Here is more in the account of that meeting:
7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you
know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word
of the gospel and believe. 8 "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the
Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their
hearts by faith. 10 "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples
which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 "But we believe that through the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they."
Peter showed that God had given the Holy Spirit to the uncircumcised Gentiles, and that had been
some time ago. Even though they had not been circumcised, they received the Holy Spirit and were
therefore forgiven their sins and were justified. The question here was; should they now be
circumcised and keep the “law of Moses”. Peter was giving his understanding and meaning of what
had taken place when he was told in a vision to go to the home of Cornelius an uncircumcised
Gentile. They baptized him and his household, all uncircumcised, and they received the Holy Spirit in
a visible way. Peter reasoned that God had shown no distinction between the uncircumcised Gentiles
and the circumcised Jews, so God did not require circumcision in order to enter into the new
covenant, and neither was it necessary to keep “the law of Moses”, that they would be testing God by
requiring the uncircumcised to get circumcised and keep “the law of Moses” which he called a yoke
of bondage.
The book of Gal. explains this: Paul is writing to them because according to the context of the letter,
some from those who thought that it was necessary to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses had
been there teaching them and some were getting circumcised.
Gal. 4:21 ¶ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written
that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of
the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which
things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to
bondage, which is Hagar-- 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem
which now is, and is in bondage with her children-- at that time the temple and priesthood were
still in existence, and the sacrifices and temple rites were still being done.
26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written: "Rejoice, O
barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has
many more children Than she who has a husband." 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of
promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born
according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the
bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the
freewoman." 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
5:1 ¶ Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled
again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will
profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to
keep the whole law.
It is plain that the yoke that Peter spoke of and Paul is writing to the Galatians about, is “the law of
Moses” with all it’s rituals and requirements including circumcision.
Back to the conference at Jerusalem:
Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many
miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
They were showing the assembly how it was God’s will that the message of salvation be preached to
the Gentiles, and that He was calling the uncircumcised Gentiles to repentance.
13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me: 14
"Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His
name. 15 "And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 'After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it
up; 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My
name, Says the LORD who does all these things.' 18 "Known to God from eternity are all His works.
19 "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to
God, 20 "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,
from things strangled, and from blood.
James arose after Peter, Paul, and Barnabus had spoken showing that God was the one who had
called and justified the uncircumcised Gentiles, James gave his take on the matter by also showing by
the prophecies that God was the one bringing the Gentiles into the new covenant. He also
suggested that they: not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 "but that
we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things
strangled, and from blood.
22 ¶ Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own
company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas,
leading men among the brethren. 23 They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the
brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling
your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" --to whom we gave no such
commandment-- 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to
you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by
word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden
than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things
strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Two of these necessary things are ramifications of God’s law of love. To abstain from things offered
to idols is covered under the second commandment, and to abstain from sexual immorality under the
seventh commandment. The other two are really the same, to abstain from eating blood and things
strangled, because a chicken or a calf that was strangled would still have the blood in it’s carcass.
The law of Moses tells why God prohibited the eating of blood: Le 17:14 "for it is the life of all flesh.
Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, 'You shall not eat the blood of any
flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.'
Life is in the blood, and God doesn’t want anyone to treat life as something unimportant by treating it
as food. It is a means of impressing on mankind the preciousness of life.
It is clear that those under the new covenant are not obliged to keep the “law of Moses“. But if the
law of God, His law of love summed up in the two commandments: You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, soul, and mind; And you shall love your neighbor as yourself, if it is in their hearts
and minds they will keep God’s law of love. In keeping the law of love by living in the spirit of the law,
one will keep many of the requirements that are in the “law of Moses”, for they are ramifications of
the law of love. Many of the requirements of “the law of Moses”, are physical, such as circumcision,
washings, animal sacrifices, etc. and are not a part of the spiritual law of love. That is why those
under the new covenant are not obliged to keep them. Paul wrote the Galatians: Ga 5:16 I say then:
Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Many church organizations teach that one should pay them 10 % of what he earns, a tithe. Under the
law of Moses the Levites composed the priesthood, and the Israelites were to give a tenth of the
increase of their produce to them. In other words they were to tithe to the Levites. Aaron, Moses’
brother was made the high priest and he received a tenth of the tithes that the Levites received from
the people. The New Testament says that under the new covenant, Jesus is the high priest. There is
no requirement in the new covenant for the participants to pay tithe to any priesthood. There is a
requirement to help those who minister and teach them how to carry out their part in the new
covenant. 1Co 9:14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live
from the gospel. Nowhere in the New Testament is it recorded that the apostles spoke of tithes being
paid to them. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: 1 Cor. 9: 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those
who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. But I have used none of these things, nor have I
written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that
anyone should make my boasting void. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for
necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have
a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then?
