Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "matthew-22"
Parlor Tricks – Part 1
One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets.” [Matthew 22:35-40]
There is a significant division within Christianity. It often wears the label Dispensationalism vs. Covenantalism. I personally don’t choose to employ the label in my own writing because it smacks of a systematic theology doctrine. I myself am not a proponent of systematic theology. I am a practitioner of Biblical theology.
It isn’t my aim today to descant upon those two systems of theological interpretation. My goal is to define the division within Christianity in practical terms, rather than as the doctrines of Dispensationalism and Covenantalism. So let’s take a stab at it, shall we?
The Old Testament (aka the Old Covenant) actually consists of more than one covenant. For our purposes today the only covenant in the Old Testament we will concern ourselves with is the Covenant of Law (aka the Law of Moses or Torah). In contrast to this is the New Testament (aka the New Covenant). This covenant can be labeled the Covenant of Grace. So the contrast is between Law and Grace.
In a nutshell proponents of Covenantalism view Israel’s time as the Lord’s chosen people on earth as a past tense thing. The Law promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to the Word of God. Israel sinned by disobeying God’s Law, so the Lord cast her off and chose the Gentiles instead of Israel (i.e., the Jews). Now Israel has all the curses for disobedience, while the Gentiles (who make up the Church) have all the blessings for obeying God’s Law. In fine, Israel is no longer God’s chosen people, nor will the Jews ever again be so.
Huh? That does not compute, dear friends! Since when has the Church obeyed God’s Law? Answer: NEVER! The Jews have nothing on us Gentiles when it comes to sinning. We are highly skilled at disobeying God’s Word. So that part is wretched theology.
And then there is the meat of the matter. The Church is NOT under the Law: we are under GRACE! The Law served as a pedagogue, a school marm, until the fulness of the times had come. That is the substance of the Book of Galatians. When the fulness of the times did finally arrive—viz., when the Messiah, Jesus, took upon humanity and died as a sin offering for all mankind—then the Law had fulfilled its function.
So what was the function of the Law? Its function was to reveal invisible spiritual truths by making use of visible physical realities. In many different ways the Law pointed out to the Israelites, and through them to the Gentiles also, that every last human being (Jesus Christ excepted) is born with a sin nature. Consequently all of us sin! The wages of sin is death, so all of us have to die.
The Messiah took our place and died as payment for the penalty of man’s sins. Now that He has done so, the Law no longer has its purpose. Messiah Jesus fulfilled the Law for us, went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose out of death, demonstrating Father God’s acceptance of His payment on our behalf.
Anyone who will acknowledge Jesus’ Person and Ministry and accept His payment is born again. With this new life we don’t obey the Law in order to live—for that was indeed the function of the Law, viz., to set forth rules and regulations to be obeyed perfectly all the time with no exception. Otherwise it proved man was not perfect and could not live with God in eternity. No, but now that we have this new life, we live it rather than try to earn it.
Oh, dear. We are out of time today. Let’s pause and reflect on what we’ve studied thus far. Sit at the feet of Jesus and allow the Spirit to lead you into all truth. May His name be exalted in all our lives!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
There is a significant division within Christianity. It often wears the label Dispensationalism vs. Covenantalism. I personally don’t choose to employ the label in my own writing because it smacks of a systematic theology doctrine. I myself am not a proponent of systematic theology. I am a practitioner of Biblical theology.
It isn’t my aim today to descant upon those two systems of theological interpretation. My goal is to define the division within Christianity in practical terms, rather than as the doctrines of Dispensationalism and Covenantalism. So let’s take a stab at it, shall we?
The Old Testament (aka the Old Covenant) actually consists of more than one covenant. For our purposes today the only covenant in the Old Testament we will concern ourselves with is the Covenant of Law (aka the Law of Moses or Torah). In contrast to this is the New Testament (aka the New Covenant). This covenant can be labeled the Covenant of Grace. So the contrast is between Law and Grace.
In a nutshell proponents of Covenantalism view Israel’s time as the Lord’s chosen people on earth as a past tense thing. The Law promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to the Word of God. Israel sinned by disobeying God’s Law, so the Lord cast her off and chose the Gentiles instead of Israel (i.e., the Jews). Now Israel has all the curses for disobedience, while the Gentiles (who make up the Church) have all the blessings for obeying God’s Law. In fine, Israel is no longer God’s chosen people, nor will the Jews ever again be so.
Huh? That does not compute, dear friends! Since when has the Church obeyed God’s Law? Answer: NEVER! The Jews have nothing on us Gentiles when it comes to sinning. We are highly skilled at disobeying God’s Word. So that part is wretched theology.
And then there is the meat of the matter. The Church is NOT under the Law: we are under GRACE! The Law served as a pedagogue, a school marm, until the fulness of the times had come. That is the substance of the Book of Galatians. When the fulness of the times did finally arrive—viz., when the Messiah, Jesus, took upon humanity and died as a sin offering for all mankind—then the Law had fulfilled its function.
So what was the function of the Law? Its function was to reveal invisible spiritual truths by making use of visible physical realities. In many different ways the Law pointed out to the Israelites, and through them to the Gentiles also, that every last human being (Jesus Christ excepted) is born with a sin nature. Consequently all of us sin! The wages of sin is death, so all of us have to die.
The Messiah took our place and died as payment for the penalty of man’s sins. Now that He has done so, the Law no longer has its purpose. Messiah Jesus fulfilled the Law for us, went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose out of death, demonstrating Father God’s acceptance of His payment on our behalf.
Anyone who will acknowledge Jesus’ Person and Ministry and accept His payment is born again. With this new life we don’t obey the Law in order to live—for that was indeed the function of the Law, viz., to set forth rules and regulations to be obeyed perfectly all the time with no exception. Otherwise it proved man was not perfect and could not live with God in eternity. No, but now that we have this new life, we live it rather than try to earn it.
