From: rover@backgreen.co.uk   
      
   The sayings of Christ and Christian practice. I need guidance on how   
   to apply.   
      
   I am puzzled by fellow Christians who claim that the Old Testament is   
   defunct. The reason given so often is that Jesus was the “lamb” to   
   clear away its rules and regulations. If thats the case, and I have no   
   reason to doubt that He came to fulfill the law, could someone explain   
   to me what the following passages mean.   
      
   1) “For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an   
   iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished.  Whoever   
   then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men   
   so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does   
   them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”   
   (Matthew 5:18-19 RSV)  Clearly the Old Testament is to be abided by   
   until the end of human existence itself.  None other then Jesus said   
   so.   
      
   2) All of the vicious Old Testament laws will be binding forever.  "It   
   is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part   
   of the letter of the law to become invalid."  (Luke 16:17 NAB)   
      
   3) Jesus strongly approves of the law and the prophets.  He hasn’t the   
   slightest objection to the cruelties of the Old Testament.  "Do not   
   think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.  I have   
   come not to abolish but to fulfill.  Amen, I say to you, until heaven   
   and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a   
   letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place."   
   (Matthew 5:17 NAB)   
      
   3b) "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for   
   refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness..."  (2   
   Timothy 3:16 NAB)   
      
   3c) "Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture   
   that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came   
   through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit   
   spoke under the influence of God." (2 Peter 20-21 NAB)   
      
   4) Jesus criticizes the Jews for not killing their disobedient   
   children according to Old Testament law.  Mark.7:9-13  "Whoever curses   
   father or mother shall die"  (Mark 7:10 NAB)   
      
   5) Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees for not washing his hands   
   before eating.  He defends himself by attacking them for not killing   
   disobedient children according to the commandment: “He that curseth   
   father or mother, let him die the death.”  (Matthew 15:4-7)   
      
   6) Jesus has a punishment even worse than his father concerning   
   adultery: God said the act of adultery was punishable by death. Jesus   
   says looking with lust is the same thing and you should gouge your eye   
   out, better a part, than the whole.  The punishment under Jesus is an   
   eternity in Hell.  (Matthew 5:27)   
      
   7) Peter says that all slaves should “be subject to [their] masters   
   with all fear,” to the bad and cruel as well as the “good and gentle.”   
   This is merely an echo of the same slavery commands in the Old   
   Testament. 1 Peter 2:18   
      
   8) “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the   
   law" (John7:19) and “For the law was given by Moses,..." (John 1:17).   
      
   9) “...the scripture cannot be broken.” --Jesus Christ, John 10:35   
      
   Thankyou for your time.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)