">Pharisees conspired to have killed Jesus killed for breaking their laws <\/a>which wer<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:1-14;+luke+6:6-10;+luke+13:10-17;+luke+14:1-4;+john+5:5-18;+john+7:19-26;+john+9:19-27\">e <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+7:19;+john+5:45;+hebrews+10:28;+matthew+23:1-2\">based on the Law of Moses<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Christians are conflicted, therefore, in their efforts to understand what law it was that Jesus came to fulfill. They do not want to legalistically observe the Law of Moses like the Jews do, but they still want to honor the Ten Commandments. They are challenged to reconcile the following truths into a coherent doctrine:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+34:28;+exodus+24:18;+exodus+31:18;+exodus+34:1;+deuteronomy+4:13;+deuteronomy+10:4\">Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+8:4;+matthew+19:8;+matthew+23:1-3;+mark+1:43-44;+mark+7:10;+mark+10:1-5;+mark+12:26;+luke+2:21-22;+luke+16:30-31;+luke+24:24-27;+luke+24:44;+john+1:17;+john+1:45;+john+5:45-46;+john+7:19;+john+7:23;+acts+28:23;+hebrews+9:19;+hebrews+10:28;+hebrews+11:23-24\">Jesus and others affirmed the teachings of Jewish leaders (i.e. Scribes and Pharisees)<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:13-20\">Jesus came to fulfill the law <\/a>which is presumed to be the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:1-10;+luke+6:6-10;+luke+13:10-17;+luke+14:1-6;+john+5:5-18;+john+9:1-16;+matthew+9:1-3;+mark+2:16;+mark+2:23-28;+mark+7:1-9;+matthew+15:1-10;+luke+23:1-2\">Jesus was a lawbreaker<\/a> with respect to Jewish laws based on the literal Bible. That is why<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+26:1-4;+mark+14:1;+luke+22:1-2;+john+11:51-53;+matthew+12:1-14;+luke+6:6-10;+luke+13:10-17;+luke+14:1-4;+john+5:5-18;+john+7:19-44;+john+9:19-27;+john+8:58-59;+john+10:22-39\"> religious leaders conspired to kill him.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+4:17-19;+matthew+5:12-48;+matthew+6:1-20;+matthew+6:33;+matthew+7:1-15;+matthew+9:38;+matthew+10:5-28;+matthew+11:29;+matthew+12:30-33;+matthew+13:12;+matthew+15:4-6;+matthew+16:6;+matthew+23;+luke+6:20-42;+luke+9:23;+luke+18:9-14;+matthew+18:10;+matthew+18:15;+matthew+18:21-22;+luke+12:15;+matthew+19:6;+matthew+20:26;+matthew+21:1-7;+mark+16:15-18;+luke+14:12;+matthew+22:19;+matthew+22:37-39;+matthew+24:4-6;+matthew+24:23-27;+matthew+25:29;+matthew+26:41;+matthew+28:19-20;+john+3:7;+luke+24:49;+john+13:34;+john+14:15;+john+21:15;+revelation+1;+revelation+2;+revelation+3\">Jesus gave many commands<\/a> that have the weight of laws that cannot be easily correlated with the Laws of Moses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"https:\/\/pittsboropres.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/300_commands_of_jesus.pdf\">this link<\/a> for an extensive list of Jesus&#8217; commands.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:17-19;+matthew+5:27-28;+matthew+5:43-44;+matthew+5:21-22;+matthew+5:31-34;+matthew+5:38-39;+matthew+12:1-14;+matthew+15:1-5;+matthew+17:10-12;+matthew+18:21-22;+john+4:19-26\">Jesus reinterpreted the Law of Moses.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Law_of_Moses\">Jews base their religion on the Law of Moses detailed in the first five books of the Bible.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Christians have employed a variety of techniques to accomplish reconciliation of these truths:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>They ignore many commands\/laws that are difficult to understand.<\/li>\n<li>They interpret laws\/commands that are difficult to understand using human logic.<\/li>\n<li>They ignore the commands\/laws that are physically impossible to accomplish.<\/li>\n<li>They interpret the commands\/laws in ways that are compatible and enforceable with contemporary <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#culturallaws\">cultures<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#civillaws\">civil laws<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They apply backward looking or forward looking <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dispensationalism\">dispensational<\/a> interpretations to scripture that keep them from applying scripture to themselves as individuals today.<\/li>\n<li>They always interpret scripture in terms that are consistent with their unique religious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=predispositions&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;safe=vss\">predispositions<\/a> (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-a-stronghold-of-wrong-thinking\">strongholds of wrong thinking<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Because these techniques have always been in place during the evolution of religion, individual religious leaders have been able to create new theologies and doctrines. This is why there are so many different religions. They are all <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+29:13;+matthew+15:1-6;+mark+7:1-13;+colossians+2:8\">traditions created by men &#8212; not by God.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Christians claim that the entire Bible is the inspired word of God, and they claim to be obedient to whatever God commanded them to do. And yet, do not want to be legalistic in the way that Jews practice religious legalism.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike the Christians, Jews are not confused about which laws God wants them to obey. Jews do their very best to obey the entire Law of Moses plus <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org\/the-oral-law-talmud-and-mishna\">oral laws added through the years because they thought the Law of Moses was insufficient to guide them in all aspects of daily life.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>When we try to reconcile what Christians say about the validity of the law of Moses with their religious practices, however, we see that they are double-minded in their beliefs. They affirm the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:1-17\">Ten Commandments in their simplified form<\/a>, but are not like the Jews because they do not affirm the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+25;+exodus+26;+exodus+27;+exodus+28;+exodus+29;+exodus+30;+exodus+31\">details of God&#8217;s commandments given immediately after the simple list<\/a>. Despite the fact that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:13-20\">Jesus came to fulfill the law,<\/a> Christians do not find it important to follow other, highly detailed laws about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=leviticus+2;+leviticus+3;+leviticus+5;+leviticus+7;+leviticus+9;+leviticus+10;+leviticus+17;+leviticus+19;+leviticus+21;+leviticus+22;+leviticus+23;+leviticus+24\">offerings<\/a>\u00a0and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=leviticus+3;+leviticus+4;+leviticus+7;+leviticus+9;+leviticus+17;+leviticus+19;+leviticus+22;+leviticus+23\"> sacrifices<\/a>\u00a0also spoken to Moses by God. Clearly, Christians are selective about which laws they will follow. The result of this selectivity is found in the ever-expanding <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_religions_and_spiritual_traditions#Abrahamic_religions\">mishmash of religions we see in the world today.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The basic reason this world of religion exists is that religious people listen to false prophets who do their intellectual best to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">interpret the Bible literally<\/a> but do not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">listen to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+8:23;+john+17:14-16\">Jesus who was not of this world<\/a>, however, understood the symbolic meaning of scripture. Instead of following religious laws created by and enforced by pharisees, he followed <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws<\/a> which were written on his heart. These are the laws that Jesus fulfilled.<\/p>\n<p>To come to understanding of the law that Jesus fulfilled, Christians and Jews must first understand the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/beriyth.html\">meaning of covenant,<\/a> the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Covenant_%28biblical%29\">history of covenants,<\/a> and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/towrah.html\">definitions of law in the Old Testament<\/a> and in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/nomos.html\">New Testament<\/a>. From these definitions we learn that the term &#8220;law&#8221; in both testaments has <a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/nuance\">nuanced<\/a> variations that color understanding of scriptures in which the word appears. For example, in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/towrah.html\">torah<\/a>&#8221; has several different meanings: law, direction or instruction prescribed by God or man. The word torah covers a variety of definitions:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+30:1-14\">God&#8217;s spoken word<\/a> (See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">God\u2019s Written Word and God\u2019s Spoken Voice<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>Written transcriptions of God&#8217;s spoken word to human words by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/capher-aramaic.html\">scribes<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Instructions, teachings and directions by religious leaders.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/chuqqah.html\">Religious customs<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Laws established by public and private authorities (e.g. family, government, business, civic, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The concept of law in the New Testament is found in the Greek word &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/nomos.html\">nomos<\/a>&#8221;\u00a0 which has several different meanings:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Any law established by religious, governmental or private authorities.<\/li>\n<li>A law, rule, precept or injunction established by God<\/li>\n<li>A law, rule, precept or injunction established by man and administered by man.<\/li>\n<li>A religious or common public custom established by continuous usage (i.e.<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/paradosis.html\"> tradition<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>Mosaic law<\/li>\n<li>The first five books of the Old Testament (i.e. Pentateuch)<\/li>\n<li>Collections of laws, rituals, customs and doctrines that pertain to any and all religions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>As we can easily see, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/nomos.html\">nomos<\/a>, like torah, covers a variety of applications:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>God&#8217;s laws written on the hearts of New Covenant disciples.<\/li>\n<li>Transcriptions of God&#8217;s word written in the Bible.<\/li>\n<li>Law of Moses.<\/li>\n<li>In Judaism, Pharisaical religious laws based on the Law of Moses or <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oral_Torah\">Jewish Oral laws.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>In Christianity, Pharisaical religious laws based on the literal Bible and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Christian_theology\">doctrines<\/a> written by religious leaders.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Law_of_the_land\">Civil Laws of the Land<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Because of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaw\">wide variety of laws<\/a>, understanding of the laws to which the Bible refers to is critical. If we think, for example, that a particular reference is to God&#8217;s spoken law when it is actually referring to man&#8217;s religious laws, we will make grave errors in interpretation. Or, if we think that a reference to law is to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">written words of the Bible when it is actually referring to God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a>, we again make a critical error.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5\">UNDERSTANDING THE LAW.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>We must learn, therefore, how laws and covenants are related.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>COVENANT BASICS<\/strong><br \/>\nBecause of the many Biblical references to laws and covenants, it is absolutely necessary to understanding which law and which covenant a particular scripture refers. And, it is absolutely necessary to understand that from God&#8217;s perspective there are basically two kinds of laws:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1+thessalonians+4:9;+1+john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1+corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">God&#8217;s laws written on the hearts of New Covenant disciples<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+29:1-13;+ezekiel+33:21-33;+matthew+15:1-14;+mark+7:1-7\">Religious laws and traditions written and enforced by men<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>While these distinctions seem simple enough, discerning them in the Bible is not easy. The only reliable way to discern when the Bible is referring to God&#8217;s laws written on the heart or man&#8217;s laws (specifically man&#8217;s religious law practiced as tradition), is to understand that there are only two covenants:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Old\/First Covenant<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">New Covenant<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The basic difference between these two covenant is that man controls one while God controls the other. God&#8217;s laws refer to\u00a0 the New Covenant and man&#8217;s laws refer to the Old\/First Covenant. Keeping these distinctions clear is essential to understanding the Bible. They are especially necessary to understanding Jesus and the law because, when we consider that Jesus was killed because he <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:1-14;+luke+6:6-10;+luke+13:10-17;+luke+14:1-4;+john+5:5-18;+john+7:19-26;+john+9:19-27\">broke the laws that were controlled by Pharisees,<\/a> we find a serious caution about what happens to New Covenant disciples (i.e. people who follow Jesus).<\/p>\n<p>Before studying Jesus and the law, it is instructive to do a brief review of two basic kinds of covenants.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>A <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/beriyth.html\">covenant can be an agreement between men and men, or,<\/a><\/li>\n<li>A<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/beriyth.html\"> covenant can be between men and God.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>God, of course, is primarily concerned with his covenant with man. He is also concerned, however, with man&#8217;s religious covenants with religious people in religious organizations. The principle here is\u00a0 that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:16-24;+luke+16:13;+1+kings+18:21;+galatians+1:10;+james+4:4\">friendship with the world of religion (through a covenant in which someone subscribes to the beliefs, doctrines and traditions of the religious organization) is equal to having a master other than God, which makes him\/her an enemy of God.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>We see this principle in God&#8217;s commands to Israel that it should <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-33;+exodus+34:12;+deuteronomy+7:1-2;+judges+2:1-2;+1-kings+11:1-2;+joshua+23:1-13\">make no covenant with the religious nations that occupied the promised land<\/a>. For us in these modern times, we should interpret this as a command to not join religious organizations of any kind because they are snares that cause us to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/#definitionofsin\">sin<\/a>. Needless to say, if they cause us to sin they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">God&#8217;s enemies and our enemies.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>God punctuates his cautions about the risks of entering into such covenants with several specific warnings:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 648px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 23px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 563px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-33;+exodus+34:10-17\">Covenants with religious nations would lead Israel into worshiping other gods.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-33;+exodus+34:10-17\">Covenants with religious nations would lead Israel to sin.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-33;+exodus+34:10-17\">Covenants with religious nations would lead Israel into harlotry, making sacrifices to other gods and eating sacrifices made to other gods.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>When religious people voluntarily join themselves to a religious organization they do not generally think that they have made a legal agreement with that organization. God, however sees it differently. It is true that there may be no written contract, but <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">what matters to God is what is in the heart<\/a>. Here are a few ways in which we make covenants with religion and serve other gods:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Formal membership in a church or synagogue is written evidence of intent to subscribe to the beliefs and practices of a religious organization..<\/li>\n<li>Heartfelt participation in worship services and other religious activities demonstrates that we subscribe to the beliefs and practices of a religious organization.<\/li>\n<li>By making financial donations to religious organizations or ministries (e.g. missionaries, evangelists, etc.) we show that we have made a contract in our heart that obliges us to give money to that organization.<\/li>\n<li>By saying &#8220;I am a Jew&#8221; or &#8220;I am a Christian&#8221;, or I am a &#8220;<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">fill in\u00a0 the blank with a denomination, or church, or some kind of name that identifies your religious affiliation<\/span>&#8221; you testify that we have joined yourself to a religion and subscribe to the beliefs and practices associated with that religion.<\/li>\n<li>By buying and using music, books, pictures and other man-made artifacts that have religious or spiritual themes and significance, we affirm our belief that these products have spiritual value and back that belief up with money paid to the religious organization.<\/li>\n<li>By attending religious conferences for the purpose of receiving teachings from religious leaders and worshiping with other religious people, we confirm that we have an association with the sponsoring religious organization.<\/li>\n<li>By securing counseling, healing, ministry or other kinds of so-called &#8220;spiritual&#8221; services (whether free or for a cost) from people who have reputations for their ability to hear from God on behalf of others, we confirm that we subscribe to the doctrines and practices associated with the sponsoring religious organization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Religious organizations invite people to enter into covenant agreements with them in several ways:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>They advertise their religious services.<\/li>\n<li>They publish their religious successes in a variety of media.<\/li>\n<li>They engage in evangelism that endears people to become members of their organization.<\/li>\n<li>They employ charismatic teachers and staff.<\/li>\n<li>They welcome visitors.<\/li>\n<li>They invite people to become members of their religious organization.<\/li>\n<li>They solicit financial support which, when given, shows that an affiliation for the organization exists in the heart.<\/li>\n<li>They hold fellowship events with food and entertainment.<\/li>\n<li>They sing songs and conduct rituals that make people feel good.<\/li>\n<li>They provide a variety of religious services (e.g. worship, teaching, weddings, funerals, baptism, confirmation, etc.) that people think they need to have in order to be in good standing with God.<\/li>\n<li>They sponsor public events and do good public works to create an attractive public identity that engenders pride in association with the organization.<\/li>\n<li>They build attractive buildings and use modern technology to communicate wealth and status that engenders pride in association with the organization.<\/li>\n<li>They create a secure social and religious environment by being faithful to their religious doctrines and practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>What religious outreach effectively does is to create an attractive environment for selling religious services and products.<\/p>\n<p>The world is full of people who believe that religion of one brand or another is necessary for their spiritual health and eternal welfare. And the world is full of people who believe that they have some spiritual gift that they can sell to those who think they need religious services and products. The buyers shop around for religions that offer the services they need and make covenants (formal and informal) to support those religions so that the services they need will be always be available to them. The result is a covenant between men. Men, and women, provide the services and men and women pay for the services they receive. God is in the background, somewhere in the doctrines, and often quoted in the services, but he is not a part of the covenant.