Law and Grace, The Bible and The Two Testaments

Most Christians are more than a little vague on how the Law and Grace interact together. So I thought I’d pitch a few questions and try to answer them in an effort to clarify things a bit.

 

Now I have heard many Christians say that “We are no longer under the Law but are set free from the law in Grace.” So my first question is “Are we set free from the Law under grace and what exactly does that mean?”

 

To clarify this issue I am going to bring forward two scriptures about this subject.

Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers.... 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” NASB

 

Now the writer of Hebrews reproduces Jeremiah 31:31through 34 while he was discussing the New Covenant which was enacted by Jesus Christ when he shed his blood on the cross and through his death, burial and resurrection. Just as the first covenant was enacted by the priest taking blood from the animal sacrifice and sprinkling it on the alter. So the new covenant is enacted through through the death of Jesus when he gave himself as the sacrifice. 

 

Hebrews 8:33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” NASB

 

I have made bold the statement “...I will put my law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people...” If God puts the Law within me and writes it on my heart. How then am I no longer bound by the law. I would say rather that when I believe on Jesus Christ that he bore my sins on the cross and ask him to come into my heart that the Holy Spirit comes into me and puts the law in me and writes it on my heart. 

 

The writer of Hebrews (Paul?), uses Jeremiah 31 to show the priestly intercession for the sins of the people. The sins being interceded for are incurred breaking the Mosaic Law. The sins being interceded for by Jesus, as our High Priest, are our sins incurred breaking the Mosaic Law. In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus said in verse 17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” KJV  Isn’t Jesus saying that the Law of Moses stands as it is?

 

So rather than being no longer under the Law actually I can now do nothing but the Law in Jesus Christ who lives in me. When Jesus said “Go and sin no more.” as he did often. He was saying “Go and don’t break the Law.” Sin equals breaking the Law of Moses. If we are set free from the Law in Christ Jesus. It is because He now indwells us in the person of the Holy Spirit and the Law is as he said “Fulfilled.” In Christ sin can be overcome as it could never be under the Old Covenant.

 

Remember that the Law is put into us and written on our hearts. No longer will we have to teach each other about God because everyone will know Him. He will be our God and we will be His people. I Peter 2: 9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...” NASB

 

So “Are we set free from the Law under grace and what exactly does that mean?” It means we obey the law in the power of the Holy Spirit. We do it even if we don’t know what the Laws are because God has put the Law in us. But we also obey and implement the Law in a Graceful way, in love and through the fruit of the Spirit. As Paul said in Galatians chapter 5: 2 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

Another question I hear often and usually at the same time as the first question is: “What is the Law anyway?. So Christians know they are set free from Law of Moses but don’t know what they are set free from?

 

The Ten Commandments written in a concise way says.

1. You shall have no other Gods before me
2. You shall not make for yourselves an idol
3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not give false testimony
10. You shall not covet

Beneath the Ten Commandments set out in Exodus chapter 20 is the greater Law for the nation of Israel. This is set out in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. These were law that covered the covenant commitments of Priest and the people and the Laws for daily life and consequences thereof. 

 

When Jesus was asked in Matthew 22: 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 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.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” NASB

 

I mention this because if you read the word and discover that the penalty for adultery is stoning and you feel tempted to stone and adulterer. I hope you will respond as Jesus did and say “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” and then tell the adulterer to “Go their way and sin no more.” Remember Law in Grace and love in the power of the Holy Spirit and through the Fruit of the Spirit.

 

Now you know what the Law is. Is there one of the Ten Commandments that you would not keep? There may be one.

 

Another question then. Do we have to keep the Seventh Day Sabbath?

 

I am going to go out on a limb here and say that if the law is written on your heart and put into you. Then the fourth commandment is in you too. So the simple answer is yes you have to keep Sabbath on the last day of the week.

 

Now I know there are those that are beginning to get upset already because Jesus laid the foundations for a change of Sabbath to the day on which he was resurrected. The first day of the week. Now the Catholics are going to say we changed it to show that our church traditions are of greater import than the bible and so fourth.

