Law was an impossible system to keep

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Really think about it.... someone who lives by the Ten Commandments might think that they are doing pretty good. However, the Ten Commandments are woefully incomplete. For nowhere in the Ten Commandments do we read that we are to visit the widows and/or the orphans in their affliction. Nor do the Ten Commandments command that we feed the hungry and care for the sick and needy. While the Ten Commandments are ethical, they would only keep you from being kicked out of church, arrested, divorced, or shot by a jealous spouse. Beyond that, they are really of little "moral" value. For love demands far more than Law. For example, if you saw a stranded motorist on the side of the road, nothing in the Ten Commandments commands you to stop and assist them. However, love would demand that you stop and seek how you might help, and to even give out of your own abundance to see to it that this motorist's immediate needs are met.

Love demands far more than law ever could or will.

To which brother Blume said 'Amen.'

Question: If 'love' demands 'far more than law ever could or will', then how is the law a 'grievous burden which cannot be borne' in contrast to 'love' or 'grace', which according to you guys is stricter, harder, heavier, and far more demanding than law?

To be quite honest, I think you guys do not have a holistic understanding of law and grace and how they relate to one another. I notice that because it seems you guys have somewhat of a patchwork or pastiche approach to this subject. And it includes some nice sounding theological phrases that simply don't exist in the Bible, like 'love demands far more than law ever could or will.' Or, 'the commandments of God are unbearable.'

I do not claim to be an expert, but I do try to view everything in scripture in its original context, and I try to only declare the very things scripture declares, preferably using the words scripture uses. I also have no theological background that I am coming from that might inadvertently sway my beliefs in causing me to either not see certain things, or see things that aren't there. I do honestly believe you are doing that to some extent in some of these discussions.

But I also believe that in large measure we are in agreement, as to the final practical destination we both get to, in regards to basic obedience to God. There are of course some differences of belief in regards to what exactly is included in that, and of course we each take a different route, but I am glad that you teach the grace of God produces genuine, loving obedience to him.