And it shall be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and
worshiping the Lord Jesus] shall
be saved
(rescued spiritually). Acts
2:21
04/27/2019
___________________________________________________________ ___________
The author of the book of Acts {Acts
2:18-21},
whether it be Luke or an anonymous writer, echoed the prophet Joel {Joel
2:28-32} in letting the world know that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of
Joel’s prophesy.
The Promise of the Spirit and the Day of the Lord
prophesied by Joel in Joel
2:28-32:
“It shall come about after this that I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. I will show signs and wonders [displaying My power] in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. And it shall come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved [from the coming judgment] for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the Lord has said, Even among the remnant [of survivors] whom the Lord calls.” Joel 2:28-32
The Promise of the Spirit and the Day of the Lord echoed in
Acts
2:18-21
“Even on My bond-servants, both men
and women, I will in those days pour out My Spirit and they shall prophesy. And I
will bring about wonders in the sky above
And signs (attesting
miracles) on the earth below, Blood
and fire and smoking vapor ‘The sun shall be turned into darkness And the
moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord
comes. And it shall be that everyone who calls upon
the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord Jesus] shall be saved (rescued spiritually).” Acts
2:18-21
Throughout the Old Testament we find that the Old Testament
was filled with laws that were all but impossible for man to fulfill because
frankly there were too many because mankind kept adding to the already full
plate handed down from God. Mankind is so easily distracted by day to day
activities that fulfilling all the hundreds of laws that had to be handled just
so was next to impossible for this finite being.
God could see that there was no way mankind could ever keep
all the mounting laws so He promised the people He would create for them a New
Covenant that would make their lives less stressful so they could focus more
time on their worship of Him. The New Covenant would build up those who believe
in Christ Jesus {Colossians
2}.
Today we will examine part of the Old Law often referred to
as the Levitical Law or Law of Moses. We will also examine how Jesus became the
fulfillment of the Law so mankind no longer had to make all the ritual
sacrifices to God. With the shedding of the blood of Jesus the only sacrifice
we now have to make is swapping our old sinful life for a life of godly living
through our surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ who makes atonement for our
sins.
The sacrifices in the Old
Testament pointed forward to the perfect and final sacrifice of Christ. As with
the rest of the Law, the sacrifices were “are a shadow of the things that were
to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” {Colossians 2:17}. Christians today
recognize Christ’s atoning death on the cross as the only needed sacrifice for
sin, offered once for all {Hebrews 10:1–10}. His death opened
the “holy place” for us {Hebrews 10:19–22} so that we can
freely enter God’s presence and offer our “sacrifice of praise” {Hebrews 13:15; cf. 9:11–28; 4:14—5:10}.
There are many
instructions for sacrifice throughout the Pentateuch {Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy}, but Leviticus chapters
1-7 is
completely dedicated to the 5 Levitical offerings which were the main
sacrifices used in the rituals. Before we get onto these, however, we
should point out that the Bible makes clear:
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to
take away sins. {Hebrews 10:4}
They are symbolic of
the real sacrifice. Each of the sacrifices was uniquely fulfilled in Jesus
Christ.
The 5 kinds of sacrifices
described in such detail in Leviticus are: The burnt offering, the meal
offering, the peace offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering.
The
Burnt Offering
The Burnt offering
was performed to atone for the peoples sins against the Lord and was a
dedication offering of one’s life before the Lord continually.
The
Meal Offering
The Israelites
offered meal (cereals) or vegetables in addition to animal sacrifices. The
purpose of the meal offering was creating in the worshipper a life
that is dedicated to generosity and giving.
The
Peace Offering
The peace offering
was a meal that was shared between the priests, and the people of Israel.
The worshipper was to bring male or female oxen, sheep, or a goat. The ritual
was similar to the burnt offering up to the point of the actual burning, where
the animal’s blood was poured around the edges of the altar. The fat and
entrails were burned and the remainder was eaten by the priests and (if it was
a freewill offering) by the worshippers themselves. This sacrifice of praise
and thanksgiving was most of the time a voluntary act. (It was required to make
offerings while making a vow of one’s life to God and thanking Him with praise
while freewill offerings were voluntary.) Jacob and Laban offered a peace
offering when they made their treaty (Genesis 31:43).
The
Sin Offering
The sin offering,
expiated (paid the debt in full) the worshippers unintentional sins,
weaknesses, and failures before the Lord. Unintentional sins could happen
at any time and therefore the priests worked closely as mediators with God and
His people. They were there to instruct the people as they sought the
Lord. In case any sins were not brought before the Lord there were offerings
for the nation and for the high priest which covered them all in a collective
way. On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) the high priest sprinkled blood on
the mercy seat for his own sins and the sins of the nation.
The
Trespass Offering
The trespass offering
was very similar to that of the sin offering but the main difference was that
the trespass offering was an offering of money for sins of ignorance connected
with fraud.