 

Some are going to say that the apostle Paul said in Colossians 2: 16 “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day...” NASB And I would say I completely agree with Paul also. You see, I don’t know if you’ve noticed or even when it first happened. But someone came up with an elegant solution to this interesting dilemma. It is called the Weekend and covers both the last day of the week and the first day of the week. Surely not by chance I think. So provision is made for us to keep the Sabbath and I believe we should. Provision is also made to commemorate the first day as it is a time for Christians to meet and to celebrate Christ’s rising on the first day. 

 

Further, Paul said in Romans 14: 5 “One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind...” NASB So be convinced about this matter in your own mind. Keep every day for the Lord Jesus Christ, if you will, but, I think, always remember the Sabbath for it is written in your heart.

 

Last question: I don’t have to read the Old Testament do I?

The Old Testament contains the five books of the Pentateuch. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It also includes all of the books from Judges through Malachi. There are thirty nine in total. The books of the Old Testament are about God and the people of Israel. They could be classified as the Torah, History of Israel, The Prophets and Wisdom Books.

 

So do you need to read the Old Testament? Well the Lord Jesus said these things about the Old Testament. John 10: 35 “...If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)...” Matthew 15:3 “...And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” Mark 7: 13 “...thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” My point here is that too Jesus the Old Testament is not a term he would have been familiar with but the Holy Scriptures he would have known by heart. Your Savior read the Old Testament.

 

There are numerous mentions of the Old Testament Scriptures in the Gospels and the Books of Instruction from the apostles Paul, John and Peter. It is entirely feasible that a New Testament reader would have a great deal of trouble understanding the Book of Romans or the Book of Hebrews and for that matter the Revelation of John without having a working knowledge of the books of the Old Testament.

 

Creation, The Dispensation of the Law, The Mosaic Covenant in Exodus and the New Covenant in the book Jeremiah. The history of Israel and the Life of King David. The genealogy Jesus of Nazareth, The numerous profiles of Old Testament Saints like Ruth, Ester and King David to mention but a few. These give an insight into elements of our own walk and God’s great an dependable love for his children. 

 

You could live a successful Christian life without the Old Testament. You could live a successful Christian life without the New Testament. As our Lord said when the people were calling him the Messiah and the Pharisees told Him to tell them to be quiet. Luke 19: 40 “But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”If these were silent the very stones would cry out the truth.” NASB 

 

What I’m saying is this. You could be a successful Christian without a Bible but if you talk to a believer from a country where they don’t have bibles. They will tell you how precious the Word of God is to them. So you could survive with a New Testament but how much more blessed you would be with a complete Bible. Those who truly understand the Bible can testify that it not two testaments it is only one Bible. The Word of God.

 

So to conclude. As Christians we can do nothing to fulfill the Law out of our own works. We are saved through Grace and Faith alone that Jesus of Nazareth the only begotten Son of God bore our sin upon the cross. That He died for our sins and was raised from the dead on the third day

.

When we believe on Jesus Christ and ask him to come into our hearts the Law is put into us and written on our hearts. But the fulfillment of the Law has been achieved by Jesus Christ and this victory over sin is revealed in us through the Holy Spirit who indwells us. It can only happen if we surrender control of ourselves to the Holy Spirit.

 

We are not legalists. We are filled with love through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus has achieved the fulfillment of the Law for us on the cross so the Holy Spirit generates the Fruit of Spirit within us. These being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In His fulfillment of the Law we become over-comers, such that, the battle against sin is won for us in Jesus Christ the Everlasting Prince of Peace.

 

And so: Smooth sailing on the Ocean of Grace, my friends. Where the Law has been fulfilled for us in Jesus Christ. Remember, Love your brother as you love yourself. 

 

Reference List

 

All scriptures from Bible Gateway https://www.biblegateway.com/ 20.10.18

 

Old Testament https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament 20.10.18

 

How did Jesus view the Old Testament? Josh McDowell Ministry https://www.bethinking.org/bible/q-how-did-jesus-view-the-old-testament 20.10.18

A Christian

What does a Christian believe? What makes a Christian? Before other people. Before God. Which Church has Christians? Which Church doesn’t have Christians? Am I a Christian or will I stand before Jesus and He will say “Depart from me I never new you? Am I saved if I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Am I saved if I speak in tongues? Am I saved if I cross out references to the Holy Spirit from hymnals?

 

The Apostle Paul’s View

 

II Corinthians 11: 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles. NASB

 

So what was the gospel that Paul preached? 

