God Annihilates the Mosaic Covenant with its 613 Laws.

To be clear from the beginning, the fact that God annihilated the Mosaic Covenant does not mean that God gave the okay to commit murder, or to covet our neighbors goods.

The fact is that God replaced the Mosaic Covenant with a much better Covenant, The New Covenant, that all who enter will be redeemed by the the Blood of Jesus and will receive the indwelling Holy Spirit (God in me) and thus we have a personal loving relationship and fellowship with God, whereby we will be transformed by Him to do the good that He created us to do. We have been saved solely by the Faith of Jesus our Lord, our paschal unblemished Lamb, through His atoning blood that washes away all our sins for all time.

At the Council of Jerusalem, James, the brother of Jesus, says about the early Jewish believers in Jerusalem, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.” Acts 21:20

Yet these same Jews sought to put Paul to death or into Prison, because he was in Violation of the Laws of Moses.
Here is Paul’s own comments about these Jews who were zealous for the Mosaic Law:

Paul addresses what happened at the The Council at Jerusalem:

Paul writes: Gal 2:1-12

Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, he was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) — well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas [Peter] and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They only asked us to remember the poor — the very thing I also was eager to do."

11 But when Cephas [i.e. Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

15 "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that A MAN IS NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW BUT THROUGH FAITH OF CHRIST JESUS, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith OF Christ and not by the works of the Law; since BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED. But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith OF THE the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

If the above is true, then why should I give any thought to any of the 613 Mosaic Laws.

And what about these versus in Matthew:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Mt 5:17-19)]

Yes, Jesus did say this, but this was said by Jesus to His fellow Jews under the Mosaic Covenant, which remained in effect until His death on the cross. And Jesus never preached to the gentiles during his ministry on Earth, to do so would have been a violation of the mosaic Law, and Jesus never preached the New Covenant prior to His crucifixion, Nor did he ever preach or seek out gentiles for salvation. To do either would have been a violation of the Mosaic Covenant, and that would have eliminated Jesus as the unblemished Lamb. In fact, Jesus referred to Gentiles as dogs, unworthy of the bread God has for His children, born offspring of Israel.

Paul wrote about the failure of Mosaic Laws:
Ro 5 1-17
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned — for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. NASU

SO THE EFFECT OF THE MOSAIC LAW WAS TO CAUSE SIN TO ACTUALLY INCREASE. And this is true because life is like riding a bicycle or motorcycle, where you look is where you go, and the Law set peoples minds continuously on sin.

Paul went on to explain why in Romans 7:4-13:

Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; AND THIS COMMANDMENT, WHICH WAS TO RESULT IN LIFE, PROVED TO RESULT IN DEATH FOR ME; FOR SIN, TAKING AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE COMMANDMENT DECEIVED ME, AND THROUGH IT KILLED ME.

12. So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

And, Gal 3:1-14

3.1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain — if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us — for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE" — in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

And from - Gal 3:15-29

Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, " And to your seed," that is, Christ. What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor [the Mosaic Laws]. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

And from Gal 4:21-26
Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

Gal 5:1-8 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision [in accord with Mosaic Law, thus lacing oneself under the Mosaic Law], Christ will be of no benefit to you.

3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace, for we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.

Our eternal Salvation is a gift from God to all who accept the Blood atonement that Jesus shed on the cross, having kept all the Mosaic Laws on our behalf from his birth until his death on the cross, at which moment, ALL HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, UPON JESUS’S DEATH – then what was predicted by Zechariah occurred, God annihilated The Mosaic Covenant, As written in Zechariah 11:7-14

7 So I pastured the flock doomed to slaughter, hence the afflicted of the flock. And I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Favor and the other I called Union; so I pastured the flock. Then I annihilated the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was weary of me. Then I said, "I will not pasture you. What is to die, let it die, and what is to be annihilated, let it be annihilated; and let those who are left eat one another's flesh." I took my staff Favor and cut it in pieces, to break my covenant that I had made with all the peoples. So it was broken on that day, and thus the afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized that it was the word of the LORD. I said to them, "If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!" So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. Then the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them." So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD. Then I cut in pieces my second staff Union, to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. NASU
In the Old Testament, God made only one bi-lateral Covenant (i.e. contract) with the peoples of the Exodus Covenant (contract) that He made with the peoples, The Mosaic Covenant. All other covenants God made were unilateral. And so it was the Mosaic Covenant that God annihilated as predicted in Zechariah, Chapter 11.