Leviticus 1-7 – Instructions for carrying out the Offerings and Sacrifices to the Lord
The Lord gives
instructions to Moses about how to conduct various kinds of sacrifices.
In these first
chapters of Leviticus, the Lord gives detailed instructions to Moses about how
to conduct various kinds of sacrifices: the burnt offering, grain offerings,
offerings of well-being, sin offerings, guilt offerings, etc. This is the
longest and most detailed description of sacrifices in the Bible and offers
insight into the sacrificial and cultic system of ancient Israel. It is
interesting to note that provision is made in these laws for poor people, those
who are not able to offer the required sacrificial animal. In the laws about
the sin offering, for example, those who cannot afford a sheep or goat (the
specified sacrificial animal) can bring doves or pigeons. Those who cannot
afford even doves or pigeons can bring a measure of flour instead (5:7-13). This concern for the poor continues throughout the book of Leviticus
(see 19:9-10 and chapter 25).
Who
is Changed by the Sacrifice?
There are two ways
of thinking about sacrifice, and which one is the Biblical one is of great
importance.
First, a sacrifice
can be considered proprietary in nature. That means that it is offered
to change the mind of the God whom it is offered to. This is how pagan
sacrifice works. Offer a blood sacrifice, or children, or a virgin and the
God’s wrath will be abated, His thirst for vengeance sated, and he won’t
punish the worshipper.
The other way a
sacrifice can be considered is expiatory. This means that it is not
God Who the sacrifices changes, but the one’s making the sacrifice. That
is, the offerer is changed by the sacrifice. This is the Biblical understanding
of sacrifice in both the Old and New Testaments.
God says
specifically,
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto
Me?” saith the Lord. “I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of
fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or of
he-goats…bring no more vain oblations…. Your new moon and your appointed feasts
my soul hates;…and when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from
you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of
blood. (Isaiah 1:11-16)
And Christ says
prophetically, as a reference to the sacrificial nature of the Incarnation,
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You
have prepared a body for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for
sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In
the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’ (Psalm 40:6-8; Hebrews 10:5)
Sacrifices,
especially animal sacrifices, were not a primary concern of God. As a
matter of fact, they could be an abomination to Him if not carried out together
with deeds of loving kindness and justice. Consider these words of the
prophets, the spokesmen of God:
I desire mercy, not sacrifice. (Hosea 6:6)
…and when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes
from you; yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full
of blood. (Isaiah 1:15-16)
I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight
in your solemn assemblies. Yea, though you offer me burnt-offerings and your
meal offerings; I will not accept them neither will I regard the
peace-offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy
song; and let Me not hear the melody of thy psalteries. But let justice well up
as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. (Amos 5:21-24)
Deeds of compassion
and kindness toward all creation are of greater significance to God than
sacrifices:
“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable
to the Lord than sacrifice [for
wrongs repeatedly committed].” (Proverbs 21: 3).
The
Law of Moses
In Biblical times,
the Law of Moses (also called Old Testament Law, Mosaic Law, or just The Law)
regulated almost every aspect of Jewish life. The Ten Commandments and many other laws
defined matters of morals, religious practice and government. It regulated the
army, criminal justice, commerce, property rights, slavery, sexual relations,
marriage and social interactions. It required circumcision for males, animal
sacrifices, and strict Sabbath observance. It provided for the welfare of
widows, orphans, the poor, foreigners and domestic animals. Ceremonial rules
divided animals into "clean" and "unclean" categories.
Clean animals could be eaten; unclean animals could not.
The Law of Moses was
given to the Israelites when they were still a band of ex-slaves struggling to
survive. Many of the laws were specific for the worship system and
agricultural life of ancient Israel {Exodus 12:14-16, Leviticus 1:10-13, 11:1-23, 15:19-20, 19:19, 19:27-28, 27:30-32, Deuteronomy 25:5-6}. Like life in
those times, many were harsh and cruel compared to the teachings of Jesus {Exodus 35:2, Deuteronomy 20:10-14, 21:18-21, 22:23-24}. But there are
also many moral teachings that form the basis of Christian morality {Exodus 20:1-17, 23:6-9, Leviticus 19:9-10, 19:18, Deuteronomy 6:5}.
How Christ fulfilled and ended the Old Testament Regime
The glory of Jesus
Christ shines more clearly when we see Him in His proper relation to the Old
Testament. He has a magnificent relation to ALL that was written. It is not
surprising that this is the case, because He is after all the Word of God
incarnate (John 1:14). The Word of God incarnate
is the sum and consummation of the written Word of God. Stop for a moment and
let these summary statements and texts that support them come alive in your
spirit.
1.
All the Scriptures
bear witness to Christ. Moses wrote about Christ.
“You search and keep
on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you
have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me;
and still you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. {John 5:39-40}
For if you believed and
relied on [the Scriptures written by] Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote
about Me [personally]. {John 5:46}
2.
All Scripture is
about Jesus Christ, even if there is no revealing prediction. That is, there is
a fullness of indication in all the Scriptures that points us to Christ and is
satisfied only when His earthly work is complete. “The meaning of all the
Scriptures is unlocked by the death and resurrection of Jesus”.