 

I Corinthians 15: 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised up on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, 6 then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, the majority of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all, as it were to one born at the wrong time, he appeared also to me.

 

The Basis of the Gospel: Jesus of Nazareth’s Crucifixion; Death; Burial and Resurrection; Appearance to many and Ascension into Heaven

 

The Crucifixion of Jesus

 

Mark 15: 21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

 

The Death of Jesus

 

Mark 15: 33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

 

The Burial of Jesus

 

Mark 15: 42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid...”

 

Jesus Has Risen

 

Mark 16: 1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

 

Luke’s Gospel - He Appears to Many

 

Luke 24: 1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

 

On the Road to Emmaus

 

Luke24: 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

 

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

 

Luke 24: 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

 

The Ascension of Jesus

 

Luke 24: 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

 

What do Christians believe?

 

A Christian believes John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

 

Christians believe what Paul said: I Corinthians 15: 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised up on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve...”

 

Christians believe: what Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians 2: 7 “...so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast...”

 

Christians do: Acts 2: 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

So...

 

What does a Christian believe? What makes a Christian? Before other people. Before God. Which Church has Christians? Which Church doesn’t have Christians? Am I a Christian or will I stand before Jesus and He will say “Depart from me I never new you? Am I saved if I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Am I saved if I speak in tongues? Am I saved if I cross out references to the Holy Spirit from hymnals?

 

Well if you read the scriptures above and understand the Jesus of Nazareth the only begotten Son of God was crucified, died and raised from the dead on the third day. If you have asked him to forgive your sins and to make his place in your heart. If you believe his blood was shed for you and through his blood your sins are washed away. If you have repented and been baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and in order to receive the Holy Spirit. Then you are saved. 

 

What’s more I believe you are saved in every category mentioned above with the possible exception of the last one. Am I saved if I cross out references to the Holy Spirit from hymnals? That one I fear blasphemes the Holy Spirit himself and is unforgivable. 

 

As to the question ‘Am I a Christian or will I stand before Jesus and He will say “Depart from me I never new you?” If you read the scriptures above and understood them well and are you know you are justified by faith in Jesus Christ not your own works. I believe that you have nothing to fear. Those in that category may have gone to church but never heard the gospel preached or thought they were saved because they belonged to the same denomination that their parents had. Maybe they believed another gospel, as the apostle Paul spoke of, where they were told they could be saved by their own works or some other way. Most probably they never really came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and therefore were never saved in the first place.

A time to decide... ?

In the Western World people are living a life in a society based on an altered perception of reality. We are arguably living on borrowed time and it could be said are we staring into the face of the greatest societal collapse since decline and fall of the Roman Empire. The bible says every thing has a season and so it is for the great Western Alliance that we are living through.

 

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 

 

Denying the Power

The secular humanist perspective has developed a rights based discourse that has replaced Christian moral values as standard for our society. The result is a lack of discipline in younger members of society and a general trend toward lawlessness. I don’t think that most people realise where this road leads too. There are a myriad of post apocalyptic movies like the Mad Max franchise and, The Book of Eli which endeavor to show what life would be like if society were to break down. Some of the historical films based at the end of the Roman period in Britain like The Eagle and The Centurion contrast the difference between the Roman civilisation and the naturalist cultures of nations like the Picts. 

 

What I’m pointing out here is that because the Holy Spirit is restraining evil and there are Christians who are impacting society as the salt of the world. Those seeking godless humanism can practice their craft in the still relatively orderly and peaceful environment in the Western World. But once the Christians our gone and God gives the humanists over to the fruits of their labors. They will be consumed by the lawlessness and brutality of Satan’s world. Where the strong rule as despots and where a life has no value. The world of druidism and the worship of naturalistic Gods. Where society is not so much secular as tribal. Where lawlessness and darkness and the fear of the shadows becomes the daily norm. The time of Jacob’s Trouble.

 

Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. KJV 2000

 

I don’t think most liberal and humanist people realise how dangerous the game is that they are playing much less what it will lead too. The Apostle Paul put it this way:

II Timothy 3: 2-5 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power... NASB

 

I want stress verse 5 here which says “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied the power." You see we live in a day where many of the rules underpinning society are still Christian based. So you can live in relative safety in many parts of the world because there is still a moral basis to life. But as this moral basis is eroded and ceases to be so that form of Godliness will disappear. As the light fades so shadow will spread over all the world and no one will be safe.

