Category: Christian Life

Are We Still Under the Ten Commandments? Mosaic Law and Modern Christianity

The New Christian Covenant and the Mosaic Law

The new Christian covenant differs from the Mosaic Law in that its content has not been made explicitly clear by God as a set of commands. Instead, it needs to be interpreted from the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” It is also significantly different in that the demands it makes are individual for each and every one of us, whereas much of the old law, and the punishments inflicted for people’s transgressions, were “corporate” in nature, involving a body of people, although, as Moo states, “the individual Israelite could, it seems, be cut off from the covenant for flagrant disregard of the law of God.”[1]

Willem VanGemeren says, “Under the new covenant, the law can never again be read, interpreted, or applied apart from Jesus Christ. He modeled the perfection of the law and simplified it. The ceremonial laws, civil laws, and the penal code have been abrogated, and the moral law has received further clarification in the person and teaching of Jesus Christ.”[2]

When Jesus said, of the first two commandments, “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets,” (Matthew 22:40) He positioned “love” as the major emphasis of the new covenant, and it is this quality that brings forward a “simplified” version of the moral law into the Christian age. Believers are also tasked with communicating the Word of God to others. Bahnsen reminds us that, “At the very time that Christ claimed all authority upon earth, he simultaneously indicated that the nations still needed to be made his disciples.”[3] Matthew 5:19 teaches that we must both obey the law and teach it correctly.

Fortunately, for weak and sinful man, assistance is now available by means of the power of the Holy Spirit, through which, says VanGemeren, “the believer desires to know and to do the will of the Father.[4]

The Application of the Mosaic Law to the Life of the Christian.

There is agreement between several commentators that the authority of the Mosaic law ended with the advent of Jesus’ ministry on Earth. This is confirmed by the changes in the commandment relating to the Sabbath, and since it is shown that the law needs to be interpreted as a whole, rather than in parts, the failure of this one part brings down the authority of the whole. But while the ceremonial and civil commands, designed to support the worship, lifestyle, and legal needs of the Jewish nation 2,000 years ago, are not now applicable to the present-day Christian, the moral content of the law lives on through its expression within the new covenant. Through Jesus, mankind now has direct and personal contact with God in a new covenant, which, while different from the old, can be regarded as a further stage of the same eternal plan. 

Moo neatly summarizes the new covenant when he states that the whole of the original Mosaic law is fulfilled by Christ, which means that it is no longer applicable to God’s people, and in its place, he says, is “the law of Christ,” which comprises the “teaching and example of Jesus and the apostles, the central demand of love, and the guiding influence of the indwelling Holy Spirit.[5]

The emergence of love as the main plank of the new Christian covenant means that, with the exception of the fourth commandment relating to the Sabbath, we are still beholden to the Ten Commandments of the Mosaic law, not because they are still laws, but instead because they are the natural consequences of our love for God, and, by natural extension of this, of our love for our fellow man. Strickland introduces Paul’s point, in Romans 6:12-14, that “believers in Christ do not need to let sin reign over them. Sanctified Christians must avoid sin (v. 13) and not be mastered by it (v. 14).”[6]

The Holy Spirit Transforms, Illuminates and Guides

VanGemeren supplies a word of gratitude for the assistance God provides, for each and every one of us, in complying with the new covenant, “Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit transforms individuals, who love God, but are looking for guidance apart from the whole Bible. Through his illumination and guidance, he brings them to a point where they sweetly comply with the moral law, and thus submit themselves to the Father’s will.”[7]

[1] Douglas J. Moo, The Law of Christ as the Fulfillment of the Law of Moses: A Modified Lutheran View, in Five Views on Law and Gospel, ed. Stanley Gundry, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999), 311.

[2] Willem VanGemeren, The Law Is the Perfection of Righteousness in Jesus Christ: A Reformed Perspective, in Five Views on Law and Gospel, ed. Stanley Gundry, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999), 37.

[3] Greg Bahnsen, The Theonomic Reformed Approach to Law and Gospel, in Five Views on Law and Gospel, ed. Stanley Gundry, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999), 118.

[4] Willem VanGemeren, Response to Walter C. Kaiser Jr., in Five Views on Law and Gospel, ed. Stanley Gundry, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999), 202 (emphasis author’s).

[5] Douglas J. Moo, 343.