When did God annihilate the Mosaic Covenant? Jesus tells us when.

[Mt 5:17-19
17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”]

The question is: When was, or is, all accomplished? It is clear that Jesus kept the entire Mosaic Covenant during His lifetime, and upon His death, Instead of receiving the blessings written in the Mosaic Covenant, Jesus took upon Himself the curses written in the Mosaic Laws, in our place, so that we who accept Jesus atoning blood are saved and have eternal life, the good life, the life abundant, Jesus blood as the perfect one time atonement washing all our sins (past, present, and future) away. One merely needs to read John 1 1- 10, as well as the gospel of John 3:12-16.

To understand this, one must understand that this Mosaic Contract was only between God and the offspring of Israel, as well as Jewish converts. The Romans, The Greeks, The Japanese, The Chinese, and other gentiles were never under this Covenant. During His earthly life Jesus never reached out to the gentiles, He came as Jew to the people God made this Covenant, His fellow Jews. And during His entire life, Jesus sought out only His fellow Jews for salvation, under the Mosaic Covenant. There was no New Covenant until Jesus died.

Jesus Sermon on the Mount was strictly addressed to His fellow Jews. Jesus never reached out to the gentiles for their salvation, nor did He ever preach the New Covenant prior to His death. Had Jesus done so, Jesus would have been in violation of the Mosaic Covenant – a sin, and this would have eliminated Jesus as the unblemished Lamb, and eliminated Jesus from being the Perfect Sacrifice that takes away the sins of all peoples, who accept Jesus blood as a covering for all their sins.

Therefore, when Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, and all His other speeches in the four Gospels prior to His death, they were strictly addressed to the Jews only, encouraging and teaching them to keep the Mosaic Covenant, just as a good Rabbi ought to be doing. Yes, He did healings for gentiles who came to Him by faith seeking mercy, and the very nature of God is to give mercy to anyone who comes to Him seeking His mercy. Just as YHWH gave Mercy to the Assyrian General who had leprosy, and who was told to dip himself 7 times in the river as God instructed through His prophet. The general was very skeptical of this and was prepared to go home, but his sons insisted he do as the Prophet of God instructed ‘hey, we came all this way for your healing, why not do what he says, what have you to lose.’ So he dipped himself in the river as instructed, and he was not only healed of Leprosy, His skin was like that of a newborn baby. Jesus did the same for gentiles who came to Him in faith
.
During His lifetime, Jesus was the Chief Rabbi to the Jews, teaching them to keep the whole Mosaic Covenant even as He was doing so, and teaching His fellow Jews to do the same. And Jesus did an excellent job of teaching the right approach to keeping the Mosaic Laws. Jesus never sought out the gentiles for salvation because God did not make the Mosaic Covenant with them.

When Jesus died on the cross, God annihilated thre Mosaic covenant:

Zec 11:7-14

7 So I pastured the flock doomed to slaughter, hence the afflicted of the flock. And I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Favor and the other I called Union; so I pastured the flock.

8 Then I annihilated the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was weary of me.

9 Then I said, "I will not pasture you. What is to die, let it die, and what is to be annihilated, let it be annihilated; and let those who are left eat one another's flesh."

10 I took my staff Favor and cut it in pieces, TO BREAK MY COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH ALL THE PEOPLES. 11 So it was broken on that day, and thus the afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized that it was the word of the LORD. 12 I said to them, "IF IT IS GOOD IN YOUR SIGHT, GIVE ME MY WAGES; BUT IF NOT, NEVER MIND."

So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages.

13 Then the LORD said to me, "THROW IT TO THE POTTER , THAT MAGNIFICENT PRICE AT WHICH I WAS VALUED BY THEM. THROW IT TO THE POTTER."

So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD. 14 Then I cut in pieces my second staff Union, to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. NASU

There is only one Covenant in the Old Testament that was bilateral, and that is the Mosaic Covenant.

Let’s compare the Mosaic Covenant to the New Covenant.

In the Mosaic Covenant Jews were saved by keeping 613 Laws. Not all of these Laws pertained to all Jews. Some were for men, some just for women, some just for priests (Levis), some pertaining only to the temple and some to the Land.