Then beginning with
Moses and [throughout] all the [writings of the] prophets, He explained and
interpreted for them the things referring to Himself [found] in all the
Scriptures. (Luke 24:27)
3.
Jesus came to fulfill all that was written in the Law and the
Prophets. All of it was pointing to Him, even where it is not specifically
prophetic. He accomplished what the Law required.
“Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the
Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but
to fulfill. For I assure you and most solemnly say to you,
until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the
pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are
accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17–18)
4.
All the promises of God in the Old Testament are fulfilled in
Jesus Christ. That is, when you have Christ, sooner or later you will have both
Christ himself and all else that God promised through Christ.
As many as are the promises of God, in Christ they
are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.
(2 Corinthians 1:20)
5.
Jesus Christ kept the Law perfectly. All its penalties against
God’s sinful people were poured out on Him. Therefore, the law is no longer the
path to righteousness; Jesus Christ is. The ultimate goal of the law is that we would look to Christ, NOT
law-keeping, for our righteousness.
For Christ is the
end of the law [it leads to Him and its purpose is fulfilled in Him], for
[granting] righteousness to everyone who believes [in Him as Savior]. (Romans 10:4)
“When you have
Christ, you also have everything God promised through Him.”
Therefore, with the
coming of Christ, virtually everything has changed:
1. The blood
sacrifices ceased because Christ fulfilled all that they were pointing toward.
He was the final, unrepeatable sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 9:12, “He entered once for all
into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by
means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”
2. The priesthood that stood between worshiper
and God has ceased. Hebrews 7:23–24, “The former priests were
many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,
but He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever.”
3. The physical temple has ceased to be the
geographic center of worship. Now, Christ Himself is the center of worship. He
is the “place,” the “tent,” and the “temple” where we meet God. Therefore,
Christianity has no geographic center, no Mecca, no Jerusalem. John
4:21, 23, “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman,
believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem
will you worship the Father. . . . But the hour is coming, and is now here,
when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.’” John 2:19, 21, “‘Destroy this temple, and in
three days I will raise it up.’ . . . He [Jesus] was speaking about the temple
of his body.” Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three
are gathered in my [Jesus’s] name, there am I among them.”
4. The food laws that set Israel apart from
every other nation has been fulfilled and ended in Christ. Mark 7:18–19, [Jesus] said to them . .
. “Do you not see that whatever
goes into a person from outside cannot defile him?} . . . (Thus He
declared all foods clean.)”
5. The establishment of civil law on the basis of an
ethnically rooted people, who are ruled directly by God, has ceased. The people
of God are no longer a unified political body or an ethnic group or a
nation-state, but are exiles and sojourners among all ethnic groups and all
states. Therefore, God’s will for states is not taken directly from the Old
Testament theocratic order, but should now be re-established from place to
place and from time to time by means that correspond to God’s sovereign rule
over all peoples, and that correspond to the fact that genuine obedience, rooted
as it is in faith in Christ, cannot be coerced by law. The state is therefore
grounded in God, but not expressive of God’s immediate rule. Romans 13:1, “Let every person be
subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from
God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” John 18:36, “My [Jesus’s] kingdom is
not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have
been fighting.”
The Sacrifice of Christ
Hebrews
9:11-18 applies Leviticus
17:11 to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse
12 states clearly that the Old Testament blood sacrifices were only
temporary and only atoned for sin partially and for a short time, hence the
need to annually repeat the sacrifices. When
Christ entered the heavenly Holy of Holies, He did so to offer His own blood
once for all time, making future sacrifices unnecessary and entirely
superfluous.
This is something
the ancient rabbis all knew also. There is a Midrash (rabbinic teaching
based on Jewish values and tradition) to this day that states:
“In the Messianic era, all sacrifices will cease except the sacrifice of Thanksgiving, which will continue forever.” (Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 9:7)
The word for ‘thanksgiving’ in
Greek is Eucharist. It’s all over the New Testament, but usually
translated as ‘thanks’ or ‘the giving of thanks.
To further make this
point; let us remember that the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross was not an
offering to soften the wrath of the Father, as if the Father needed healing by
killing His own Son – what a blasphemy! Neither was Christ offering His Blood
to the devil as payment to free mankind, as if a conqueror needed to
pay the jailer for the prisoners. He puts his foot on the throat of
His enemy and takes what he wants! And He did!
Rather, it is Christ Himself who is pleasing to the Father, and it is in this that Christ’s sacrifice that changes not Him (He loves us and gave Himself for us), nor the Father (Who loves us and gave His Only-begotten Son for us) but it is us who are changed by the Sacrifice of Christ, in that we become partaker of Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4)
Some in the Christian world have said that since Christ offered/sacrificed Himself once and for all that the Eucharist cannot possibly be a sacrifice, as Christ cannot be sacrificed again. But it is the reality of the Eucharist that makes plain it is a sacrifice. Let me explain in very simple terms.