Oh, dear. We are out of time today. Let’s pause and reflect on what we’ve studied thus far. Sit at the feet of Jesus and allow the Spirit to lead you into all truth. May His name be exalted in all our lives!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Parlor Tricks – Part 2
One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets.” [Matthew 22:35-40]
Under the Law the Jews tried in vain to live the perfect life in their own power. Trouble was, all men are sinners so they sinned. They disobeyed the Law. This brought them condemnation and separation from God. Thus the Law found it necessary to provide them with animals to serve as substitutionary sacrifices in man’s stead, but only until the once-for-all perfect sin offering of Jesus Christ was offered up to God.
Professors of dispensationalism have to get rid of some of the Law by hook or by crook because they don’t obey all of it. I mean, when was the last time any of them went to the Temple in Jerusalem and presented their offerings? Uh, that would be never! So they indulge in a little legerdemain by dividing the Law of Moses into constituent parts, such as the “ceremonial law”, the “legal code”, and the “moral law”. Then they beg the question by asserting that Christians are only under the “moral law”.
Sounds convincing, does it not? Uh, not so fast. After reading the Bible more than 100 times straight through over the past 33½ years, I’ve yet to find one instance in Scripture where the Law is divided into parts. On the contrary Scripture recognizes the Law as one indivisible unit. Either we keep the whole Law all the time perfectly without fail, or else we are lawbreakers (aka sinners).
The only “division” of the Law in Scripture is not even a contrast between the clean and the unclean, or between the holy and the sinful. We quoted Matthew at the start of this study. In those verses we see the only “division” of the Law put forth by God in Scripture. Part of the Law was directed toward God, while the other part was directed toward man.
The Law of Moses ruled the Israelites while they lived in Israel. They were a nationality with their own country and legal code. The Law of Moses was the legal code for the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and in the Gospels until Jesus died and rose again.
Now God’s hand reaches out to mankind with the Covenant of Grace. Those who take hold of God’s hand are born again into His Body, the Church. We don’t keep the Law in order to show we are perfect and can live in heaven in our own right. We already live because Jesus fulfilled the Law for us and we received Him as our Savior.
Since we have His life in us, we obey the Word of God by choice, not in order to earn our way into heaven. And when we slip and fall into sin, we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness. Then we continue to work out His new life which He put in us.
So which shall it be for you? Will you attempt to earn your own way into heaven by obeying the Law (or “parts” of it)? Or do you prefer to accept what Jesus already accomplished on your behalf? I am not impressed with the parlor tricks of dividing the Law into “parts”. I choose the Covenant of Grace.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Under the Law the Jews tried in vain to live the perfect life in their own power. Trouble was, all men are sinners so they sinned. They disobeyed the Law. This brought them condemnation and separation from God. Thus the Law found it necessary to provide them with animals to serve as substitutionary sacrifices in man’s stead, but only until the once-for-all perfect sin offering of Jesus Christ was offered up to God.
Professors of dispensationalism have to get rid of some of the Law by hook or by crook because they don’t obey all of it. I mean, when was the last time any of them went to the Temple in Jerusalem and presented their offerings? Uh, that would be never! So they indulge in a little legerdemain by dividing the Law of Moses into constituent parts, such as the “ceremonial law”, the “legal code”, and the “moral law”. Then they beg the question by asserting that Christians are only under the “moral law”.
Sounds convincing, does it not? Uh, not so fast. After reading the Bible more than 100 times straight through over the past 33½ years, I’ve yet to find one instance in Scripture where the Law is divided into parts. On the contrary Scripture recognizes the Law as one indivisible unit. Either we keep the whole Law all the time perfectly without fail, or else we are lawbreakers (aka sinners).
The only “division” of the Law in Scripture is not even a contrast between the clean and the unclean, or between the holy and the sinful. We quoted Matthew at the start of this study. In those verses we see the only “division” of the Law put forth by God in Scripture. Part of the Law was directed toward God, while the other part was directed toward man.
The Law of Moses ruled the Israelites while they lived in Israel. They were a nationality with their own country and legal code. The Law of Moses was the legal code for the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and in the Gospels until Jesus died and rose again.
Now God’s hand reaches out to mankind with the Covenant of Grace. Those who take hold of God’s hand are born again into His Body, the Church. We don’t keep the Law in order to show we are perfect and can live in heaven in our own right. We already live because Jesus fulfilled the Law for us and we received Him as our Savior.
Since we have His life in us, we obey the Word of God by choice, not in order to earn our way into heaven. And when we slip and fall into sin, we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness. Then we continue to work out His new life which He put in us.
So which shall it be for you? Will you attempt to earn your own way into heaven by obeying the Law (or “parts” of it)? Or do you prefer to accept what Jesus already accomplished on your behalf? I am not impressed with the parlor tricks of dividing the Law into “parts”. I choose the Covenant of Grace.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The 3 L’s – Part 1
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ [Galatians 6:2].
April 15 has come and gone for another year. Americans young and old went through the ordeal of filing their tax returns. Some folks received money back, while others were privileged to dole out additional funds into the leaky cistern known as the federal government.
Then there are those sneaky persons who didn’t file their tax returns at all. Suchlike fellows have broken the law; they’ve committed a crime. They are lawbreakers, criminals. This is true whether or not we agree with the tax code or believe in an income tax. It is the law of the land, thus obligating us to obey it until such time as it is revoked.
In Old Testament Israel the Israelites were governed by the Lord through His legal code, the Law of Moses. Whenever any Israelite failed to do anything the Law required, he became a lawbreaker, a criminal. Whenever he did anything the Law forbade, he became a lawbreaker. Taking into account all the Israelites throughout the entire Old Testament era, we can count on the fingers of one hand how many never were lawbreakers—and we’d still have four fingers and one thumb unused!
Yes, the Old Testament had the Law of Moses. And yes, we today have many laws—federal, state, and local—by which we are governed. In the verse quoted to kick off this study, the Apostle Paul exhorted the Galatian Christians to fulfill the law of Christ. This adds still another “law” to the mix. What is this “law of Christ” anyway?
