Is “The Law,” those so-called “rules of conduct” given to the Israelites back in the days of the Old Testament for us today? This is one of the more highly debated questions in many religious circles today; however, we wanted to share a few things that we have discovered during the course of our studies. Under the old covenant, the laws, written on stone tablets and conveyed to the Israelites through Moses, were given to regulate almost every aspect of life (Exodus 24:12).
He cancels the first system in favor of a far better one. Under this new plan we have been forgiven and made clean by Christ’s dying for us once and for all. Under the old agreement the priests stood before the altar day after day offering sacrifices that could never take away our sins. But Christ gave himself to God for our sins as one sacrifice for all time and then sat down in the place of highest honor at God’s right hand, waiting for his enemies to be laid under his feet. For by that one offering he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom he is making holy. And the Holy Spirit testifies that this is so, for he has said, “This is the agreement I will make with the people of Israel, though they broke their first agreement: I will write my laws into their minds so that they will always know my will, and I will put my laws in their hearts so that they will want to obey them.” And then he adds, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds” (Hebrews 10:9-17 TLB).
Unlike the days of the old covenant, where the laws were written on stone tablets and passed along by Moses, under this new covenant, we have those same laws written into our minds and placed in our hearts, so that those “rules of conduct,” originally given to the Israelites are now written into our very being. However, there is one major difference between the old and the new covenant that everyone involved in the great debate needs to consider. Under this new covenant, we actually have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who offered himself as the sacrifice for the penalty of sin and of death for all time, redeeming those who would accept the free gift of salvation, from the condemning curse of the law (Galatians 3:10-14), but he did not free us from “the rules of conduct” themselves.
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come—it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them and to make them all come true. With all the earnestness I have I say: Every law in the Book will continue until its purpose is achieved. And so if anyone breaks the least commandment and teaches others to, he shall be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But those who teach God’s laws and obey them shall be great in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19 TLB).
While we may not have the laws on stone tablets any longer, that does not mean they are still not in effect; they just appear to be in effect from the inside of us. We pray that today’s inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it. If blessed by this message please share so that others may be blessed as well. Amen.
Enjoy your blessings. - KW
No comments:
Post a Comment