If you wish to attempt keeping the Mosaic Laws, be prepared to pay everyone who works for you on the day they performed the work. If someone dies on your property, you must get a calf, and cut its’ throat to shed the calf’s blood on the spot where the person died to redeem their shed blood; Do not wear clothing containing two different types of cloths, must have a parapet built on your roof, If you catch two committing adultery, they shall be stoned to death and then hung upon a tree for all to see. etc. etc.

Under the New Covenant, God the Father keeps us through blood of His Son Jesus and in believing God for what He has done for us through the sinless life and shed atoning blood of His Son Jesus, to all who accept Jesus Blood as full atonement for all our sins, past, present, and future. There are just 3 laws.

I believe that God the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, who rose from the dead, and I confess with my mouth and written word that Jesus is my Lord. I thank you Father for hearing this, my prayer to You, and for accepting me into your family, the Family of God, because I accepted the shed blood of Jesus my Savior, The Perfect unblemished Lamb, whose blood is the perfect covering of all my sins, sins past – sins present – and sins future. And I walk with Him and talk with Him, and have received the Holy Spirit who transforms my very nature over time to do the good You created me to do. This is a true gift from you God. Nothing I do earns it. I accept your gift Father, with great relief and thanks.

We lost fellowship with God through Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. God dwelt inside the Holy of Holies in the Jewish Temple. The Heavy thick Curtain in the Jewish Temple, separated God and mankind. When Jesus died on the cross, that Veil in that separated us from God, was torn into two. In accepting Jesus blood atonement as covering of all our sins, we have regained fellowship with God, via the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is not we who perfect ourselves, it is God working in me via the Holy Spirit, who perfects me, that is His work, I simply believe Him and love Him. It is as if we were back in the Garden of Eden, we have fellowship with God, and the Holy Spirit transforms me. I know He is faithful to complete the work He started in me.

I make no claim of infallibility. These are simply my views and understanding of the scriptures with respect to redemption, salvation, and sanctification. I prefer living under God's mercy rather than His Judgement of all my imperfections.

ArtB

"6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer."

Abraham was not under the Mosaic Covenant, why does Paul point the New Covenant believer to Abraham?

Marty wrote:
"Commentators generally agree that the target audience of John's gospel was the whole world, Jew and Gentile. The theme of John's gospel is to set forth that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. Nothing in this gospel suggest it was meant for a Jewish audience only. This is why John's gospel is given out in evangelism. It speaks of faith in Jesus Christ. Do you not remember John 3:16? .......that WHOEVER believes in him. I think your statement that the four gospels was written only to Jews is not accurate. I will let the heavies in this forum weigh in on this."

And the target of the Jewish OT was for the whole world also.

The coming New Covenant of Jesus Christ is contained in the OT, and in the NT the New Covenant is fully revealed as the only Covenant by which anyone may be saved and have the true fellowship with God, a transformed nature that is Godly, and eternal life and fellowship with God, and with each other.

If you find any statement in my post that claims that, as you put it, "the four gospels Gospels were written to only to Jews." I will retract such a statement.

Here is what I did say:

"Jesus Sermon on the Mount was strictly addressed to His fellow Jews. Jesus never reached out to the gentiles for their salvation, nor did He ever preach the New Covenant prior to His death. Had Jesus done so, Jesus would have been in violation of the Mosaic Covenant – a sin, and this would have eliminated Jesus as the unblemished Lamb, and eliminated Jesus from being the Perfect Sacrifice that takes away the sins of all peoples, who accept Jesus blood as a covering for all their sins."

"Therefore, when Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, and all His other speeches in the four Gospels prior to His death, they were strictly addressed to the Jews only, encouraging and teaching them to keep the Mosaic Covenant, just as a good Rabbi ought to be doing."

I gave no reason for anyone to conclude that we should not read the four gospels, that would be an absurdity. After all, the four Gospels are found only in the NT. Besides recording how Jesus kept the entire set Mosaic Laws unto death, and how he fulfilled all the prophecies of the predicted Messiah, Jesus comments are full of gems. such as:

Mt 22:36-40
6 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"

And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." NASU

This statement becomes the first Law of the New Covenant that we have in Jesus. James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the early church, calls this "The Royal Law."

Jas 2:8-9
If, however, you are fulfilling the Royal Law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. NASU

But James goes on to references this 'Royal Law' to highlight the 2nd Law of the New Covenant. The Law of Liberty.

