~Gen. Jim ~ POW #86322 — 12/22/19
I saw something in a magazine – “How can we see the presence of God’s grace within the Old Testament (O.T.) Law?”– This question is a fair one but not necessarily popular. I have encountered over the years those who dismiss the O.T. entirely from their “Christian” views/beliefs/practices.
“Easy believeism,” “cheap grace” is what’s popular, not the wrathful-mean God of the Old Testament. But if one studies the life and teachings of the gentle Lamb of God, Jesus, one will also encounter things that make us uncomfortable. Did you know that the New Testament (N.T.) contains dozens and dozens of O.T. quotes? Both Jesus – who was still under the O.T. Law – and his disciples/authors also quoted the O.T. The modern church has in truth embraced a false Jesus. He may have been compassionate, and He was, but He still held to a strict view of the O.T. We can’t say Mt. 23 is a loving chapter in the strict sense of the word.
Jesus Christ was/is both human & divine: He relates to us as sinners and as covenant keepers.
Have you considered His statement, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a SWORD!” – Mt. 10:34. A SWORD? Yep! Cutting! Is this the “nice Jesus” you believe in?
While many may still read the O.T., looking for moral heroes, they do not accept God’s moral laws that are still binding – even in the N.T. dispensation (ceremonial laws are not). One finds the Holiness Code of Leviticus 18 binding for all time, especially in the sexual realm.
Those who believe in the La-La Jesus, the “I accept you the way you are, no use changing” Jesus, see nothing in the N.T. that tells us to live like those old austere O.T. saints, those old saturnine saints who never had any fun!!
Have we ever thought about Sinai and Zion? Both mountains where God’s Word/presence were? Many see Sinai as the place of God’s wrath; Zion as joy and “I can sin all I want because I’m saved by grace, even though I live like a devil!” But if one studies, not merely a cursory reading, one will encounter real problematic texts, like the one about the SWORD. Ancient texts and modern culture are not always easy to unite. But we must see what moral and ethical teachings are binding for the N.T. saints of God.
The Bible has redemptive things to say in an ancient context that some, many, find offensive. Too bad. The Bible was not written to please humanity, but to guide them into righteousness. We never find Jesus trashing O.T. Scripture. We do find Him replacing new commandments in place of old ones when the old fulfilled its purpose in ancient times, e.g. “an eye for an eye” was replaced with “love you neighbor” and “forgive,” etc. Jesus did away with the Sabbath (Jewish) because He Himself became our REST.
Did you know that the laws of Sinai were given after Israel was already rescued from Egypt = world. They were already “saved,” but not taught the Law. Most of our N.T. is about Christian doctrine/instruction for the believers… towards Christian perfection (maturity). All this hyper-individuality – “I’m free in Christ to do whatever I please, because I’m saved” – is a truncated view of what it means to be “Christian.” The modern church (Churchianity) has CUT OFF part of God’s instruction for us to live by. Christians (so called) view heaven as the final goal, not the here-and-now living that will get us there.
Sinai was not just about securing Israel’s afterlife, but about righteous living on earth in real time… as they interact with each other and their neighbors around them. Their lives were to reflect God’s Law. Do I have to explain this more? Why do you think the world calls churchgoers hypocrites? Duh! Actually, ancient Israel had a mandate to witness to the nations round about. Our mandate is the same (see Mt. 28:19,20). Whether we like it or not, we’re on display. We, like Israel of old, are God’s treasured possession, a kingdom of priests – corporately we are His N.T. Ekklesia that represents His Law in earth. But if we cut off part of His Law we cut off part of Him/Them.
Peter describes us as thus: “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that (note this word “that”) you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” – 1 Pet. 2:9,10
Frankly, the church’s reputation is so marred that it is nearly impossible to redeem it. This is because of “cheap grace” and “once saved always saved… no matter how in the hell we live” stuff.
In Christ, God unites the vertical/horizontal dimensions of the Sinai covenant with the Zion covenant.