[6] Wayne Strickland, The Inauguration of the Law of Christ with the Gospel of Christ: A Dispensational View, in Five Views on Law and Gospel, ed. Stanley Gundry, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999), 264.

[7] VanGemeren, 202.

God’s Plan for Mankind

The Fundamental Questions of Life

The Bible provides answers to the most essential and fundamental questions in life: 

“Why am I here?” 

“What is the purpose of life?”

“What comes after?”

However, combing through all 66 books of the Bible to piece together accurate responses to these challenges can be daunting. So, an understanding of God’s overall plan for mankind helps provide context and a cognitive framework to support information gleaned from Scripture. In general, Christians read the Bible after becoming Christians, not before, so a summary and overview can also be an effective stepping stone for those who are seeking to understand the nature and import of Christian Truth. 

God’s Plan for Mankind

The most important part of any plan is its outcome. The end result of a plan to build a house is the house itself, which can be occupied and enjoyed for many years after the building plan is completed. It is similar with God’s plan for mankind. The “building” part is our time on planet Earth, where each and every person has to make the choice that will subsequently shape their eternal existence. As Franklin Graham said, of his own life and for everyone, “There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to make a choice whether they are going to accept or reject God’s love and provision.” [1]

The outcome is that those who do choose to love Him will become His adopted children and will reign with Him in Heaven for eternity, as in 2 Timothy 2:12, “if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;” God is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and lives outside of time. There is nothing He cannot do that can be done. At the conclusion of His plan, His will is the only one that will prevail. He will achieve all that He intended, and those who chose Him will participate in His glorious majesty.

God Speaks

How do we know about God’s plan for us? Well, He speaks to us in two ways – through nature (His general revelation) and through His Word, the Bible (special revelation), which records His direct interaction with us, including the use of prophets and sending His Son Jesus Christ to live among us on Earth.

Our increasing knowledge of the natural world is fueling a commentary that now speaks louder and louder. We know that the four fundamental laws that govern the physical behavior of everything in the universe are each finely tuned to support the creation of an environment that will itself support intelligent life. Similarly-precise tuning applies to well over a hundred other characteristics of our home planet, all of which renders the possibility of everything coming together by evolutionary chance to be vanishingly small. Our recently developed ability to observe molecular-level activity enables insight into the incredibly complex machinery at work within each living cell: complexity that requires design rather than an unguided process such as random mutation.

Characteristics of God

Mankind’s God-given ability to see and appreciate a beautiful range of colors and to hear complex musical sounds demonstrates that God, as a loving Father, wants us to experience pleasure, as in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Why would anyone want to worship a god who has remained aloof and separated from his creation when they could choose to have a loving relationship with a God who came to live among us? Through His general and special revelation, we are comprehensively informed about the nature and qualities of our living God; our own failings and inadequacies are laid bare. We are also clearly told about what is expected from us as His creation and how the physical aspect of mankind’s existence will be brought to a close.

Choice, Free Will and Justice

Created in God’s image, we have the freedom and ability to choose how we live our lives. Most importantly, we can choose whether to accept God as the Lord of our lives or to reject Him. The world in which we live contains both good and evil, which ensures that the choice is available to all.

Jesus Christ was, and still is, the fulcrum on which God’s plan turns. He came from the heavenly realm into the physical realm to demonstrate the truth of God’s plan and to model the characteristics of the citizens of God’s future kingdom. He also provided the sacrifice that paved the way for sinful man to enjoy fellowship with a perfect God in accordance with God’s perfect justice.

[1] The Journey magazine, Everyone Has to Make a Choice, February 4,2022, https://www.journeync.com/blog/2022/2/4/everyone-has-to-make-a-choice

God’s Grace – The Greatest Free Gift of All Time

A detective once told me that money, power, and relationships account for the motive in almost all of the crimes he has encountered. The first two, and possibly a part of the third, can be explained by simple greed. People want to own more worldly stuff or to be able to control more of it. Relationships can be a little more complicated, when mismatched feelings, passions and expectations can generate so many interpersonal misunderstandings, or even crimes.

Those who know only a little of the Bible will often say, quite correctly, that there is much evidence of all these problems within the Scriptures. However, it needs to be pointed out that this evidence relates to human behavior, not God’s. The Bible provides us with a documentary on the topics of human behavior, the character of God, and His plan for us.