Jas 2:9-13
9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER."

Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the Law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT.
NASU

Jesus revealed this truth that will become the 2nd Law of the New Covenant after His death.

Mt 7:1-3

" Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." NASU

And in Mark's Gospel, Jesus stated:

Mk 4:24-25
And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him." NASU

To me, this verse exemplifies that Mercy Triumphs over Judgement. We ought to always be forgiving one another of sins, for we, being imperfect beings, all sin continually, and we wish to be forgiven too.

It is through Laws like these of the New Covenant that God keeps us. In contrast, The Mosaic laws are laws we must keep in order to save ourselves.

So yes, the Gospels are full of gems spoken by Jesus for us if we read them in context to the OT and the coming change-over to the Mew Covenant. Though Jesus does not publicly teach the New Covenant for reasons given above, He does hint at the coming New Covenant, often in private, and sometimes to the masses. When Jesus rose from the dead. He taught His disciples plainly all scriptures pertaining to the New Covenant as contained in the scriptures of the OT. He opened their eyes as to Hid Fathers' true plan for eternal salvation.

In response to Jesus is God :)

I believe what is trying to be said is God set up the law so that the Recognition of Sin would be more manifest. Paul even stated "How would I know what coveting was unless someone told me?"(Paraphrased greatly). But the point being God set up the Law just so we would fail miserably at it being human, but to send His Son Christ to fulfill the law by living it and being it perfectly, thus showing us even further not only our debt to Christ but our undying need for Him daily.

The Law is the mirror of Holiness that God set up temporarily until He further revealed Himself in Christ Jesus. This is why how we view Christ is so very important.

I believe something to be pointed out is this Paul later states in chapter 3 a great proclaimation, he looked man and he found this truth in scriptures "There is NO One righteous, NOT EVEN ONE; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."

Christian and NonChristian are the exact same thing without Christ. Why do we seek God? Why do we have but a small understanding of God? Why do we desire Him? to have a relationship with Him? The answer is the same for all the above because Christ dwells in us, stiring our hearts with His Love.

Are we under moral law? No, we are under Christ and in Him and Him alone is Morality and Holiness found and obtained. I have said this before and will likely say it again. Christianity isnt about becoming a morally sound individual, No Christianity is having a relationship and Faith in the Morality of Christ, that His blood on the Cross was ENOUGH for yours and my sin ONCE and for ALL. I am not a moral person I tried that it doesn't work because by my own morality I am guilty and even if I wasn't taught to be moral I would indeed have standards placed on my through society and even then I am guilty.

My personal Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' Blood and His Righteousness. :)

He is the Word and not my to keep because He is already kept inside of me, He is the very source of Life that lives in me because I in all honest am a dead man. I live in obedience out of Love for Him (not that my love matters, its rather weak) but He sustains me in His Love. Keeping His word as an act of my righteousness would be the equivilent of me making a promise and then immediately breaking that promise.

There is none righteous no Not even ONE! this is a big proclamation coming from one of the Holiest people of the New Testament and church history. What does God count for righteousness? Faith.

How should we interpret this verse?

1Co 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

"That's what He asked us to do because faith without works is dead.

The works being, "If you love Me, keep my commandments."

I wouldn't have it any other way, but I would make the solid distinction that it is by faith alone that I stand in Christ and it is by faith alone I am saved, not of me doing anything works related, Christ's work on the Cross is sufficient for me. What was His command to disciples? Follow Me, where did He go? Complete death to self, this is where I am heading. I Love and Serve out of the abundance that is His and Him. I believe we must respond to His love and if we have had true contact with His Love how could we not respond to such a love?

Lest any man should boast. J.C Ryle can take his "evidence" before God and I will take my Christ. Which will be justified?

I agree holiness must never be forgot but whose holiness? Surely not mine but Christ's Holiness that is now in me. A dead man (me) can't be holy, no I have passed away but now it is Christ who is in me that is living and my life, all works, evidence, and holiness are His none of which belong to me. I can only be justified by my faith in Christ Jesus and the work He is doing in me and did on the Cross when He died for me.

Does a flower exert itself to grow? Does the apple tree exert itself to grow fruit? No they grow naturally. Yes submission and dying can be exerting but its not me perserving and exerting but Christ who does it, without Him I am a wretched man that Loves sin.