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">Religion is Commerce<\/a> for more about the selling and buying of religious services and products.<\/p>\n<p>No one enters into any of these relationships without embracing deep, heart-felt hope that they will receive both short-term and long-term\u00a0 benefits from the relationship. The short-term benefits are those that come from being a member in good standing of a religious community. The long-term benefits are a belief that earthly beliefs and practices will earn them favor with God who will reward them with eternal life.<\/p>\n<p>When the heart is engaged in these ways, it has turned away from God toward other gods who effectively functions as idols that people serve and worship with money, time, honor, praise and respect. In willfully <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Drinking_the_Kool-Aid\">drinking the religious cool-aid<\/a>, they have voluntarily separated themselves from the Kingdom of God and joined ourselves to the Kingdom of a False Prophet.<\/p>\n<p>In Biblical terms, religious people have <a style=\"outline: 1px dotted; outline-offset: 0px;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+27:40;+leviticus+26:13;+deuteronomy+28:48;+1+kings+12:1-14;+isaiah+9:1-4;+isaiah+10:27;+isaiah+58:1-10;+jeremiah+28:1-12;+jeremiah+30:8;+ezekiel+30:18;+ezekiel+34:27;+hosea+11:1-4;+nahum+1:13;+matthew+11:29-30;+acts+15:10;+1+timothy+6:1\">yoked themselves to masters who effectively enslave them<\/a> to follow that religion&#8217;s rules and customs. Because they do this voluntarily, they have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/isaiah\/28.html\">made a covenant with death<\/a>. That would be bad news except for the fact that they can also willfully terminate their association with religion.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/toxicity\">It is not easy to disengage from religion<\/a>. Doing so requires a kind of death to relationships and habits that have provided comfort and security, but it can be done for those who cry out to God for deliverance from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">slavery to religion<\/a>. God restores those who do cry out for new life after they are resurrected from the dead and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1+peter+1:22-24;+john+3:1-7;+1+peter+1:1-3\">gives them new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 180px;\">Study Tip: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\">Death, Resurrection and New Life <\/a>for more about resurrection from the dead.<\/p>\n<p>The main point to understand about laws and covenants in general is that they are essentially legal agreements. Thus, if God agreed to do something in a covenant, that agreement was like a law that could not be broken because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=malachi+3:6;+james+1:17;+numbers+23:19;+psalm+102:27;+1+samuel+15:29;+ezekiel+24:14;+titus+1:1-2\">God does not change his mind<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>People, on the other hand, can and do change their minds about covenants to which they agree. If they attach themselves to a religious system of any kind, they effectively agree to obey the laws of that system. It has become a god to them and they are idolaters. Thus they break their covenant with God when they make a covenant with a religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See this link for scriptures in which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:32;+exodus+34:12;+deuteronomy+7:2;+judges+2:2\">God warns his people not to make covenants<\/a> with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\">religions<\/a> (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\">nations<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>In God&#8217;s view, religious people are parties to an Old\/First Covenant based on<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+29:1-13;+mark+7:1-7;+matthew+15:1-9;+colossians+2:15-23\"> laws and traditions that have been created by, supervised by and administered by men<\/a>. It is a perfect example of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:24;+luke+16:13;+1+kings+18:21;+galatians+1:10;+james+4:4\">the two masters principle<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When we put all this together, we see that God&#8217;s concept of covenant is a matter of who we listen to. Here are the two choices:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 650px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 89px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 584px;\">\n<ul>\n<li>If we <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/\">hear and obey only God&#8217;s voice<\/a>, we are New Covenant disciples. We choose to learn about God from God directly &#8212; not from others. This is the essence of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+jeremiah+33:14;+ezekiel+37:26;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17\">New Covenant<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>If we join ourselves to religion of any kind and hear and obey the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> that religious leaders teach, we are Old\/First Covenant religionists. When we allow others to teach us about God instead of listening to his voice directly, we sin by eating the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">fruit of Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a>. In effect, those who teach are substitutes for God. Those who teach, therefore, effectively become idols in the hearts of those who listen to them and adopt their beliefs and practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This truth will be hard for religious people to accept. But those who separate themselves from religion and learn to listen to only God&#8217;s voice while studying the Bible will eventually hear him explain its mysteries to them. This will be an exciting time.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>JESUS AND THE NEW COVENANT<\/strong><br \/>\nBecause Christians understand that<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:17-20\"> Jesus came to fulfill the law,\u00a0<\/a> they also want to fulfill the law. But, because they are not clear about what law, or laws, it was that Jesus fulfilled, they are not really sure about the laws that they should fulfill. Therefore, the laws they observe are based on the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/What_would_Jesus_do%3F\">what would Jesus do<\/a>&#8221; approach to religion: If Jesus said to do or not do something, that is what they would do or not do; and, if Jesus did something, that is what they would do. The result of this thinking is an assortment of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws <\/a>and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/3\"> traditions<\/a> that varies from denomination to denomination depending on different literal interpretations of the Bible.<\/p>\n<p>In fulfilling these laws, Christians are very careful to avoid the appearance of being <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legalism_(theology)\">legalistic<\/a> because they do not want to be like the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewfaq.org\/halakhah.htm\">Jews who put a very high value on legalism<\/a>. Thus Christians cloak their laws with religious terms like &#8220;doctrine&#8221; and &#8220;tradition&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_religions_and_spiritual_traditions#Abrahamic_religions\">What we see in Abrahamic religions (i.e. Judaism, Christianity, Islam) therefore, is an infinite variety of religious laws, doctrines and traditions with each religion going to great pain to distinguish itself from other religions by name, belief and practice. <\/a>And these religions exist in their present form today after two thousand years (more or less) of evolving interpretations of\u00a0 the words of the same Bible (with the exception of Islam which acknowledges the prophets <a href=\"https:\/\/www.islamreligion.com\/articles\/3366\/viewall\/story-of-moses\/\">Moses<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jesus_in_Islam\">Jesus<\/a> along with the prophet<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Muhammad\"> Mohammad<\/a> and).<\/p>\n<p>When we consider this vast array of religions which all claim to worship the same God, we might logically question which is\/are the true religion(s)? They all basically start from the same place (i.e. Law of Moses), but they arrive at very different places in terms of appearance, doctrine and practice. Is it reasonable to conclude that they all worship the same God if they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=mutate&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;safe=vss\">mutate <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?&amp;q=evolve+definition&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjljdOlitLWAhVqh1QKHWtfDKgQ1QIIZCgB&amp;biw=1280&amp;bih=566&amp;safe=vss\">evolve<\/a> over time when <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=malachi+3:6;+james+1:17;+numbers+23:19;+psalm+102:27;+1-samuel+15:29;+ezekiel+24:14;+titus+1:1-2\">God does not change<\/a>?<\/p>\n<p>To put this question in the context of the New Covenant, it is helpful to consider the following logic:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=malachi+3:6;+james+1:17;+numbers+23:19;+psalm+102:27;+psalm+110:1-4;+1-samuel+15:29;+ezekiel+24:14;+titus+1:2\">God does not change<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+15:25;+galatians+5:14;+isaiah+1:10;+isaiah+2:3;+jeremiah+18:18;+isaiah+5:24;+micah+4:2;+deuteronomy+32:46\">God&#8217;s word is law<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+90:1-2;+deuteronomy+33:27;+psalm+119:89;+psalm+119:160;+1+peter+1:23;+titus+1:2;+psalm+105:8;+1+samuel+15:29\">God and his word are eternal.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:1-14;+luke+6:6-10;+luke+13:10-17;+luke+14:1-4;+john+5:5-18;+john+7:19-26;+john+9:19-27\">Jesus broke the laws of the Pharisees<\/a> which were based on the written Laws of Moses.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">The laws that Jesus fulfilled are God&#8217;s spiritual laws\u00a0<\/a>&#8212; not the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> of the Pharisees based on the laws of Moses.<\/li>\n<li>God&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws which never change<\/a> are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">written on the heart<\/a> &#8212; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">not on paper like religious laws<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:26;+deuteronomy+13:1-4;+deuteronomy+13:18;+deuteronomy+26:17;+1-peter+1:20-25;+psalm+119:9;+hebrews+4:12;+john+5:38;+1-john+2:1-8\">God communicates his commandments (i.e. laws) by his voice<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>***<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The laws that Jesus broke were <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws made by men<\/a>. The laws that Jesus fulfilled were <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws<\/a> which are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11;+john+16:13;+psalm+25:4-5;+1-john+2:20\">written on the heart according to the terms of the New Covenant.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Religious people are just the opposite of Jesus. The laws they fulfill are<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\"> religious laws which are written by men according to terms of Old\/First Covenant religion.\u00a0<\/a>And the laws they break are God&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a>. Religious people, therefore, are Old\/First Covenant religionists &#8212; not New Covenant disciples.<\/p>\n<p>God&#8217;s New Covenant spiritual laws are first revealed in the Garden of Eden where the first Adam was in a New Covenant relationship with God until he ate the fruit of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (i.e. religion).<\/a> The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+6;+genesis+9\">New Covenant is reaffirmed through Noah<\/a> who is a type of Christ because he made a way of escape from judgment.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+15;+genesis+17\">New Covenant is affirmed again in God&#8217;s covenant with Abraham<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/biblehub.com\/timeline\/\">which preceded the giving of the Law of Moses by about six hundred years<\/a>. It is confirmed again <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+26:26-29;+luke+22:17-20;+1-corinthians+11:23-25\">through Jesus<\/a> who is a mediator of the New Covenant. And it has been confirmed, and is still being confirmed in everyone who has God&#8217;s laws written on their hearts.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>JESUS IS A STUMBLING BLOCK<\/strong><br \/>\nLacking understanding about the law, or laws, Christians have an incomplete theology of Jesus that focuses on his humanity. Indeed they do allow that he is the son of God, but the fact that God is an invisible spirit effectively prevents them from thinking of him as a spirit &#8212; except they say that he now lives in heaven, that he will return again sometime, and that they will someday join him in heaven after they die.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIPS: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\">Jesus<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/3\">Second Coming<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/kingdom-of-heaven\">Kingdom of God\/Heaven.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, there is no respect or consideration of what Jesus represents as a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:6-8;+john+8:51-58;+colossians+1:13-17;+john+1:3;+romans+11:36;+john+1:9-10\">spirit that always existed and was involved in creation<\/a>. All the focus on Jesus is on his miraculous physical birth, his horrible physical death on a cross, and his miraculous resurrection from the dead &#8212; all to the exclusion of his invisible, eternal, spiritual qualities. Thus <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+8:13-15;+1-peter+2:4-8;+1-corinthians+1:22-25;+galatians+5:11\">Jesus has become an icon and a personality\u00a0to be worshiped (i.e. a stumbling block)<\/a>. This has happened even though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+19:16-17;+john+7:16-18;+mark+10:17-18;+luke+18:18-19;+john+12:44-50;+john+14:28;+matthew+10:40;+john+5:18-23;+mark+9:37;+luke+9:48;+john+10:29;+john+10:28-29;+matthew+11:23-27;+matthew+12;+john+6:38;+john+4:34;+john+5:30;+luke+22:42;+john+17:1-2;+john+13:20\">Jesus always deferred to God<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/6\">did not presume to be like him<\/a>.<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+3:2;+matthew+4:17;+matthew+4:23;+matthew+5:3;+matthew+5:10;+matthew+5:19-20;+matthew+6:10;+matthew+6:33;+matthew+7:21;+matthew+8:11-12;+matthew+9:35;+matthew+10:7;+matthew+11:11-12;+matthew+12:25-26;+matthew+12:28;+matthew+13:11;+matthew+13:19;+matthew+13:24;+matthew+13:31;+matthew+13:33;+matthew+13:38;+matthew+13:41;+matthew+13:43-45;+matthew+13:47;+matthew+13:52;+matthew+16:19;+matthew+16:28;+matthew+18:1;+matthew+18:3-4;+matthew+18:23;+matthew+19:12;+matthew+19:14;+matthew+19:23-24;+matthew+20:1;+matthew+21:31;+matthew+21:43;+matthew+22:2;+matthew+23:13;+matthew+24:14;+matthew+25:1;+matthew+25:34;+matthew+26:29\">\u00a0He always directed people to the Kingdom of God (i.e. the Kingdom of Heaven) <\/a>which is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+17:20-21;+isaiah+66:1;+ephesians+2:19-22;+ephesians+3:17;+1+kings+8:27;+psalm+11:4;+matthew+5:34-35;+matthew+23:22\">God&#8217;s home <\/a>(i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+10:16;+hebrews+8:7-13\">in the hearts of New Covenant disciples<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Given the focus Christians place on the human, physical Jesus, it might be rightly said that the caricature of Jesus has become another\u00a0god. All the emphasis is on Jesus as a physical man who had supernatural power to heal people and raise them from the dead. Lacking understanding of the spiritual Jesus, he is the\u00a0subject of pictures, plaques, statues and Bible stories (e.g. Christmas, Easter, etc.) where his human characteristics are displayed with his supernatural power. Rarely does anyone try to explain\u00a0 names and titles (e.g. Lamb of God, good shepherd, Lion of Judah, rock, vine, etc.) that symbolically refer to him. And rarely does anyone try to explain his<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:30;+1+corinthians+6:18;+john+6:48-56;+matthew+13:11-15;+matthew+7:7-8;+mark+8:34-37;+luke+8:10;+john+10:17-18;+mark+4:30-32;+mark+12:1-11;+mark+13:28-37;+matthew+13:24-30;+matthew+13:33;+matthew+13:36-46;+matthew+18:23-35;+matthew+25:1-13;+matthew+25:31-46;+luke+10:30-37;+luke+12:35-48;+luke+12:15-21;+luke+15:8-10;+luke+16:1-8;+luke+18:1-8\"> difficult sayings and parables<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If Christians had any sense of what it means to be the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/colossians\/1-15.html\">image of the living God, <\/a>they would never represent Jesus&#8217; as a human person<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/colossians\/1-15.html\">.<\/a> Indeed, it is impossible to represent invisible things, but that is the point of criticizing the emphasis that Christianity places on the human Jesus.<\/p>\n<p>Christians are not comfortable with things they cannot see and cannot manipulate in some way. They always need something that they can see, touch taste, hear or smell. They know that faith is the substance of things <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/elpizo.html\">hoped<\/a> for, the evidence of things not seen, but they cannot resist giving form to their faith. They know, or should know, that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:6-8;+colossians+1:13-15;+romans+1:18-20;+1+timothy+1:17;+hebrews+11:27;+ecclesiastes+11:5;+ezekiel+37:9;+ecclesiastes+1:13;+ecclesiastes+3:10-11;+ecclesiastes+8:16-17\">God and Jesus are invisible spirits that cannot be seen<\/a>, and they sincerely desire to be like God and Jesus, but\u00a0 they can&#8217;t translate spirit and invisibility to themselves. And so, as always, Christians default to making something (i.e. religion) out of nothing (i.e. spirit).<\/p>\n<p>The result of man&#8217;s inability to understand the intellectually obscure concepts of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:6-8;+colossians+1:13-15;+romans+1:18-20;+1+timothy+1:17;+hebrews+11:27;+ecclesiastes+11:5;+ezekiel+37:9;+ecclesiastes+1:13;+ecclesiastes+3:10-11;+ecclesiastes+8:16-17\">spirit<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+11:1;+romans+8:24;+2+corinthians+4:16-18;+2+corinthians+5:1-7\">faith<\/a> and apply them to themselves is<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/hebrews\/11-1.html\"> r<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\">eligion<\/a> which is the substance of things that are seen, touched, tasted, heard, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=codified&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8\">codified<\/a>, managed and repeated according to codes and traditions established by an historical succession of religious leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Jews and Christians sincerely aspire to be like God and\/or Jesus. Nevertheless, being incurably oriented to expressing themselves through their flesh (i.e. physical and mental activity), they can&#8217;t help representing their understanding of Godliness and Christ-likeness through their religion. They do not understand that God&#8217;s name, character and ways and Jesus&#8217; name, character and ways are\u00a0represented in God&#8217;s spiritual laws written on their hearts (i.e. New Covenant) &#8212; not in religious laws and not even in the literal law of Moses (i.e. Old\/First Covenant).<\/p>\n<p>Despite what they say, the Jesus that Christians admire and emulate is not the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/7\">mediator<\/a> of the New Covenant through whom the law is written on their hearts. If their eyes were opened to the truth, both Jews and Christians would realize that their religions are, and have always been, mediated by human religious leaders (e.g. rabbis, priests, pastors, etc.) whom God calls <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a>.\u00a0 If Christians believed that God&#8217;s law was written on their hearts, and if they were able to differentiate one law from another, they would not say that they want to be under any law. If they had the kind of faith that God wants, they would <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/3-31.html\">uphold and establish God&#8217;s spiritual laws by their faith\u00a0<\/a>&#8212; not despise the law as they understand it. Being ignorant, confused and double-minded about these issues, however, they are vulnerable to any false prophet who comes along with teaching that seems to explain these puzzling issues.