Throughout all of time, in His omnipotence and omniscience, God holds more power than we can even imagine. (Dan 2:20-22)  Since He created the universe, and all the resources within it, He already has inestimable wealth, and could create more at any time of His choosing. (Ps 33:6-9) Material things are of little consequence to Him. He is, however, very concerned about His relationship with each and every one of us. (1 John 4:10, 1 Tim 2:4 )  Relationships between humans can be fragile and subject to many changes, such as falling in and out of love, arguing with friends and family, or the consequences of moving to live in a different location. In contrast, God’s relationships are steadfast, at least on His side, and remain solid and unchanging throughout time and into eternity. (Rom 8:38-39)

Since we live in a physical world, where all that is spiritual is largely hidden from view, it is not unnatural that human focus would typically be on physical treasures and rewards, rather than on spiritual ones. Everyone likes getting a good deal when acquiring more “stuff.” However, the greatest “deal” of all time has nothing to do with material things, but has everything to do with our spiritual well-being, both present and future. This “deal” is available directly from the Creator of the Universe and the most powerful Person with whom we could ever have a relationship. His Word tells us, on more than one occasion, that He wants to adopt us into His family, as His children. (John 1:12-13, 2 Cor 6:18)  In Ephesians 1: 5 Paul writes, “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”[1]

Back in Roman times, when Paul was writing this letter to the church in Ephesus, adopting a child had significant consequences. Under the Roman law at that time, an adopted child was fully entitled to inherit a share of the parents’ estate, and furthermore, unlike any parental-born siblings, could not be disinherited for any reason.[2] On this basis, Paul wants us to understand that adoption into God’s family is irrevocable and brings with it a share of God’s inestimable wealth. (Rom 8:16-17)

What do we need to do to qualify for adoption as children of God? Well, we don’t need to do anything. Through God’s grace, this amazing gift is available, free of charge, to each and every member of the human race. We just need to accept His love, openly and honestly, repent of our sins, and recognize Him for who He is, our Lord and Savior. This is not about actions, it is all about how a person thinks and feels about Him. The problem can be that feelings come naturally, and are difficult to manage towards a particular end. However, as C. S. Lewis tells us in Mere Christianity, 

The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you “love” your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.[3]

If you don’t feel the right way about Him, and truly desire to have a relationship with Him, you can always ask Him, sincerely, for help. (James 1:5-6)  Speak it, think it, or perhaps even write it down. He already knows your heart, ask Him to reveal His heart to you. Ask for your very own “deal of a lifetime.” You may be very surprised at the way this works out. (Jer 29:13)

[1] NIV.

[2] Dr. John W. Carter, Romans 8:15-27: Adopted by God, Himself, American Journal of Biblical Theology (2016),  https://www.biblicaltheology.com/rom/rom_08_15.html, accessed May 10, 2022.

[3] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Touchstone., 1996), pp. 116–17© 2012 C.S. Lewis Institute. 

If God Is In Control, Does It Matter What I Do?

Just how much control does God have over our daily lives? It might be helpful to take a look at the Bible, God’s handbook for living, to help us decide. This post is based on the
five main points from a message on this topic by Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas.[1]

God's hand with a remote controler

  • God is in control of everything that happens in His universe/creation

God does have the power to control everything that exists and everything that happens.

Isaiah 45:7 tells us, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.”

Proverbs 16:4 states, “The Lord works out everything to its proper end – even the wicked for a day of disaster.”Ultimately, God is in control of everything, including Satan, Adam and Eve, and even the Jewish and Roman leaders who nailed Jesus to the cross, as well as natural disasters such as tsunamis and floods. He may not cause these things to happen, but He does allow them.

  • God’s plan for His universe extends to every part of every life.

God knows about and could change any aspect of our lives, as shown by the following verses.

Daniel 2:21, “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Psalm 139:16, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Acts 4:27-28, “Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.”

  • His sovereignty extends over our choices, mistakes, and failures.

God has the power to accomplish His purpose for your life. His sovereignty extends over our choices, mistakes, and failures. He has a perfect will, and, according to many, also a permissive will, which might be termed “plan B”, to allow for the imperfect actions of mankind.