Those quotes maybe out of their original context but as they are I find some of them hard to agree with. If Christ did it all on the Cross what business do we have trying to add to the Holiness He has given us?

Obedience is far from decried, only a misunderstanding of what is being communicated. I am glad you posted scripture again, its much easy to discuss than other men's words.

Can a dead man have a will? No, its no longer me working in my will but Christ's will working in me.

Where did the seed that grew the Good Tree come from? Or perhaps the tree was always good and always existant? No the Seed is Christ and its through Faith we obtain this seed.

What did Christ command? 2 commandment he held the dearest to His heart, Love the Lord and Love your neighbor. If we do these two we do what He commanded.

But I testify no man can do these without Christ and so its not the man that does them but Christ in them. This is what I am trying to convey and I do hope you understand I have a deep love and respect for you as a sister in Christ. We must submit to Christ in Faith and this includes our Righteousness that we are so fond of. Salvation is by faith, and a Life of obedience is simply the active work of Christ in us, His grace to us and gift to us is His Holiness and forgiveness.

Must we strive and press in and seek God? Of course, what kind of relationship would it be if I never talked to my wife, never inquired how her day was, what she desires? Christ Jesus is the same way except it is the entire body of Christ that is his bride and it is the entire body of Christ that should be seeking Him cooperately and in unity.

This debate could go on into eternity dear sister and I will say this I am certain we are meaning the same thing with just a different angle on the subject, I believe we both can help each other understand each other better with time.

I accredit everything including the Love in me to Christ, it's all His and since its all His, its all His work, we are mearly vessels.

Our wills have to come into agreement with the Holy Spirit and God's Word. We have to choose to come into this agreement. God does not do it for us. He waits for us to choose to agree with Him. That is obedience.

He does not annihilate our wills.

If we do not walk in a way that shows agreement with His will then we are walking in the flesh and in the flesh you cannot please God. Those in the flesh are walking after their own will.

We are always choosing obedience (His will) or choosing disobedience (our will). There is no in between.

I don't know why this is so hard. He gives us grace to choose His will and we should not spurn His grace by choosing our will, instead.

Mike

It's disheartening to find a young man that claims to know more than J.C. Ryle.

I doubt I know more than Ryle, but Ryle is just as wretched as me and is capable of mistakes just as I. I wouldn't really put my hope and trust in a man but in Christ alone.

Even if I quote Scripture - another will their own favorite verses that they believe negate the ones I or someone else will post. So whether it's quoting a book or The Book, we're accused of taking quotes out of context.

No the Word doesn't negate itself be enforces itself and its message Faith in Christ and Good ole holiness emparted by Christ. I too see the futility in talking religion, Christ freed me from it and my chains are gone.

I salute you great soldier of christ. I enjoyed reading your post Just had some few questions in mind.

1. you said Jesus never reached out to the gentiles for their salvation, nor did He ever preach the New Covenant prior to His death. I stand to be corrected though but I realized that though the book of matthew was written by a jew , he nonetheless records more Gentile places in his Gospel than is to be found in the other Gospels. From chapter 4 to chapter 18, he narrates especially the Lord’s work in Galilee, Galilee of the Gentiles. To whom, then, are the words of these particular Scriptures addressed? Is not to the galileans as well?

2.Is preaching (talking) about the holy spirit part of the new or old covenant. If its new then will i be wrong to suggest that Jesus preached the new covenant prior to his death?

br. mgulder I must admit that i agree with you on being justified only by faith. what we need to understand is

1. we still have our will. our soul did not die at regeneration that is why we need to transform, not by our strength but by the indwelling spirit of God within us and by the word of GOD. WE have our minds, emotions, affections and will intact.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

I know u understand that in salvation the old man was crucified with christ, that the body of sin might be destroyed.
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

But that is not the end, we did not just die we were also made alive in Christ Jesus.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

there is therefore a need to reckon this and live in line with this fact. how?by yielding to the spirit of God. which others call obedience to the commandment of God.

