You're welcome. My pleasure.

And thank you. Just for your information, Dr. Manfred Brauch is the former president and professor of biblical theology at Eastern Baptist (now Palmer) Theological Seminary. He is now retired. But it's your prerogative to disagree with him. Thanks for the conversation.

Thanks for your reply. I don't know who Brauch is, but I disagree with his views.

> If I understand correctly, you believe that Christians must still follow the law(?).

No, I do not believe that Christians must follow the Law. Jesus says very clearly that the Law has been fulfilled (Mt. 5.17). In Romans 3.20-21, 28, Paul tells us that the Law can't save anyone and we will only find righteousness apart from it. In Romans 6.14 he writes, "You are not under the law." We have died to the Law (Rom. 7.4).

> Can you provide BCV to support your statement "the Bible says we are unable to control ourselves" please?

Romans 7.7-24. Manfred Brauch writes, "What Paul has given us in these verses of chapter 7 is a description of the ultimate futility of life lived in external conformity to law, even though that law is God’s law." It is evident in our need for control. As slaves to sin (Rom. 7.14), we are under its control, not our own. All impurity is a by-product of sin and evidence that Jesus is not in control (Isa. 59.2; Eph. 5.12; 1 Cor. 5.6).

But when we give ourselves to Christ, we yield ourselves to His control, so we are still not in control of ourselves.

That's in one sense. There is another sense, of course, where we are to exercise self-control (Gal. 5.23). Interestingly, though, Kittel writes, "It’s striking how small a part is played by the term [self-control] in biblical religion. The word is not found at all in the gospels." More accurately, self-control is chiefly a matter of letting the Spirit control our lives instead of letting sin control our lives. "Self-control" is mostly a misnomer.

> Somehow I don't think that being free in Christ can be simultaneous with having to keep the law.

I agree.

The problem is it states we are no longer under the schoolmaster (the law!) If I understand correctly, you believe that Christians must still follow the law(?). If I have misunderstood your position on this, my sincere apologies.

Can you provide BCV to support your statement "the Bible says we are unable to control ourselves" please? Somehow I don't think that being free in Christ can be simultaneous with having to keep the law.

It's not problematic. In 3.23, Paul is talking about the boundaries and rules that People were limited by before the new covenant. Before Jesus came, the law had to assume the temporary role of a controlling factor, as best as it could. In the same sense as in the book "The Lord of the Flies," the Law was an authority to both intimidate and guide so as to maintain some semblance of control. It was as if the only way to control people without the possibility of control through the Spirit in the heart, was to lock them up in jail so they could not misbehave. It worked to the extent that fear and intimidation can prevent bad behavior. But it could not make people good; it could not justify. It can only forcefully control. It does nothing for the heart.

V. 24: In the movie "The Village," M. Night Shyamalan shows us this principle. Fear and control can lead to a somewhat just and happy society under the illusion of freedom. Society can function adequately and admirably under this kind of fear. Ultimately, though, it is not a lasting or ideal solution, and in truth it’s just another form of bondage.

v: 25: We have to be controlled by something, because the Bible says we are unable to control ourselves. By our very nature, we lack control. Freedom, as one pastor rightfully said, is not a lack of all controls, but the ability to choose what will control us. Often we let our notions of “for the good of society,” what is right and wrong by our perceptions, or fear and authority control us. We live by our lists of rules and standards, and don’t even realize we are enslaved by them. The Bible says that faith in Jesus Christ sets us truly free. It is true because then the controls do not come from outside, but they come from inside us—from the heart—from the foundation of love. Justification by faith teaches us the freedom of love, not the fear of authority.

Where's the problem here with my position?

What do you do with the problematic Galatians 3:23-25 with regards to your position?

> Basically, be a good Jew.

Not really. Some repeating points are "Jesus is the access point," Love Jesus, put the words of Jesus into action, and "Align yourself with Jesus, identify with him, and follow Him." All of those are verboten for a Jew.

> Not one item in that list has any necessary connection to being Christian.

Yeah, several of them are. All of the ones about aligning with Christ are distinctly Christian.

> Not even the Death and Resurrection of Christ

Correct about this. Yep. Before His death and resurrection, Jesus didn't teach that subscribing to His death and resurrection were part of the package. That's where we need Paul's writing as "Volume 2".

> or His being Messiah

Well, that's a bit of a technicality. Jesus is the access point, and one must believe in Him (repent and believe: (Mt. 21.32; Lk. 5.3213; 13.3-5; 15.1-31; 24.47) and drink the living water that Jesus gives ((Jn. 4.13-14; 7.38, which is a text about His messiahship). Also, living by the truth and coming into the light (Jn. 3.21; 4.23-24; 5.33; 8.32; 9.5; 12.35-36, 46; 15.26; 16.13; 18.37), both of which are Jesus Himself, pertain to His being the Messiah.

So your comments, while they superficially look like they are correct, missed quite a bit of the truth of the matter.

Basically, be a good Jew.

Not one item in that list has any necessary connection to being Christian. Not even the Death and Resurrection of Christ, or His being Messiah, get a mention.

Maybe everything should be dropped from the NT except the Gospels (except for His Death and what follows).

Yes Jesus fulfilled the Law. No debate there. But where I got this from was the words of Jesus Himself: Mt. 5.19-20; 12.50; 19.18-19; Mk. 7.8; 10.3, 19; Lk. 10.28; 16.29-31; 18.18-30; 19.1-10. But I will also add that following the Law and commandments is often, if not always, explained as following Jesus. Righteousness in Judaism was connected to living in relationship with God as defined in the Torah. Jesus seems to be pushing the definition into relationship with Himself as God and following him in both allegiance and obedience.