The Law is impossible to keep and God designed it that way.
Then was He in error when He said in Deuteronomy that it was easy?
Legalism is characterized by zeal which can be mistaken for commitment, piety and true holiness. Paul was burdened for his Jewish brethren whom he said, "Have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
That first sentence is, in my opinion, a good definition of legalism. But what many do not understand is that Paul was not thinking of all who kept the Torah. If he was, he was condemning himself. He was thinking, speaking, and writing of those who thought that keeping Torah brought salvation. Another thing many do not understand is the meaning of "end" in this scripture. It does not, in any way, mean stop doing Torah:
end means the
purpose. "For Messiah is the purspose of Torah."
Romans 10:2-4 (NLT)
I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.
The ceremonial and civil law were canceled because these applied distinctively to Israel and foreshadowed Christ's person and work.
I disagree first because the Torah was never divided into "ceremonial" and "civil" portions until years and years later. Torah was never intended to be divided. I disagree secondly because there is no Scripture that says the Torah was canceled. I disagree thirdly because Torah is not purely distinctive to Israel: it includes all those who join Israel, as it did from the beginning. I disagree fourthly because Torah did not "foreshadow Messiah: Messiah was there, working from the beginning [John 1]. He was the One on the mountain when Moses went up to receive The Words, because no one has seen G-d and lived, so with whom was Moses communing? Who did he talk to face to face? Who did Abraham talk with -- the One Abraham acknowledge was G-d, and wondered how he lived through the experience? He is even called the Everlasting Father [Isaiah 9:6]. There are many instances of the pre-Bethlehem Messiah appearing to people, bringing children, etc. This causes even more wonder with regard to the appearances of G-d the Father, G-d the Son, G-d the H Spirit. It fills one with such simple thoughts as we have with pure rapture!
Colossians 2:16-17 (NLT)
So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
Believers are now dead to the law's power to punish, condemn, and separate them from God. We are no longer under its curse.
Of course, those who truly believe are dead to the punishment! Of course, they are not under its curse! But what many do not consider is that the Scripture here was written to Torah-keepers. I know many are not prepared to believe that, but it is true. They were being instructed not to do anything that would cause others criticize them regarding their keeping Torah.
Galatians 3:10-14 (NLT)
But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”
13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
Since I am assuming that this post is written to me, and any who may believe as I do, please let me reiterate,
again, that I have written over and over that obeying Torah never saved anyone. I don't know how many more ways I can write that! What more can I write that will say this so that it is understood?
I appreciate your concern for my soul, that you are trying to rescue me from being in error. But once again: I obey Torah, as much as is modernly possible without the Temple, because I love the L-rd. I do not obey Torah to gain salvation. I do not obey Torah in order to gain a special place with G-d -- an idea He has shown again and again is impossible.
Bless you, Euph! I am all right. Really!