Sunday, October 31, 2010

Old Covenant of Law or New Covenant of Grace?

As Christians, we hear a lot about Law and Grace but what exactly is the difference between the two and which one do we live under? When did one end and the other begin?

When considering Law our thoughts are most often brought to rest upon the Mosaic Law of the 10 commandments given to Moses. Even though the 10 commandments were the only ones written on the tablets of stone there are a total of 613 commandments within the Law. The totalities of the 613 commandments are the ones which we have to KEEP in order for us have God’s favor and fellowship with Him.

Satan is the deceiver and is still deceiving a large portion of Christianity today. Satan would have us prove ourselves Holy by the Law which God gave to prove ourselves as sinners. We have allowed Satan to pervert the purpose of the Law. He has made us believe that we can keep the Law and if we fail in one area all we have to do is ask God to forgive us for that certain offense. But is this what the scripture actually says? In believing this way have we incorrectly divided the word of Truth?

(2 Tim 2:15 KJV) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

There are two powerful scriptures which show us the commandments cannot be broken if we are dependent upon them to give us favor with God.

(Gal 3:10-13 KJV) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

(James 2:10 KJV) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Did you catch that? If you do not continue in ALL the things written in the Law you are under God’s curse. There is no provision in these two scripture which allows for any breaking and asking for forgiveness. If you ever break even ONE you are cursed. KEEP means KEEP, not keep and break, keep and lose. If you keep something you keep it. Once you have lost it you no longer keep it. The Law does not allow for keeping, losing and then keeping again.

The belief that we can keep the Law and if we break one we can ask for forgiveness stems from wrongly dividing the word of Truth. This attitude and belief is what makes a person self-righteous because Satan has accomplished his purpose of blinding people and keeping them bound under the Law. They think they have favor with God when in reality they are cursed by God.

Here is a question to ask yourself to see whether you are under Law or Grace. Do you see yourself as better than someone else? Do you judge another for some wrong because you do not do what they are doing? If so, you are under Law and are placing them under Law as well and are not living by faith. You have wrongly divided the word of Truth.

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH

The way our Bibles are divided between the Old Testament and the New Testament has given confusion as to where the dividing line actually takes place. Many people believe the New Testament (Covenant) begins with Matthew and the birth of Christ. This is the wrong division point.

The New Covenant began with the death of Christ and not His birth. Jesus lived, taught and preached under the Old Covenant. He clarified the Law and fulfilled it in its entirety but His Covenant of Grace did not become effective until His death on the cross. The Pharisees of that day had not seen the purpose of the Law. Satan had blinded them into thinking much as we think today that you can keep and if you break the Law all you have to do to receive forgiveness is offer a sacrifice. We don't even go that far, we think we can just ask God to forgive us without offering any sacrifice. Jesus confronts them, and us, with nailing the Law into their hearts by telling them they are to be perfect if they want to be justified by the Law. How perfect? As perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt. 5:48) He told them their way was not the right way. They were not living by faith looking forward to the Messiah and the right way which would come with His death. The Pharisees of today are still trying to make themselves righteous by the Law which God gave to show us we are sinners.

(Heb 9:15-17 KJV) And for this cause he (Christ) is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

There are two scriptures which show the difference between Law and Grace.

LAW - (Mat 6:14-15 KJV) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

GRACE - (Eph 4:32-35 KJV) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath (HAS ALREADY) forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Something happened between these two scripture. Christ was crucified and resurrected. As Christians we are already forgiven of all offenses and we are to treat others with the Grace we have received from God. Old Covenant – God will forgive if we forgive, if we don't, He won't. New Covenant – we are to forgive as we have already been forgiven. Under the New Covenant there is no room for any judgmentalism or self-righteousness. If it exists in us then we are still living under the Old Covenant which will condemn us forever because we cannot be perfect under the Law. Our perfection comes only by faith in the truth that we have been forgiven by Christ death on the cross 2000 some years ago.

(Heb 10:8-14 KJV) Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first (Old Covenant), that he may establish the second (New Covenant). By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, WHICH CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected FOR EVER them that are sanctified.

3 comments:

  1. Lee,

    Here's my reply to our conversation over at the coalition in case it doesn't make it past moderators...

    I said there were two problems in Galatia.

    1. Continued observance of ceremonial aspects of the law. Look at the arguments circumcision…dietary food laws…and imposing these on Gentiles. Just read it.

    2. Seeking to observe God’s law including ceremonial and moral aspects of the law legalistic way, apart from faith and grace.

    In Galatians 3:10-13 Paul is addressing the issue of #2. So he speaks of, “All who rely on the works of the law…” ESV. Then in vs. 11 he confirms that he is speaking of justification. No man can be justified by the keeping of the law.