In the Eucharist, we take bread offered (prosphora) to the Lord (but not sacrificed) and transform it into the Crucified and Resurrected Body and Blood of Christ which has already been sacrificed.
The act of taking something which has not been sacrificed and transforming it into something which has been sacrificed is called a sacrifice. The word ‘sacrifice’ does not mean kill, but come from two Latin words sacra (holy) and facere (to make) – in other words to sacrifice something is to make it holy.
Taking bread and wine and turning into the Body and Blood of Christ is certainly an act of making an offering holy! And partaking of that holy Sacrifice is what makes us holy, though we proclaim Christ as the Holy One of God.
Rather, it is Christ Himself who is pleasing to the Father, and it is in this that Christ’s sacrifice that changes not Him (He loves us and gave Himself for us), nor the Father (Who loves us and gave His Only-begotten Son for us) but it is us who are changed by the Sacrifice of Christ, in that we become partaker of Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4)
Some in the Christian world have said that since Christ offered/sacrificed Himself once and for all that the Eucharist cannot possibly be a sacrifice, as Christ cannot be sacrificed again. But it is the reality of the Eucharist that makes plain it is a sacrifice. Let me explain in very simple terms.
In the Eucharist, we take bread offered (prosphora) to the Lord (but not sacrificed) and transform it into the Crucified and Resurrected Body and Blood of Christ which has already been sacrificed.
The act of taking something which has not been sacrificed and transforming it into something which has been sacrificed is called a sacrifice. The word ‘sacrifice’ does not mean kill, but come from two Latin words sacra (holy) and facere (to make) – in other words to sacrifice something is to make it holy.
Taking bread and wine and turning into the Body and Blood of Christ is certainly an act of making an offering holy! And partaking of that holy Sacrifice is what makes us holy, though we proclaim Christ as the Holy One of God.
Christ:
The Fulfillment of All Old Testament Sacrifices
In First
Peter the sufferings and death of Jesus serve to bolster a pervasive
exhortation to Christian patience, service, and long suffering, following the
example given in the Lord’s Passion. This moral preoccupation with patience in
affliction reflects the hostile environment in which Peter’s Christians were
obliged to live, despised outcasts surrounded by enmity, cruelty, and
injustice. Peter holds before the minds of these Christians the example
conveyed in Christ’s suffering and death. The author’s intention is succinctly
put:
“Christ suffered for
you, leaving you an example” (2:21)
This moral and
exhortatory intention, however, does not mean that Christ’s sufferings and
death served only an exemplary purpose. On the contrary, Peter knew—and knew
that the Savior knew—that his suffering and death pertained to the work of
Atonement. Indeed, within the opening verses of this epistle, Peter speaks of
the
“Sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ” (1:2)
The expression “sprinkling of the blood” comes from a cultic
setting described in Exodus, where Moses stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and,
by way of sealing Israel’s resolve to observe the Law,
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it
aloud to the people; and they said, everything that the Lord has said we will do, and we will be obedient.” So Moses
took the blood [which had been placed in the large basins] and sprinkled it on
the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance
with all these words. (Exodus
24:7-8).
This “blood of the covenant” came from the young bulls
sacrificed as fellowship offerings to the Lord. It is sprinkled on the Israelite
men in response to their vow to do and obey the precepts of the Law. Moses’
action makes their vow a kind of “blood oath,”
in which their resolve receives a special consecration.
St. Peter extends
the significance of this rite to the Christians, those “elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit.”
They, too, Peter
declares, are summoned to a covenant service, which is likewise consecrated in
blood: “unto obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.”
Christians have been chosen for this very purpose: to enter into a conventional
relationship of obedience to the God who redeemed them by the blood of Christ.
Given the importance
of Baptism in this epistle, it appears likely that Peter has the baptismal
covenant in mind here. Indeed, this impression is bolstered by the blessing in
the next sentence:
“Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has
begotten us anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead” (1:3).
Let me suggest,
however, that—in addition to Exodus
24—Peter may also be referring to Exodus
12, where it is prescribed that the blood of the paschal lamb should be
placed on the doorposts of the Israelites’ homes to spare their families from
the terrible tenth plague of Egypt. Although it is not clear that the Passover
blood was sprinkled, the sense of the passage is close enough to merit
consideration here.
Whereas the
sprinkled blood in Exodus
24 was that of sacrificed bulls, Peter, when he speaks of the atoning blood
of Christ-is more disposed to think of a sacrificed lamb. Thus, he declares,
just a bit later, that we have been redeemed:
For you know that you were not redeemed from your
useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from
your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold, but [you were
actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb
unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of
Christ. {1
Peter 1:18-19}
The description of
this lamb, moreover, indicates an even larger conflation of Old Testament texts
in Peter’s mind. Although Exodus did not prescribe that the paschal lamb be
without blemish, such a requirement did apply to the lambs offered in the daily
and monthly sacrifices (Numbers
28:3, 11), as well as for the feast of Sukkoth {29:17}.
