Don't waste any more of your time trying to find more laws that we're bound by. Let me share my thoughts...
This is a prime example of what I fear about legalism. This is "your" list. Another person might have another list including women wearing head coverings or jewelry, including wedding bands. Others will include laws against facial hair or cut hair on women. That's why I don't believe we can properly list the rules or laws a Christian must follow. It's all very subjective and arbitrary. This also exposes the mind of the legalist. And like you... they will forever be searching to find more "laws" to keep. And no two legalists will completely agree on any given list. We see this in churches that have different standards and don't fellowship one another all the time.
Here is what I believe we Christians are bound to:
Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV)
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
It's simple... love God... and demonstrate your love for God by loving others as yourself. The end.
Paul put it this way:
Romans 13:9
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Galatians 5:14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
It's the royal law of love. If I abide by these two simple commandments... I've fulfilled the whole law. I have every law you could possibly listed covered. Because if I demonstrate my love for God by loving my neighbor as myself I will not lie to him, murder him, steal from him, take his wife in adultery, covet his wife, kidnap, become intoxicated and endanger him or myself, or any other thing you could possibly list (
if there be any other commandment). These are two very simple and universal laws comprising what is known as... the law of love. Love... not of works.
As for my "sanctification"... I'm not sanctified by keeping any law. I'm sanctified by pressing towards the mark of being conformed into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus. He alone being my standard and my bench mark. So with regards to "doing", I'm to love God and show that love by loving all. With regards to "being" I'm to surrender to the Spirit and be as much like Christ as possible.
Living by your interpretation of the Law will only conform me into your image. Living by a denomination's interpretation of the law will only conform me into their image. Living by love... and reckoning my identity in Christ... that will conform me into Christ's image. And that my friend is superior to the Law or any set list of laws. We are called to love... and be like Jesus. I have no dietary code, dress code, code of conduct, or any other codified body of laws. I can worship when and where I choose... and I can pray when and where I choose. I'm free of the Law and any codified body of laws. However, I'm a slave to Christ, bound unto love.
What many do is divide the law in an attempt to pick and choose what laws to obey and what laws not to obey. The problem with this is that the law is a whole. Paul wrote:
Galatians 5:2-4 (KJV)
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
James wrote:
James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
You see... if I try to live by the law, even if I'm simply embracing circumcision... I'm bound to obey the entire law. That means that if I eat a ham sandwich... or I don't gather for worship on the Jewish Sabbath... I'm a transgressor. Eating pork is an abomination according to the Law. But Paul wrote:
Colossians 2:13-14 (KJV)
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Along with my old man (my old spiritual nature), the whole of the Law which condemned me, was nailed to the cross. It's been fulfilled and nailed to the cross once and for all. Now, I'm free to partake in Christ's nature by faith and love without reserve, thereby, fulfilling the intention of the entire law.
Imagine that... waking up tomorrow realizing that entire list of laws isn't binding upon you. Jesus simply commands that you sincerely learn to love everyone you meet on a daily basis. In this, your love for God is demonstrated. No dress codes or silly arbitrary rules to debate over or wrangle with. Love. That's all. Sweet simplicity. That's what separates Christianity from religion. Every religion (including dead Christian religion) has it's codified list of laws. But God is far more simple than most realize. He just desires that we love and be conformed into the image and likeness of Jesus. Jesus is our everything. Partaking in the divine nature through the Holy Spirit raises the bar of holiness beyond anything any code of laws could ever accomplish. In this, not law, are we sanctified.
This is the difference between the concept of walking in grace and living by the law.
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