That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse
my authority in the gospel.
The word authority above is translated from the Greek word (exousia) which primarily means
‘privilege’. Does this sound like Paul is teaching that those of the new covenant are to tithe as those
of the first covenant were commanded? Of course not, he would have been remiss if it were required
of them by not teaching them to tithe. It was his privilege to take support from them if he desired. He
points out scriptures in the law of Moses that show he has that privilege. Not once does he mention
tithing: 1 Cor. 9:4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a
believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? Who ever goes to war at his
own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not
drink of the milk of the flock? Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same
also? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is
it oxen God is concerned about?
Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows
should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown
spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of
this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all
things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things
eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?
Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
Those who demand tithes point to Gen 14: 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and
wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God
Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your
enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all. Another scripture they use is Mal.3:8 "Will a
man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and
offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring all
the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the
LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
Malachi wrote before the new covenant was enacted. He was writing to the nation of Israel who was a
participant in the first covenant under the Levitical priesthood to whom they were commanded to pay
tithes. If one has the law of love in his mind and written in his heart, he will be generous in giving
support to those who minister to the brethren. If the laws of God are in our hearts and minds through
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we will base our decisions and actions on those laws, on the law of
love. A contractor, or lawyer, or doctor base their decisions on the laws of their profession and
physical laws, plus experience. A contractor, lawyer, or doctor who has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him
will also base his actions and decisions on the law of love, because it is a part of his character.
Another scripture used by those who want to collect tithes is in Hebrews .7:8 Here mortal men receive
tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives
tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when
Melchizedek met him. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the
people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to
the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom
these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning
priesthood. They point to verse 12 where it says there is a change in the law, and claim that it is the
law of tithing that has been changed from the Levitical priesthood to that of the Melchizedek
priesthood. If one looks at the context he can see that the writer is talking about the priesthood and
the law that said the high priest would be a descendant of Aaron. Verse 28, the last verse in the
chapter shows the law that appointed the high priests is the subject. 28 For the law appoints as high
priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son
who has been perfected forever. One should read and study this chapter in order to discern what is
being said.
The new covenant is not based on crime and punishment like the first one was. Under it, if one broke
the law, he suffered punishment. The punishments for infractions of the law of Moses are spelled out
in the Torah and were carried out by the nation. Those whom the Father has chosen to be
participants in the new covenant have His laws written in their hearts and strive to live by them. 1Co
15:34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak
this to your shame. Eph 4:26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
John, inspired by God wrote this:
1Jo 2:1 ¶ My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we
have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
A participant in the new covenant is not to transgress God’s Law, but if one does he must go to the
Father and confess it and ask forgiveness. God is the one who metes out any punishment to those
who are under the new covenant. If one’s sin breaks a law of the nation in which he lives and comes
to the authorities knowledge, then God may, and probably will, allow one to suffer the punishment that
the nation metes out, yet He will forgive the sin and he remains holy in the eyes of God.
One must study the word of God, both the old and new testaments to learn righteousness: 2Ti 3:16 All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness.
When one repents and is baptized and receives the Holy Spirit, he does not automatically know the
will of God and have the knowledge to be able to discern right from wrong in all situations. He has to
learn: 2 Tim. 1:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Rightly dividing the word of truth, (the scriptures) takes studying the scriptures and being led by the
spirit and not the flesh. For an example Paul writing to the Galatians shows them some of the
differences: 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are
contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.18 But if you are led by the
Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions,
heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I
also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
All of these things are contrary to God’s law of love and they constitute sin. 1 John 3:4 Sin is the
transgression of the law.