Peter seems
implicitly to have all those sacrifices in mind. All of them, each in its own
way, were symbolic and prophetic of the unique sacrifice whereby the Lamb of
God took away the sins of the world. It made no difference, either to Peter or
any other Christian that the Israel’s paschal lamb was not a sin offering. The
Paschal Lamb of Christians most certainly was a sin offering-and a grain
offering, and a dedication offering, and a holocaust, and so forth. He
fulfilled all the sacrifices required of God’s People.
"What
does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law, but did not abolish it?"
Answer: Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17–18). This important statement of our Lord gives us insight into His mission and the character of God’s Word.
Answer: Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17–18). This important statement of our Lord gives us insight into His mission and the character of God’s Word.
Jesus’
declaration that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, not to abolish
them, obviously contains two statements in one. There is something Jesus did and
something He did not do. At the same time, Jesus emphasized the eternal nature
of the Word of God.
Jesus goes out of His way to promote the authority of the Law of God. He did not come to abolish the Law, regardless of what the Pharisees accused Him of. In fact, Jesus continues His statement with a commendation for those who teach the Law accurately and hold it in reverence: “Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).
Note the qualities that Jesus attributes to the Word of God, referenced as “the Law and the Prophets”:
Jesus goes out of His way to promote the authority of the Law of God. He did not come to abolish the Law, regardless of what the Pharisees accused Him of. In fact, Jesus continues His statement with a commendation for those who teach the Law accurately and hold it in reverence: “Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).
Note the qualities that Jesus attributes to the Word of God, referenced as “the Law and the Prophets”:
1.
The
Word is everlasting; it will outlast the natural world.
2.
The
Word was written with intent; it was meant to be fulfilled.
3.
The
Word possesses plenary authority; even the smallest letter of it is
established.
4.
The
Word is faithful and trustworthy; “everything” it says will be accomplished.
No one
hearing Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount could doubt His commitment to
the Scriptures.
Consider what Jesus did not do in His ministry. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says that He did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets. In other words, Jesus’ purpose was not to abrogate the Word, dissolve it, or render it invalid. The Prophets will be fulfilled; the Law will continue to accomplish the purpose for which it was given (see Isaiah 55:10–11).
Next, consider what Jesus did do. Jesus says that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. In other words, Jesus’ purpose was to establish the Word, to embody it, and to fully accomplish all that was written. “Christ is the culmination of the law” (Romans 10:4). The predictions of the Prophets concerning the Messiah would be realized in Jesus; the holy standard of the Law would be perfectly upheld by Christ, the strict requirements personally obeyed, and the ceremonial observances finally and fully satisfied.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the Prophets in that, in His first coming alone, He fulfilled hundreds of prophecies concerning Himself (e.g., Matthew 1:22; 13:35; John 19:36; Luke 24:44). Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law in at least two ways: as a teacher and as a doer. He taught people to obey the Law (Matthew 22:35–40; Mark 1:44), and He obeyed the Law Himself (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:22). In living a perfect life, Jesus fulfilled the moral laws; in His sacrificial death, Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial laws. Christ came not to destroy the old religious system but to build upon it; He came to finish the Old Covenant and establish the New.
Jesus came not to destroy the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them. In fact, the ceremonies, sacrifices, and other elements of the Old Covenant were “only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves” (Hebrews 10:1). The tabernacle and temple were “holy places made with hands,” but they were never meant to be permanent; they were but “copies of the true things” (Hebrews 9:24). The Law had a built-in expiration date, being filled as it was with “external regulations applying until the time of the new order” (Hebrews 9:10).
In His fulfillment of the Law and Prophets, Jesus obtained our eternal salvation. No more were priests required to offer sacrifices and enter the holy place (Hebrews 10:8–14). Jesus has done that for us, once and for all. By grace through faith, we are made right with God: “He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).
There are some who argue that, since Jesus did not “abolish” the Law, then the Law is still in effect—and still binding on New Testament Christians. But Paul is clear that the believer in Christ is no longer under the Law: “We were held in custody under the Law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the Law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian” (Galatians 3:23–25). We are not under the Mosaic Law but under “the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
If the Law is still binding on us today, then it has not yet accomplished its purpose—it has not yet been fulfilled. If the Law, as a legal system, is still binding on us today, then Jesus was wrong in claiming to fulfill it and His sacrifice on the cross was insufficient to save. Thank God, Jesus fulfilled the whole Law and now grants us His righteousness as a free gift. “Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).
Consider what Jesus did not do in His ministry. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says that He did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets. In other words, Jesus’ purpose was not to abrogate the Word, dissolve it, or render it invalid. The Prophets will be fulfilled; the Law will continue to accomplish the purpose for which it was given (see Isaiah 55:10–11).
