Quote:
Originally Posted by mfblume
I agree. Some people lead up to trying to get you to keep sabbath day when they use this line. They say His commandments are the Ten Commandments of Moses.
Jesus' commandments did include sabbath day, and were beyond Law. The Pharisees said that you were not to do anything (see list on restrictions) on the Sabbath. But Jesus took the Spirit of that Law and said "Man is Lord over the Sabbath".
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Actually, Jesus' commandments fulfilled the Law. Even though we do not have every word said by Jesus, we do have the essence of what he taught, by what the Apostles (or their disciples) recorded.
We do know that Jesus taught on the Law. The Law should not be taken lightly, but we have to proper apply it to our lives and cultures. This is what Paul was explaining in a lot of his writings.
God's word is established forever. Jesus even stated that not one Ioda would be left out (Dotting of the I and crossing of the T). Heaven and Earth would pass away before that would happen. So we must be weary of brushing off the Law as not relevant to your Christian life. For the Law shows you what Sin is, so that you may over come it by the blood of the Lamb.
One thing that Jesus did say, was that because of our hearts, no one could ever fulfill the spirit of the Law. That could only be achieved by Faith in Jesus Christ, with the renewing of our minds, and being Born Again as the new man Adam.
Second, a lot of the standards of the UPC stem out of teachings of Separation. Have you ever wondered why they teach against facial hair? It was to separate ourselves from the "Jesus Movement" of the 60's (especially here in California). These were hippies and bikers, that were "preaching Jesus" but living sinful lives. Actually, quite a few of the Holiness/Oneness teachers of the Early 1900's had facial hair.
But the bible does teach, that if you are going to have facial hair, that you do not follow after the traditions of Egypt (the World), but to follow specific guidelines of the Law (especially for the Priests).
I would advise anyone that would question the Holiness standards, to search the scriptures, read the writings of previous Holiness Preachers, so that you understand where they are coming from on a specific subject. A lot of it is based on common sense and convictions by the Word and Spirit.
I would say most of them are not a Heaven or Hell issue. But one scripture comes to mind for that.
Hebrews 12:1 - "1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and(A) sin which clings so closely, and(B) let us run(C) with endurance the race that is(D) set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,(E) who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising(F) the shame, and(G) is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
The key there is Weight and Sin. Things that can be a weight to us, might not be a sin, but we are still commanded to set it aside.
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