Paul, based on my understanding at this point, at least, not to mention what the heart would say is that we would study the OT law only as a means to learn about God's righteousness/standards of justice, but would never attempt to obey it from the standpoint of following it as a checklist of do's and dont's, for we would all fail at ever living up to His righteousness, and any attempt to do so would most likely lead to pride given our sin nature.

I haven't read Paul's writings about the law in any detail yet, but the little of the NT I have heard about where Paul talks about this, I think I've literally lived some of it out in the process of this study of the OT, Paul.

By humbly obeying Christ and by following the Holy Spirit's guidance (Jeremiah 31:33-34 here again), just like a Christian told me recently, true believers will obey seat belt laws and other various rules out of willing love for Christ and His call to obey authority, etc.

There's an enormous differece between the two mindsets, clearly w/ the great beauty found in the Christian approach for very obvious reasons.

Regardless of some of these roadblocks I've run into during the struggle with the OT, I will certainly never leave Christ. After a year or more of researching the OT in depth,the Lord has revealed more and more understanding concerning the OT directly and through the help of His people.

For the first time now, I finally have some hope again and am now able to fully appreciate all that He's taught me about my own sin nature along the way.

The heartbreaking thing to have discovered in terms of the OT study itself is just how much rebellion and pride I had lurking within that in all honesty I never knew was there, perhaps in certain capacities but never to the extent by which the Lord has revealed it directly like this.

Now it's merely a matter of working through the few questions that remain and getting my head back on straight and returning to Christ to allow the Holy Spirit to take over. Clearly, that's where I wanted to be all along so it'll be great to be home.

After having reviewed this website a bit further, I really am thankful for the opportunity. The Lord sent me to a dear soul working as a theologian that advised me to come here, and I couldn't be happier for the opportunity.

PS-Robin, you must have either just snuck your post in while I was writing back to Paul or I missed it completely prior to writing this. Thank you so much-I will write you back later once I make my way through what you have written. Thanks again.