Next, consider what Jesus did do. Jesus says that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. In other words, Jesus’ purpose was to establish the Word, to embody it, and to fully accomplish all that was written. “Christ is the culmination of the law” (Romans 10:4). The predictions of the Prophets concerning the Messiah would be realized in Jesus; the holy standard of the Law would be perfectly upheld by Christ, the strict requirements personally obeyed, and the ceremonial observances finally and fully satisfied.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the Prophets in that, in His first coming alone, He fulfilled hundreds of prophecies concerning Himself (e.g., Matthew 1:22; 13:35; John 19:36; Luke 24:44). Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law in at least two ways: as a teacher and as a doer. He taught people to obey the Law (Matthew 22:35–40; Mark 1:44), and He obeyed the Law Himself (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:22). In living a perfect life, Jesus fulfilled the moral laws; in His sacrificial death, Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial laws. Christ came not to destroy the old religious system but to build upon it; He came to finish the Old Covenant and establish the New.
Jesus came not to destroy the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them. In fact, the ceremonies, sacrifices, and other elements of the Old Covenant were “only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves” (Hebrews 10:1). The tabernacle and temple were “holy places made with hands,” but they were never meant to be permanent; they were but “copies of the true things” (Hebrews 9:24). The Law had a built-in expiration date, being filled as it was with “external regulations applying until the time of the new order” (Hebrews 9:10).
In His fulfillment of the Law and Prophets, Jesus obtained our eternal salvation. No more were priests required to offer sacrifices and enter the holy place (Hebrews 10:8–14). Jesus has done that for us, once and for all. By grace through faith, we are made right with God: “He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).
There are some who argue that, since Jesus did not “abolish” the Law, then the Law is still in effect—and still binding on New Testament Christians. But Paul is clear that the believer in Christ is no longer under the Law: “We were held in custody under the Law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the Law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian” (Galatians 3:23–25). We are not under the Mosaic Law but under “the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
If the Law is still binding on us today, then it has not yet accomplished its purpose—it has not yet been fulfilled. If the Law, as a legal system, is still binding on us today, then Jesus was wrong in claiming to fulfill it and His sacrifice on the cross was insufficient to save. Thank God, Jesus fulfilled the whole Law and now grants us His righteousness as a free gift. “Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).
The
Teachings of Jesus
By the time of Jesus, the great moral principles God had given to Moses
in the Ten Commandments had been turned into hundreds of ceremonial rules.
People thought they were living holy lives if they just obeyed all those rules.
But Jesus disagreed. He said people found enough
"loopholes" to obey all the rules and still live wicked and greedy
lives
{Matthew 23:23-28}.
Jesus made
one statement about the Law that often causes confusion:
“Do not
think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to
abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth
disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen; will by any
means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” {Matthew 5:17–18}
Christians
have struggled to understand exactly what Jesus meant. At first reading, this
seems to say that all the Old Testament rules and rituals must still be
observed. But Jesus and His disciples did not observe many of those rules and
rituals, so it could not mean that.
It is
frequently pointed out that the term "the Law" could have many
different meanings at the time of Jesus:
·
The ceremonial laws including "clean" and "unclean" lists,
sacrifices, dietary restrictions, ritual washings, etc.
·
The civil law regulating social behavior and specifying crimes,
punishments and other rules
·
The moral and ethical laws, such as the Ten Commandments
·
The Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible)
·
The scribal law - the 613 rules (Mitzvot) formulated by the scribes that
everyone was expected to obey
·
The Scripture as a whole
Jesus did
not abolish the moral and ethical laws that had been in effect from the time of
Moses. He affirmed and expanded upon those principles, but He said obedience
must be from the heart (attitudes and intentions) rather than just technical
observance of the letter of the law {Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 33-34, 38-42, 43-44, etc.}.
However,
Jesus and His disciples did not observe the strict scribal rules against doing
any work on the Sabbath {Matthew 12:1-14, Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-6, Luke 6:1-11, 13:10-17, 14:1-6, John 5:1-18}. Neither did they perform the ritual
hand washings before eating (Matthew 15:1-2). In contrast to the dietary rules
of the Law, Jesus said no food can defile a person; it is bad attitudes and
actions that can make a person unholy {Matthew 15:1-20, Mark 7:1-23}. Jesus frequently criticized the
scribal laws {Matthew 23:23, Mark 7:11-13} and some aspects of the civil law {John 8:3-5, 10-11}.
Therefore,
Jesus may have been specifically teaching that the moral and ethical laws in
the Scripture would endure until the end of time. That would be consistent with
His actions and other teachings. Through His teachings and actions, Jesus
revealed the true meaning and intent of the Law.
It is also
pointed out that Jesus, Himself, is the fulfillment of the Law {Matthew 26:28, Mark 10:45, Luke 16:16, John 1:16, Acts 10:28, 13:39, Romans 10:4}. The sacrifice of Jesus on the
cross ended forever the need for animal sacrifices and other aspects of the
ceremonial law.