In this working there is a need for co-operating with the holy spirit. This makes the difference between a carnal believer and the spiritual. I know u will agree with me that the people that Paul addresses at Corinth were justified only by their faith in CHRIST JESUS but yet they are referred to as carnal. I believe because they were not yielding to the work of the holy spirit within them
But I like the statement 'I am certain we are meaning the same thing with just a different angle on the subject', For this true. But caution must be taken to ensure the necessary balance is established

I do agree brother, Submission to the Holy Spirit is key to being lead by the Spirit. I can't do it myself nor is it my work, I mearly submit. Idealy I should be an empty vessel for the Holy Spirit to do as He wishes. His Will and my will are two different things in the carnal sense, we align when I decide to lay my will aside for Christ's will to shine through. But again this is not my work or my desire Without Christ. Its all Him through and through, the believer contributes the very least in His/Her Salvation thus rendering their righteousness useless.

Christ does everything, my ultimate goal in Christ is this, Become nothing make Christ everything. I know its an uphill battle both ways and that I can't do this on my own but with Christ it is possible and thus is it Christ who is doing the work, I am just coming along for the ride because I am far to weak to climb but with Christ's strength in me I can because it is He who is doing.

How much must one submit? And Are you ever really truly fully submitted? We can not submit enough in our own power, and I testify it is only by Christ anyone ever even comes to submission. On top of the fact if our salvation is based on how submitted we are then we are all in trouble because only full complete submission would be acceptable to a Just and Holy God. I agree we must fully submit but to claim its out of our strength seems wrong. Without Christ we don't even had a desire to do good or even to seek after God. without Christ we don't even have a desire to submit and surely He is the source and strength of one who is fully submitted. Look at King David as an example, He was fully submitted to God at times in terms of His will but at times he was far from submitted and he paid for it, was David not saved?

After rereading your post you are right, I apologize for the misread. I agree submission is of our own will that we must lay our wills down in order for the Father's will to be active in our lives. Christ and His Love gives us the reason, desire, and motivation to submit to Him because surely He is a Good God worthy of our submission. :)

Often, God has to "convince" us that His way is the right and only way. He has many devices at His disposal to "convince" us, right? He knows how to turn our hearts to Him. He is the Shepherd that goes after the 1 straying sheep out of 100. He will leave the 99, to find the 1 and bring it back. Eventually, we will learn that following Him and not straying is the best way.

Sarah

Okay. I allowed a few days for others here to share their thoughts on the scriptures and argument that I made in my initial post. And I have read all replies.

The following is my reply to Jesus-is-God posts.

Jesus-is-GOD on 2011/7/29 11:55:43 wrote:

"I do understand and worded my post similar to yours but what is on my mind is Romans 2 starting with verse 12 and several other verses containing the moral law as well - and 1Pe 4:11 _ "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of GOD ..."

To begin with, one can not take snippets of the book of Romans and argue: "this is what Paul means, or that is what Paul means." Paul's Romans is a Thesis, What was, What is, What will be. He starts by saying what was, both for gentiles with only man-made law, and then for Jews under the Mosaic Covenant. Neither pleased God, all were under condemnation from God. He goes on to WHAT IS: The Gospel of Jesus Christ! Then what will be, The Gentiles will be saved until the Age Of Grace comes to an end, then 'All Israel Will Be Saved" when the times of the Gentiles entering the Kingdom of God comes to an end.

(BTW, Has anybody notice that the number of Christians in the world is rapidly declining, particularly if you measure by percentage of World Population.)

Now Lets look at your referenced scripture, Romans 2:1-16:

Ro 2:1-16

1. Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

(Paul is saying, if you condemn others of sin, then you are condemning yourself, because none, except Jesus, have ever been sinless. "By what measure you measure," Jesus said, "So shall it be measured unto you.")

2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.

(Yes we do, ultimate death.)

3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?

(Again, Paul emphasizes by what measure we mete out to others, so shall we be judged by our own standard, and found lacking. Jesus taught this in the Sermon on the Mount.)

4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

(What is God's kindness? God's Kindness is that He sent His only begotten Son to keep the entire Mosaic Law, This qualified Jesus to become the perfect Paschal Lamb Whose suffering and death He took in our place, and His blood shed on the crosses washes away all sins for all time to all who sincerely believes that Jesus atoning blood as washing away all their sins for all time. This is the FAITH in God that God always wanted us to have and live by. This FAITH allows the Holy Spirit to live in us, Our Helper, who works in us to transform our very nature so that we will do the good that God created us to do, and it will be pure pleasure and never a burden. Jesus Blood shed on the cross is our blood covering that takes away our sins for all time, no need for any further blood sacrificing.)