<\/p>\n<p>In their disrespect of the law, Christians make the same mistake Jews have made for four thousand years: They have added to it and subtracted from it. As a result, religious traditions taught by men have superseded God&#8217;s laws taught by the spirit of God. Christians do not follow the same fussy little rules that Jews observe, but they have their own rules nonetheless. They don&#8217;t like to call them laws but that does not change the fact that the doctrines, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\">rituals and traditions<\/a> that determine their daily, weekly and annual religious activities are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/#q=defacto&amp;safe=vss\">defacto<\/a> laws based on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+29:1-16;+matthew+15:1-10;+mark+7:1-13\">traditions that God says are lip worship without the right heart attitude<\/a>. Christianity, therefore, is a religion defined by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> just like Judaism is defined by its religious laws. Christians just have different laws.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"godhatestradition\"><\/a>Even though both religions are based on concepts of sacrifices, festivals and rituals mentioned often in the Old and New Testaments, God says the following about these human traditions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+1:10-15\">Sacrifices, offerings festivals and prayers are nothing to him.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/psalms\/40-6.html\">He does not require sacrifices and offerings nor does he desire them.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=amos+5:21-27;+jeremiah+6:18-21\">He rejects festivals and solemn assemblies, will not accept offerings, and will not listen to music.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/micah\/passage\/?q=micah+6:6-8\">He takes no delight in burnt offerings.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+66:1-3\">Killing an ox is like killing a man; sacrificing a lamb is like breaking a dog&#8217;s neck; and burning incense (i.e. prayer) is like blessing an idol.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/jeremiah\/7.html\">All religion (i.e. the ceremonies and offerings conducted in high places) is an abomination<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/3\">Traditions based on the law are stumbling blocks to faith<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>God&#8217;s hatred of religious traditions extends to all religious traditions that are so important to Judaism (e.g. circumcision, <b>Shabbat, <\/b>Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, <b>Hanukkah, <\/b>Tu B&#8217;Shevat, etc.) and Christianity (e.g. Sunday, Easter, Pentecost, Christmas, weddings, funerals, baptism, communion, etc.) Even though many of these traditions are mentioned in the Bible, the are all man-made religious events that happen in religious places, often at times prescribed by calendars, and always accomplished by activating the flesh (i.e. physical body.)<\/p>\n<p>Jews and Christians justify their traditions because they interpret the Bible literally &#8212; not symbolically. If they could hear God&#8217;s voice while reading the Bible, they would understand that all Biblical events are parables of spiritual events that occur in the heart. God uses symbolism of human activity in traditions to symbolically represent what he wants to happen in their hearts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIPS: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">Literal or Symbolic Interpretation Part 1<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-2\">Literal or Symbolic Interpretation Part 2<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-3\">Literal or Symbolic Interpretation Part 3,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">Religion is not Faith, <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-2\/3\">this link<\/a> for understanding of how God uses physical things and events to represent spiritual events.<\/p>\n<p>Jews and Christians have taken the literal law and amended it to make it understandable and doable according to their own tastes, traditions, and physical and mental abilities. Thus they emphasize the literal word of God and do their best to integrate it with their traditions and sacraments, while ignoring the spiritual intent. Consistent with God&#8217;s intentions, they have stumbled over the law.<\/p>\n<p>The root of the problem is that neither Jews nor Christians understand that there are two sets of laws that relate to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">two covenants<\/a>. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">The first set of laws is written by men and enforced by men. These laws and the task of administering them is called religion and is the work of man&#8217;s flesh which can be seen. The second set of laws is all spiritual and are fulfilled by faith which cannot be seen.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Religious people stumble over the religious things that they can easily read and understand in the Bible. Jews stumble over Moses, and Christians stumble over Jesus. They do not understand that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">God&#8217;s written word and God&#8217;s spoken word are not the same<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/14\">this link <\/a>for more about stumbling over Jesus<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE GOOD NEWS<\/strong><br \/>\nCompliance with the many rules and regulations of the law\u00a0 is a very heavy burden. Jews for example, claim that there are <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/613_commandments#Maimonides.27_list\">613 laws to be obeyed<\/a>. Christians, do not have their laws so rigidly codified, but they still have their own ideas of what can and cannot be done in order to be a true believer as specified in their many traditions.<\/p>\n<p>In the Jewish Orthodox tradition, obedience to all the laws of Moses is expected. In addition to those laws, Jews have added many other laws that complicate their lives exceedingly. Consider, for example, the challenges to bring all the animal and grain sacrifices to one location at the right time. Or consider the many fine points of tithing. These are examples of the many difficulties people face trying to keep the law of Moses &#8212; especially for people who do not live in Jerusalem. With such difficulties in mind, calling it a\u00a0stumbling block seems an accurate description. The law of Moses can&#8217;t be kept as it is literally written; people who try to keep the literal law are\u00a0condemned\u00a0to failure because<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=james+2:10;matthew+5:19;galatians+3:10;galatians+5:3\"> people who attempt to gain righteousness by keeping the law through legalism are guilty of sin if they fail to keep even one point of the law.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?q=heavy+burdens\">challenge of obeying these laws is introduced in the Old Testament and is reinforced by Jesus.<\/a> Jesus spoke of them further when he said that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/11-30.html\">his burden was light and his yoke was easy.<\/a> In saying &#8220;his yoke,&#8221; Jesus was comparing the relative ease of being a New Covenant disciple with the &#8220;yoke of the Pharisees&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That is the bad news. In addition to being a stumbling block, it could be said that\u00a0condemnation for failure to to keep all of the written law is the\u00a0obsolete\u00a0part of the literal Mosaic Law. It is obsolete, however, only for those who have tried to gain righteousness through rigid obedience to the written law and found their efforts to be tiresome, burdensome and totally ineffective. Coming to this conclusion is the purpose of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+3:24-25\">law as our instructor to lead us to Christ<\/a>. It seems that we cannot come to the conclusion that the New Covenant is the best way to achieve true righteousness unless we go through the process of working hard for righteousness in our flesh. We need to come to understand that our religious zeal,\u00a0and all the rituals to which we have become addicted, are no better than <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/skubalon.html\">dung<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The good news is that God never expected people to keep the literal law in all its finite details. Like so much of scripture, the literal word is symbolic of the spiritual meaning and intent that God has invested in it.<\/p>\n<p>The good news is that God has provided a way to be in full compliance with the law without worrying about legalistic observance of\u00a0all the details regarding circumcision, feasts, offerings, sacrifices, and so on. That way is through the New Covenant. And Jesus is the way to access that New Covenant obedience. That is why he said, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/14-6.html\">&#8220;I am the way, the truth and the life.&#8221;<\/a>\u00a0Paul the Apostle came to understand this truth the hard way but only after he devoted his professional, religious life to obedience to the law. He summarizes that process in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/philippians\/3.html\">Philippians 3<\/a>\u00a0where he reports on the ineffectiveness of his religious zeal on his way to learning that the New Covenant in Christ was the\u00a0only way to live.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>TWO SETS OF ORDINANCES (LAWS)<\/strong><br \/>\nBuried in the book of Ezekiel (a prophetic book of judgement) is a verse that explains why the Bible is so difficult to understand:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/parallel-bible\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+20:25&amp;t=nas&amp;t2=rsv\">Ezekiel 20:25<\/a>: <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs selected-verse\"> &#8220;I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live; <\/span><\/p>\n<p>Needless to say, this is a surprising thing for God to do and then to admit that he had done it. When we read this we logically wonder why a kind and loving God would intentionally mislead his people to follow statutes and ordinances (i.e. laws) that would not be life-giving. It seems so unlike God and so unfair that he would do such a thing.<\/p>\n<p>When we look closely at the context of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/parallel-bible\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+20:25&amp;t=nas&amp;t2=rsv\">Ezekiel 20:25<\/a>, however, we see that God had good reasons for giving his people laws by which they could not live. These reasons are found in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/parallel-bible\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+20:1-32&amp;t=nas&amp;t2=rsv#\">Ezekiel 20:1-32.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 1 Now in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 2 And the word of the LORD came to me saying, <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 3 &#8220;Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, &#8216;Thus says the Lord GOD, &#8220;Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,&#8221; declares the Lord GOD, &#8220;I will not be inquired of by you.&#8221;&#8216; <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">God\u2019s Written Word and God\u2019s Spoken Voice<\/a> for understanding of why God would not teach his people. In particular, see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/ezekiel\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+14:1-11\">Ezekiel 14:1-11.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 4 &#8220;Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the abominations of their fathers; <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 5 and say to them, &#8216;Thus says the Lord GOD, &#8220;On the day when I chose Israel and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God, <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 6 on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 7 &#8220;I said to them, &#8216;Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.&#8217; <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: This has meaning only when we consider that God often told his people here that<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:23-29;+deuteronomy+12:28-32;+leviticus+18:1-3;+leviticus+18:24-30;+leviticus+20:22-26;+deuteronomy+9:1-6;+deuteronomy+18:9-14;+2+kings+17:1-13;+ezekiel+20:7-8;+psalm+106:34-43;+judges+3:1-8;+judges+3;+2+kings+16:1-3;+2+kings+17:7-13;+1+chronicles+5:25\"> they should not follow the religious customs of other nations<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/god-is-calling-people-out-of-religion\">God is Calling People Out of Religion<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/egypt-and-babylon\">Egypt and Babylon,<\/a> for more about coming out of Egypt<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/gods-at-war\">Gods at War<\/a>, Religion is Idolatry, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">Religion is the Enemy, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\">Cities,<\/a> and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\"> Kingdoms and Nations<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">We conclude from this that Israel had adopted the religious practices of the Egyptians during its stay there and that it had revised those practices after entering the promised land. This is confirmed by the following facts:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+47:1-25;+exodus+1:1-14;+exodus+5:1-18\">Israel had sold itself into bondage to Pharaoh.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+13:1-16;+leviticus+19:36;+leviticus+22:31-33;+leviticus+23:42-43;+leviticus+25:38-42;+leviticus+25:55;+leviticus+26:1-13;+leviticus+26:45;+numbers+15:41;+numbers+23:22;+deuteronomy+4:20;+deuteronomy+5:1-6;+deuteronomy+5:15;+deuteronomy+6:11-12;+deuteronomy+7:7-8;+deuteronomy+8:14;+deuteronomy+9:26;+deuteronomy+13:10\">God reminded them often that he had delivered them from slavery in Egypt so he could be their God and they could be his servants.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/leviticus\/passage\/?q=leviticus+18:1-5\">God told Israel that hey should not follow the religious practices they had learned in Egypt<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The lesson we learn from this history is that God&#8217;s people, including modern Jews and Christians, are prone to practice idolatry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\">8 &#8220;But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 9 &#8220;But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 10 &#8220;So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: We see here that rebellion is equated with failure to listen to God&#8217;s voice. When we combine this truth a parallel truth which is that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:1-5;+2+kings+18:7-12;+judges+2:11-23;+daniel+9:1-10;+exodus+23:21-22;+psalm+81:11\">failure to listen to God&#8217;s voice is equated with breaking his covenant<\/a>, we see that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+7:12;+judges+2:20;+2-kings+18:11-12;+exodus+15:26;+deuteronomy+33:9;+1-chronicles+16:15;+isaiah+55:3\">listening to God&#8217;s voice is the key feature of being in covenant relationship with God.\u00a0 <\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">is the reason for God&#8217;s judgment. We must be careful to acknowledge, however, that because Israel&#8217;s history is our history Therefore we are also in rebellion because, like Israel, we prefer to listen to the voice of religious leaders instead of God\u2019s Voice. Listening to the voices of these religious leaders is the marker of Old\/First Covenant religion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\">11 &#8220;I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: In contrast to verse 25, we see here that God has given life-giving ordinances (i.e. laws) to his people. They were spoken by God to Moses who recited them to Israel. These laws are the primary markers of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\">12 &#8220;Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 13 &#8220;But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/fourth-commandment\/sabbath-fasting-rest\">Sabbath, Fasting and Rest <\/a>for more about sabbaths.<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\">14 &#8220;But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 15 &#8220;Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 16 because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their idols. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: The ordinances that Israel rejected were those that God spoke to Israel from Mt. Sinai. They rejected listening to God&#8217;s voice in favor of listening to the instruction of their idols (i.e. False Prophets, Pharisees, Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Shepherds and Wolves.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">The lesson here is that anyone who listens to the instruction of a false prophet effectively listens to an idol. See<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\"> God\u2019s Written Word and God\u2019s Voice.\u00a0 <\/a>See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/ezekiel\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+14:1-11\">Ezekiel 14:1-11.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\">17 &#8220;Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not cause their annihilation in the wilderness. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 18 &#8220;I said to their children in the wilderness, &#8216;Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Just as Gold told people in the wilderness that they should not follow the religion (i.e. statutes and ordinances) of their fathers, we in these modern times should also not follow the religions of our ancestors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\">19 &#8216;I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 20 &#8216;Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Instead of following the religion of our ancestors, God reminds us here that we should listen to his voice and cease from all of our religious works (i.e. observe the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/third-commandment\">Third Commandment<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 21 &#8220;But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 22 &#8220;But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 23 &#8220;Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 24 because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: God&#8217;s children, then and now, rebel against God when they receive instruction from false prophets instead of listening to his voice as provided in the New Covenant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\">25 &#8220;I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live; <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Here is the subject verse that explains how Israel, including Jews and Christians in every generation, could stray into rebellion. The reason is that in addition to speaking to Israel from Mt. Sinai, God also gave written <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+26:5;+leviticus+26:14-15;+deuteronomy+5:31;+nehemiah+9:13\">commandments, charges, precepts, statutes, ordinances and other Laws<\/a> through Moses and other prophets in the Old and New Testaments. These were all stumbling blocks, however, because both religions fell into temptation to create religion out of the literal prescriptions and proscriptions of all these commands. As long as they were so intently engaged in these Old\/First Covenant activities, they were as good as dead because they did not experience the kind of life that only comes by hearing and obeying the spoken voice of God.<\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\">26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD .&#8221;&#8216; <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 27 &#8220;Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, &#8216;Thus says the Lord GOD, &#8220;Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by acting treacherously against Me. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 28 &#8220;When I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and they offered there their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma and there they poured out their drink offerings. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 29 &#8220;Then I said to them, &#8216;What is the high place to which you go?&#8217; So its name is called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/bamah-2.html\">Bamah<\/a> to this day.&#8221;&#8216; <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 30 &#8220;Therefore, say to the house of Israel, &#8216;Thus says the Lord GOD, &#8220;Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things? <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 31 &#8220;When you offer your gifts, when you cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,&#8221; declares the Lord GOD, &#8220;I will not be inquired of by you. <\/span> <span class=\"verse font-helvetica font-xs\"> 32 &#8220;What comes into your mind will not come about, when you say: &#8216;We will be like the nations, like the tribes of the lands, serving wood and stone.&#8217; <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"scripture\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/bamah-2.html\">Tearing Down Idols and High Places <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">Religion is Deception<\/a> for more about ritual worship.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>TWO SETS OF LAWS<\/strong><br \/>\nIn most recitals of the story of the tablets of stone containing God&#8217;s laws, the fact that there are two sets of tablets is not reported. In this page we will provide a brief overview of the tablets from a covenant perspective.