The
Council of Jerusalem
The first Christians
came from among the Jews, and they continued to observe the Law of Moses as
well as their new Christian faith. But as more and more Gentiles (non-Jews)
converted to Christianity, there were disputes about whether or not these
Gentile Christians must observe the Law. Issues of circumcision and diet were
especially troublesome and threatened to split Christianity apart.
In about the year 49
A.D., Peter, Paul, Barnabas, James and other Christian leaders met in Jerusalem
to settle the issue {Acts 15:1-29}. It was agreed, with
the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that nothing was required of the Gentile
converts except faith in Christ; they were not bound by the Law of Moses.
However, the council directed the Gentile Christians to abstain from certain
things that were particularly offensive to their Jewish brethren - food
sacrificed to idols, blood, meat of strangle>d animals and sexual immorality
{Acts 15:29}.
The
New Covenant
With the coming of
Christ, God has established a new covenant with mankind {Jeremiah 31:31-34, Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians
11:25, Hebrews 8:8-13, 9:11-15}. Jesus and His
apostles gave us a radically new understanding of the true intent of the Old
Testament Law; they brought a new era of the rule of love for all people and
spiritual truth instead of rule by law {Luke 10:25-28, John 13:34-35, Ephesians 2:14-18}.
However, God has not
revoked His original covenant with Israel and the Jewish people {Luke 1:72, Acts 3:25, Romans 9:4-5, 11:26-29, Galatians 3:17}. The New Covenant
does not condemn the Jews, nor does it in any way justify persecution of Jews.
The teachings of Jesus, the
Council of Jerusalem, and other New Testament teachings
{John
1:16-17, Acts
13:38-39, Romans
2:25-29, 8:1-4,
1 Corinthians
9:19-21, Galatians
2:15-16, Ephesians
2:14-15} make it clear that Christians are not required to follow the Old
Testament rules about crimes and punishments, warfare, slavery, diet,
circumcision, animal sacrifices, etc.
Christians still look to the Old
Testament scripture for moral and spiritual guidance {2 Timothy3:16-17}. But when there seems to be a conflict
between Old Testament laws and New Testament principles, we must follow the New
Testament because it represents the most recent and most perfect revelation
from God {Hebrews8:13, 2 Corinthians3:1-18, Galatians2:15-20}.
However, freedom from the Old
Testament Law is not a license for Christians to relax their moral standards.
The moral and ethical teachings of Jesus and His apostles call for even greater
self-discipline than those of the Old Testament {Matthew5:21-22,
27-28,31-32,33-34,38-42,43-48,7:1-5,15:18-19,25:37-40, Mark7:21-23, 12:28-31, Luke12:15, 1 Corinthians13:1-13, Galatians5:19-21, James1:27, 2:15-16, 1 John3:17-19}.
After this study, if you would
still rather point to the OLD LAW {Covenant} to JUDGE OTHERS head on over to, 613 Old Testament Commandments to see if you
personally could live up to the LAW. When you realize you cannot thus the
reason JESUS CHRIST sacrificed His life so you could be FREE from the bondage
and death penalty of the Old Law.
I pray you choose to follow the
Law of Christ {Galatians 6:2, Mark12:28-31}, quit judging others {Matthew 7:1-5} and strife to live in
peace {Hebrews12:14, Romans 12:16-21, 14:19, Psalm 34:14, 2Timothy 2:22}.
Forever in Christ Jesus service,
Scriptures for further study
Propitiation, also called expiation, is the act of appeasing or making well-disposed a
deity, thus incurring divine favor or avoiding divine retribution.
This righteousness
of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who
believes [and trusts in Him and acknowledges Him as God’s Son]. There is no
distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of
God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made
acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious,
undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is
[provided] in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the
world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation
(propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to
demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in
His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously
committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion]. Romans 3:22-25
Jesus said to him, “I
am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one
comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6
And He [that same
Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice that holds back
the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful
nature—our worldliness, our lifestyle]; and not for ours alone, but also for
[the sins of all believers throughout] the whole world. 1 John 2:2
Therefore, it was
essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect,
so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in
things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins
[thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of
reconciliation between God and mankind]. Hebrews 2:17
In
this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to
be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying
offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin
and placating His wrath]. 1 John 4:10
One
Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient
For since the Law
has only a shadow [just a pale representation] of the good things to come—not
the very image of those things—it can never, by offering the same sacrifices
continually year after year, make perfect those who approach [its altars]. For
if it was otherwise, would not these sacrifices have stopped being offered? For
the worshipers, having once [for all time] been cleansed, would no longer have
a consciousness of sin. But [as it is] these [continual] sacrifices
bring a fresh reminder of sins [to be atoned for] year after year, for
it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore,
when Christ enters into the world, He says, Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But
[instead] You have prepared a body for Me
[to offer]; In burnt offerings and
sacrifices for sin You have taken no
delight. Then I said,
Behold, I
have come To do Your will, O God— [To
fulfill] what is written of Me in
the scroll of the book. After saying [in the citation] above, You have neither desired, nor have You taken
delight in sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin (which are offered
according to the Law) then He said, Behold, I have come to do Your will. [And so] He does away with the
first [covenant as a means of atoning for sin based on animal sacrifices] so
that He may inaugurate and establish the second [covenant by means of
obedience]. And in accordance with this will [of God] we [who believe in the
message of salvation] have been sanctified [that is, set apart as holy for God
and His purposes] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ (the
Messiah, the Anointed) once for all. Hebrews 10:1-10
A
New and Living Way
Therefore,
believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place
[the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus, by this new and
living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the
Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great and
wonderful Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, let us approach [God] with
a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our
hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure
water. Hebrews 10:19-22
So let it be clearly
known by you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is being
proclaimed to you; and through Him everyone who believes [who acknowledges
Jesus as Lord and Savior and follows Him] is justified and declared free of
guilt from all things, from which you could not be justified and freed of guilt
through the Law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39
Acts 13:39 - Because of one’s personal faith in Jesus Christ as
Savior, God graciously credits His righteousness to the believer. Justification
denotes a legal standing with God as designated only by God. God declares a
believer to be acquitted (absolved, freed of all charges), then designates the
believer to be brought into right standing before Him.