Ah, that makes for a right fine topic to discuss. Is the “law of Christ” a new legal code which is applicable to the church? Does it replace our federal, state, and local laws. Perhaps it’s the Law of Moses and the Church is obligated to obey it? Maybe it’s just the “moral law” included in the Law of Moses? Oh dear. My head is twirling from all the confusion! What is “the law of Christ”. Would someone please answer the question already?
Let us not be overwhelmed by this topic, dear friends, and drown in the depths of despair. Paul didn’t fabricate some new teaching, when he instructed the Galatian Christians about obedience to the law of Christ. Paul referred to the words of the Lord Jesus, while He walked the earth and taught the Word of God to the Israelites. Let’s check it out and see for ourselves.
The Jewish authorities didn’t support Jesus, and they actively opposed His ministry and teachings. They made it their life’s goal to thwart Him, whenever they deemed it feasible to do so. On one occasion a lawyer tried to trick Jesus into saying something wrong, by introducing a topic which divided the rabbis into contentious cliques.
We will delve into this mysterious topic on the morrow. In the interim enjoy time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
April 15 has come and gone for another year. Americans young and old went through the ordeal of filing their tax returns. Some folks received money back, while others were privileged to dole out additional funds into the leaky cistern known as the federal government.
Then there are those sneaky persons who didn’t file their tax returns at all. Suchlike fellows have broken the law; they’ve committed a crime. They are lawbreakers, criminals. This is true whether or not we agree with the tax code or believe in an income tax. It is the law of the land, thus obligating us to obey it until such time as it is revoked.
In Old Testament Israel the Israelites were governed by the Lord through His legal code, the Law of Moses. Whenever any Israelite failed to do anything the Law required, he became a lawbreaker, a criminal. Whenever he did anything the Law forbade, he became a lawbreaker. Taking into account all the Israelites throughout the entire Old Testament era, we can count on the fingers of one hand how many never were lawbreakers—and we’d still have four fingers and one thumb unused!
Yes, the Old Testament had the Law of Moses. And yes, we today have many laws—federal, state, and local—by which we are governed. In the verse quoted to kick off this study, the Apostle Paul exhorted the Galatian Christians to fulfill the law of Christ. This adds still another “law” to the mix. What is this “law of Christ” anyway?
Ah, that makes for a right fine topic to discuss. Is the “law of Christ” a new legal code which is applicable to the church? Does it replace our federal, state, and local laws. Perhaps it’s the Law of Moses and the Church is obligated to obey it? Maybe it’s just the “moral law” included in the Law of Moses? Oh dear. My head is twirling from all the confusion! What is “the law of Christ”. Would someone please answer the question already?
Let us not be overwhelmed by this topic, dear friends, and drown in the depths of despair. Paul didn’t fabricate some new teaching, when he instructed the Galatian Christians about obedience to the law of Christ. Paul referred to the words of the Lord Jesus, while He walked the earth and taught the Word of God to the Israelites. Let’s check it out and see for ourselves.
The Jewish authorities didn’t support Jesus, and they actively opposed His ministry and teachings. They made it their life’s goal to thwart Him, whenever they deemed it feasible to do so. On one occasion a lawyer tried to trick Jesus into saying something wrong, by introducing a topic which divided the rabbis into contentious cliques.
We will delve into this mysterious topic on the morrow. In the interim enjoy time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The 3 L’s – Part 2
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ [Galatians 6:2].
We concluded our last study with a Jewish lawyer, who tried to embroil Jesus in an ongoing contention between the various rabbinic schools of thought back in the day. This lawyer asked Jesus which commandment in the Law of Moses He thought was the greatest of them all. Jesus responded,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets [Matthew 22:37-40].
Rule #1 for Bible study teaches, “A text without a context is a pretext.” Lest we find ourselves wading in a pretext, let’s begin by establishing the context of Jesus’ answer to the lawyer.
The lawyer wanted to know which commandment from the Law of Moses was chiefest of all. The context for the lawyer’s question was the Law of Moses. Jesus’ answer was to identify the chiefest commandment, and then to add the second chiefest commandment to the mix. The context for Jesus’ answer was also the Law of Moses.
In providing His answer Jesus quoted from two places in the Law of Moses. The chiefest commandment is to be found in Deuteronomy 6:5. The second chiefest commandment is located in Leviticus 19:18. This means the law espoused by Jesus was the Law of Moses.
Yea, even more, Jesus claimed the entire Law of Moses was fulfilled via obedience to the two chiefest commandments which He identified. Anyone who loved God with his entire being, while simultaneously loving his neighbor as much as he loved himself, in actuality did fully obey the Law of Moses.
Jesus’ position taught that the Law of Moses could not be obeyed outwardly alone. For example, it wouldn’t be sufficient for me to give the tithe and refrain from working on the Sabbath, all the while I resent giving the tithe and can’t wait for the Sabbath to be over so I can make more money. No! I have to give the tithe and obey the Sabbath from my heart first and foremost; then the outward obedience would follow.
This brings us to the “3 L’s”: Law, Legalism, Love. The Law of Moses was the Lord’s legal code for the Promised Land. It was in force during the tenure of the Israelites in the Promised Land during Old Testament times. Being the Word of God, the Law was perfect. There was a problem, to be sure, but the problem wasn’t with the Law. It was with man.
The Israelites, and all men, were and are sinners. Therein lies the problem. The Law was made for sinners. The purpose of the Law was to show sinners their inability to obey God perfectly. In this way sinners can recognize their need for a Savior, One who can bring them back into fellowship with God.
Hold that thought until the next study. We will finish the discussion then. For now let us betake ourselves to the prayer closet for some fellowship with the Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We concluded our last study with a Jewish lawyer, who tried to embroil Jesus in an ongoing contention between the various rabbinic schools of thought back in the day. This lawyer asked Jesus which commandment in the Law of Moses He thought was the greatest of them all. Jesus responded,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets [Matthew 22:37-40].
Rule #1 for Bible study teaches, “A text without a context is a pretext.” Lest we find ourselves wading in a pretext, let’s begin by establishing the context of Jesus’ answer to the lawyer.