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:1-6\">The general terms of the eternal covenant were delivered by God directly to Israel before the writing of the first set of tablets.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:1-6\">\u2666\u00a0Israel had a sense of being delivered from religion because it saw what God did to the Egyptians during the Exodus to bring Israel to himself.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:1-6\">\u2666 Israel was to obey God&#8217;s voice <\/a>and keep his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+17:19;+genesis+26:2-5;+hebrews+13:20-21;+isaiah+55:1-3;+jeremiah+32:40;+ezekiel+37:26;+malachi+3:6;+isaiah+61:8;+hebrews+13:20;+psalm+105:8-10;+psalm+119:160;+psalm+119:144;+psalm+119:89;+psalm+119:152;+genesis+9:12-16;+genesis+17:13;+2+samuel+23:5;+1+chronicles+16:17;+ezekiel+16:60\">eternal covenant.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:1-6\">\u2666 When Israel did keep God&#8217;s covenant, it would be God&#8217;s treasured possession that was distinctly different from all religious nations of the earth.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:1-6\">\u2666 Israel would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (i.e. everyone would be a spiritual priest and there would be no special class of ceremonial priests like those found in religion).<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:1-6\">\u2666 Israel would be holy, spiritual people who are distinct from unholy, fleshly, religious people.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>2. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:7-8\">Moses reported the general terms of the covenant to the people and they agreed to those terms. <\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY ON AGREEING TO DO WHAT GOD SAID: By their agreement, they effectively said they would enter into the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+17:19;+genesis+26:2-5;+hebrews+13:20-21;+isaiah+55:1-3;+jeremiah+32:40;+ezekiel+37:26;+malachi+3:6;+isaiah+61:8;+hebrews+13:20;+psalm+105:8-10;+psalm+119:160;+psalm+119:144;+psalm+119:89;+psalm+119:152;+genesis+9:12-16;+genesis+17:13;+2+samuel+23:5;+1+chronicles+16:17;+ezekiel+16:60\">eternal covenant<\/a> with God. This means that they would obey God&#8217;s voice forever &#8212; no matter what he might say. This is important because what Israel responded to was a very short statement by God and could not possibly include everything that he might ever say to them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">In effect, this agreement\/covenant was open-ended in the sense that it had no limitations on what God might say. If Israel should ever fail to listen to God&#8217;s voice and obey it, however, Israel would have broken covenant with God and demonstrated that it is not created in God&#8217;s image because it has changed its mind in contrast to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=malachi+3:6;+james+1:17;+numbers+23:19;+psalm+102:27;+1+samuel+15:29;+ezekiel+24:14;+titus+1:1-2\">God who does not change.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">This story still has application for Jews and Christians who claim to love God and claim to have faith to obey him. When they choose to listen to false prophets, and practice religion instead of listening to God&#8217;s spoken voice, they break the covenant they have made with God. In other words, they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY ON ENTERING INTO COVENANTS: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-33;+judges+2:1-2;+deuteronomy+7:1-5;+exodus+34:10-17\">Several times God warned Israel not to make covenants with surrounding religious nations so they would not sin by serving their gods<\/a>. This warning is still valid in these modern times because all scripture is useful for training in righteousness for everyone. Therefore, we in these modern times should not agree to serve any of the gods\/idols of any religion &#8212; including Judaism and Christianity. The practical application of this warning is that people should not join any religion or even informally attach themselves to a religion.<\/p>\n<p>3. <a id=\"godspeaksfromcloud\"><\/a><a style=\"outline: 1px dotted; outline-offset: 0px;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/19-9.html\">God promised that he would appear to his people and speak to them spiritually (i.e. in a thick cloud).<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY ON CLOUDS:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-kings+8:10-11;+leviticus+16:2;+psalm+18:11;+psalm+97:2;+2-chronicles+6:1\"> God says that he lives in clouds<\/a>. He also says that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+66:1-3;+1+kings+8:27;+psalm+11:4;+matthew+5:34-35;+matthew+23:22\">his home and his throne is in heaven. <\/a>This is why people commonly think that God is somewhere up in the sky.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 180px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/god-speaks-from-a-cloud\/\">God is a Puzzle<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">When we recognize that the kingdom of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/luke\/passage\/?q=luke+17:20-21\">heaven\/god is within people<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+37:27;+john+1:14;+revelation+21:3\">that he lives in people (i.e. in their hearts), <\/a>however, we must conclude that references to clouds are also symbolic references to that invisible, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vocabulary.com\/dictionary\/amorphous\">amorphous<\/a> place within humans that is called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">spirit and heart<\/a>. Thus, when God refers to clouds, he is symbolically referring to New Covenant disciples who have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">clean, pure hearts.<\/a> God speaks through these people who are also identified as\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\"> angels<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors,<\/a> apostles and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+12:1;+ephesians+4:25;+ephesians+4:1-15;+colossians+3:9;+proverbs+8:7\">witnesses<\/a>. God <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">anoints<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5\">sends these people<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29\">speak for him<\/a>. That is how God speaks from clouds: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11\">he speaks through people<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">The people God sends are his<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/12-1.html\"> cloud of witnesses<\/a>. But these witnesses are not just passive watcher\/witnesses. They are active, speaking witnesses who testify\/speak about what they have heard. They are witnesses in the same sense that people who testify in court about what they have seen or heard. These witness testify to the world of religion about what they have heard when they hear <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\">God&#8217;s Spoken Word<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">This symbolism of witnesses explains how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+26:64;+matthew+24:30;+revelation+1:7;+isaiah+19:1;+daniel+7:13;+mark+14:62;+luke+21:27\">God and Jesus come in clouds<\/a>. Literal interpreters of the Bible wrongly believe that Jesus will come in literal clouds in an event called the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=acts+3:19-21;+1-corinthians+1:7;+1-corinthians+4:5;+1-corinthians+11:26;+philippians+1:10;+philippians+3:20;+colossians+3:4;+1-thessalonians+1:9-10;+1-thessalonians+2:19-20;+1-thessalonians+3:13;+1-thessalonians+4:13-17;+1-thessalonians+5:23;+2-thessalonians+1:6-7;+2-thessalonians+2:1-2;+1-timothy+6:13-16;+2-timothy+4:8;+hebrews+9:28;+hebrews+10:25;+hebrews+10:37;+james+5:7-9;+1-peter+1:3-5;+1-peter+1:13;+1-peter+4:13;+1-peter+5:4;+2-peter+1:16;+2-peter+3:3;+2-peter+3:8-10;+1-john+2:28;+1-john+3:2-3;+jude+1:14-15;+revelation+1:4;+revelation+1:7-8;+revelation+3:11;+revelation+16:15;+revelation+22:12-13;+revelation+22:20-21\">second coming&#8221; of Christ <\/a>which is sometimes equated with the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=day%2Bof%2Bthe%2Blord&amp;t=nas\">day of the Lord&#8221;.<\/a>\u00a0These interpretations always fail for lack of understanding of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\">how God refers to time,<\/a>\u00a0for understanding of the symbolism of clouds, and for lack of understanding of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/4\">end times<\/a>. Thus, religious people imagine that the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/3\">second coming<\/a> and the day of the Lord are unique, one-time events that are yet to come. Such interpretations cannot be reconciled with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/2\">scriptures that talk about &#8220;today<\/a>&#8221; and promise that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17\">all scripture is useful for training in righteousness<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><a id=\"witnessdefined\"><\/a>If the second coming of Christ and the day of the Lord are future events, they have no practical application for people today. The correct way to interpret these events, therefore, is as here-and-now events when God&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=chosen%2Bones&amp;t=nas\">chosen ones<\/a>\u00a0come as anointed\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\"> angels<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+43:10-12;+isaiah+44:8;+acts+1:1-8;+revelation+11:3;+acts+2:32;+acts+10:42;+john+15:27;+luke+24:48;+mark+16:15;+acts+4:33;+romans+10:18;+acts+28:31;+matthew+10:7;+mark+3:14;+acts+13:32;+acts+14:7;+acts+14:15;+acts+16:10;+romans+10:15;+romans+15:20;+1-corinthians+1:17;+1-corinthians+9:16;+1-corinthians+9:18;+2-corinthians+10:16;+galatians+2:2;+2-timothy+4:2;+revelation+14:6\">witnesses<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+6:6;+colossians+4:3;+isaiah+61:1-3;+acts+13:5;+isaiah+43:10-12;+colossians+1:25;+colossians+1:28;+isaiah+44:8;+acts+1:1-8;+revelation+11:3;+acts+2:32;+acts+10:42;+john+15:27;+luke+24:48;+mark+16:15;+acts+4:33;+romans+10:18;+acts+28:31;+matthew+10:7;+mark+3:14;+acts+13:32;+acts+14:7;+acts+14:15;+acts+16:10;+romans+10:15;+romans+15:20;+1-corinthians+1:17;+1-corinthians+9:16;+1-corinthians+9:18;+2-corinthians+10:16;+galatians+2:2;+2-timothy+4:2;+revelation+14:6\">preach\/share\/teach the words <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+37:31;+psalm+40:8;+exodus+13:9;+deuteronomy+30;+deuteronomy+32:45-46;+ezekiel+3:10;+isaiah+51:7;+jeremiah+31:33;+deuteronomy+30:14;+psalm+119:11;+proverbs+4:1-4;+proverbs+23:12;+deuteronomy+6:1-8;+deuteronomy+11:13-18;+deuteronomy+13:1-3;+mark+12:29-30;+luke+10:26-27;+job+22:21-26;+psalm+119:34;+psalm+119:161;+jeremiah+15:16;+jeremiah+11:8;+luke+8:12;+luke+8:15;+romans+10:8;+hebrews+4:12;+matthew+22:35-40;+joshua+22:5;+ezra+7:10\">God has impressed on their hearts\u00a0<\/a>to religious people who do not have ears to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">hear God&#8217;s voice<\/a>. This is what it means to be a witness: Hear God&#8217;s voice and report what you hear to others. Witnesses are not passive observers. They are active teachers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+3:17;+ezekiel+33\">watchmen on the walls who call out warnings of danger<\/a> to religious people who do not listen to God&#8217;s spoken voice. This is the essence of sharing the gospel. This is the understanding of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/12-1.html\">clouds of witnesses:<\/a> New Covenant disciples <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:40;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+acts+7:38;+1-peter+4:11\">reporting to others the words<\/a> that they hear God say to their hearts. It is important to keep clear, however, that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">these words are not the words of the literal Bible <\/a>that are preached by religious leaders. Rather the words are God&#8217;s words spoken through New Covenant disciples (i.e. clouds). The words they speak are the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/the-gospel\/7#differencesfalsetruegospels\">true gospel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>4. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:10-11\">In preparation for seeing God and listening to his voice, Israel had to consecrate itself. <\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY ON CONSECRATION: The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/qadash.html\">Hebrew word &#8220;qadash&#8221;, which is translated in English as &#8220;consecrate&#8221; means to be set apart, make holy, dedicate and sanctify.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">It is closely related to another very common Biblical word &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/qodesh.html\">qodesh<\/a>&#8221; which is most often translated into English as &#8220;holy.&#8221; It appears nearly two hundred times in <span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ex+3:5;ex+12:16;ex+15:11;ex+15:13;ex+16:23;ex+22:31;ex+26:33;ex+26:34;ex+28:2;ex+28:4;ex+28:29;ex+28:35;ex+28:36;ex+28:38;ex+28:43;ex+29:6;ex+29:29;ex+29:30;ex+29:33;ex+29:34;ex+29:37;ex+30:10;ex+30:13;ex+30:24;ex+30:25;ex+30:29;ex+30:31;ex+30:32;ex+30:35;ex+30:36;ex+30:37;ex+31:10;ex+31:11;ex+31:14;ex+31:15;ex+35:2;ex+35:19;ex+35:21;ex+36:1;ex+36:3;ex+36:4;ex+36:6;ex+37:29;ex+38:24;ex+38:25;ex+38:26;ex+38:27;ex+39:1;ex+39:30;ex+39:41;ex+40:9;ex+40:10;ex+40:13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Exodus, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=le+2:3;le+2:10;le+4:6;le+5:15;le+5:16;le+6:17;le+6:25;le+6:29;le+6:30;le+7:1;le+7:6;le+8:9;le+10:4;le+10:10;le+10:12;le+10:17;le+10:18;le+12:4;le+14:13;le+16:2;le+16:3;le+16:4;le+16:16;le+16:17;le+16:20;le+16:23;le+16:27;le+16:32;le+16:33;le+19:8;le+19:24;le+20:3;le+20:7;le+21:6;le+21:22;le+22:2;le+22:3;le+22:4;le+22:6;le+22:7;le+22:10;le+22:14;le+22:15;le+22:16;le+22:32;le+23:2;le+23:3;le+23:4;le+23:7;le+23:8;le+23:20;le+23:21;le+23:24;le+23:27;le+23:35;le+23:36;le+23:37;le+24:9;le+25:12;le+27:3;le+27:9;le+27:10;le+27:14;le+27:21;le+27:23;le+27:25;le+27:28;le+27:30;le+27:32;le+27:33\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Leviticus <\/a>and <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=nu+3:28;nu+3:31;nu+3:32;nu+3:47;nu+3:50;nu+4:4;nu+4:12;nu+4:15;nu+4:16;nu+4:19;nu+4:20;nu+5:9;nu+5:10;nu+6:20;nu+7:9;nu+7:13;nu+7:19;nu+7:25;nu+7:31;nu+7:37;nu+7:43;nu+7:49;nu+7:55;nu+7:61;nu+7:67;nu+7:73;nu+7:79;nu+7:85;nu+7:86;nu+8:19;nu+18:3;nu+18:5;nu+18:8;nu+18:9;nu+18:10;nu+18:16;nu+18:17;nu+18:19;nu+18:32;nu+28:7;nu+28:18;nu+28:25;nu+28:26;nu+29:1;nu+29:7;nu+29:12;nu+31:6;nu+35:25\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Numbers. <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 130px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\/4#whatitmeanstobesacred\">this link for understanding of holiness.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Looking at these words in the Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon, we find that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/qadash.html\">qadash<\/a> is a verb, and that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/qodesh.html\">qodesh<\/a> is a noun that is symbolically applied to people after they have been consecrated. Looking at scriptures with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/qadash.html\">qadash, <\/a>we find that consecration is something that people do to themselves, or is done to them by other people or by God. We also find that in several scriptures, the act of consecration and sanctification is applied to the Sabbath.<\/p>\n<p>5. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:12-13;+exodus+20:25-26;+genesis+11:1-4\">Israel was warned that it should not use any physical effort to try to approach God.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY ON APPROACHING GOD: All religions require that people use some aspect of their physical bodies to approach God in prayer, worship or service. This contrasts with<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+4:21-24\"> New Covenant disciples (i.e. true worshipers) who worship in spirit and truth<\/a> &#8212; not with their physical bodies in high places (i.e. mountains or temples).<\/p>\n<p>6. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:16-19\">After people cried out in repentance for their participation in religion (i.e. trumpet blast), God spoke to the people spiritually (i.e. smoke and thunder).<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY ON REPENTANCE: Repentance for the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/#definitionofsin\">sin of religion<\/a> is necessary for deliverance from slavery to religion.<\/p>\n<p>7. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:21-25\">God warned the people again that he would retaliate against anyone who tried to reach out and touch him through physical effort (i.e. flesh).<\/a><\/p>\n<p>8.<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:1-18\"> God spoke the summary of his commandments spiritually (i.e. through thunder, lighting, smoke.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY ON GOD&#8217;S VOICE: This is symbolic language for what it is like to hear God&#8217;s voice. Although his voice is like a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-kings+19:9-13;+job+4:12-21;+john+3:8;+ecclesiastes+11:5#\">whisper of the wind<\/a>, the impact on the one who hears is like thunder and lighting when God gives revelation about spiritual truth found in the symbolic language of the written words of the Bible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">God\u2019s Written Word and God\u2019s Spoken Voice<\/a> for more about the sound of God&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n<p>9. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:18-21\">The people heard God&#8217;s spiritual voice in the thunder, lighting and smoke but became afraid, retreated from God, and said, in effect, that they wanted a human (i.e. a prophet like Moses) to listen to God and report what God has said to them<\/a>. This is a prophetic picture of how religious people are: They prefer to have a human prophet speak to them instead of listening to God&#8217;s voice. This seemingly incidental story provides the history behind the affection that religious people have for false prophets. New Covenant disciples, however, only listen to God&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n<p>10. <a id=\"arkcovenant\"><\/a>The first pair of tablets was written by the finger of God and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+10:1-5\">placed inside the Ark of the Covenant <\/a>which symbolizes the heart of New Covenant disciples.<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+10:1-5\">\u00a0 <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s laws inside the heart<\/a> symbolizes the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11;+john+6:45\">New Covenant which provides that God&#8217;s laws are written on the hearts of New Covenant disciples and that God speaks to his people directly by his spirit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>11.\u00a0 The second set chiseled by the hand of Moses is placed beside the Ark of the Covenant symbolizes the Bible written by man. As a work of man, and not of God, it does not deserve to be included in the Ark of the Covenant. These laws are not written on the heart like the laws of the New Covenant written by God. They represent\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> made by man.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The mistake that Israel and Christians make is in assuming that there is only one covenant when there are actually two covenants. Not realizing this fact, they put all of their focus on the Old\/First Covenant which they could understand and obey. That is why both Judaism and Christianity are identified by rules and traditions that can be traced back to the literal words of the Bible. This is how they have stumbled over the law. What Jews and Christians past and present did not and still do not understand is that the covenant he wants them to obey is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+13:20;+isaiah+55:3;+jeremiah+32:40;+ezekiel+37:26;+psalm+89:3-4;+isaiah+59:21;+ezekiel+16:60\">eternal covenant<\/a> based on<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\"> spiritual laws. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>To appreciate the symbolism of these two different pairs of tablets, we must first acknowledge the symbolism of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+25:10-22\">Ark of the Covenant <\/a>which is also called the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+25:16;+exodus+25:21-22;+exodus+26:33-34;+exodus+30:6;+exodus+30:26;+exodus+31:1-7;+exodus+39:32-35;+exodus+40:3;+exodus+40:5;+exodus+40:20-21\">Ark of the testimony<\/a> which is placed in the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+27:21;+exodus+30:26;+exodus+30:36;+exodus+38:21;+numbers+1:53;+numbers+17:7;+numbers+9:15;+numbers+1:50;+numbers+10:11;+revelation+15:5;+acts+7:44\"> Tabernacle of the Testimony<\/a>, also called the Tabernacle of Moses and the Tent of Meeting.