Those who have entered into the new covenant in professing repentance have promised that they
will keep the law of love. God on His part has forgiven them of their past sins and put His law into
their hearts by giving them the Holy Spirit. This spirit helps them in discerning the will of God in
different situations and makes them aware of the pulls of their flesh, their carnal natures. The carnal
nature is not taken out of them, it is still there and will be until the day they die. They have to choose
whether they will follow the desires of the flesh or follow the prompting of the spirit. God will give
them strength through the spirit dwelling in them if they lack the strength. He has promised though
never to put on them more than they can bear: 1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except
such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you
are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
The letters of the apostles show that the law of love (the ten commandments and their ramifications)
is to be kept, but this time, in the new covenant, they are not written on tables of stone, but the law of
love is written in their hearts by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If one lives by the prompting of the
spirit he fulfils the letter of the law. He will not murder anyone, he won’t commit adultery which does
damage to his own wife and children, or if with another’s wife it does damage to her husband and
children. The spirit of God within him, which is the spirit of love, (for God is love), will fulfill all the
commandments if one lives in the spirit. One only receives a portion of the spirit as a gift and surety
that later he will receive the total spirit. The portion that he is given only prompts him in the course
of action he should take in various situations. He still has to choose. His human nature and the spirit
are opposed to each other: Gal. 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
The things that you wish to do are what one as a physical human being wants to do, but one must
overcome those desires and do what the spirit prompts and that is to act according to God’s law of
love as James wrote: James 2:8 ¶ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You
shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are
convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in
one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder."
Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I
speak this to your shame.
1 John 2:1 ¶ My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins,
we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation
for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know
Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of
God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him (is a
Christian) ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1 Peter 2: 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; who,
when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten,
1 John 3:4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
The most important term for those who enter into the new covenant is to stop sinning, (repent), to
stop transgressing the law of love. That is what repent means. Those who think that the sacrifice of
Christ nailed the law of love (the ten commandments) to the cross and freed them from the penalty of
eternal death and allowed them to continue a life of sin are contradicting themselves when they give
an altar call, telling their listeners to repent and come down to the altar. Repent means to quit
sinning. Jesus told His listeners: Luke 13:2 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose
that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?
"I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. "Or those eighteen on whom the
tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who
dwelt in Jerusalem? "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
Some will say that keeping the Sabbath is physical and is not a part of the spiritual law of love. The
Sabbath commandment was one of the ten that God spoke to the descendents of Israel at Mt. Sinai,
which He wrote with His own finger and had Moses put inside the ark. Jesus said the greatest
commandment is “ Mark 12:30 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
Keeping the Sabbath is exercising love for God. At the time He created man on the earth, He set
aside the seventh day as a day of rest. He rested from His work of creation and pronounced that day
a sacred day. A day to honor Him and a day of recognition of Him the Creator who created the
environment that we have today in six days and rested on the seventh, not that He was tired, because
God never gets tired. But He created it for mankind in order that man would rest one day a week and
be refreshed in body, mind, and spirit, and as a sign between Him, the true and only Creator, and
those who worship and love Him. The Sabbath is a part of the spiritual law of love.
Some claim that the annual Holy Days and festivals are like the Sabbath Day, that by observing them
one shows his love for God. Others claim that since the temple and Levitical priesthood were
terminated and the priests were the ones who set the times of the festivals, (Le 23:4 ¶ 'These are the
feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.) and since
the apostles and elders gathered at the conference in Jerusalem ruled that only four requirements
from ’the law of Moses’ was to be practiced. The rest of it was either suspended or fulfilled by Jesus
Christ, so until the priesthood is re-established after the return of Messiah it is not necessary to
observe them. They point to the fact that the calendar made by Hillel, (which the majority of the Jews
go by) is not the way that it was specified in ‘the law of Moses’ and since the festivals are a part of ’
the law of Moses” and are not incorporated into the ten commandments, it is not a sin if one does not
observe them, and neither is it a sin if he does observe them.