The lawyer wanted to know which commandment from the Law of Moses was chiefest of all. The context for the lawyer’s question was the Law of Moses. Jesus’ answer was to identify the chiefest commandment, and then to add the second chiefest commandment to the mix. The context for Jesus’ answer was also the Law of Moses.
In providing His answer Jesus quoted from two places in the Law of Moses. The chiefest commandment is to be found in Deuteronomy 6:5. The second chiefest commandment is located in Leviticus 19:18. This means the law espoused by Jesus was the Law of Moses.
Yea, even more, Jesus claimed the entire Law of Moses was fulfilled via obedience to the two chiefest commandments which He identified. Anyone who loved God with his entire being, while simultaneously loving his neighbor as much as he loved himself, in actuality did fully obey the Law of Moses.
Jesus’ position taught that the Law of Moses could not be obeyed outwardly alone. For example, it wouldn’t be sufficient for me to give the tithe and refrain from working on the Sabbath, all the while I resent giving the tithe and can’t wait for the Sabbath to be over so I can make more money. No! I have to give the tithe and obey the Sabbath from my heart first and foremost; then the outward obedience would follow.
This brings us to the “3 L’s”: Law, Legalism, Love. The Law of Moses was the Lord’s legal code for the Promised Land. It was in force during the tenure of the Israelites in the Promised Land during Old Testament times. Being the Word of God, the Law was perfect. There was a problem, to be sure, but the problem wasn’t with the Law. It was with man.
The Israelites, and all men, were and are sinners. Therein lies the problem. The Law was made for sinners. The purpose of the Law was to show sinners their inability to obey God perfectly. In this way sinners can recognize their need for a Savior, One who can bring them back into fellowship with God.
Hold that thought until the next study. We will finish the discussion then. For now let us betake ourselves to the prayer closet for some fellowship with the Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The 3 L's - Part 3
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ [Galatians 6:2].
The Law was given to sinners, which created a problem, though the problem was not with the Law. The problem was that sinners are in rebellion against God and don’t want to obey Him. Sinners believe they are good enough to be right with God. This displays itself in legalism. Legalism is the practice of obeying the Law according to sinful man’s interpretation of what this entails.
Since all men are sinners, Old Testament Israelites included, law-abiding Israelites rapidly degenerated into legalistic Israelites. The same applies to Gentiles who attempt to do their own good works, in order to find favor with God.
This is where “the law of Christ” comes in. The Lord gave the Law to Israel. Israel perverted the Law into Legalism. The Lord Jesus interpreted the Law perfectly by returning it to its origins.
The Law was not given as a means to salvation. The Law was given by God to teach sinful man their need for a Savior. In this way sinful men can flee to their Savior and be restored into right relationship with God.
God is love. Any relationship with Him is founded on love because God is love. For sinful man to obey the Law perfectly—which is the only acceptable way to obey it—he has to obey from the heart. He has to want to obey because he recognizes its validity and truly desires from his inmost being to be the person the Law demands he be.
That, dear friends, is the definition of love. Love doesn’t seek its own good, but the good of others. Love doesn’t push self to the front, but elevates others to first place. Love doesn’t take what it wants and keep score. Love gives and overlooks slights to self.
The Law was given to demonstrate to sinful man how far short of the glory of God all of us fall. Sinful man perverted this to Legalism because that is the only way sinners can measure up to the Law. The Lord Jesus returned the Law to its roots by returning it to its rightful foundation, Love.
The 3 L’s: Law, Legalism, Love. The law of Christ is that I love the Lord God with my entire being, and that I love my neighbor as myself. This doesn’t require that I obey the Law of Moses. It does require that I forsake Legalism.
To fulfill the law of Christ I need to spend daily time alone with the Lord Jesus, learning to know Him more and more in order to grow in my love for Him. He is love, so I must get my love from Him. Only after doing so will I have love to give back to Him and to share with my neighbor.
I think I’ll pause now and go to Jesus. He will embrace me in His arms. I love You, Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Law was given to sinners, which created a problem, though the problem was not with the Law. The problem was that sinners are in rebellion against God and don’t want to obey Him. Sinners believe they are good enough to be right with God. This displays itself in legalism. Legalism is the practice of obeying the Law according to sinful man’s interpretation of what this entails.
Since all men are sinners, Old Testament Israelites included, law-abiding Israelites rapidly degenerated into legalistic Israelites. The same applies to Gentiles who attempt to do their own good works, in order to find favor with God.
This is where “the law of Christ” comes in. The Lord gave the Law to Israel. Israel perverted the Law into Legalism. The Lord Jesus interpreted the Law perfectly by returning it to its origins.
The Law was not given as a means to salvation. The Law was given by God to teach sinful man their need for a Savior. In this way sinful men can flee to their Savior and be restored into right relationship with God.
God is love. Any relationship with Him is founded on love because God is love. For sinful man to obey the Law perfectly—which is the only acceptable way to obey it—he has to obey from the heart. He has to want to obey because he recognizes its validity and truly desires from his inmost being to be the person the Law demands he be.
That, dear friends, is the definition of love. Love doesn’t seek its own good, but the good of others. Love doesn’t push self to the front, but elevates others to first place. Love doesn’t take what it wants and keep score. Love gives and overlooks slights to self.
The Law was given to demonstrate to sinful man how far short of the glory of God all of us fall. Sinful man perverted this to Legalism because that is the only way sinners can measure up to the Law. The Lord Jesus returned the Law to its roots by returning it to its rightful foundation, Love.
The 3 L’s: Law, Legalism, Love. The law of Christ is that I love the Lord God with my entire being, and that I love my neighbor as myself. This doesn’t require that I obey the Law of Moses. It does require that I forsake Legalism.
To fulfill the law of Christ I need to spend daily time alone with the Lord Jesus, learning to know Him more and more in order to grow in my love for Him. He is love, so I must get my love from Him. Only after doing so will I have love to give back to Him and to share with my neighbor.