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>The ark was made out of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/wood-gold-silver-stone\">wood which symbolizes man<\/a>, and overlaid with gold which, in this case, symbolizes God&#8217;s glory. The ark is what God sees when he sees man because<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1+samuel+16:1-8;+1+kings+8:37-39;+1+chronicles+28:9;+luke+16:15;+hebrews+4:12;+psalm+11:4;+jeremiah+17:10;+john+2:24-25;+acts+1:24;+2+corinthians+4:17-18\"> God does not look at the external man but looks at eternal things (i.e. man&#8217;s heart). <\/a><\/li>\n<li>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+25:18-22;+exodus+26:34;+exodus+30:6;+exodus+37:6-9;+exodus+40:20;+leviticus+16:2;+leviticus+16:13-15;+numbers+7:89\">cover of the ark<\/a> is called the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/kapporeth.html\">mercy seat<\/a> or the judgment seat. This is where God sits when he looks at when he <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+11:20;+jeremiah+17:10;+jeremiah+20:12;+hebrews+4:12;+ecclesiastes+11:9;+proverbs+17:1-3;+proverbs+27:21;+psalm+7:9;+psalm+139:23;+romans+8:24-27\">judges man to see what is in his heart<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/eduwth.html\">testimony<\/a> of the Ark of the Testimony is God&#8217;s word given to Moses to be placed in the ark. The testimony is another term to describe God&#8217;s laws written on the hearts of New Covenant disciples.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>In summary, the ark of the covenant is the heart of New Covenant disciples. The second set of tablets which were placed in the ark symbolize God&#8217;s laws written on the hearts of New Covenant disciples. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+10:15-17;+hebrews+8:7-13\">This is the description of the New Covenant.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>With this understanding, we might wonder what the first set of tablets symbolizes. This set of tablets was carved out by Moses.xxx<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>TWO LEGAL SYSTEMS<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">Perhaps the biggest reason the Bible is so difficult to understand is found in the fact that God set up two kinds of legal systems:<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-color: #474062; border-width: 1px; height: 166px; width: 650px;\" border=\"1\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 17.9336px;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 223.05px; height: 17.9336px;\"><strong>Kinds of Legal Systems<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border: 1px solid #474062; width: 379.95px; height: 17.9336px;\"><strong>Description<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 783px;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 223.05px; text-align: center; height: 783px;\">Old\/First Covenant Religion<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 379.95px; text-align: left; height: 783px;\">\n<ul>\n<li>These laws are based on the literal words of the Bible.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">This system of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> is described in human words with words that are commonly understood in human languages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>These laws are written down and published in logical formats designed to enable easy identification.<\/li>\n<li>These laws are typically designed by legal experts who organize and write the laws so that anyone within the jurisdiction of the governing authority can read and understand them.<\/li>\n<li>These laws typically describe activities which are and are not legal.<\/li>\n<li>These laws typically describe activities that are visible and can be documented by other people. They are typically called ceremonial laws.<\/li>\n<li>Religious leaders judge lawbreakers and prosecute them according to the\u00a0 terms of the laws.<\/li>\n<li>Lawbreakers are typically punished with non-redemptive guilt, shame and separation from fellowship with the religious organization.<\/li>\n<li>The inner impulse for obedience to these laws is based on fear of separation from fellowship with the religious organization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 550px;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 223.05px; text-align: center; height: 550px;\">\u00a0Spiritual<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 379.95px; text-align: left; height: 550px;\">\n<ul>\n<li>These laws are based on God&#8217;s character.<\/li>\n<li>These laws are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a> written on the hearts of New Covenant disciples by the spirit of God.<\/li>\n<li>Understanding of these laws is available only to New Covenant disciples who listen to God&#8217;s spoken voice.<\/li>\n<li>These laws have to do with matters of the heart.<\/li>\n<li>God alone judges and prosecutes <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/#definitionofsin\">lawbreakers (i.e. sinners)<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Lawbreakers are punished with separation from God and exile to religion.<\/li>\n<li>People who break these laws are redeemed and restored to relationship with God when they cry out for deliverance from religion and repent for participating in religion.<\/li>\n<li>The inner impulse for obedience to these laws is based on love for God and love for others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The difference between the two systems exists because of the huge gap between the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">literal interpretations of the Law of Moses and the spiritual, or symbolic interpretation of that law<\/a>. As written in the Books of the Law (i.e. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), the law was impossible for anyone to obey literally. It contained too many rituals and too many do\u2019s and don\u2019ts for anyone to keep track of and execute faithfully.<\/p>\n<p>The second system (i.e. the law written by the Spirit on hearts of flesh) is contained in the New Covenant where the law is written on the hearts of God\u2019s people. This, of course, is the essence of the New Covenant that Jesus mediates between God and his people.<\/p>\n<p>The first system required obedience to many religious ceremonies and activities which were impossible to understand and obey for a variety of reasons:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>There were too many laws.<\/li>\n<li>Obedience to the laws was too complex to manage.<\/li>\n<li>No one could remember all of the laws.<\/li>\n<li>No one could possibly obey all of the laws.<\/li>\n<li>Many of the laws would be physically impossible to obey.<\/li>\n<li>The schedule, time and location for keeping the laws would be impossible for anyone to manage.<\/li>\n<li>Many of the laws would violate civil laws (e.g. stoning, etc.) if they were obeyed literally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>For all these reasons we can begin to understand why <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\">the law is called a stumbling block. <\/a>God knew, of course, that obedience to the literal, written law would be impossible for anyone to do. And he knew that religion and idolatry was in the hearts of his people. Therefore, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+20:18-26;+psalm+81:8-15;+isaiah+66:1-5;+romans+1:18-32\">God <span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-12\">gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart and their passion to walk in their own religion by <\/span><\/span>tempting them with the literal, written law, with all its various commandments, statutes, precepts and ordinances, as a test to discover who would listen to his voice instead of working themselves to death trying to obey the written law.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>God has always been concerned only with the heart attitude. He did not and does not want people who obey legalistically where only the mind and body are engaged. He wants people who obey because their hearts are tuned into <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">hearing the voice of God. <\/a>He <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+29:13;+matthew+15:1-6;+mark+7:1-13;+colossians+2:8\">does\u00a0not want them to obey written rules and traditions created by men<\/a>. Anyone who obeys religious rules written by and enforced by men and does not listen to God&#8217;s spoken voice has <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\">stumbled over the law.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Legalistic obedience of written laws is the essence of the Old\/First Covenant. It is the essence of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\">religion<\/a>. But obedience to God&#8217;s laws written on the heart is the essence of the New Covenant. As we read scripture, however, it is difficult\u00a0 to know which law God is referring to. If we don&#8217;t know that there are two laws and if we don&#8217;t know how to discern between the two laws, we will be confused and stumble over the law.<\/p>\n<p>The following are good examples of scriptures where it is very hard to discern which law is the Old\/First Covenant law and which is the New Covenant law. For convenience we have highlighted references to <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">Old\/First Covenant law in red<\/span>, and highlighted references to <strong>New Covenant law in bold.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:17-18\">Matthew 5:17-18<\/a>\u00a0 Think not that I have come to abolish <strong>the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to<span style=\"color: #000000;\"> fulfill them<\/span><\/strong>. 18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, <strong>not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: By saying that he had come to fulfill the law and the words of the prophets, Jesus was saying that he had come to fulfill the prophecies about the New Covenant. He also implied that everything God intended regarding the fulfillment of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaws\">spiritual intent of the law<\/a>, not the written law, would be accomplished through people who make the transition from Old Covenant religion to New Covenant spiritual life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">This all happens when, after they repent of being religious, God writes his laws on their hearts. Another way to say this is that he puts his name (i.e. character) in their hearts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+28:16-20\">Matthew 28:16-20 <\/a>Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, &#8220;All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,<strong> baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you<\/strong>; and lo, I am with you always, to the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">close of the age<\/span>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Jesus&#8217; commandment regarding baptism has been wrongly interpreted to be a literal baptism in water with the tag lines &#8220;in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit.&#8221; This is nothing more than religious mumbo-jumbo talk. Such statements by religious leaders and dunking or sprinkling in water do not change people. Only the spirit of God can change people.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Baptism is one of the clearest examples we can find of Old Covenant religion. It is a ritualistic work of the flesh just like <a title=\"Circumcision\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\">circumcision<\/a>, \u00a0<a title=\"Sacrifices, Tithes and Offerings\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sacrifices-tithes-and-offerings\">animal sacrifice<\/a> or a ceremonial washing. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+7:19;+romans+2:27-29;+galatians+5:6;+galatians+6:15\">Circumcision means nothing unless it is accompanied by the right heart attitude<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Jesus&#8217; commands to make disciples, baptize and teach are, in effect, commands to convert people from Old Covenant religious behaviors to New Covenant faith and works that result in the law being written on their hearts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The &#8220;end of the age&#8221; anticipates the end of the season Old\/First Covenant for individual religious people. It is not, as dispensationalists teach, a global event that happens to everyone in the world at the same time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/passage.aspx?q=romans+3:19-24\">Romans 3:19-24: <\/a><span id=\"ro3-19\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\">Now we know that whatever the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">law<\/span> says it speaks to those who are <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">under the law<\/span>, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. <\/span> <span id=\"ro3-20\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">20<\/span> For <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law<\/span>, since <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">through the law comes knowledge of sin<\/span>. <\/span> <span id=\"ro3-21\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">21<\/span> But now the righteousness of God has been manifested <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">apart from law<\/span>, although the <strong>law and the prophets bear witness to it, <\/strong><\/span> <span id=\"ro3-22\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><strong><span class=\"versenum\">22<\/span> the righteousness of God through faith<\/strong> in Jesus Christ for all who <strong>believe<\/strong>. For there is no distinction; <\/span> <span id=\"ro3-23\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">23<\/span> since all have <strong>sinned and fall short of the glory of God<\/strong>, <\/span> <span id=\"ro3-24\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">24<\/span> they are <strong>justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption<\/strong> which is in Christ Jesus,<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/4.html\">Romans 4<\/a>\u00a0What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about,<\/span> but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? &#8220;Abraham <strong>believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.<\/strong>&#8221; 4 Now to<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due<\/span>. 5 And to <strong>one who does not work but trusts him <\/strong>who justifies the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">ungodly<\/span><strong>, his faith is reckoned as righteousness<\/strong>. 6 So also David pronounces a <strong>blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness<\/strong> apart from <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">works<\/span>: 7 <strong>&#8220;Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin.<\/strong>&#8221; 9 Is this blessing pronounced only upon the circumcised, or also upon the<strong> uncircumcised?<\/strong> We say that <strong>faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness<\/strong>. 10 How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received circumcision as a sign or <strong>seal of the righteousness<\/strong> which he had <strong>by faith<\/strong> while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of<strong> all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them<\/strong>, 12 and likewise the<strong> father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but also follow the example of the faith which our father Abraham<\/strong> had before he was circumcised. 13 The <strong>promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith<\/strong>. 14 If it is the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">adherents of the law<\/span> who are to be the <strong>heirs<\/strong>, <strong>faith<\/strong> is null and the <strong>promise<\/strong> is void. 15 For <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law brings wrath<\/span>, but where there is <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">no law<\/span> there is <strong>no transgression<\/strong>. 16 That is why it depends on <strong>faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace<\/strong> and be guaranteed to all his descendants&#8211;not only to the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">adherents of the law<\/span> but also to those who <strong>share the faith of Abraham<\/strong>, for he is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, &#8220;I have made you the <strong>father of many nations<\/strong>&#8221; &#8211;in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who <strong>gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist<\/strong>. 18 In <strong>hope he believed <\/strong>against hope, that he should become the <strong>father of many nations<\/strong>; as he had been told, &#8220;So shall <strong>your descendants<\/strong> be.&#8221; 19 He did not weaken in <strong>faith<\/strong> when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah&#8217;s womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the <strong>promise of God<\/strong>, but he grew <strong>strong in his faith as he gave glory to God<\/strong>, 21 <strong>fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised<\/strong>. 22 That is why his <strong>faith was &#8220;reckoned to him as righteousness.<\/strong>&#8221; 23 But the words, &#8220;it was reckoned to him,&#8221; were written not for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who <strong>believe in him<\/strong> that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">put to death for our trespasses<\/span> and <strong>raised for our justification<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/5.html\">Romans 5<\/a>\u00a0Therefore, since we are <strong>justified by faith<\/strong>, we have <strong>peace with God<\/strong> through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have obtained access to this<strong> grace<\/strong> in which we stand, and we rejoice in our <strong>hope of sharing the glory of God<\/strong>. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because <strong>God&#8217;s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us<\/strong>. 6 While we were still <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">weak<\/span>, at the right time Christ died for the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">ungodly<\/span>. 7 Why, one will hardly die for a <strong>righteous man<\/strong>&#8211;though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. 8 But God shows his <strong>love<\/strong> for us in that while we were yet <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">sinners<\/span> Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we are now <strong>justified by his blood<\/strong>, much more shall we be <strong>saved<\/strong> by him from the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">wrath of God<\/span>. 10 For if while we were<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> enemies<\/span> we were <strong>reconciled to God by the death of his Son<\/strong>, much more, now that we are <strong>reconciled, shall we be saved by his life<\/strong>. 11 Not only so, but we also <strong>rejoice in God<\/strong> through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our <strong>reconciliation<\/strong>. 12 Therefore as <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">sin came into the world through one man and death through sin<\/span>, and so <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">death spread to all men because all men sinned<\/span>&#8212; 13 sin indeed was in the world before <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law<\/span> was given, but sin is not counted where there is no <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">law<\/span>. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">transgression of Adam<\/span>, who was a type of <strong>the one who was to come<\/strong>. 15 But the <strong>free gift<\/strong> is not like the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">trespass<\/span>. For if many died through <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">one man&#8217;s trespass<\/span>, much more have the <strong>grace of God and the free gift in the grace<\/strong> of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the <strong>free gift<\/strong> is not like the effect of that one man&#8217;s <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">sin<\/span>. For the judgment following <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">one trespass<\/span> brought condemnation, but the <strong>free gift<\/strong> following <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">many trespasses<\/span> brings <strong>justification<\/strong>. 17 If, because of one man&#8217;s <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">trespass, death reigned<\/span> through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of <strong>grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life<\/strong> through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Then as one man&#8217;s <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">trespass led to condemnation for all men<\/span>, so one man&#8217;s <strong>act of righteousness<\/strong> leads to <strong>acquittal and life<\/strong> for all men. 19 For as <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">by one man&#8217;s disobedience many were made sinners<\/span>, so by <strong>one man&#8217;s obedience many will be made righteous.