From Php 1:3-11
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. NASU

And so are we so blessed because we have been saved by the faith of Jesus. Note verse 6 above and know it is God that perfects us, and He will not fail. Verse 6 is a statement of fact. What God sets out to do in us He will accomplish in us. This is living by faith, knowing God will do this for us.

Phil 6. "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Go on and Read Phil 2: 1-18. These statements are not those 'Do Not' negative statements of the Mosaic Laws, These are positive uplifting joyful loving statements. What God sets out to do WILL GET DONE. Believe Him and know it will happen to you.

Romans: 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

In versus Ro 5-10, we must keep in mind what their crime is as mentioned in verse 1. They were Judging others and condemning them. And their Judgement is most likely correct. But we all SIN! So Paul says, and Jesus said this also, when you condemn others, you are also condemning yourself because you sin also. This is a violation of a Law of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. The Law of Liberty. That mercy triumphs over Judgement.

Mt 5:7

7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Read also Matt 18:21- 35.

Jas 1:25
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, THE LAW OF LIBERTY, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

AND, From James the brother of Jesus.

Jas 2:8-13

8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the Law of Liberty. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
NASU

Under the Mosaic Law, there is no mercy, except perhaps in the cities of refuge. If a man and a woman are judged in a Jewish Court of Law of committing adultery, The Mosaic Law required they be stoned to death, and then hung on a tree for all to see.

Is there anyone here who actually thinks they live with the intent of keeping the Mosaic Covenant?

12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. NASU

It is important to realize that Paul, when writing Romans 12 - 16, is writing solely about people who are still under the Mosaic law, those who have not accepted Jesus sacrifice on the Cross as full atonement, both Jew and pagan (Greek). Paul shares the good news in detail later in the Book of Romans, in a powerful argument ending with Romans 8:1

Ro 8:1-4
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit

Dear Jesus-is-God, I do believe the above is 100% true. I can not lose my salvation.

And yes,
Ro 8:1-4 is the 3rd Law of the New Covenant that we have with God. The Mosaic Laws condemned everyone. But by The Laws of Jesus Christ, God saves us!

I do not even think about the Mosaic Laws. I am committed to the Laws of Jesus Christ, my faith is in them and in Jesus finished work for me on the cross. I have the indwelling Holy Spirit, I have confidence in His transforming power in me. How? I walk by faith in God's words of the NT, I believe He will complete the work that He started in me. I am in daily fellowship with God, via the indwelling Holy Spirit. When Jesus died on the cross, the Veil in the Temple that separated man from God, it was torn asunder, thus ending our separation from God in the Garden of Eden. We Christians are in fellowship with God, Father, Son, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. It's a love story.

All Scriptures are from NASU

Quote:

"""Brother don't know where you are getting your information but the profiles I read say Christianity is on the increase. Particularly among Moslems thousands are coming to Christ on a daily basis. Revivals are occurring in China and Iran where people coming to Christ by the thousands. Hardly sounds like a declining Christianity."""

Oh that this were true, where can I find this information?

In Christ: Phillip

Martyr

"Brother don't know where you are getting your information but the profiles I read say Christianity is on the increase. Particularly among Moslems thousands are coming to Christ on a daily basis. Revivals are occurring in China and Iran where people coming to Christ by the thousands. Hardly sounds like a declining Christianity."

Well, I hope you are right. When I look up stats on number of Christians who are regular Church Goers, the number of Christians drop fast. Brazil has a Catholic Population of about 150,000,000 Catholics, and about 30,000,000 Protestant& Evangelicals. Yet, On any given Sunday more evangelicals/protestants go to church than do Catholics. Most Catholics are registered as Catholics at infant Baptism, but most of them actually become practicing animists as they become of age. Secular Humanism is also on the rise in South and Central America.

In Western Europe, there has been a sharp drop in Church attendance, which is very recognizable when looking at actual church attendance.

Unless we are omniscient, how could anyone make this statement? All we know from Scripture is that it is a narrow way and "few there be that find it".

(BTW, Has anybody notice that the number of Christians in the world is rapidly declining, particularly if you measure by percentage of World Population.)