 

The reason I speak about the rules that underpin society is that God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel and Moses and God developed a very specific set of laws for the every day life of the people based on those laws. Included in these laws are the consequences for breaking them and instructions about purification. 

 

The Law

 

In Jeremiah 31: 31 God promises a new and better covenant: verse 31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah...” In this new covenant God promises to write his laws on our hearts and to put them into us Jeremiah 31: 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 

 

So when Christians say they are not governed by the Ten Commandments because they are under grace. It is somewhat ironic that they have those very commandments written on their hearts. 

 

The Ten Commandments in concise form.

 

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

Which Christian would not keep the commandments above? Because God has written the law in their hearts they live by those commandments without realising it. Jesus said in Matthew 5: 17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill...”

 

Now you may be wondering why the digression into a discussion of the law. Well the major laws in Western society are based on the Ten Commandments. Read the laws above and you can see that they are simply common sense as a basis to life any society. So when we speak of “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied the power...” II Timothy 3: 5 We are speaking of a society that obeys most of the commandments of God but specifically ignores the first commandment “You shall have no other gods before Me.” So there is a form of Godliness and there are many laws but Satan has a plan. He is supplanting the laws of God with his own laws. These equate to the rights based manifesto of secular humanism. The ultimate goal is lawlessness where all of God laws are replaced with Satan’s laws. A society based on depravity and survival of the fittest.

 

Denying the Power in a Society of Laws - How That Looks

 

Of course it is possible for a powerful government to reign over a lawless society. Citizens can be trained to live peacefully even beside their enemies. The Roman Empire was an example of this scenario at work as was the Soviet Union. Strong and if necessary brutal government controlled society even down to individual level. Totalitarian governments function in much the same way in many of the Islamic countries where secret police spy on members of society. Arresting citizens when they deem it necessary. Even the governments of the Western World are using increasingly sophisticated methods of spying on citizens compromising their individual freedom but effectively reigning over the people.

 

The bible describes a coming upheaval in the end times. It is described as a revived Roman Empire but a brittle strong iteration of it. 1. Their will be a brutal ruler, the Antichrist. There will be incredibly sophisticated technology to spy on and control the people. But there will be wars and natural destruction from asteroids, weather events, earthquakes and eruptions that hinder this empire. Even so if the time of this period of judgement was not shortened no one would survive.

 

Matthew 24: 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs ..... 15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. NASB

 

We are heading to a New World Order that will bear closer resemblance to pagan Rome than a peaceful Christian democracy. Pagan practices will be supported by the state. It will be a brutal place and a lawless place. Anyone opposing the state will be dealt with severely by the state. Christians will be singled out for special treatment as happened in the first Roman Empire and during the inquisition under the Catholic Church. Their won’t be the relative safety of a quasi Christian society anymore. It won’t be a pleasant life in that time. More like a post apocalyptic nightmare.

 

However, we don’t have to worry because God is with us and will never allow us to be taken from him . The apostle john tells us that Jesus said in John 10: 28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”

 

The writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 13:6 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” So we have no reason to fear because the Lord will never forsake or leave us. Thus it begs the question are you the reader saved? John 3:16 tells us 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life...” Do you believe on Jesus Christ? Have you asked him to forgive your sins and to make his place in your heart? Is this your time to make a decision? ... ? 

 

Reference List

 

Scriptures from https://biblehub.com/ and https://www.biblegateway.com

 

Bible Prophecy: 10 Nations of the Roman empire. The Prophecies. https://www.theprophecies.com/the-roman-empire-reuniting/ 12.10.18

2

Desensitisation: And the Person standing in front of you... ?

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ESV

 

Racism and discrimination are an issue usually handled in secular circles rather than in a Christian forum. However we are all human and the attitudes we accumulate as we travel through life from childhood onto old age can ambush us when we least expect it. This is a statement I have found to be true in my life and my witness

It’s that moment when you least expect it that something surfaces from deep within your meta cognitive and before you know it you are saying something that you wouldn’t have believed you could even have thought of. Ever. In that moment the person in front of you becomes a thing not a complex, beautiful creation of the Lord God worthy of infinite care and endless love. A racial epithet or a curse word or some derogatory term sums up all that they are and sentences them to denigration and hatred.