I think I’ll pause now and go to Jesus. He will embrace me in His arms. I love You, Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Parlor Tricks – Part 1
One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets.” [Matthew 22:35-40]
There is a significant division within Christianity. It often wears the label Dispensationalism vs. Covenantalism. I personally don’t choose to employ the label in my own writing because it smacks of a systematic theology doctrine. I myself am not a proponent of systematic theology. I am a practitioner of Biblical theology.
It isn’t my aim today to descant upon those two systems of theological interpretation. My goal is to define the division within Christianity in practical terms, rather than as the doctrines of Dispensationalism and Covenantalism. So let’s take a stab at it, shall we?
The Old Testament (aka the Old Covenant) actually consists of more than one covenant. For our purposes today the only covenant in the Old Testament we will concern ourselves with is the Covenant of Law (aka the Law of Moses or Torah). In contrast to this is the New Testament (aka the New Covenant). This covenant can be labeled the Covenant of Grace. So the contrast is between Law and Grace.
In a nutshell proponents of Covenantalism view Israel’s time as the Lord’s chosen people on earth as a past tense thing. The Law promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to the Word of God. Israel sinned by disobeying God’s Law, so the Lord cast her off and chose the Gentiles instead of Israel (i.e., the Jews). Now Israel has all the curses for disobedience, while the Gentiles (who make up the Church) have all the blessings for obeying God’s Law. In fine, Israel is no longer God’s chosen people, nor will the Jews ever again be so.
Huh? That does not compute, dear friends! Since when has the Church obeyed God’s Law? Answer: NEVER! The Jews have nothing on us Gentiles when it comes to sinning. We are highly skilled at disobeying God’s Word. So that part is wretched theology.
And then there is the meat of the matter. The Church is NOT under the Law: we are under GRACE! The Law served as a pedagogue, a school marm, until the fullness of the times had come. That is the substance of the Book of Galatians. When the fullness of the times did finally arrive—viz., when the Messiah, Jesus, took upon humanity and died as a sin offering for all mankind—then the Law had fulfilled its function.
So what was the function of the Law? Its function was to reveal invisible spiritual truths by making use of visible physical realities. In many different ways the Law pointed out to the Israelites, and through them to the Gentiles also, that every last human being (Jesus Christ excepted) is born with a sin nature. Consequently all of us sin! The wages of sin is death, so all of us have to die.
The Messiah took our place and died as payment for the penalty of man’s sins. Now that He has done so, the Law no longer has its purpose. Messiah Jesus fulfilled the Law for us, went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose out of death, demonstrating Father God’s acceptance of His payment on our behalf.
Anyone who will acknowledge Jesus’ Person and Ministry and accept His payment is born again. With this new life we don’t obey the Law in order to live—for that was indeed the function of the Law, viz., to set forth rules and regulations to be obeyed perfectly all the time with no exception. Otherwise it proved man was not perfect and could not live with God in eternity. No, but now that we have this new life, we live it rather than try to earn it.
Oh, dear. We are out of time today. Let’s pause and reflect on what we’ve studied thus far. Sit at the feet of Jesus and allow the Spirit to lead you into all truth. May His name be exalted in all our lives!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
There is a significant division within Christianity. It often wears the label Dispensationalism vs. Covenantalism. I personally don’t choose to employ the label in my own writing because it smacks of a systematic theology doctrine. I myself am not a proponent of systematic theology. I am a practitioner of Biblical theology.
It isn’t my aim today to descant upon those two systems of theological interpretation. My goal is to define the division within Christianity in practical terms, rather than as the doctrines of Dispensationalism and Covenantalism. So let’s take a stab at it, shall we?
The Old Testament (aka the Old Covenant) actually consists of more than one covenant. For our purposes today the only covenant in the Old Testament we will concern ourselves with is the Covenant of Law (aka the Law of Moses or Torah). In contrast to this is the New Testament (aka the New Covenant). This covenant can be labeled the Covenant of Grace. So the contrast is between Law and Grace.
In a nutshell proponents of Covenantalism view Israel’s time as the Lord’s chosen people on earth as a past tense thing. The Law promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to the Word of God. Israel sinned by disobeying God’s Law, so the Lord cast her off and chose the Gentiles instead of Israel (i.e., the Jews). Now Israel has all the curses for disobedience, while the Gentiles (who make up the Church) have all the blessings for obeying God’s Law. In fine, Israel is no longer God’s chosen people, nor will the Jews ever again be so.
Huh? That does not compute, dear friends! Since when has the Church obeyed God’s Law? Answer: NEVER! The Jews have nothing on us Gentiles when it comes to sinning. We are highly skilled at disobeying God’s Word. So that part is wretched theology.
And then there is the meat of the matter. The Church is NOT under the Law: we are under GRACE! The Law served as a pedagogue, a school marm, until the fullness of the times had come. That is the substance of the Book of Galatians. When the fullness of the times did finally arrive—viz., when the Messiah, Jesus, took upon humanity and died as a sin offering for all mankind—then the Law had fulfilled its function.
So what was the function of the Law? Its function was to reveal invisible spiritual truths by making use of visible physical realities. In many different ways the Law pointed out to the Israelites, and through them to the Gentiles also, that every last human being (Jesus Christ excepted) is born with a sin nature. Consequently all of us sin! The wages of sin is death, so all of us have to die.
The Messiah took our place and died as payment for the penalty of man’s sins. Now that He has done so, the Law no longer has its purpose. Messiah Jesus fulfilled the Law for us, went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose out of death, demonstrating Father God’s acceptance of His payment on our behalf.
Anyone who will acknowledge Jesus’ Person and Ministry and accept His payment is born again. With this new life we don’t obey the Law in order to live—for that was indeed the function of the Law, viz., to set forth rules and regulations to be obeyed perfectly all the time with no exception. Otherwise it proved man was not perfect and could not live with God in eternity. No, but now that we have this new life, we live it rather than try to earn it.