[I went on to say]
“We are Jews by birth and not sinners from among the Gentiles; yet we know that
a man is not justified [and placed in right standing with God] by works of the
Law, but [only] through faith in [God’s beloved Son,] Christ Jesus. And even we
[as Jews] have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith
in Christ and not by works of the Law. By observing the Law no one will ever be
justified [declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty]. Galatians 2:15-16
Galatians 2:16 Being justified is a legal or judicial declaration of righteousness. Justification has two parts: (1) Being declared free of blame, acquitted of sin—not guilty. Believers are justified because Jesus Christ personally assumed the guilt for our sin on the cross; (2) God declares the person righteous, that is, placed in a position of right-standing with Him. A person may not be made righteous by his personal behavior, no matter how good, or by the declaration of any other human being.
Justified
through Christ Jesus NOT the Law
[I went on to say]
“We are Jews by birth and not sinners from among the Gentiles; yet we know that
a man is not justified [and placed in right standing with God] by works of the
Law, but [only] through faith in [God’s beloved Son,] Christ Jesus. And even we
[as Jews] have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith
in Christ and not by works of the Law. By observing the Law no one will ever be
justified [declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty]. But if, while we
seek to be justified in Christ [by faith], we ourselves are found to be
sinners, does that make Christ an advocate or promoter of our sin? Certainly
not! For if I [or anyone else should] rebuild [through word or by practice]
what I once tore down [the belief that observing the Law is essential for
salvation], I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to
the Law and its demands on me [because salvation is provided through the death
and resurrection of Christ], so that I might [from now on] live to God. I have
been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it
is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the
body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:15-20
Galatians 2:16 Being justified is a legal or judicial declaration of
righteousness. Justification has two parts: (1) Being declared free of blame,
acquitted of sin—not guilty. Believers are justified because Jesus Christ
personally assumed the guilt for our sin on the cross; (2) God declares the
person righteous, that is, placed in a position of right-standing with Him. A
person may not be made righteous by his personal behavior, no matter how good,
or by the declaration of any other human being.
A
New Covenant
Behold (listen
carefully), the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will show the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of
man and with the seed of beast. It will be that as I have watched over them to
uproot and to break down, to overthrow, destroy, and afflict with disaster, so
I will watch over them to build and to plant [with good], says the Lord. In those days they will not say
again, the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on
edge. But everyone will die [only] for his own wickedness; every man who eats
sour grapes—his [own] teeth shall be set on edge. Behold, the days are coming,
says the Lord, when I will make a
new covenant with the house of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and with the house
of Judah (the Southern Kingdom),not like the covenant which I made with their
fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land
of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, says
the Lord. But this is the covenant
which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord, I will put My law within them, and
I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My
people. And each man will no longer teach his neighbor and his brother, saying,
Know the Lord, for they will all
know Me [through personal experience], from the least of them to the greatest,
says the Lord. I will forgive
their wickedness, and I will no longer remember their sin. Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for light by day
And the fixed order of the moon and of the stars for light by night, Who stirs
up the sea’s roaring billows or stills the waves when they roar; The Lord of hosts is His name: If this fixed
order departs From before Me, says the Lord,
Then the descendants of Israel also will cease From being a nation before Me
forever. Thus says the Lord, “If
the heavens above can be measured And the foundations of the earth searched out
below, Then I will also cast off and abandon all the descendants of
Israel For all that they have done, says the Lord.
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when the city [of Jerusalem] will be rebuilt for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. The
measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb; then it
will turn to Goah. And the whole valley (Hinnom) of the dead bodies and [the
hill] of the ashes [long dumped there from the temple sacrifices], and all the
fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the
east, shall be holy to the Lord.
It (the city) will not be uprooted or overthrown anymore to the end of the age.
Jeremiah 31:27-40
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