 

This happens when you allow yourself to become desensitized. Instead of seeing a person in standing in front of you they become a thing, a label, and that label defines them as far as you are concerned. They are quantified and have only the worth that someone with that label can have. Like black, homeless person, unemployed person, prostitute; which all have connotations which impact the way you view those groups of people in an instant and takes no notice of their personal abilities.

 

As a Christian desensitisation allows the enemy to have a way into your relationships with people you meet everyday. It impacts on how those people see you and it definitely affects your witness to people in those groups. So that they don’t value what you say to them. Your gospel is devalued because they know what you think of them. Even if it is at level deep in your soul. It still shows. 

 

Acts 17:26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place... ESV

 

I have, in the past, been in a Church which was predominantly a European congregation where they attempted to bring Māori converts into the Church. The casual racism from the parishioners drove the new converts away. Because although there was love for a new believer their was no love for a Māori person nor any attempt to understand who these people were as individuals. 

 

So to wrap this discussion up. My advice to my fellow believers in Christ Jesus is to focus on the person who is standing in front of you. Have love for that person and try to understand and empathise with that person. Don’t allow the enemy to cause you to classify them in anyway. Have only the love of Christ Jesus for them. Ask God for power to love them and to connect with them and be on your guard against the enemy who will trigger the desensitisation switch. Nothing destroys a witness as effectively as radiating a personal bias. Food for thought?

 

James 2: 1-26 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? ESV

Those Amazing Celts...

The families that make up our clan are from similar backgrounds. My clan and the my wife’s clan mostly came to New Zealand the nineteenth century. My father’s family arrived in the early twentieth century after a sojourn in Australia. The astounding thing is that as far as I am aware we all hail from Cornwall in England and we all appear to be of Celtic origin albeit by virtue of coming from Britain.

 

Bear in mind that the data I am using comes mainly from anecdotal conversations with our immediate forbears. However, for my clan there has been some fairly sound research performed and collated. I am also aware of research having been conducted by authoritative sources for the my wife’s clan as well. So there is reason for optimism in regard to our Cornish and Celtic origins being verifiable.

 

Added to this is my DNA test performed by that bastion of genetic and ancestral accuracy. Ancestry dot com. Which shows England, Wales & Northwestern Europe 78%; Ireland and Scotland 16% ; Germanic Europe 4%; Norway 2%. These areas are where the Celts largely hail from. 

 

In the centuries immediately prior to fifth century BC the Celts had begun to migrate from Western Europe up the Danube River Valley toward the Black Sea. By the 500 BC there were settlements along the East Coast of the Black Sea from Crimea to Greece. 1. Archeologists have found evidence of Celtic occupation in the Ukraine, Poland and Russia. In 390 BC the Gauls attacked the Etruscan city of Clusium and faced the city state of Rome whom they defeated and then subsequently sacked Rome. 1a. By 350 BC Celts had established a state on the central plateau of Asia Minor which is in modern Turkey. These became known as the Commonwealth of Galatia, which set them apart from the Gauls and other Celts further to the west.

 

Alexander the Great signed a treaty with Celts on the Northern Border of Macedonia in 334 BC. In a battle at the famous Pass of Thermopylae in Greece, an army of Celtic invaders defeated an army of Greek defenders in 279 BC. Later in the same year they invaded Macedonia and conquered a number of the other Greek city states 2. By the start of the third century BC the Celts had reached the Carpathian Mountains, and Macedonia, Thrace, and Greece were subjected to Celtic raids, by 274 BC they were involved in the Athens - Sparta war. Celtic warriors even appeared in Egypt where they fought as mercenaries. 

 

In 261 BC they defeated the Syrians at Ephesus securing a short period stability until they were defeated by Pergamon in 241BC. This defeat ended any dreams of empire as they continuously battled the Greeks and Syrians over the next century. 3. They allied with Syria and were defeated by Rome at the Battle of Magnesia in 191 BC. Then were briefly resurgent in 123 BC becoming the dominant power in Asia Minor until Pontus became the ascending power in the region. The Galatians allied with Rome against Pontus which was a decision that eventually cost them their freedom as they became a Roman province by about 50 BC.