<\/strong> 20 <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">Law came in, to increase the trespass;<\/span> but <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">where sin increased<\/span>, <strong>grace abounded all the more<\/strong>, 21 so that, as <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">sin reigned in death<\/span>, <strong>grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life<\/strong> through Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: It is important to understand what verse 18 means by an &#8220;act of righteousness&#8221;. The act of righteousness for Jesus and other New Covenant disciples is to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=john+15:12-17;+john+10:10-18\">lay down their lives for their friends <\/a>who are still practicing Old\/First Covenant religion. The righteous act fulfills God&#8217;s commands to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+12;+deuteronomy+20;+numbers+21:1-3;+numbers+31:1-18;+numbers+32;+numbers+33:50-56;+deuteronomy+9;+joshua+7:1-15;+joshua+9;+joshua+11;+joshua+23;+judges+2:11-23;+1-samuel+15:10-26;+deuteronomy+7:1-6;+deuteronomy+31:1-8;+zechariah+12:9;+jeremiah+1:10;+jeremiah+51:15-23\">utterly destroy religious kingdoms<\/a> and to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=isaiah+58:1-7;+isaiah+61:1-5;+luke+4:14-19;+isaiah+42:1-7;+isaiah+49:1-9;+exodus+1:11;+exodus+2:11;+nehemiah+5;+psalm+10;+psalm+82;+ezekiel+36:23\">set captives free<\/a> from religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">When we read verses 18 and 19, we should interpret &#8220;one man&#8217;s act of\u00a0 righteousness&#8221; to be our personal efforts to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+12;+deuteronomy+20;+numbers+21:1-3;+numbers+31:1-18;+numbers+32;+numbers+33:50-56;+deuteronomy+9;+joshua+7:1-15;+joshua+9;+joshua+11;+joshua+23;+judges+2:11-23;+1-samuel+15:10-26;+deuteronomy+7:1-6;+deuteronomy+31:1-8;+zechariah+12:9;+jeremiah+1:10;+jeremiah+51:15-23\">destroy religious kingdoms<\/a> so we can help <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=isaiah+58:1-7;+isaiah+61:1-5;+luke+4:14-19;+isaiah+42:1-7;+isaiah+49:1-9;+exodus+1:11;+exodus+2:11;+nehemiah+5;+psalm+10;+psalm+82;+ezekiel+36:23\">set captives free<\/a> from religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/passage.aspx?q=romans+6:14-15\">Romans 6:14-15<\/a>: <span id=\"ro6-14\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\">For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">not under law<\/span> but <strong>under grace<\/strong>. <\/span> <span id=\"ro6-15\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">15<\/span> What then? Are we to sin because <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">we are not under law<\/span> but <strong>under grace<\/strong>? By no means!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Sin here is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a>. New Covenant disciples are under grace &#8212; not law.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/charis.html\">Grace<\/a> is what God gives to people whom he delivers from religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">New Covenant disciples who live free from religion are grateful that God has delivered them from it and have no desire to go back into <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">slavery to religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/7.html\">Romans 7 <\/a>Do you not know, brethren&#8211;for I am speaking to those who know <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law<\/span>&#8211;that<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> the law<\/span> is binding on a person only during his life? 2 Thus a married woman is <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">bound by law<\/span> to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies she is discharged from <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law<\/span> concerning the husband. 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies she is free from <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">that law<\/span>, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. 4 Likewise, my brethren, you have died to <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law<\/span> through <strong>the body of Christ<\/strong>, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 <strong>While we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law<\/strong>, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are discharged from <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law<\/span>, dead to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> old written code<\/span> but in the <strong>new life of the Spirit<\/strong>. 7 What then shall we say? That <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law<\/span> is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law<\/span>, I should not have known sin. I should not have known what it is to covet if <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law<\/span> had not said, &#8220;You shall not covet.&#8221; 8 But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment, wrought in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law<\/span> sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from <strong>the law<\/strong>, but when<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> the commandment<\/span> came, sin revived and I died; 10<strong><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> the very commandment which promised life<\/span><\/strong> proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, finding opportunity in <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the commandment<\/span>, deceived me and by it killed me. 12 So <strong><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good<\/span>.<\/strong> 13 Did<strong><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> that which is good<\/span><\/strong>, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, working death in me through <strong><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">what is good<\/span><\/strong>, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through<strong><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> the commandment<\/span><\/strong> might become sinful beyond measure. 14 We know that <strong><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law<\/span><\/strong> is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that<strong><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> the law is good.<\/span><\/strong> 17 So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">a law<\/span> that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in <strong><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law of God<\/span><\/strong>, in my inmost self, 23 but I see in my members <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">another law<\/span> at war with <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law of my mind<\/span> and making me captive to<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> the law of sin<\/span> which dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I of myself serve <strong><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law of God<\/span><\/strong> with my mind, but with my flesh I serve <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the law of sin<\/span>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/passage\/?q=romans+8:1-7\">Romans 8:1-7 <\/a> There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God&#8217;s law, indeed it cannot;<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">\n<p>COMMENTARY: The law of sin and death is the written, literal Law of Moses. Rigid, legalistic observance of the Law of Moses is sin, and it results in spiritual death.<\/p>\n<p>People who are in Christ Jesus, however, do not observe the written Laws of Moses that are the basis on religion. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaw\">spiritual intent of the Law of Moses<\/a> is written on their hearts so that they live a life that is consistent with the spiritual intent which is equal to God&#8217;s character. Thus, to the degree that they are free from the law of sin and death (i.e. Old Covenant, legalism), and live out the spiritual intent of the law without trying to observe religious rituals, they are &#8220;in Christ Jesus.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>References to &#8220;the flesh,&#8221; therefore, are not limited to behaviors that are commonly associated with sin and flesh (e.g. immorality, theft, murder, gossip, adultery, etc.). Perhaps more importantly, flesh refers to any efforts to gain righteousness through legalistic observance of any laws.<\/p>\n<p>The Laws of Moses are not only the religious, legalistic laws that people try to observe. Jews, of course, work hard at obeying all those laws,\u00a0but Gentile believers (i.e. Christians) also have their\u00a0lists of do and don&#8217;t regulations.\u00a0The do&#8217;s include: go to church Sundays; tithe; baptism; prayer; communion; worship music;\u00a0etc. The don&#8217;ts include: swearing; sex outside of marriage; theft; murder; etc. Christians don&#8217;t think about these regulations as laws, and they don&#8217;t think of themselves as being legalistic if they observe them, but if they are regularly\u00a0taught and practiced, they still have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/de%20facto\">de facto <\/a>status as laws.<\/p>\n<p>Whether\u00a0you are talking about\u00a0the Law of Moses or matters of Christian doctrine, a law is a law. Regardless\u00a0if it is a written law or a law codified by tradition, any law that presumes to make someone holy or righteous like God is a law of sin and death. Any such law is hostile to God. The only law that really counts for God is the New Covenant law written on the hearts of men.<em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/9-31.html\">Romans 9:31 <\/a>Israel who pursued the righteousness which is based on law did not succeed in fulfilling that law.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewfaq.org\/halakhah.htm\">Judaism is a way of life based on obedience to many laws\/rules\/regulations derived from the Law of Moses. <\/a>Obedience to these <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewfaq.org\/613.htm\">many laws<\/a> (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>) is the standard of righteousness for observant Jews.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Jews past and present believe that fulfilling all of these laws was\/is the way to achieve righteousness. They are wrong. They righteous with respect to their religious laws, but they are not righteous with respect to God&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Christians have made the same mistake as Jews. They have many religious laws that they observe but they still do not fulfill God&#8217;s spiritual laws because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">God&#8217;s laws are not written on their hearts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/passage\/?q=romans+10:1-9\">Romans 10:1-9<\/a> Brethren, my heart&#8217;s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God&#8217;s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified. 5 Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, &#8220;Who will ascend into heaven?&#8221; (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or &#8220;Who will descend into the abyss?&#8221; (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); 9 because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/web\/2-corinthians\/passage.aspx?q=2-corinthians+3:2-6\">2-Corinthians 3:2-6<\/a>\u00a0You are our <strong>letter, written in our hearts<\/strong>, known and read by all men; 3 being revealed that you are a <strong>letter of Christ<\/strong>, ministered by us, written <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">not with ink<\/span>, but <strong>with the Spirit of the living God<\/strong>; not in <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">tablets of stone<\/span>, but in <strong>tablets that are hearts of flesh<\/strong>. 4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a<strong> new covenant<\/strong>; <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">not of the letter<\/span>, but <strong>of the Spirit<\/strong>. For the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">letter kills<\/span>, but the <strong>Spirit gives life.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Tablets written with ink and tablets of stone contain the letter of the law. They are symbolic references to the written Bible and they bring death.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">These tablets written by man on paper\/stone are\u00a0 not the same as a heart of flesh with God&#8217;s laws written on it by his spirit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/acts\/passage\/?q=acts+15:1-29\">Acts 15:1-29<\/a> But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, &#8220;Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.&#8221; 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoeni&#8217;cia and Sama&#8217;ria, reporting the conversion of the Gentiles, and they gave great joy to all the brethren. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up, and said, &#8220;It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.&#8221; 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, &#8220;Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.&#8221; 12 And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, &#8220;Brethren, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, 16 &#8216;After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up, 17 that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, 18 says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.&#8217; 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 For from early generations Moses has had in every city those who preach him, for he is read every sabbath in the synagogues.&#8221; 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsab&#8217;bas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, 23 with the following letter: &#8220;The brethren, both the apostles and the elders, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cili&#8217;cia, greeting. 24 Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: This is a story about controversy among followers of Jesus regarding how much of the Old Covenant law should be observed. Those who were legalistic (i.e. the Pharisees) argued that circumcision and rigid observance of all parts of the Law of Moses was still necessary. Others argued that keeping those laws was even difficult for Jews and that Gentiles should not be held to the same legalistic requirements. By saying that the Law of Moses was read in synagogues every Sabbath, they were acknowledging that new Gentile believers would be exposed to the Spirit of the Law of Moses and would then come to understand what was required of them anyway without putting any extra legalistic\u00a0expectations on them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Nevertheless, it was agreed that, at a minimum, Gentile believers should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. These were held up to be the three minimum laws that Gentiles should observe. There was an attitude of trust that beyond these three\u00a0issues\u00a0Gentiles would\u00a0know what to do because the New Covenant law was written on their hearts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">This story anticipates the kind of arguments that New Covenant disciples will receive from religious people when they tell them that religion, with all of its physical activities, is not what God wants. Not being able to discern between flesh and spirit, they will argue that the there should be churches, pastors, rabbis, singing, prayer, sacraments and so on because all these activities are found in the Bible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/4.html\">1 Corinthians 9:20-21:<\/a><span id=\"1co9-20\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"strongs\">And<\/span> unto the <span class=\"strongs\">Jews<\/span> I <span class=\"strongs\">became<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">as<\/span> a <span class=\"strongs\">Jew,<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">that<\/span> I might <span class=\"strongs\">gain<\/span> the <span class=\"strongs\">Jews;<\/span> to <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">them that are <span class=\"strongs\">under<\/span> the <\/span><span class=\"strongs\"><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">law<\/span>,<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">as<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"><span class=\"strongs\">under<\/span> the <\/span><span class=\"strongs\"><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">law<\/span>,<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">that<\/span> I might <span class=\"strongs\">gain<\/span> them that are <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"><span class=\"strongs\">under<\/span> the <\/span><span class=\"strongs\"><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">law<\/span>;<\/span> <\/span> <span id=\"1co9-21\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">21<\/span> To them that are <strong>without <span class=\"strongs\">law,<\/span> <\/strong><span class=\"strongs\">as<\/span> <strong>without <\/strong><span class=\"strongs\"><strong>law<\/strong>,<\/span> (being <span class=\"strongs\">not<\/span> <strong>without <span class=\"strongs\">law<\/span> to <\/strong><span class=\"strongs\"><strong>God<\/strong>,<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">but<\/span> <strong>under the <span class=\"strongs\">law<\/span> to Christ<\/strong>,) <span class=\"strongs\">that<\/span> I might <span class=\"strongs\">gain<\/span> them that are <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">without <\/span><span class=\"strongs\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">law<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/6-2.html\">Galatians 6:2<\/a> Bear one another\u2019s burdens, and so fulfill the <strong>law of Christ.<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+3:1-7\">Galatians 3:1-7<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">works of the law<\/span>, or by <strong>hearing with faith<\/strong>? 3 Are you so foolish? Having <strong>begun with the Spirit<\/strong>, are you now <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">ending with the flesh<\/span>? 4 Did you experience so <strong>many things in vain<\/strong>? &#8211;if it really is in vain. 5 Does he who supplies the <strong>Spirit to you and works miracles among you<\/strong> do so by <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">works of the law<\/span>, or by <strong>hearing with faith<\/strong>? 6 Thus Abraham <strong>&#8220;believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.<\/strong>&#8221; 7 So you see that it is <strong>men of faith<\/strong> who are the sons of Abraham.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/passage.aspx?q=galatians+3:8-13\">Galatians 3:8-13:<\/a><span id=\"ga3-8\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"> And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles <strong>by faith<\/strong>, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, &#8220;In you shall all the nations be blessed.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"ga3-9\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">9<\/span> So then, those who are men <strong>of faith<\/strong> are blessed with Abraham who <strong>had faith<\/strong>. <\/span> <span id=\"ga3-10\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">10<\/span> For all who rely on <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">works of the law are under a curse<\/span>; for it is written, &#8220;<strong>Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them<\/strong>.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"ga3-11\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">11<\/span> Now it is evident that <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">no man is justified before God by the law<\/span>; for &#8220;He who <strong>through faith is righteous shall live<\/strong>&#8220;; <\/span> <span id=\"ga3-12\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> but<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> the law<\/span> does not rest <strong>on faith<\/strong>, for &#8220;<strong>He who does them shall live by them<\/strong>.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"ga3-13\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">13<\/span> Christ redeemed us from the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">curse of the law<\/span>, having become a curse for us&#8211;for it is written, &#8220;Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/passage.aspx?q=galatians+4:1-5\">Galatians 4:1-5:<\/a><span id=\"ga4-1\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"> I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">a slave<\/span>, though he is the owner of all the estate; <\/span> <span id=\"ga4-2\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">2<\/span> but he is under <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">guardians and trustees<\/span> until the date set by the father. <\/span> <span id=\"ga4-3\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">3<\/span> So with us; when we were children, we were <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe<\/span>. <\/span> <span id=\"ga4-4\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">4<\/span> But when the <strong>time had fully come<\/strong>, God sent forth his Son, <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">born of woman, born under the law<\/span>, <\/span> <span id=\"ga4-5\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">5<\/span> to redeem those who were <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">under the law<\/span>, so that we might receive <strong>adoption as sons<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Old\/First Covenant religionists are born into slavery to religious leaders (i.e. guardians and trustees) because their parents raise them to be religious. They are slaves to religion (i.e. elemental spirits of the universe).