As a Got Questions article, What is the difference between God’s sovereign will and God’s revealed will? states, ”Because God is sovereign, He must at least ‘permit’ all events and happenings. Within God’s sovereign will, He chooses to permit many things to happen that He takes no pleasure in. Again citing the example of Joseph and his brothers, God chose, by an act of decretive will, to allow the kidnapping and enslavement of Joseph. God’s permissive will allowed the sins of Joseph’s brothers in order to bring about a greater good.”[2]

Ephesians 1:11 describes how all that happens is ultimately leading to His objective, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”

  • God’s power does not exempt us from the responsibility for our choices.

Scripture tells us to make wise choices, as in Proverbs 28:26, “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.”We must still suffer the consequences of our own decisions.

  • God’s sovereignty offers me peace from my past… my responsibility offers me hope for my future

God has the unquestionable power to forgive us and redeem us from our sins, and we are free to choose to follow Him and thereby have a glorious future. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

God is to us as a parent is to a child, but with a difference

These five points help to illustrate the relationship between ourselves and God, a relationship which is in many ways similar to that between a child and a loving parent. When a child learns to ride a bike, the parent watches, guiding the bike’s progress in the early stages, and then deciding when to remove the training wheels to allow more independence. Even after that, the parent is there to provide comfort and a band-aid when the inevitable accident happens.

There is, however, one big difference. The child is aware of the supporting hand, but, with practice, grows in confidence and ability to ride the bike on her own without assistance. By contrast, as each of us grows in our personal, individual relationship with God, we should learn to lean on Him, and to increasingly depend upon Him to guide and support us through life. By creating us with free will, God gives us spiritual independence from the outset, and we need to learn dependence on Him to become spiritually mature.

 

[1]Dr. Robert Jeffress, Although the Script’s Been Written, You Can Still Improvise, January 31, 2016, http://www.firstdallas.org/files/uploads/secondchanceoutlineanswers1-31-16.pdf, accessed May 23, 2019.

[2]Gotquestions.org, What is the difference between God’s sovereign will and God’s revealed will?https://www.gotquestions.org/Gods-will.html, accessed May 22, 2019.

 

Becoming a Christian: A Single Moment That Lasts for the Rest of Your Life (and After)

Before I became a Christian, I had no idea what it meant. I did not understand that it would lead to a whole new way of life; something that would impact just about everything I do, and even the way I think. My earlier ignorance assumed that Christianity, or any other religion, was simply a matter of attending a house of worship on a weekly basis and following a few basic rules of living.

Holy bible,Teenager man holding Holy bible ready for read and have relationship with god faith, spirituality and religion concept.Becoming a true Christian means that you have come to believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. This is a process that, for me, took several years of reading Christian books, going to bible studies, and finding and attending the right church. I remember feeling a little envious of those who appear to be “saved” instantly when attending a Billy Graham meeting or going forward for an altar call. Could it, or should it, really be that easy? Why did it take me about four years of investigation before I even began to feel comfortable as a Christian? I now realize that it is a lifelong journey. Fifteen years and an MA in Christian Apologetics later, I am still learning, and the more I learn, the more I discover I still need to learn, and want to learn.

“Salvation” is the term used by Christians for the process whereby a person is accepted by God to become a citizen of His future kingdom, a citizenship that lasts for eternity following our brief time on Earth. It appears that there are three parts to this process. First comes Justification, which happens at the instant in time that we are accepted by God and is enabled by our faith in Christ’s sacrifice. Second is Sanctification, a process that begins after justification and continues, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, for the rest of our lives in that we are willingly being conformed into God’s image. Finally, Glorification occurs when we leave our aging, imperfect, earthly bodies and begin eternity in Heaven with a new, “glorified” body.

God is in control of all aspects of salvation, so where does the much-debated “free will” come in? After much thought and investigation, I believe that, before salvation, each of us has to take the decision to accept Jesus Christ into our lives and, openly and honestly, reach out to Him. Hebrews 11:6 states, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” After that, God takes over, draws us towards Him (John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day”),and the Holy Spirit begins working within us to prepare us for God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 2:14, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned”).

God’s saving grace is available to all of mankind, but each person, individually, has to choose to accept it by welcoming Jesus into his or her life. Then begins the journey, firmly based on the truth of how we came to be in this world in the first place, towards the life that God has always planned for us. This life is clearly described in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” So, if your hectic, technology-driven, comfortable-yet-not-fulfilling life is not bringing the inner satisfaction you thought it would, an honest, heartfelt acceptance of the truth in Christianity, in my experience, will never fail.