 

The Celts of the Danube and Thrace were overcome by the Dacians and of these the Boils of Bohemia migrated to Helveti (Switzerland). 4. Which provided Julius Caesar the impetus he required to invade Gaul and ultimately to try for Britain somewhat unsuccessfully in 55 BC. However the Romans were never known for a lack of tenacity and they managed to secure Southern England in 43 AD.

The Celtic tribe known as the Iceni led by Queen Boadicea attempted to repulse the Romans from Britain with an army of one hundred thousand assembled from the Iceni and other disgruntled Celtic tribes. 5. They sacked Camulodunum (London), killing an estimated eighty thousand mainly Roman civilians. Unfortunately their success was short lived as Roman Governor, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, set a trap in a valley with forest on one side and the ability to cut off the enemies retreat. With only ten thousand legionnaires he routed the huge Celtic army literally cutting them to pieces. 

 

So the Celts became integrated into the Roman Empire and to an extent became part of the multicultural Roman world. Over time the Celtic language became the Gaelic language as we know it today. In the modern world “The six territories widely considered Celtic nations are Brittany (Breizh), Cornwall (Kernow), Wales (Cymru), Scotland (Alba), Ireland (Éire) and the Isle of Man (Mannin).... Territories in north-western Iberia—particularly Galicia, northern Portugal and Asturias, historically referred to as Gallaecia and Astures, covering north-central Portugal and northern Spain—are considered Celtic nations due to their culture and history.” 6.

 

Another part of the Celtic history that piques my interest is based around the gospel of Jesus Christ. Firstly the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Until recently I had not realised that Galatians was not written to a Church. Instead it was written to the Churches in the Roman province of Galatia on the Central Asian Plateau (Modern Turkey). The Galatians just happened to be Celts. The same tribe of Celts that took it to the Greeks and Syrians and allied with the Romans against Pontus. Then thanks to Paul became storied servants of Jesus Christ. Praise Lord Jehovah.

 

The other Celtic community that interests me are reputed in Christian legend to have been Guardians to the Gospel from the times of the early Church. They were known in France as the Vaudois and in Italy as the Vaudici although they are more commonly known as the Waldenses. There is reason to believe that they were of Celtic origin because their language contained words of ancient Celtic origin. 7. They also lived in the mountain valleys on the border of Italy, France and Switzerland which was populated by the Celts in Roman times.

 

From the eleventh century they were bible believing Christians in conflict with Rome. The Roman Catholic Church was secreting the word of God from the people and their religious hierarchy ran an integrated Church and State that enforced Catholic rules not Gods. The persecution that the Vaudois - Vaudici Church endured involved savagery and barbarism at the hands of the Catholic Church that was frankly horrific and that could only be a work of Satan. 8. They were pushed to the brink of extinction and in the end were forced to capitulate after centuries of protecting the scriptures and winning souls to Christ across Europe. 

 

In my own case I must say that I thought the Celts a somewhat barbaric race of little significance who lived in Roman Britain. But as you can see from my preliminary investigation they were a bold and versatile nation who were as resourceful as they were storied. Populating an controlling vast regions in Ireland and Britain and across Europe and Asia Minor. Even able to take on the might of Greece, Syria and Rome. Then becoming leading proponents of the gospel of Salvation in Jesus Christ and being appointed custodians of the written word of God and it’s oral tradition for centuries and even unto death.

 

My friends you can see the value that the Vaudois -Vaudici placed on getting the gospel of Jesus Christ out to the people of France, Italy and greater Europe. Long before the Reformation they toiled to preserve the word and to share the truth with the people that they might have Salvation through Gods only Son, Jesus Christ; and that through faith alone that he bore their sin upon the cross, so they might have eternal life. The price was persecution and often death but these brave folk of Celtic descent held fast and ran the course until the last one.