    But where you are missing the mark is the fact that the moral law of God was never at any time given after the fall to the people he was calling to faith to be a MEANS OF JUSTIFICATION. Paul is not arguing…hey the law was given to be justified by for a time but not any more..a la the worst forms of dispensationalism. He is dealing with a perversion of the law…one that wrestles it out of the context of grace…and turning the Scriptures back on the Judaisers.

    As if he’s saying okay than if you are going to rely on the law apart from grace (though it was never intended that way) then remember you’ve got to keep the whole thing or you are condemned.

    Go to the original context that Paul is quoting from in Leviticus and you will see that it is not laying down the law as a rule to be obeyed for our justification. Rather God expects his law to be obeyed by those who are justified by faith as they live in covenant with him that is founded on grace. Again even in the New Covenant we can expect blessings for the obedience of faith and chastisement for disobedience. See 1 Corinthians 11 and James 5 for chastisements for disobdience of those who are justified and credited with Christ’s perfect obedience.

    Since your background is dispensational this is a bit more difficult. Tullian has in mind a very different thing when he speaks of law and gospel than dispensationalists do when they speak of law and grace being distinct things.

    The covenant of grace contrary to your blog does not just include the New Covenant…and it does not begin after the resurrection of Christ. As you see in Galatians and you referenced…the promise of that the New Covenant brings to fruition is one given to Abraham. Abraham had to obey God’s moral law and additional other commands…leave home and country…etc. but not in order to be justified. In fact the covenant with Abrahm is only the formalization of the promise. It starts in Genesis 3:15 when God announces the promise of a Redeemer to Adam and Eve who will crush the serpants head.

    At no time after the fall can any man be justified by works of the law and God has never given the law to man after the fall for that purpose as dispensationalism asserts.

    All redemptive covenants have as their operating principle grace. All redemptive covenants point to Christ. All redemptive covenants require the obedience of faith though not as a means of justification.

    I don’t think I can help anymore. I’m okay with you thinking I’m self righteous even though it stings a little. I just hope you continue to wrestle with this. And be humble…Remember James 3:1.

    My advice is to start with these videos by Dr. Richard Pratt…and they are free!

    These are on Kingdom, Covenant, and Cannon

    http://thirdmill.org/video-curriculum/free-downloads

    These are on the dynamics of the covenant specifically lessons 3 and 4.

    http://thirdmill.org/video-curriculum/free-downloads

    One last thing…I would point you to the Westminster Confession of Faith…chapter 19 on the Moral Law. Be sure to follow the Scripture refrences.

    http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/

    Good talking to you. It’s obvious you are zealous for the Lord. All the best.

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  2. I can see where you are coming from, however, Gal. 2:20 is not just talking about being justified by faith but living by faith. LIVING by faith. Gal. 3:1-2 addresses those who believed they were saved by receiving the Spirit (faith) who forsook that and went back to obedience to the Law to live. Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

    What you are addressing is progressive sanctification. Not only do I believe I have been perfected by the sacrifice of Christ but also sanctified by His sacrifice once for all.
    Heb. 10:9,10

    Does this mean I am perfect in this body? No! But faith is not in what is seen on this earth but in what is unseen. I have been hidden in Christ at the right side of God even though the evidences in my life indicate the opposite for as long as I am in this body everything I do will be tainted by sin. I live by faith, not by works and the love I have for others is simply the love of Christ who flows through me. Not I, but Christ.

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  3. Andrew, If the New covenant did not begin at the resurrection as you stated then why does Hebrews 11 state that the ones under the Old Covenant were not made perfect ‘without us’?

    (Heb 11:39 KJV) “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:”

    (Heb 11:40 KJV) “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

    Hebrews 11 gives testimony of the ones who lived by faith under the Old Covenant (it is called old for a reason) and it clearly states they obtained a good report through faith, not by obedience to law. They, even though they received a good report, were not made perfect without us. Why were they not made perfect?
    They lived by faith the same as us but yet it says they were NOT made perfect. They could not be made perfect because Christ had not yet come to sacrifice for their sins and give them resurrection life like He has those in Christ (us) after the resurrection.

    It seems like you are looking at things backward and are attempting to go back to worthless and elementary things of the Old Testament in order to gain your perfection by your obedience to the Law. You are trying to make the two, one by saying you are justified by faith but live by obedience. This is what makes a person double minded. You are attempting to mix oil and water and put new wine in old wineskins. It doesn’t work.

    John the Baptist, as perfect and pleasing to God as he was, was not even made perfect until Christ’s sacrifice. Yea, do you not know that Jesus said even the least in the Kingdom would be greater than John the Baptist?

    (Luke 7:28 KJV) “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

    You keep giving me advise as to what I should do to get straightened around in my error will you be willing to take some advise from me? I suggest you do a prayerful, detailed study of the book of Hebrews and find out Jesus is greater than….. Then you will be free.

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