Others claim they know the methods the priests used in deciding which were the days to be observed
and so they establish their own calendars. It seems though, there are disagreements among them
and different groups set the days at different times.
The festivals picture events in God’s plan for mankind. For example, the Passover pictured the
sacrifice of Messiah. The festival of unleavened bread starts the day after the Passover was killed.
The Bible uses leavening as picturing sin. 1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old
leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and
truth.
Jesus was the Passover sacrifice, He was crucified on Passover day, the day the sacrificial lamb was
killed The eating of unleavened bread immediately after the Passover day pictures living a life
without sin after one believes and accepts the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of his sins, and
he no longer lives under the death penalty. Death passes over him, if he endures until the end. It
also pictures the whole world living without sin, which will eventually happen. Mark 13:13 "And you
will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, (tried, and
endured to the end) he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love
Him.
It also pictures the whole world living without sin, which will eventually happen. Joh 12:32 And I, if I
be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (KJV)
Under the ‘law of Moses’ divorce was permitted: Matt. 19:3 ¶ The Pharisees also came to Him, testing
Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" 4 And He
answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them
male and female,' "and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 7 They said to Him, "Why then did
Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" 8 He said to them, "Moses,
because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning
it was not so.
9 "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another,
commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."
The phrase sexual immorality is translated from the Greek word “porneia” which means (from 4203;
harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry:--fornication.
Mark 10:2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him.
And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses permitted a
man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her." And Jesus answered and said to them,
"Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. "But from the beginning of the
creation, God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, 'and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but
one flesh. "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." In the house His
disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his
wife and marries another commits adultery against her. "And if a woman divorces her husband and
marries another, she commits adultery."
In Duet. a man was permitted to divorce a spouse if he discovered after he had married her that she
had committed fornication and was not a virgin. De 24:1 ¶ "When a man takes a wife and marries her,
and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her,
and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house . .There
is an account of this in Matt. 1:18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary
was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then
Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to
put her away secretly.
.
Some claim this is what Jesus meant when He gave the exception of porneia as the only reason for
divorce. Others claim He meant any kind of sex sin like adultery with another man or another woman.
There is one thing Jesus told the Pharisees that indicates He meant that only if a man had married
and discovered she was not a virgin he could divorce her. In Matt. 19:8 He said to them, "Moses,
because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning
it was not so. "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries
another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."
If He meant that the woman had not divorced her husband, but he had divorced her and married
another, then he committed adultery. If adultery was the reason one could divorce and marry another,
then the woman would not be committing adultery if she married another, for her husband had
committed adultery by divorcing her and marrying another. But if she is the one who divorces her
husband and marries another, she would be guilty of committing adultery. In Mark 10: 2 when Jesus
was explaining to the disciples He said this: "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits
adultery against her. "And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits
adultery." It is a matter of judgment whether Jesus meant a man could divorce only for fornication
before marriage, or for a sex sin after marriage.
Jesus changed a term in the old covenant; that of permitting divorce for reasons other than sex sins,
to only divorce for the reason of a sex sin against the spouse. When anything is adulterated it
changes composition from a pure substance to an impure substance, so therefore a marriage
between a man and a woman becomes impure when another is brought into it.
Some take some of the things that Paul wrote and say there are other reasons one can divorce and
marry another. But when one examines all the things he wrote concerning divorce, it is plain to see
that he upheld the change in the terms concerning divorce that Jesus had established.
Here is what Paul wrote concerning divorce: 1Co 7:10 ¶ Now to the married I command, yet not I but
the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain
unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. He is saying
this is what Christ said, upholding the terms that Jesus gave. A man is not to divorce his wife. He
says a wife is not to leave her husband but if she does, for maybe intolerable behavior of the
husband, she is not to marry another.