In Christ,
Sarah

by martyr on 2011/8/4 6:36:56

"The info I read is drawn from several sources. Voice of thr Martyrs, Open Doors, Compass Direct, US Center for World Missions, etc. You can no doubt Google and find other sources which document the spread of the gospel. I know of one web site, can't recall its name, that records hundreds of hits a day of people coming to Christ. Will try to Google and give more info on this thread later."

I'm very glad that many are being saved through their faith in Jesus Christ.

But keep in mind that that we are having a population explosion. Islam is also expanding rapidly because they tend to have very large Families. It is estimated that Muslims will be the majority in Western European in about 25 years. Meanwhile, Western Europeans are having about 1.2 children per married couple. Muslims will not need to conquer Western Europe, they will simply elect their people into political office.

from: http://geography.about.com/od/obtainpopulationdata/a/worldpopulation.htm

Year \tPopulation
1 \t200 million
1000 \t275 million
1500 \t450 million
1650 \t500 million
1750 \t700 million
1804 \t1 billion
1850 \t1.2 billion
1900 \t1.6 billion
1927 \t2 billion
1950 \t2.55 billion
1955 \t2.8 billion
1960 \t3 billion
1965 \t3.3 billion
1970 \t3.7 billion
1975 \t4 billion
1980 \t4.5 billion
1985 \t4.85 billion
1990 \t5.3 billion
1995 \t5.7 billion
1999 \t6 billion
2006 \t6.5 billion
2009 \t6.8 billion
2011 \t7 billion

This is food for thought.

And of course, we should keep supporting missions and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ as best we can. I witness on many forums the gospel where Christians would be in the minority or non existent, including those dominated by secular humanists and even a few gay groups. And I witness to people I meet in person and give out Bibles whenever I can. I assume many on this forum are witnessing to the unsaved too.

And Martyr, with the 10/40 Window (Did I get that window size properly? But you know what I meant). This window you reference are mostly not Christians, but a very huge population of non-Christians, dominated by Muslims, Hindus, animist, and other religions. This window is the target for conversion to Christianity by Christian Missionaries.

by martyr on 2011/8/4 7:26:39

"Brother I do not follow the logic of the Brazil example. You say on a given Sunday more protestant evangelicals attend church than Catholics. Ok. That suggests a vibrant Christianity. But what are you defining as declining Christianity? Church attendence? I would suggest that is not a reliable model to extrapulate that Christianity is on the decline in the world."

No it does not represent a vibrant Christianity. of 300 million Brazilians, 23 Million attend evangelical Church most every Sunday, and about 21 Million attend Catholic Church regularly most every Sunday. That leaves 256 Million Brazilians who do not attend either Catholic Church or non-Catholic Christian Church weekly.

BTW, my own view on the Catholic Church, as a former Catholic, that they began departing from Sound Scripture when Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official Religion of the Roman Empire for the wrong reasons, and the banning of Paganism and taking over the Pagan temples led many pagans entering en mass to the new Catholicism, bringing along their pagan practices, including praying to male and female saints in lieu of god and goddesses, and the Veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and denial that Mary gave birth to to Jesus brothers and sisters.

There were no Popes until Leo in 400 AD, a Bishop of Rome, declared himself Pope and established that all past Popes are those who served as Bishops of Rome, then declaring Peter as the first Pope, even though there is no record that Peter ever bore the the Title of Bishop of Rome.

BTW, Peter's original name is Simon, Jesus changed it to Petros when they first met. Petros is correctly translated as meaning: 'small rock'. When Peter correctly guessed that Jesus was Messiah, Jesus said to Peter, you are Petros (small rock), and then responding to Peter on acknowledging that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus replies, on this Petra (i.e. Large Slab, Jesus the Messiah) I will build my Church. Peter is Petros (small rock) because he correctly acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus is Petra, the large Slab, the Messiah who is the cornerstone on which the the Christian Church will be built.

In his letter in the NT, Peter refers to Jesus as the Chief Cornerstone

1 Peter 2:4-10

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. or this is contained in Scripture:

"BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

"THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,"

8 and,

" A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE";

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

9 But you are CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION,A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
NASU

Duplicate post

"Coming to Christ" is the beginning...

Men record salvations for different reasons, some to gain more support for their ministry and prove to others that they are worthy of their continued support.

God knows who truly comes to Christ...

It's a long road...

Lot's of "salvations", very little discipleship...

He that endures to the end, shall be saved..

In Christ,
Sarah