The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Old Testament Law

Alex,<br><br>Your apparent total disregard for the doctrine of inspiration is disheartening, to say the least. You have several times ripped verses out of their context in an attempt to justify a doctrine that is not to be found in the Scriptures. Ironically, you have even done this to justify your pretexting.<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]As believers in Jesus Christ, we are free to spiritualize what we read in the Bible --- as the Spirit leads. Our covenant is in the Spirit - not in a written code. (see 2 Cor 3:6)</font><hr></blockquote><p>Here's the CONTEXT of this verse:<blockquote>2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (ASV) "And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."</blockquote>Paul is clearly speaking about the Apostolic office which Christ had appointed him to. He goes on to show that the gospel which he was given was superior to the glory of that which was given to Moses, which was but a shadow of that which was to come in Christ. Even more clear is that Paul is comparing the ceremonial/sacrificial laws administered by the Aaronic Priesthood and the fulness of the atonement wrought by Christ and applied by the Spirit to believers in the new covenant. The law was unable to bring about life, but only pointed forward to Him Who would secure that life in His vicarious substitutionary atonement and which is now applied to believers by the Spirit. The text has absolutely NOTHING to do with giving someone the freedom to "spiritualize" the Bible by some alleged "spirit". For the Holy Spirit, the Author of the Scriptures, does not teach in those Scriptures that freedom.<br><br>What you call "freedom to spiritualize" totally ignores the fact that God has determined to communicate to His own via language and grammar. The Spirit, who inspired the writers of Scripture, cannot contradict Himself by allegedly "leading" someone to another teaching which He has not providentially had put into writing. Thus, the apostle John warns that we are not to "believe every 'spirit', but to test the 'spirits'." To do so requires that there be an objective standard of propositional truth that is discernible to those who are in need of knowing who is teaching error. That standard is God's infallible and inerrant Word.... not some inner movement of the Spirit. For the Holy Spirit opens the mind to that which has been written. Paul certainly held this to be true when he wrote:<blockquote>Acts 17:11 (ASV) "Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so." and to Timothy,<br><br>2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."</blockquote>The Spirit does not speak apart from His own Word. See here: Does God Speak Apart From the Bible?<br><br>In His Grace,