The ceremonial portions of the "Levitical law" were fulfilled once and for all in Jesus Christ's perfect life and death. The holiness portions of the law were ultimately fulfilled in the given of the Holy Spirit and the purification of the church through the Word.

How does that look? Paul says "once were slave" have become ... firm believers in God? holders to "the gospel"? ejectors of "the law"? No, he says "obedient from the heart." And this being obedient is followed up with the description of "being set free from sin."

Breaking for Spring

The Sun emerges, birds return, and fruit trees bud. Students and teachers are released from studies or teaching for a week of rest, and those of us in Austin search diligently for excuses to leave the SXSW madness and visit family or friends with Spring Breaks. This Spring we "breaked" for all these reasons - and to spend that precious time with my parents, "Nana" and "Granddad".