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 120px;\">When they become New Covenant disciples, however, they are spiritually born again and become children of God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/passage.aspx?q=galatians+5:13-24\">Galatians 5:13-24: <\/a><span id=\"ga5-13\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"> For you were called to <strong>freedom<\/strong>, brethren; only do not use your <strong>freedom<\/strong> as an opportunity for the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">flesh<\/span>, but <strong>through love be servants of one another<\/strong>. <\/span> <span id=\"ga5-14\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">14<\/span> For the <strong>whole law is fulfilled in one word, &#8220;You shall love your neighbor as yourself<\/strong>.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"ga5-15\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">15<\/span> But if you <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">bite and devour one another take heed that you are not consumed by one another<\/span>. <\/span> <span id=\"ga5-16\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">16<\/span> But I say, <strong>walk by the Spirit<\/strong>, and <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">do not gratify the desires of the flesh<\/span>. <\/span> <span id=\"ga5-17\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">17<\/span> For the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">desires of the flesh<\/span> are<strong> against the Spirit<\/strong>, and the <strong>desires of the Spirit<\/strong> are <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">against the flesh<\/span>; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">doing what you would<\/span>. <\/span> <span id=\"ga5-18\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">18<\/span> But if you are <strong>led by the Spirit<\/strong> you are <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">not under the law<\/span>. <\/span> <span id=\"ga5-19\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">19<\/span> Now the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">works of the flesh are plain<\/span>: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, <\/span> <span id=\"ga5-20\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">20<\/span> idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, <\/span> <span id=\"ga5-21\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">21<\/span> envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">such things<\/span> shall not inherit the <strong>kingdom of God<\/strong>. <\/span> <span id=\"ga5-22\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">22<\/span> But the <strong>fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, <\/strong><\/span> <span id=\"ga5-23\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><strong><span class=\"versenum\">23<\/span> gentleness, self-control;<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">against such there is no law<\/span>. <\/span> <span id=\"ga5-24\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">24<\/span> And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">flesh with its passions and desires<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: God is not really talking about cultural\/social <span id=\"ga5-19\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"> fornication, impurity, licentiousness,\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"ga5-20\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\">idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit,\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"ga5-21\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\">envy, drunkenness and carousing. These are all natural terms with which people in all cultures are familiar and which are forbidden according to cultural laws, ethics and mores in most cultures. God is not unconcerned about these issues, but there is no need for him to remind people about these issues because they are essentially human, social issues &#8212; not spiritual issues. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">God uses these natural terms with which people are familiar to symbolically represent spiritual concepts with which people are not familiar. Each of these cultural\/social concepts represent some aspect of the way God sees the heart attitude of Old\/First Covenant religionists. In other words, because God finds his spiritual version of these attitudes and behaviors present in religion, and he warns people to avoid these attitudes of the heart.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Religious people who only interpret these terms according to their cultural references will make religious rules and regulations out of them. Thus they will say that to be a good religious person, one must not fornicate, envy, carouse and so on. Their righteousness is based on how well they do with respect to these religious regulations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">New Covenant disciples, on the other hand, do not interpret these terms literally. They already know what their cultures accept and reject as good behavior. They do not need the Bible to remind them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">New Covenant disciples therefore seek to understand God&#8217;s spiritual meaning of these terms. They seek to understand what God means by spiritual fornication, idolatry, envy and so on. They desire to see their hearts as God sees them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">When they see their hearts as God sees them, they desire to cleanse themselves (i.e. crucify their flesh) from these spiritual conditions. After they crucify their fleshly, religious thinking and behaviors, they<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/krino.html\"> judge<\/a> everything according to spiritual terms &#8212; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+11:1-3;+john+7:24;+colossians+2:13-17;+john+8:12-15\">not according to what they can see or hear with natural eyes or ears<\/a>. Then, and then only then, do they walk in the spirit and exhibit the invisible fruits of the spirit which are all matters of the heart &#8212; not of the flesh. They are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+12:1-2;+ephesians+4:17-24;+titus+3:5\">transformed by the renewal of their minds<\/a> when they stop reading the Bible literally and interpret it spiritually by listening to God&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/deuteronomy\/passage.aspx?q=deuteronomy+6:20-25\">Deuteronomy 6:20-25<\/a>\u00a0\u201dWhen your son asks you in time to come, \u2018What is the meaning of the<strong> testimonies and the statutes and the ordinances<\/strong> which the LORD our God has commanded you?\u2019 21 then you shall say to your son, \u2018We were <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">Pharaoh\u2019s slaves in Egypt<\/span>; and the LORD<strong> brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand<\/strong>; 22 and the <strong>LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes; 23 and he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land which he swore to give to our fathers. 24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at this day. 25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: The commandments God wants people to obey are <a style=\"outline: 1px dotted; outline-offset: 0px;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">written on the hearts of New Covenant disciples.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS OF RELIGION<\/strong><br \/>\nComing into the New Covenant is not an easy, straightforward process. Just like the Israelites were required to spend forty years in the wilderness, God requires that everyone spends a season in Old\/First Covenant religion. He established this pattern by first laying out the law in natural terms with a multitude of do\u2019s and don\u2019ts for people to obey. But behind each article of the law was, and is, a heart attitude that reflects the heart and mind of God. It is this heart attitude \u2014 not\u00a0strict, obedience to the literal\u00a0do\u2019s and don\u2019ts \u2013\u00a0that God wants to see in his people. And since he knows the hearts and minds of everyone, he knows when they are obeying the law for the right reasons or the wrong reasons.<\/p>\n<p>These fine differences between Old and New Covenant are quite obscure in Old Covenant scriptures, but they are visible for New Covenant disciples who have\u00a0 eyes to see and ears to hear. But developing this capability is a slow process symbolically represented by forty years in the wilderness. Since men are basically flesh, they are consigned to spending time in the wilderness practicing Old\/First Covenant religion. This pattern exemplifies the tendency of men to work at being spiritual by doing the literal terms of the law. That means they will work very hard to do the literal things that God has said to do with their minds and bodies. This is legalistic observance of the law.<\/p>\n<p>Such legalism does not please God. In fact, it offends God because hearts are not engaged. That is what God meant when he said \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/isaiah\/passage.aspx?q=isaiah+29:8-14\">they honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me<\/a>.\u201d They are obeying commandments contrived by men and\u00a0 taught by men to people who, being basically flesh, tend to do things legalistically (i.e. mechanically, routinely, repetitiously). Another way to look at these religious behaviors is that they are done habitually with minimal engagement of the heart. And whenever a person\u2019s\u00a0heart is not engaged, God is not pleased because that person is not accurately\u00a0representing God who does everything out of the motives of his heart. We see examples of the importance of the heart being engaged in these scriptures;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/psalms\/passage.aspx?q=psalms+119:75-80\">Psalms 119:75-80<\/a>\u00a0I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that in faithfulness thou hast <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">afflicted me<\/span>. 76 Let thy <strong>steadfast love<\/strong> be ready to comfort me <strong>according to thy promise to thy servant<\/strong>. 77 Let thy <strong>mercy come to me, that I may live<\/strong>; for thy <strong>law is my delight<\/strong>. 78 Let the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">godless be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile<\/span>; as for me, I will meditate on thy<strong> precepts<\/strong>. 79 Let <strong>those who fear thee<\/strong> turn to me, that they may <strong>know thy testimonies<\/strong>. 80 May <strong>my heart be blameless in thy statutes<\/strong>, that I may not be <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">put to shame<\/span>!<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/1-kings\/passage.aspx?q=1-kings+15:1-5\">1-kings 15:1-5<\/a>\u00a0Now in the eighteenth year of King Jerobo\u2019am the son of Nebat, Abi\u2019jam began to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother\u2019s name was Ma\u2019acah the daughter of Abish\u2019alom. 3 And he walked in<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> all the sins which his father did before him; and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God<\/span>, as the <strong>heart of David his father<\/strong>. 4 Nevertheless for David\u2019s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem; 5 because <strong>David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life<\/strong>, except in <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the matter of Uri\u2019ah the Hittite.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/1-kings\/passage.aspx?q=1-kings+8:56-61\">1-Kings 8:56-61<\/a> \u201cBlessed be the LORD who has given <strong>rest to his people Israel<\/strong>, according to <strong>all that he promised<\/strong>; not one word has failed of all <strong>his good promise, which he uttered by Moses his servant<\/strong>. 57 The LORD our <strong>God be with us, as he was with our fathers; may he not leave us or forsake us; 58 that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers<\/strong>. 59 Let these <strong>words of mine, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires; 60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other. 61 Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/jeremiah\/passage.aspx?q=jeremiah+31:26-33\">Jeremiah 31:26-33<\/a>\u00a0 26 Thereupon I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me. 27 \u201cBehold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast<\/span>. 28 And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil<\/span>, so I will watch over them to <strong>build and to plant<\/strong>, says the LORD. 29 <strong>In those days<\/strong> they shall no longer say: \u2018The <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children\u2019s teeth are set on edge.<\/span>\u2019 30 But <strong>every one shall die for his own sin; each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge<\/strong>. 31 \u201cBehold, the <strong>days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah<\/strong>, 32 not like<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke,<\/span> though I was their husband, says the LORD. 33 But <strong>this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/joshua\/passage.aspx?q=joshua+24:14-28\">Joshua 24:14-28\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0 14 \u201cNow <strong>therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness<\/strong>;<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt<\/span>, and serve the LORD. 15 And if you be <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">unwilling to serve the LORD,<\/span> choose this day whom you will serve, <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell<\/span>; but as for me and my house, <strong>we will serve the LORD<\/strong>.\u201d 16 Then the people answered, \u201cFar be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">serve other gods<\/span>; 17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage<\/span>, and who <strong>did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples<\/strong>, the<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> Amorites who lived in the land<\/span>; therefore we also will <strong>serve the LORD, for he is our God<\/strong>.\u201d 19 But Joshua said to the people, \u201cYou cannot serve the LORD; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins<\/span>. 20 If you <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you<\/span>, <strong>after having done you good<\/strong>.\u201d 21 And the people said to Joshua, \u201cNay; but <strong>we will serve the LORD.<\/strong>\u201d 22 Then Joshua said to the people, \u201cYou are witnesses against yourselves that<strong> you have chosen the LORD, to serve him<\/strong>.\u201d And they said, \u201cWe are witnesses.\u201d 23 He said, \u201cThen <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">put away the foreign gods which are among you<\/span>, and <strong>incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel<\/strong>.\u201d 24 And the people said to Joshua, \u201cThe <strong>LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey<\/strong>.\u201d 25 So <strong>Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them<\/strong> at Shechem. 26 And Joshua <strong>wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the LORD<\/strong>. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, \u201cBehold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard <strong>all the words of the LORD which he spoke to us;<\/strong> therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> deal falsely with your God<\/span>.\u201d 28 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his <strong>inheritance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/passage.aspx?q=romans+9:30-33\">Romans 9:30-33<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not <strong>pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith<\/strong>; 31 but that Israel who pursued the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">righteousness which is based on law <\/span>did not succeed in fulfilling <strong><span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">that law<\/span><\/strong>. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it <strong>through faith<\/strong>, but as if it were <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">based on works<\/span>. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, \u201cBehold, I am laying in Zion a<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall<\/span>; and <strong>he who believes<\/strong> in him will not be put to <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">shame<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/passage.aspx?q=romans+10:1-10\">Romans 10:1-10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brethren, my heart\u2019s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be<strong> saved<\/strong>. 2 I bear them witness that they have a <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">zeal for God, but it is not enlightened<\/span>. 3 For, being ignorant of the <strong>righteousness that comes from God<\/strong>, and seeking to <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">establish their own<\/span>, they did not submit to <strong>God\u2019s righteousness<\/strong>. 4 For Christ is the end<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\"> of the law<\/span>, that <strong>every one who has faith may be justified<\/strong>. 5 Moses writes that the man who practices the <span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it<\/span>. 6 But the <strong>righteousness based on faith<\/strong> says, Do not say in your heart, \u201c<span style=\"color: #ba0d0d;\">Who will ascend into heaven?\u201d (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or \u201cWho will descend into the abyss?\u201d (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)<\/span>. 8 But what does it say? The <strong>word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith<\/strong> which we preach); 9 because, if you <strong>confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved<\/strong>. 10 For man <strong>believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-corinthians\/3.html\">2 Corinthians 3:<\/a> Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be known and read by all men; 3 and you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the dispensation of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such splendor that the Israelites could not look at Moses&#8217; face because of its brightness, fading as this was, 8 will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor? 9 For if there was splendor in the dispensation of condemnation, the dispensation of righteousness must far exceed it in splendor. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had splendor has come to have no splendor at all, because of the splendor that surpasses it. 11 For if what faded away came with splendor, what is permanent must have much more splendor. 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not see the end of the fading splendor. 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. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; 16 but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: These scriptures may include a good summary of the differences between old and new covenant. The following chart is a good summary of those differences.<\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 645px; width: 100.462%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\" border=\"1\" align=\"right\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\" align=\"right\"><strong>Old\/First Covenant<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><strong>New Covenant<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left; width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Covenant of the Letter<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left; width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Covenant of the Spirit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Covenant which Kills<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Covenant which Gives Life<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Ministry of Death<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Ministry of Life<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Ministry of Condemnation<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Ministration of Righteousness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Written with Ink<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Written with the Spirit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Written on Stone<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Written on the Heart<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Hardened minds<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:19;+ezekiel+36:26\">Hearts of flesh<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Veil unlifted<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Veil is removed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Fades away with some splendor<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Permanent with more splendor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Some glory<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Increasing glory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.6172%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Old Covenant religion teaches people about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> and traditions created by men for men to follow.