 

II Corinthians: 4 “but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love...” NASB

 

Reference List

 

Celtic Nations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_nations 08/10/18

 

HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS - HISTORY OF THE VAUDOIS - BOOK 1. Perrin J.P. http://www.godrules.net/library/perrin/92perrin12.htm 09/10/18

 

Italy and Celts: their legacy and cultural impact on Romans. Tony Ghezzo . 05/01/13. https://italoamericano.org/story/2013-1-5/Italy-Celts 08/10/18

 

Queen Boudica And Her Epic Revenge Against The Romans. Kara Goldfarb. 05/09/18 https://allthatsinteresting.com/queen-boudica 08/10/18

 

The Battle at the Allia River, 390 BCE ludwyg Heinrich Dyke. 07/08/18. https://www.ancient.eu/article/879/the-battle-at-the-allia-river-390-bce/ 09/10/18

 

The Galatians. https://www.celticcultureblog.tk/maps/the-galatians.html#download 08/10/18

Christian Witness: Love or the Apocalypse...

I notice that Stop Playing Church are very active at the moment. I see their posts on my Facebook feed each day and while I applaud them for their strength and tenacity. It highlights two different approaches to the gospel. Those who ask what would Jesus do and try to emulate his approach to people and those who focus on God’s judgement on mankind and End Times bible prophecy. 

 

Having been an End Times focused Christian for most of my life I know the issues that can accompany that perspective. What you read is who you are so if you major on judgement and a soon end of the world as we know it. Then it follows that you will become quite dour and hard to be around. Every thing you see in the world around you relates to what the bible says about the era we are living in. The tendency is to get frustrated and angry with the forces of the enemy and their influence on world government and the Church. This flows over into how you feel about other believers and the relationships you form with them. It becomes difficult to trust anyone.

 

The real issue is that an End Times focus distorts the balance of a believers world view. I note that in the gospels the writers focused mainly on Jesus ministry of service and sacrifice to the people around him. The End Times were mentioned when the apostles asked Jesus what was going to happen at the end of his ministry. The take away is that helping people to find salvation and meeting their needs is far more important than stewing over the current events and worrying about when the return of the Jesus will happen.

 

If you have a more servant nature you are easier to be around. People tend to warm to a person who genuinely cares for them rather than someone who preaches uncertainty and that judgement is imminent. I am not saying we should not warn the people of the time we live in. Israel is spoken of in the book of Matthew as the Fig Tree putting forth shoots. Many believers see this scripture from Jesus as a prophecy of the restoration of the nation of Israel in the last days. The literal restoration of the modern nation of Israel that we see today happened in 1948. So be aware of scripture and prophecy but make your major focus to be bringing the love of Jesus of Nazareth to as many as you can. Be as Jesus to your fellow man and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Love on another.

 

Galatians 5: 22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Against such things there is no law... NASB” 1.

 

The fruit of the Spirit can be summed up as being tolerant and helpful or “Love your neighbor as yourself” as Jesus said when asked about which was the greatest commandment. 2. These actions can be assessed as the visible implementation of the fruit of the Spirit. It is not just talking the talk as I am prone to do. It is walking the walk. 

 

Walking the walk in such a way that the love of God is made visible to those around you and especially to those who have not met the Savior yet. A person who demonstrates love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness and faithfulness is easy to be around. Such a person is one to be turned too when help is needed. To be listened too when advice is sought. 

 

This is completely different than the believer who looks only at the time of judgement that is promised in the End Times. When the battle lines are drawn between Satan’s forces and the Armies of the Living God in the last days of the Age of Grace. 3. Again this knowledge is valid particularly in this time in which we are living. It is just not necessarily a healthy way to look at the world all of the time.

This is also a fairly depressing world view to those around you and often not the best way of witnessing to non Christian people. It can be a bit of a shock to be traveling along oblivious to the finality of our temporal situation only to be told that global catastrophe is imminent. Repent or die in your sins. Some may be convicted but most will simply shy away and keep on walking toward oblivion. Particularly in these times where apocalyptic fantasies are prevalent in the entertainment industry. 

 

For me personally, this represents a long overdue change of viewpoint and perhaps an equally overdue period of personal growth in my Christian faith. It is also a challenge to not only talk the talk but actually walk the walk. The greatest area of focus being to surrender to the Holy Spirit rather than stumbling along under my own limited and fallible power and not making an unmitigated mess of things as usual. 

 

How about you? Does any of the prophecy versus love discussion relate to you? Is there a change in your outlook that would make you a much more effective witness? Is it time to kneel in prayer and ask God for guidance in your spiritual life? Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you asked him to to come into your life that you might be baptized in his name and receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Is it time to make that decision to seek him while he may be found?

 

Acts 2: 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. NASB 4.