Oh, dear. We are out of time today. Let’s pause and reflect on what we’ve studied thus far. Sit at the feet of Jesus and allow the Spirit to lead you into all truth. May His name be exalted in all our lives!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Parlor Tricks – Part 2
One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets.” [Matthew 22:35-40]
Under the Law the Jews tried in vain to live the perfect life in their own power. Trouble was, all men are sinners so they sinned. They disobeyed the Law. This brought them condemnation and separation from God. Thus the Law found it necessary to provide them with animals to serve as substitutionary sacrifices in man’s stead, but only until the once-for-all perfect sin offering of Jesus Christ was offered up to God.
Professors of dispensationalism have to get rid of some of the Law by hook or by crook because they don’t obey all of it. I mean, when was the last time any of them went to the Temple in Jerusalem and presented their offerings? Uh, that would be never! So they indulge in a little legerdemain by dividing the Law of Moses into constituent parts, such as the “ceremonial law”, the “legal code”, and the “moral law”. Then they beg the question by asserting that Christians are only under the “moral law”.
Sounds convincing, does it not? Uh, not so fast. After reading the Bible more than 100 times straight through over the past 33½ years, I’ve yet to find one instance in Scripture where the Law is divided into parts. On the contrary Scripture recognizes the Law as one indivisible unit. Either we keep the whole Law all the time perfectly without fail, or else we are lawbreakers (aka sinners).
The only “division” of the Law in Scripture is not even a contrast between the clean and the unclean, or between the holy and the sinful. We quoted Matthew at the start of this study. In those verses we see the only “division” of the Law put forth by God in Scripture. Part of the Law was directed toward God, while the other part was directed toward man.
The Law of Moses ruled the Israelites while they lived in Israel. They were a nationality with their own country and legal code. The Law of Moses was the legal code for the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and in the Gospels until Jesus died and rose again.
Now God’s hand reaches out to mankind with the Covenant of Grace. Those who take hold of God’s hand are born again into His Body, the Church. We don’t keep the Law in order to show we are perfect and can live in heaven in our own right. We already live because Jesus fulfilled the Law for us and we received Him as our Savior.
Since we have His life in us, we obey the Word of God by choice, not in order to earn our way into heaven. And when we slip and fall into sin, we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness. Then we continue to work out His new life which He put in us.
So which shall it be for you? Will you attempt to earn your own way into heaven by obeying the Law (or “parts” of it)? Or do you prefer to accept what Jesus already accomplished on your behalf? I am not impressed with the parlor tricks of dividing the Law into “parts”. I choose the Covenant of Grace.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Under the Law the Jews tried in vain to live the perfect life in their own power. Trouble was, all men are sinners so they sinned. They disobeyed the Law. This brought them condemnation and separation from God. Thus the Law found it necessary to provide them with animals to serve as substitutionary sacrifices in man’s stead, but only until the once-for-all perfect sin offering of Jesus Christ was offered up to God.
Professors of dispensationalism have to get rid of some of the Law by hook or by crook because they don’t obey all of it. I mean, when was the last time any of them went to the Temple in Jerusalem and presented their offerings? Uh, that would be never! So they indulge in a little legerdemain by dividing the Law of Moses into constituent parts, such as the “ceremonial law”, the “legal code”, and the “moral law”. Then they beg the question by asserting that Christians are only under the “moral law”.
Sounds convincing, does it not? Uh, not so fast. After reading the Bible more than 100 times straight through over the past 33½ years, I’ve yet to find one instance in Scripture where the Law is divided into parts. On the contrary Scripture recognizes the Law as one indivisible unit. Either we keep the whole Law all the time perfectly without fail, or else we are lawbreakers (aka sinners).
The only “division” of the Law in Scripture is not even a contrast between the clean and the unclean, or between the holy and the sinful. We quoted Matthew at the start of this study. In those verses we see the only “division” of the Law put forth by God in Scripture. Part of the Law was directed toward God, while the other part was directed toward man.
The Law of Moses ruled the Israelites while they lived in Israel. They were a nationality with their own country and legal code. The Law of Moses was the legal code for the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and in the Gospels until Jesus died and rose again.
Now God’s hand reaches out to mankind with the Covenant of Grace. Those who take hold of God’s hand are born again into His Body, the Church. We don’t keep the Law in order to show we are perfect and can live in heaven in our own right. We already live because Jesus fulfilled the Law for us and we received Him as our Savior.
Since we have His life in us, we obey the Word of God by choice, not in order to earn our way into heaven. And when we slip and fall into sin, we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness. Then we continue to work out His new life which He put in us.
So which shall it be for you? Will you attempt to earn your own way into heaven by obeying the Law (or “parts” of it)? Or do you prefer to accept what Jesus already accomplished on your behalf? I am not impressed with the parlor tricks of dividing the Law into “parts”. I choose the Covenant of Grace.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
The 3 L’s – Part 1
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ [Galatians 6:2].
April 15 has come and gone for another year. Americans young and old went through the ordeal of filing their tax returns. Some folks received money back, while others were privileged to dole out additional funds into the leaky cistern known as the federal government.
Then there are those sneaky persons who didn’t file their tax returns at all. Suchlike fellows have broken the law; they’ve committed a crime. They are lawbreakers, criminals. This is true whether or not we agree with the tax code or believe in an income tax. It is the law of the land, thus obligating us to obey it until such time as it is revoked.
In Old Testament Israel the Israelites were governed by the Lord through His legal code, the Law of Moses. Whenever any Israelite failed to do anything the Law required, he became a lawbreaker, a criminal. Whenever he did anything the Law forbade, he became a lawbreaker. Taking into account all the Israelites throughout the entire Old Testament era, we can count on the fingers of one hand how many never were lawbreakers—and we’d still have four fingers and one thumb unused!
Yes, the Old Testament had the Law of Moses. And yes, we today have many laws—federal, state, and local—by which we are governed. In the verse quoted to kick off this study, the Apostle Paul exhorted the Galatian Christians to fulfill the law of Christ. This adds still another “law” to the mix. What is this “law of Christ” anyway?