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0765%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">New Covenant disciples are taught God&#8217;s<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\"> spiritual laws by his spirit.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>It is important to recognize that verse 2 says that the law is to be\u00a0 written on the hearts of believers\u00a0so that they can be known and read by all men. This is the kind of evangelism that God had in mind in the <a title=\"Third Commandment\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/third-commandment\">Third Commandment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><strong>HOW TO LEARN ABOUT GOD<\/strong><br \/>\nThere are only three ways to learn about God:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\">Studying <\/a>while listening to God&#8217;s voice.<\/li>\n<li>Listen to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">words of New Covenant disciples<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">Listen to hear God&#8217;s voice directly.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Observing the lives of New Covenant believers, however, is not enough. No matter how much observation anyone does, it is still necessary to study while listening to God&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n<p>People who claim to want to bring others to God, therefore, should be careful to avoid any form of religious legalism\u00a0like what is found in conventional Judaism and Christianity. They should life their lives quietly and peacefully representing God&#8217;s character to the world as the Spirit of God guides and directs them to fulfill the law that is written on their hearts just as Jesus did.<\/p>\n<p>When people are attracted to God through New Covenant believers, the law gives life to everyone. The written law with all its regulations is not attractive and produces death in the religious practitioners and in those who observe their legalistic behaviors. God calls it slavery and oppression.<\/p>\n<p>There are two cautions about the second way. First is that because there are so few New Covenant disciples to observe, it is still imperative to study and listen to God&#8217;s voice. Second is that even New Covenant disciples will backslide from time to time. This means that it is not always safe to learn from them. New Covenant disciples must always be careful to discern good from evil.<\/p>\n<p>The following scriptures are a study of learning how to discern good from evil. Basically, the challenge is to learn how to recognize when the scripture identifies Old\/First Covenant religious behaviors or New Covenant behaviors. For convenience, Old\/First Covenant behaviors are highlighted in <span style=\"color: #993300;\">red<\/span>, and New\/Covenant behaviors are highlighted in <strong>bold<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+2:11-21\">Galatians 2:11-21<\/a>:\u00a0<span id=\"ga2-11\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"> But when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. <\/span><span id=\"ga2-12\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party<\/span>. <\/span><span id=\"ga2-13\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">13<\/span> And with him the rest of the<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"> Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity<\/span>. <\/span><span id=\"ga2-14\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">14<\/span> But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, &#8220;If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">compel the Gentiles to live like Jews<\/span>?&#8221; <\/span><span id=\"ga2-15\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">15<\/span> We ourselves, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, <\/span><span id=\"ga2-16\" class=\"versetext highlightThenFade\"><span class=\"versenum\">16<\/span> yet who know that a <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">man is not justified by works of the law<\/span> but <strong>through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ<\/strong>, and not by<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"> works of the law<\/span>, because <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">by works of the law shall no one be justified<\/span>. <\/span><span id=\"ga2-17\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">17<\/span> But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">sinners<\/span>, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! <\/span><span id=\"ga2-18\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">18<\/span> But if I <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. <\/span><\/span><span id=\"ga2-19\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"versenum\">19<\/span> For I <strong>through the law died to the law<\/strong><\/span>,<\/span> that I might <strong>live to God<\/strong>. <\/span><span id=\"ga2-20\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">20<\/span> I have been <strong>crucified with Christ<\/strong>; it is no longer I who live, but <strong>Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. <\/strong><\/span><span id=\"ga2-21\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">21<\/span> I do not nullify the <strong>grace of God<\/strong>; for if justification were <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">through the law<\/span>, then Christ died to no purpose. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+3:10-25\">Galatians 3:10-25<span id=\"ga3-10\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"> <\/span><\/a><span id=\"ga3-10\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\">For all who <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, &#8220;Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them.&#8221; <\/span><\/span><span id=\"ga3-11\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><span class=\"versenum\">11<\/span> Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law;<\/span> for &#8220;<strong>He who through faith is righteous shall live<\/strong>&#8220;; <\/span><span id=\"ga3-12\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> but <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">the law<\/span> does not rest on faith, for &#8220;<strong>He who does them shall live by them<\/strong>.&#8221; <\/span><span id=\"ga3-13\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">13<\/span> Christ redeemed us from the <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">curse of the law<\/span>, having become a curse for us&#8211;for it is written, &#8220;<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree&#8221;<\/span> &#8212; <\/span><span id=\"ga3-14\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">14<\/span> that in Christ Jesus the <strong>blessing of Abraham<\/strong> might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the <strong>promise of the Spirit through faith<\/strong>. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-15\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">15<\/span> To give a human example, brethren: no one annuls even a man&#8217;s will, or adds to it, once it has been ratified. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-16\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">16<\/span> Now the <strong>promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring<\/strong>. It does not say, &#8220;And to offsprings,&#8221; referring to many; but, referring to one, &#8220;And to your offspring,&#8221; which is Christ. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-17\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">17<\/span> This is what I mean:<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"> the law, which came four hundred and thirty years afterward,<\/span> does not annul a <strong>covenant previously ratified by God<\/strong>, so as to make the promise void. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-18\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">18<\/span> For <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">if the inheritance is by the law<\/span>, it is no longer by<strong> promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise<\/strong>. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-19\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">19<\/span> Why then <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the offspring should come to whom the <strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">promise<\/span><\/strong> had been made<\/span>; and it was ordained by angels through an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\"><strong>intermediary<\/strong><\/a>. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-20\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">20<\/span> Now an intermediary implies more than one; but God is one. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-21\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">21<\/span> Is <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">the law then against the promises of God<\/span>? Certainly not; for if <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">a law had been given which could make alive, then righteousness would indeed be by the law<\/span>. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-22\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">22<\/span> But the scripture consigned <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">all things to sin<\/span>, that <strong>what was promised to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe<\/strong>. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-23\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">23<\/span> Now before <strong>faith<\/strong> came, we were <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">confined under the law, kept under restraint<\/span> until <strong>faith<\/strong> should be revealed. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-24\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">24<\/span> So that the <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">law was our custodian<\/span> until Christ came, that we might be <strong>justified by faith<\/strong>. <\/span><span id=\"ga3-25\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">25<\/span> But now that <strong>faith has come<\/strong>, we are no longer <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">under a custodian;<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+5:1-6\">Galatians 5:1-6<\/a>\u00a0 For <strong>freedom<\/strong> Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">yoke of slavery<\/span>. 2 Now I, Paul, say to you that if you receive <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">circumcision<\/span><\/a>, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who receives <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\">circumcision<\/a> that he is bound to keep the <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">whole law<\/span>. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">justified by the law<\/span>; you have <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">fallen away from grace<\/span>. 5 For <strong>through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness.<\/strong> 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but <strong>faith working through love.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/hebrews\/passage\/?q=hebrews+8:6-7\">Hebrews 8:6-7<\/a> But as it is, Christ has obtained a <strong>ministry which is as much more excellent<\/strong> than the <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">old<\/span> as the <strong>covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises<\/strong>. 7 For if that <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">first covenant had been faultless<\/span>, there would have been no occasion for a <strong>second<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/hebrews\/passage\/?q=hebrews+9:1-5\">Hebrews 9:1-5<\/a>\u00a0Now even the<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"> first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron&#8217;s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat<\/span>. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/hebrews\/9-15.html\">Hebrews 9:15<\/a> Therefore he is the mediator of a <strong>new covenant<\/strong>, so that <strong>those who are called<\/strong> may receive the <strong>promised eternal inheritance<\/strong>, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">transgressions under the first covenant<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/hebrews\/passage\/?q=hebrews+9:19-28\">Hebrews 9:19-28<\/a> <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, &#8220;This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.&#8221; 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood,<\/span> and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 23 Thus it was necessary for the <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites<\/span>, but the <strong>heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices<\/strong> than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into a <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">sanctuary made with hands<\/span>, a copy of the <strong>true one<\/strong>, but into <strong>heaven<\/strong> itself, now to <strong>appear in the presence of God<\/strong> on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own<\/span>; 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">sin<\/span> by the <strong>sacrifice of himself<\/strong>. 27 And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/hebrews\/10.html\">Hebrews 10:<\/a> For since <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities<\/span>, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin. 3 But in these sacrifices there is a <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">reminder of sin<\/span> year after year. 4 For it is <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins<\/span>. 5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, &#8220;<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired<\/span>, but a body hast thou prepared for me; 6 <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure.<\/span> 7 Then I said, &#8216;Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God,&#8217; as it is written of me in the roll of the book.&#8221; 8 When he said above, &#8220;Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings&#8221; (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, &#8220;Lo, I have come to <strong>do thy will<\/strong>.&#8221; He abolishes the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">first<\/span> in order to establish the <strong>second<\/strong>. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins<\/span>. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. 14 For <strong>by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified<\/strong>. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 &#8220;<strong>This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,&#8221; 17 then he adds, &#8220;I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more.&#8221; 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin<\/strong>. 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us <strong>draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water<\/strong>. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to <strong>love and good works<\/strong>, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but <strong>encouraging one another<\/strong>, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the <strong>knowledge of the truth<\/strong>, there no longer remains a <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">sacrifice for sins<\/span>, 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 A man who has violated the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">law of Moses<\/span> dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the <strong>blood of the covenant<\/strong> by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, &#8220;Vengeance is mine, I will repay.&#8221; And again, &#8220;The Lord will judge his people.&#8221; 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But recall the former days when, <strong>after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one<\/strong>. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that you may <strong>do the will of God and receive what is promised<\/strong>. 37 &#8220;For yet a little while, and the coming one shall come and shall not tarry; 38 but my righteous one shall<strong> live by faith<\/strong>, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.&#8221; 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/james\/passage\/?q=james+1:22-27\">James 1:22-27\u00a0<\/a>But be <strong>doers of the word<\/strong>, and not <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">hearers only<\/span>, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if any one is a <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">hearer of the word and not a doer<\/span>, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But he who looks into the <strong>perfect law, the law of liberty<\/strong>, and perseveres, being no <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">hearer that forgets<\/span> but a <strong>doer that acts<\/strong>, he shall be <strong>blessed in his doing<\/strong>. 26 If any one thinks he is <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man&#8217;s religion is vain<\/span>. 27 <strong>Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>JESUS, HIS DISCIPLES AND THE NEW COVENANT<\/strong><br \/>\nPeople who desire to be like Jesus, would do well to recognize that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+7:14-25;+john+12:27-34;+isaiah+9:1-7\">Jesus was, and is, an invisible spirit that lives forever<\/a>. Given the basic <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">differences between faith and religion<\/a>, and given the fact that Jesus is called the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/passage\/?q=hebrews+12:1-2\">author and perfecter of faith<\/a>, we would expect that Jesus&#8217; followers would also want to function as invisible spirits. This obviously does not describe religious people who continuously <a href=\"http:\/\/thewayweseereligion.blogspot.com\/2012\/03\/religious-ornaments-and-labels.html\">promote themselves in public ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To find application of this logic to our own lives, we begin by noting the following scriptures:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+14:9;+colossians+1:13-17;+john+12:45;+hebrews+1:3\">Jesus was\/is the image of the invisible living God<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Jesus had <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+53:1-3\">no form or appearance that would attract people to him.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/philippians\/passage\/?q=philippians+2:1-8\">Jesus made himself to have no reputation and humbled himself to the point of death.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-timothy+2:1-5;+hebrews+8:1-6;+hebrews+9:13-15;+hebrews+12:22-24\">Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+10:11-18;+1-john+3:16;+john+15:13\">Jesus voluntarily gave his life for his friends (i.e. Old\/First Covenant religionists).<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+15:30-32;+luke+9:23;+matthew+10:38;+luke+14:27\">New Covenant disciples carry their cross and die daily<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+6:1-5;+romans+8:29;+philippians+3:8-10;+james+3:9\">New Covenant disciples are like Jesus<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>We conclude the following from these observations:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>New Covenant disciples are born again into the image of God.<\/li>\n<li>New Covenant disciples should have no <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/2018\/02\/18\/making-a-name-for-yourself\/\">religious identities<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>New Covenant disciples should humble themselves by dying to their religious identities.<\/li>\n<li>New Covenant disciples are mediators of the New Covenant with respect to Old\/First Covenant religionists.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>We also conclude that those who believe that they are followers of Jesus are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceived,<\/a> Old\/First Covenant religionists &#8212; not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> disciples.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JESUS AND THE LAW Christians readily accept that Jesus fulfills the law, but they are unclear about which law he fulfilled. They are reasonably sure that Jesus did not fulfill the literal Law of Moses because they make no attempt <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2312,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3160","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3160"}],"version-history":[{"count":65,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3160\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14195,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3160\/revisions\/14195"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}