Christians' Relationship to the Old Testament by Alan McNabb
(http://www.Biblestudyguide.org)
Sometimes, I am asked about our relationship with the Old Testament. I have found that people are really asking about our relationship to the Mosaic Law, which is recorded in the Old Testament of which the Ten Commandments are a small part.
We must remember that the Old Testament is more than the Mosaic Law and the Ten Commandments. The Old Testament begins by recording creation, the entrance of sin into the world, the fall of man, and the first prophecy of Christ in the first three chapters of the Old Testament. Genesis alone covers a couple of thousand years constituting nearly half of the history recorded in the Old Testament.
God gave the Mosaic Law (including the Ten Commandments) to the Jews. And the Gentiles continued to live under the previous law which, for convenience sake, we call the universal moral law. Therefore, it is important to understand that the Mosaic Law was applicable to a minority of people (i.e., the Jews) for a period of around twenty-five hundred years.
Sometimes I am asked, "Should Christians keep the Mosaic Law (including Ten Commandments) today?" James says that one must keep the whole law or else he is guilty of all (Ja. 2:10). Therefore, we must conclude that someone who keeps one point of the Mosaic Law must keep the whole law. But the fact is no one is keeping the whole law today. No one is offering the animal sacrifices in Jerusalem as prescribed in the law.
Paul makes it clear that no one can be saved by keeping the Mosaic Law saying: "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:19-20).
Since the law cannot save us, what good is it? Paul answered this question saying to the Romans: "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Rom. 15:4).
And to the Galatians Paul explained: "What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of the transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made . . ." (Gal. 3:19). Paul continues to explain that the law was a tutor and that once Christ had come, the Jews were no longer under the tutor (i.e., the law). Paul said: "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (Gal. 3:24-25).
So where does that leave the Ten Commandments? The basic precepts of the Ten Commandments are reiterated in the New Testament with exception to the Sabbath. Christians met to partake of the Lord's Supper on Sunday (i.e., the first day of the week; Acts 20:7) - not on Saturday (i.e., the Sabbath).
So what has God done throughout history? He has changed the law twice. The first time He changed it, He gave the Mosaic Law to the Jews. Then, after Christ ascended into heaven, He changed it once again. The Hebrew writer explains that the law was changed by necessity since the priesthood was changed. The Hebrew writer said, "For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law" (Heb. 7:12). This law under which we live today is called the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2), the law of the Spirit (Rom. 8:2), and the law of liberty (Ja. 2:12).
We should be filled with joy and thanksgiving toward God. We are not kept in bondage by a law of sin and death but have been freed from sin to live under the law of life (cf. Rom. 8:2). Therefore Paul says: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).
Our High Priest by L. A. Stauffer
(devotional@biblical-insights.org)
"Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Heb 10:21-22).
The essential element of every high priest is that, in addition to being called by God, he must have something to offer as a sacrifice (Heb 5:4; 8:3). This was true of the descendants of Aaron who were high priests under Moses' law, and it is true of our high priest-Jesus Christ.
The difference between these two priests is striking. High priests under the law had only the blood sacrifices of animals to offer. This, we are assured, cannot take away sin (Heb 10:1-4). Our high priest, Jesus, who has passed through the heavens, offered himself as a sacrifice-an offering that cleanses the conscience from the dead works of sin (Heb 9:14,15,24,25).
Jesus, as our high priest, is likewise described as both an advocate and an intercessor. He ever lives, the Hebrew writer says, to make intercession for us-an intercession at the right hand of God that includes more than forgiveness of sins (Heb 7:25; 4:14-16). He is there to intercede in whatever way we have need: strength to overcome temptation, comfort in times of suffering or bereavement, help when we face bodily ailments, and wisdom when challenged with tough decisions.
He, as intercessor, is also an advocate (1 John 2:1). An advocate, according to the word in Greek history, was in essence a lawyer-a helper that defendants literally took to court to stand alongside them and plead their case. The Holy Spirit was an advocate (translated "comforter" in John 14:15,16) for the apostles to be with them and to guide them into all truth.
As our advocate, Jesus stands not only at the side of God in the court of heaven, but stands there on behalf of his disciples. He understands our weaknesses, our frustrations, our anxieties, our heartaches-and is there to hear and plead our case before God. At God's throne are "mercy" and "grace" to help us in times of need-and Jesus is there to sympathize with us and make our appeal to God (Heb 4:14-16).
Let us therefore remember not to faint but always to pray when we have need of God (Luke 18:1). God loves us, knows what is best for us, and has the power to provide for us. Be sure to ask him, but remember also to thank him through Jesus-our intercessor and advocate.
PSALM 119 - Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
TZADDI. (Ps 119:137-144).
[137-139. God's justice and faithfulness in His government aggravate
the neglect of the wicked, and more excite the lively zeal of
His people.]
137 Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.
138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and
very faithful.
139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten
thy words (Ps 69:9).
140 Thy word is very pure [literally, "refined," shown
pure by trial.]: therefore thy servant loveth it.
[141. The pious, however despised of men, are distinguished in
God's sight by a regard for His law.]
141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
[142-144. The principles of God's government are permanent and
reliable, and in the deepest distress His people find them a theme
of delightful meditation and a source of reviving power (Ps 119:17,
116).]
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy
law is the truth. [It therefore cannot deceive as to its promises.]
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments
are my delights.
144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting [(Ps 111:3),
though to outward appearance seeming dead.]: give me understanding,
and I shall live.
Modern Proverbs With A Scriptural Message - Author(s) Unknown
(Contributed by C. Nicks)
The best way to get even is to forget.
Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.
God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be maintained on earth.
Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days, Then perhaps giving "advice" to God, isn't such a good idea!
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of, and visitors to,
the Church of Christ at Beverly Shores, Leesburg, Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
address or via e-mail: dillinc@yahoo.com