Re:Extraordinary Claims.... (Score 1)

PS I'm still curious as to the exact scripture that released Christians from observing the same Laws as the Jews. When did God change his mind, and why?

Well, I'm entering the firing line, because this isn't easy to see without entering into basically all of Pauline theology, but here it goes.

Romans 3 is your passage. A couple of interesting verses to get the idea:

"What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." (verses 1-2)

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." (verse 20)

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement..." (verses 21-25a)

"Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law." (verses 29-31)

The short version is the purpose of the Law is not the same as man's law: to keep order and what not. The Law is to show how perfect one would need to be to achieve the perfection of God. The Law is to make us aware of how fallen we are, not to try to make us pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.

Christ's sacrifice satisfies that law so we no longer have to, so long as we accept his forgiveness. A convicted serial killer who accepts God's forgiveness is just as clean as Billy Graham. The reason for not sinning after coming to acceptance is because God's power breaks the power of sin, and we are to live as a testement to that power.

For a better explanation, see a Christian. :-)