1 Cor. 7:12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: This is Paul’s ruling on those who have unconverted
mates. If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not
divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her,
let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving
wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such
cases. But God has called us to peace. Some take verse 15 and the words ‘under bondage’ as giving
permission to divorce and marry another, but Paul had just finished saying that a woman must not
marry another if she separated from her mate, and this would apply to the husband as well. He was
clarifying what he had just said that ordinarily they are not to leave or divorce but since an
unbelieving mate chose to leave, then don’t try to stop them because marriage was not like being
enslaved where one could not leave, yet if they did leave they would be committing adultery if they
married another. In another letter Paul wrote to the Romans, he had this to say: Rom.7:2 For the
woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband
dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries
another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so
that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. This applies to the husband also.
The New Covenant terms for divorce are; If a husband or wife divorces their mate for any reason
except for him or her committing a sex sin, and marries another, he or she is committing adultery, and
is living in sin. One must believe as Paul wrote, that all scripture is inspired by God, and that includes
what is known as the New Testament which in reality is the document that spells out the promises and
terms of the new covenant, or contract with God.
They, who do not recognize who Jesus Christ is, and don’t accept the New Testament as inspired
scripture, but look solely to the Old Testament (Torah) as the word of God, have no real promise of
eternal life. The promises of eternal life are contained in the New Testament (new covenant) in
Jesus’ recorded words. Peter aptly asked: John 6:68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom
shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Jesus Himself said: John 5:39 "You search the
Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. Eternal
life is in Jesus Christ. If one lives in Him, (lives by the law of love, for He is love), then He has
promised when He returns to resurrect that person back to life, not to a mortal life but to an
indestructible one. If one lives by Him, he is overcoming the sinful nature he has, and is building
Godly character, becoming mature. When a fetus reaches maturity it comes to birth. When one
reaches Godly maturity and God allows him to die, he will be born again as a spirit being into the spirit
world by a resurrection, when Jesus returns. He will no longer have human nature, no longer have
the pulls of the flesh. All those born again will have character like God, a nature like God’s and will
not be able to sin, to do harm to another. The kingdom of God will be a perfect society in which joy,
peace, love, and happiness will reign. There will be no sorrow or unhappiness of any kind. Re 21:4
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor
crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Those who refuse to repent after they have been called and know the truth, will suffer the penalty for
sin which is eternal death. Also those who entered into the new covenant with God and then backed
out of it. This death will occur in a lake of fire. 7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will
be his God and he shall be My son. 8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and
brimstone, which is the second death."
THE JUDGMENT OF ALL THOSE NOT IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION
11 ¶ Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven
fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing
before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And
the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The
sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them.
And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the
lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into
the lake of fire.
If one does not believe that Jesus Christ was and is who He said He was, then they cannot accept or
believe the new covenant. If one does not believe He was God in the flesh, the same as the One
who made the old covenant with Israel, then one will not believe He had the authority to abolish the
first one and establish a new one with different terms.
Now to briefly state of what the new covenant consists.
God promises:
Eternal life: He will resurrect and give a body composed of spirit and having eternal life (a self
existent life) to those who join with Him in the new covenant. Those who enter into a contract with
Him in this age, or era, will be co-rulers with Him over the world for a thousand years. Re 20:6
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no
power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Those who are resurrected will never more have pain or suffering of any kind. They will never be sad
or sorrowful again. They will always experience happiness and joy beyond description. Rev. 21: 4
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor
crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
After the thousand years are finished they will rule with the Father and Christ over the whole
universe, over all creation. Heb. 2: 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that
You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower
than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your
hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under
him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
Those who join with Him in the new contract promise to repent of breaking His law of love. When they
determine to repent, then they must be baptized as a sign of their repentance, and that the lawless
sinful person that they were has died and is buried in the death of Christ. When they do, God has
promised to give them a portion of His spirit to help them discern His law of love, to help them learn
the truth, and to prompt them to follow His law of love. This spirit is given when those who already
have repented and have the Holy Spirit lay their hands on them and ask the Father to give them His
spirit.
When God made man He gave him the ability to choose. If a person chooses to follow God’s way he
develops strong Godly character for he has to overcome the desires of the flesh. If one endures to
the end of his life, or until Christ returns, if he is living at that time, then he will receive eternal life,
and inherit all the promises. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who
comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.