Previous | | Next | | E-Mail | | Contents | | V&FT

THE CHRISTMAS CONSPIRACY

Part Three
God's Law: The Blueprints of the Conspiracy to Overthrow the Old World Order

The Argument:
Some Christians say we are not obligated to obey the Laws of the Old Testament, we are only obligated (no . . . not "obligated," but "it would be better if we decided to") bring forth the "Fruit of the Spirit" mentioned in Galatians 5. But by refusing to listen to the Words the unchanging Spirit authored before Christ, the "Fruit of the Spirit" is distorted. The only way to bring forth the Fruit of the Spirit is to obey God's Law.

All of the Fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5 are commanded by the Law of God in the Old Testament. Paul had nothing less in mind than obedience to the Scriptures.

Temperance is Commanded in the Older Testament

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The final "Fruit of the Spirit" is "temperance." While the word "temperance" does not occur in the KJV Old Testament, there are many acts of temperance, or self-control (NASV) that are commanded. We are warned to exhibit self-control when we eat with a ruler.[123] "Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it."[124] Daniel exhibited self-control when the king's diet was placed before him (see Daniel 1). So sternly is temperance commanded, that if a rebellious son shows radical intemperance, the death penalty was in order![125]

The Old Testament commanded self-control. Jesus said "the Scripture cannot be broken,"[126] because it is all breathed out by God.[127] He was talking about the Old Testament. Shouldn't the Christian be obeying God's Law?[128]

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

NOTES

(123) Proverbs 23:1-3.

(124) Proverbs 25:16.

(125) Deuteronomy 21:20. For an understanding of the application of the Old Testament commands concerning the ritual shedding of blood, see our paper on Capital Punishment.

(126) John 10:34.

(127) 2 Timothy 3:16.

(128) America is a nation of proud, self-centered addicts. TV, shopping, gambling, sex, booze, drugs, and a million other "-holics." Such are not the builders of a Kingdom for God (I Corinthians 6:9-12).