As far as Acts 15 goes it is from reading the context that I form my understanding.
Frist: Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.
This was not optional circumcision but required. It could happen as God convinced the individuals it was to happen all at once for all.
Then immediately after the decision they said why it was ok.
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
So do churches today teach Moses if not perhaps they have taken this exception for the gentiles too far.
The apostles came to the Conclusions gentiles did not need to be circumcise.
You find that The Pharisees wanted them to keep the law in the whole in the whole.
You notice the apostles only choose some that should to be follow.
The Thing is Kitten paul told others thous who wish to be under The law will be judge by the Law.
Sugarman
I understand the term "under the law" to mean "require to keep the law". I am not keeping it out of requirement but out of love and choice.
It is not James that uses this term but Paul.
I have no problems with Paul I do not believe he is telling people it is bad to kept God's laws.
Kitten The book of james says if you fail as one aspect of the law You fail all of it.
That is james 2:10 Also Note james also backs up the idea of both jesus and paul own view of the Law Love is what fulfill it All.
James 2:8
Sugarman
My yes was in response to keeping God's laws out of choice.
As far as James goes lets look at the entire chapter.
Jam 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.
Topic - respecting all people equally
audience- Those who have faith in Jesus.
argument- you can break this law while keeping the others vs 9,10
judgment- from the law of liberty is you show mercy vs 12,13
conclusion-faith with out follow though means nothing.
Jam 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. vs 17-26
Keeping God's laws from the perspective of the law of liberty is not ignoring them or being afraid of keeping them it is keeping while not judging your neighbor for whether or not he/she keeps them.
Sugarman
I understand Jesus fulfilling the law to mean he keep in a more full way because it was written on his heart he kept more than the words but the whole meaning. While the word fulfill can mean to complete or finish it. Jesus made it clear that he didn't mean that by say I come not to destroy but to fulfill. Then he showed what he meant with examples. Each of these examples have one thing in common they require not just keeping the words but grading your thoughts as well. If anything this shows that Jesus believed our potential is to keep God's law's in a way Israel never could.
Sugarman
My yes was in response to keeping God's laws out of choice.
As far as James goes lets look at the entire chapter.
Jam 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.
Topic - respecting all people equally
audience- Those who have faith in Jesus.
argument- you can break this law while keeping the others vs 9,10
judgment- from the law of liberty is you show mercy vs 12,13
conclusion-faith with out follow though means nothing.
Jam 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. vs 17-26
Keeping God's laws from the perspective of the law of liberty is not ignoring them or being afraid of keeping them it is keeping while not judging your neighbor for whether or not he/she keeps them.
Kitten The law of Liberty is the same law of Christ. to love one another.
James says if we show favoritism we are guilty of breaking the law in the whole.
there nothing here james saying we are under The law of Moses.
Sugarman
I understand Jesus fulfilling the law to mean he keep in a more full way because it was written on his heart he kept more than the words but the whole meaning. While the word fulfill can mean to complete or finish it. Jesus made it clear that he didn't mean that by say I come not to destroy but to fulfill. Then he showed what he meant with examples. Each of these examples have one thing in common they require not just keeping the words but grading your thoughts as well. If anything this shows that Jesus believed our potential is to keep God's law's in a way Israel never could.
Kitten we are under the law of Christ not moses law.
1. The law of liberty in james is The same law of Christ. James said if you love others you fulfilled The royal law.
2. paul says Love is the fulfilling of Law.
3. jesus said You know others by The love that I shown you.
4 jesus said The law will pass when everything is accomplished and it was because scripture says jesus put The law to an end in his flesh.
i already quoted that verse i believe.
matt 22:34-40 says basic Loving God and others is what The law is. these two commands. Loving God means to keep his commands which is found in acts 15.
paul in Romans 13:9 takes the whole law and summed them into The One command love your neighbor as your self.
paul in romans 13:10 says Love is The fulfillment of law loving others that is.
james chapter 2 is The same of which paul speaks and jesus love. Showing favoritism is just the opposite of Love.
If you show favoritism you break One of the commands that hangs on the others which brings you to break entire Law.
gal 6:2 says helping others is The law of Christ.
When we Get done to the final straw we see keeping The law is to love God and to love others. it does not mean to keep The entire Moses law but to keep The basic law of Love which summed up the law of moses which fulfills all the other commands.
For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
romans 13:9
The way I see it if you love God and others Then you will follow the commands which we are under. Simple Love is what meets all the requirements in The law.
if people try to keep the law in the way of following each law singular way then they do not understand I think what it means when Love that all one needs that fulfills The entire law.
What I mean is The law is not fulfilled by keeping each law singular like keeping sabbath or etc... but by simple love that you have for God and The love that you have for others.
sugarman
We agree that "we are not under the law" and that "love fulfills the law".
The different is what we understand these statements to mean.
"Not being under the law" means to me to keep the law out of love and not requirement.
"love fulfills the law" to me means we keep the law as written on our hearts and this includes our thoughts not just our actions.
Isaiah predicted the son of the stranger keeping the sabbath and perhaps the festival sabbaths.
Isa 56:3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I [am] a dry tree.
Isa 56:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose [the things] that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
Isa 56:5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Isa 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
Isa 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Sugarman
I understand Jesus fulfilling the law to mean he keep in a more full way because it was written on his heart he kept more than the words but the whole meaning...
Besides, Torah-Sinai (The Law of Moses) was purposely, in some places, meant to be broken and/or point out the true intent of Torah. For example, one law that should be broken is the following:
1 "A man with crushed or damaged private parts may not enter the assembly of ADONAI. 2 "A mamzer may not enter the assembly of ADONAI, nor may his descendants down to the tenth generation enter the assembly of ADONAI. 3 "No 'Amoni or Mo'avi may enter the assembly of ADONAI, nor may any of his descendants down to the tenth generation ever enter the assembly of ADONAI, 4 because they did not supply you with food and water when you were on the road after leaving Egypt, and because they hired Bil'am the son of B'or from P'tor in Aram-Naharayim to put a curse on you. 5 But ADONAI your God would not listen to Bil'am; rather, ADONAI your God turned the curse into a blessing for you; because ADONAI your God loved you. 6 So you are never to seek their peace or well being, as long as you live. 7 "But you are not to detest an Edomi, because he is your brother; and you are not to detest an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land. 8 The third generation of children born to them may enter the assembly of ADONAI.
Why exclude a 'Amoni or Mo'avi for the sins of another 'Amoni or Mo'avi, or the first and second generations of Edomim and Mitzrayim?