The “Jesus Was Born Under the Law” Argument

by Terry W. Benton The Argument Stated: Jesus was “born” under the law (Galatians 4:4) and he died on the cross to “end” the Old Testament law of Moses (Romans 10:4; Colossians 2:14). This means that everything Jesus said and taught was under the authority of the Old Testament law of Moses. The Argument Answered:…

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Did the Old Law not end until the destruction of Jerusalem?

Question: In your lesson, “The Sermon on the Mount: The Law,” you keep to the literal meaning of Heaven and Earth in Matthew 5:18.  Additionally, you argue the best understanding of the passage is to read the two “until” phrases be joined with an “or” rather than an “and.” I am currently studying with a…

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The Ten Commandments and the Old and New Testaments shall stand forever!

Question: Do not mislead the people with your manipulation of the Word of God and your omissions about the “Ten Commandments.” His Word and Commandments were, are and forever shall remain true! He alone is the Creator and the destroyer! No mortal with limited knowledge can change what He tells through the only Living Book, the…

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Someone upset that the Old Testament is no longer in effect

Question: do we read the same bible? But then again this is how things have to be for the prophecies to come to past the road to destruction is broad and alot of you people are on it you claim to be christians and luke 4:16 shows you live contrary to how christ lived you…

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Do Methodists understand we are not under the Old Law?

Question: I am about to begin a study of why Christians no longer keep the Old Testament Laws with a very special lady, soon to be my wife, who is a lifetime Methodist. My mention that the Law is no longer kept piqued her interest.  She expressed she would like to see that in Scripture. …

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What sins under the Old Testament remain as sins today?

Question: Hi there. I really like your work and biblical analysis. I read your answer on “Which scriptures are applicable today?” and I have some questions to ask. I am currently dealing with which sins are applicable to life today. I have to, of course. check myself that I am not motivated to discard these…

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What are the first five books of the Bible called?

Question: What are the first five books of the Bible called? Answer: “Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me”” (Luke…

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The Jerusalem Conference

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/JerusalemConference.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 11:1-18   I.         The meeting in Jerusalem, recorded in Acts 15, is used to justify many things             A.        The gathering of denominational bodies to consider issues is justified by this passage.             B.        Many go a step further to justify decisions of what rules the denomination will support             C.        Messianic Jews believe that…

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How was worship conducted in Israel when the temple was destroyed?

Question: I have a question regarding the Tabernacle and the first Temple in the Old Testament: Was the Tabernacle the dwelling place of God and was the Temple the place of worship for the people? If so, when the first Temple was destroyed and tabernacle removed, how did the people worship God if there was…

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Did Amos curse those who introduced instrumental music into Hebrew worship?

Question: Is it true that Amos pronounced a curse upon those who, like David, introduced instrumental music into Hebrew worship? Answer: David did not introduce instrumental music into Israelite worship, God did. Long before David lived God commanded the Israelites to blow trumpets as part of their worship (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 10:10). Prophets used instrumental…

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Where have you seen that the Law was done away with?

Question: So because he follows the law statutes and commandments of the Old Testament, you assume that the Hebrew Israelites are not correct? You need to do some more reading, where, in the Scriptures, have you seen that the law, statutes, and commandments were done away with? If you read Exodus, that will answer your…

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The Old Testament and New Testament Christians

by Joe R. Price Moses Brings a Second Copy of the Stone Tablets Exodus 34:29-30 The Old Testament is a relevant part of God’s word, even though it is not the standard of authority by which we obtain reconciliation and life in Christ (Colossians 3:17; Galatians 3:23-27; Romans 7:4; II Corinthians 3:14; Ephesians 2:14-18). To…

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If God doesn’t change, then why not follow both testaments?

Question: I thought your God was the same as yesterday today and tomorrow: Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” So how can God have two wills, creating the Old and New Testament? That sounds more like a change to me. So if God is the same always, then you should be…

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Is Semiramis a myth or a fact?

Question: Who were Semiramis and her husband Nimrod? Are they responsible for goddesses and religions such as Catholicism along with praying to Mary and so forth? I have read of many “mother and child” religion like in China and in India (correct me if I am wrong). I can’t identify many of them now but…

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Were sins rolled forward under the Old Law?

Question: In a Wednesday night lesson recently, our minister stated that under the Old Law sins were not rolled back when sacrifices were made. He said there was no Scripture that says that and that it has just been repeated until people think that. He said since God knew from the beginning of time that…

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How many major and minor prophets are there in the Bible?

Question: How many major and minor prophets are there in the Bible? Answer: The division of major and minor prophets come from the Old Testament. There are 17 books of prophecy in the Old Testament and they are divided into two groups: the long books (the major prophets) and the short books (the minor prophets).…

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Did Gentiles who converted to Judaism worship in the same way as a native Jew?