Ah, that makes for a right fine topic to discuss. Is the “law of Christ” a new legal code which is applicable to the church? Does it replace our federal, state, and local laws. Perhaps it’s the Law of Moses and the Church is obligated to obey it? Maybe it’s just the “moral law” included in the Law of Moses? Oh dear. My head is twirling from all the confusion! What is “the law of Christ”. Would someone please answer the question already?
Let us not be overwhelmed by this topic, dear friends, and drown in the depths of despair. Paul didn’t fabricate some new teaching, when he instructed the Galatian Christians about obedience to the law of Christ. Paul referred to the words of the Lord Jesus, while He walked the earth and taught the Word of God to the Israelites. Let’s check it out and see for ourselves.
The Jewish authorities didn’t support Jesus, and they actively opposed His ministry and teachings. They made it their life’s goal to thwart Him, whenever they deemed it feasible to do so. On one occasion a lawyer tried to trick Jesus into saying something wrong, by introducing a topic which divided the rabbis into contentious cliques.
We will delve into this mysterious topic on the morrow. In the interim enjoy time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
April 15 has come and gone for another year. Americans young and old went through the ordeal of filing their tax returns. Some folks received money back, while others were privileged to dole out additional funds into the leaky cistern known as the federal government.
Then there are those sneaky persons who didn’t file their tax returns at all. Suchlike fellows have broken the law; they’ve committed a crime. They are lawbreakers, criminals. This is true whether or not we agree with the tax code or believe in an income tax. It is the law of the land, thus obligating us to obey it until such time as it is revoked.
In Old Testament Israel the Israelites were governed by the Lord through His legal code, the Law of Moses. Whenever any Israelite failed to do anything the Law required, he became a lawbreaker, a criminal. Whenever he did anything the Law forbade, he became a lawbreaker. Taking into account all the Israelites throughout the entire Old Testament era, we can count on the fingers of one hand how many never were lawbreakers—and we’d still have four fingers and one thumb unused!
Yes, the Old Testament had the Law of Moses. And yes, we today have many laws—federal, state, and local—by which we are governed. In the verse quoted to kick off this study, the Apostle Paul exhorted the Galatian Christians to fulfill the law of Christ. This adds still another “law” to the mix. What is this “law of Christ” anyway?
Ah, that makes for a right fine topic to discuss. Is the “law of Christ” a new legal code which is applicable to the church? Does it replace our federal, state, and local laws. Perhaps it’s the Law of Moses and the Church is obligated to obey it? Maybe it’s just the “moral law” included in the Law of Moses? Oh dear. My head is twirling from all the confusion! What is “the law of Christ”. Would someone please answer the question already?
Let us not be overwhelmed by this topic, dear friends, and drown in the depths of despair. Paul didn’t fabricate some new teaching, when he instructed the Galatian Christians about obedience to the law of Christ. Paul referred to the words of the Lord Jesus, while He walked the earth and taught the Word of God to the Israelites. Let’s check it out and see for ourselves.
The Jewish authorities didn’t support Jesus, and they actively opposed His ministry and teachings. They made it their life’s goal to thwart Him, whenever they deemed it feasible to do so. On one occasion a lawyer tried to trick Jesus into saying something wrong, by introducing a topic which divided the rabbis into contentious cliques.
We will delve into this mysterious topic on the morrow. In the interim enjoy time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The 3 L’s – Part 2
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ [Galatians 6:2].
We concluded our last study with a Jewish lawyer, who tried to embroil Jesus in an ongoing contention between the various rabbinic schools of thought back in the day. This lawyer asked Jesus which commandment in the Law of Moses He thought was the greatest of them all. Jesus responded,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets [Matthew 22:37-40].
Rule #1 for Bible study teaches, “A text without a context is a pretext.” Lest we find ourselves wading in a pretext, let’s begin by establishing the context of Jesus’ answer to the lawyer.
The lawyer wanted to know which commandment from the Law of Moses was chiefest of all. The context for the lawyer’s question was the Law of Moses. Jesus’ answer was to identify the chiefest commandment, and then to add the second chiefest commandment to the mix. The context for Jesus’ answer was also the Law of Moses.
In providing His answer Jesus quoted from two places in the Law of Moses. The chiefest commandment is to be found in Deuteronomy 6:5. The second chiefest commandment is located in Leviticus 19:18. This means the law espoused by Jesus was the Law of Moses.
Yea, even more, Jesus claimed the entire Law of Moses was fulfilled via obedience to the two chiefest commandments which He identified. Anyone who loved God with his entire being, while simultaneously loving his neighbor as much as he loved himself, in actuality did fully obey the Law of Moses.
Jesus’ position taught that the Law of Moses could not be obeyed outwardly alone. For example, it wouldn’t be sufficient for me to give the tithe and refrain from working on the Sabbath, all the while I resent giving the tithe and can’t wait for the Sabbath to be over so I can make more money. No! I have to give the tithe and obey the Sabbath from my heart first and foremost; then the outward obedience would follow.
This brings us to the “3 L’s”: Law, Legalism, Love. The Law of Moses was the Lord’s legal code for the Promised Land. It was in force during the tenure of the Israelites in the Promised Land during Old Testament times. Being the Word of God, the Law was perfect. There was a problem, to be sure, but the problem wasn’t with the Law. It was with man.
The Israelites, and all men, were and are sinners. Therein lies the problem. The Law was made for sinners. The purpose of the Law was to show sinners their inability to obey God perfectly. In this way sinners can recognize their need for a Savior, One who can bring them back into fellowship with God.
Hold that thought until the next study. We will finish the discussion then. For now let us betake ourselves to the prayer closet for some fellowship with the Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We concluded our last study with a Jewish lawyer, who tried to embroil Jesus in an ongoing contention between the various rabbinic schools of thought back in the day. This lawyer asked Jesus which commandment in the Law of Moses He thought was the greatest of them all. Jesus responded,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets [Matthew 22:37-40].
Rule #1 for Bible study teaches, “A text without a context is a pretext.” Lest we find ourselves wading in a pretext, let’s begin by establishing the context of Jesus’ answer to the lawyer.
