Sunday, January 09, 2005

Covenantry

We have used the word "law" indiscriminately for many years. We did not differentiate between: commandment, statute, judgement, ordinance, rule, tradition, or especially covenant.


It is true the "old covenant" was nailed to the cross and the "new covenant" replaced it. But the "law" was not "done away". This lack of discernment among the churches is what has caused our institutions to become lawless. Jesus gave credence to the law and prophets, saying in Matt. 5:17-19,

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law until all is accomplished. Whosoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus had something to say about those who do not believe the testimony of Moses.

"For if you had believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

It is not possible to believe the words of Jesus if one does not also believe the writings of Moses. When Jesus gave His so-called “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5-7, He was not overruling the law, nor was He destroying or replacing it. He was disputing the Pharisaical interpretation of the law. “You have heard it was said,” Jesus explained, “but I say unto you. . .” In other words, you have heard it was taught that the law means such-and-so, but I tell you that they have misunderstood the law. Here is what it really means.

Take it from the Lawgiver. He was the one who dictated it to Moses. Rabbinical interpretations of the law, based upon the Jewish Talmud, is not a revelation of the mind of God (Jesus Christ). One must study the law from Jesus’ perspective, or, as some would put it, from a New Testament perspective. If the rabbis had understood the law, Jesus would never have had to correct them. In fact, Jesus said of them in Matt. 15:6-9,

". . . and thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men."

The law is good, if a man use it lawfully (1 Tim. 1:8). The traditions of the elders—their interpretations of the law—were based upon their carnal understanding of the law. Their traditions were not only wrong, they made void the law (Matt. 15:1-9). The same has occurred with Church traditions. Men’s interpretations {and unclear use of language} have caused men to cast aside the law and tell many that God now approves the violation of certain laws—such as charging interest on monetary loans.

www.gods-kingdom.org/LawAndGrace/default.htm

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