We hear the message of God's "grace" as an anthem to many Christians. I hear it often. This anthem states that because of Christ, we have no obligations to fulfill any commandment of the Old Testament, and that Christ freed humanity from these obligations through his crucifixion.
I vehemently reject this assertion, however the teachings of Paul of Tarsus, as translated in many revisions of the Bible, are very confusing... and even contradictory.
How do we help humanity reconcile this discrepancy?
Can we make the assertion that the teachings of Jesus, are superior to Paul's?
Paul tells us, "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."
Galatians 5:4
Jesus told us... "be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect"
Matthew 5:48
There is obviously room for much confusion here.