The lawyer wanted to know which commandment from the Law of Moses was chiefest of all. The context for the lawyer’s question was the Law of Moses. Jesus’ answer was to identify the chiefest commandment, and then to add the second chiefest commandment to the mix. The context for Jesus’ answer was also the Law of Moses.
In providing His answer Jesus quoted from two places in the Law of Moses. The chiefest commandment is to be found in Deuteronomy 6:5. The second chiefest commandment is located in Leviticus 19:18. This means the law espoused by Jesus was the Law of Moses.
Yea, even more, Jesus claimed the entire Law of Moses was fulfilled via obedience to the two chiefest commandments which He identified. Anyone who loved God with his entire being, while simultaneously loving his neighbor as much as he loved himself, in actuality did fully obey the Law of Moses.
Jesus’ position taught that the Law of Moses could not be obeyed outwardly alone. For example, it wouldn’t be sufficient for me to give the tithe and refrain from working on the Sabbath, all the while I resent giving the tithe and can’t wait for the Sabbath to be over so I can make more money. No! I have to give the tithe and obey the Sabbath from my heart first and foremost; then the outward obedience would follow.
This brings us to the “3 L’s”: Law, Legalism, Love. The Law of Moses was the Lord’s legal code for the Promised Land. It was in force during the tenure of the Israelites in the Promised Land during Old Testament times. Being the Word of God, the Law was perfect. There was a problem, to be sure, but the problem wasn’t with the Law. It was with man.
The Israelites, and all men, were and are sinners. Therein lies the problem. The Law was made for sinners. The purpose of the Law was to show sinners their inability to obey God perfectly. In this way sinners can recognize their need for a Savior, One who can bring them back into fellowship with God.
Hold that thought until the next study. We will finish the discussion then. For now let us betake ourselves to the prayer closet for some fellowship with the Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The 3 L's - Part 3
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ [Galatians 6:2].
The Law was given to sinners, which created a problem, though the problem was not with the Law. The problem was that sinners are in rebellion against God and don’t want to obey Him. Sinners believe they are good enough to be right with God. This displays itself in legalism. Legalism is the practice of obeying the Law according to sinful man’s interpretation of what this entails.
Since all men are sinners, Old Testament Israelites included, law-abiding Israelites rapidly degenerated into legalistic Israelites. The same applies to Gentiles who attempt to do their own good works, in order to find favor with God.
This is where “the law of Christ” comes in. The Lord gave the Law to Israel. Israel perverted the Law into Legalism. The Lord Jesus interpreted the Law perfectly by returning it to its origins.
The Law was not given as a means to salvation. The Law was given by God to teach sinful man their need for a Savior. In this way sinful men can flee to their Savior and be restored into right relationship with God.
God is love. Any relationship with Him is founded on love because God is love. For sinful man to obey the Law perfectly—which is the only acceptable way to obey it—he has to obey from the heart. He has to want to obey because he recognizes its validity and truly desires from his inmost being to be the person the Law demands he be.
That, dear friends, is the definition of love. Love doesn’t seek its own good, but the good of others. Love doesn’t push self to the front, but elevates others to first place. Love doesn’t take what it wants and keep score. Love gives and overlooks slights to self.
The Law was given to demonstrate to sinful man how far short of the glory of God all of us fall. Sinful man perverted this to Legalism because that is the only way sinners can measure up to the Law. The Lord Jesus returned the Law to its roots by returning it to its rightful foundation, Love.
The 3 L’s: Law, Legalism, Love. The law of Christ is that I love the Lord God with my entire being, and that I love my neighbor as myself. This doesn’t require that I obey the Law of Moses. It does require that I forsake Legalism.
To fulfill the law of Christ I need to spend daily time alone with the Lord Jesus, learning to know Him more and more in order to grow in my love for Him. He is love, so I must get my love from Him. Only after doing so will I have love to give back to Him and to share with my neighbor.
I think I’ll pause now and go to Jesus. He will embrace me in His arms. I love You, Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Law was given to sinners, which created a problem, though the problem was not with the Law. The problem was that sinners are in rebellion against God and don’t want to obey Him. Sinners believe they are good enough to be right with God. This displays itself in legalism. Legalism is the practice of obeying the Law according to sinful man’s interpretation of what this entails.
Since all men are sinners, Old Testament Israelites included, law-abiding Israelites rapidly degenerated into legalistic Israelites. The same applies to Gentiles who attempt to do their own good works, in order to find favor with God.
This is where “the law of Christ” comes in. The Lord gave the Law to Israel. Israel perverted the Law into Legalism. The Lord Jesus interpreted the Law perfectly by returning it to its origins.
The Law was not given as a means to salvation. The Law was given by God to teach sinful man their need for a Savior. In this way sinful men can flee to their Savior and be restored into right relationship with God.
God is love. Any relationship with Him is founded on love because God is love. For sinful man to obey the Law perfectly—which is the only acceptable way to obey it—he has to obey from the heart. He has to want to obey because he recognizes its validity and truly desires from his inmost being to be the person the Law demands he be.
That, dear friends, is the definition of love. Love doesn’t seek its own good, but the good of others. Love doesn’t push self to the front, but elevates others to first place. Love doesn’t take what it wants and keep score. Love gives and overlooks slights to self.
The Law was given to demonstrate to sinful man how far short of the glory of God all of us fall. Sinful man perverted this to Legalism because that is the only way sinners can measure up to the Law. The Lord Jesus returned the Law to its roots by returning it to its rightful foundation, Love.
The 3 L’s: Law, Legalism, Love. The law of Christ is that I love the Lord God with my entire being, and that I love my neighbor as myself. This doesn’t require that I obey the Law of Moses. It does require that I forsake Legalism.
To fulfill the law of Christ I need to spend daily time alone with the Lord Jesus, learning to know Him more and more in order to grow in my love for Him. He is love, so I must get my love from Him. Only after doing so will I have love to give back to Him and to share with my neighbor.
I think I’ll pause now and go to Jesus. He will embrace me in His arms. I love You, Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