Question: Regarding the Gentiles who repented of their wickedness and converted to Judaism (such as Ruth, and the 120,000 of Nineveh that repented), were they commanded to follow all the laws and commandments the same way as all Jews were? Did they then worship in the same way, offer sacrifices, etc.? Answer: There were provisions…

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Did God command the use of instrumental music under the Old Law?

Question: Do you think there was a time in the old law that God did command the use of instruments in worship to Him? Such as II Chronicles 29:25-28. Seems like there are split thoughts on this idea. Just wondering about your thoughts. There is no doubt that instruments were used in the Old Law…

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The Roman Catholics, 1486 AD, and the “Title Page” Argument

by Terry W. Benton The Argument: “..the Roman Catholic church in 1486 AD arbitrarily placed the four books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John –before the cross — (MMLJBC) in the New rather Old Testament by placing an erroneous New Testament “title page” between the books of Malachi and Matthew. Answer: Everyone already knew that…

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Does a change in the Law mean God changes His mind a lot?

Question: Since God changed His Law, then apparently God changes His mind a lot. Answer: Actually God planned the change all along. The Law of Moses defined sin and bound it to mankind, but it could not in itself save. It spoke only of future salvation. “For the law made nothing perfect; on the other…

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Shouldn’t we follow the Old Testament and the New Testament?

Question: Shouldn’t we follow God’s rules in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament? (I’m reading the Bible currently, and I’m only in Joshua right now.) I mean, well, some of the rules would be considered kind of illegal, such as sacrificing your first born child. I could not do that even if…

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What is the Law of Christ?

Question: Read an article on your page concerning Paul and his motives. If what is stated in the New Testament is true, I agree with you about him. Could you tell me what the “Law of Christ” is? My teaching, and correct me if I am wrong, is that “the Torah” better translates from the Hebrew into English…

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The Gospels and the Covenants

by Roger Blackwelder It has been observed that the traditional divisions we use to describe the Bible are inaccurate. Genesis through Malachi are called the Old Testament or Old Covenant. Matthew through Revelation are called the New Testament or New Covenant. The titles are problematic for at least two reasons: 1) The covenant between God…

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Why do you quote from the Old Law?

Question: I read Why We Don’t Follow the Old Testament and saw your point of view on the matter, but you do quote laws from Leviticus to justify positions. Aren’t all those laws thrown out, along with all other laws from the Old Testament? I’m not debating homosexuality here, but you do quote: Leviticus 18:22…

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The Scriptures and Context

by Ethan R. Longhenry “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17). As Christians seeking to serve Jesus Christ according to His will (cf. Colossians 3:17),…

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Why should Christians learn the Old Testament?

Question: Why is it important for Christians today to understand the Jewish scriptures of the Old Testament? Answer: Try for a moment to pretend that you know nothing of the Old Testament. You sit down and read about the destruction of Jerusalem in Luke 17: “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and…

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The Apocrypha

I.         When addressing what books are accepted into the Old Testament canon, you will run into a set of writings known as the Apocrypha             A.        “Apocrypha” means “doubtful writings”             B.        There are 15 books or writings which fall under this heading             C.        The Roman Catholic church accepts 12 of these books and calls them “deutero-canonical” books             D.        See chart for…

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The Canon of the Old Testament – Part 2

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/CanonOfTheOldTestament2.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.         In our prior lesson, we established the acceptance of the writings of Moses by a large number of people over a wide range of history.             A.        The writings were not accepted because of some decree or because the documents were old, but because they were recognized as the works of Moses…

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How were the Patriarchs saved?

Question: How are those in the patriarch times saved if there was no hope for them? Was it because of Jesus’ death that all (who tried to live good unto God) were saved before Moses and the Ten Commandments? Please explain. Answer: “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by…

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How Do They Do That?

  I.         We have discussed a doctrine in the past which has been advocated which declares the gospel accounts: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are Old Testament books.             A.        It is not hard to refute the belief, but I want to use an article written by one of its proponents as an illustration to help us learn…

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What were the evils of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel?

Question: What were the evils of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel? What steps did God take to deal with them? Answer: Sounds to me like someone is looking for a shortcut to getting his Bible lesson done. A summary is given in I Kings 16:30-34. “Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the…

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What was the Sea of Bronze?

Question: What is the Sea Of Bronze? Answer: One of the furnishings in the tabernacle and the temple was a laver to hold water so that God’s requirements for the priests to wash before doing certain ceremonies could be done. “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for…

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The Words of Jesus

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.         I continue to be amazed at the lengths people will go to justify a belief.             A.        We all know the story of Martin Luther’s decision that James 2 did not belong in the sacred text because of one small phrase in James 2:24.                         1.         It contradicted everything that Martin Luther had come to…

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The Book of Lamentations

by Philip North This book, believed to be written by the prophet Jeremiah between 586 and 585 B.C., is centered around the aftermath of the first destruction of Jerusalem, due to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jeremiah had prophesied of Jerusalem’s destruction for forty years before it finally took place.  Since Jeremiah is known as “the…

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