I hope you all are enjoying these as much as I am. Remember to check out Seeds of Restoration at seedsofrestoration.com, or scroll down until you see "Seedy Places" on the right hand side of any MangDiddles page.
Filter No. 3
"The Division of God’s Law (Ceremonial, Moral, and Civil)."
An often repeated, yet completely unscriptural “filter of interpretation” that many have added to their “vehicle of understanding” goes something like this: The Commandments of God can be divided into three different categories: 1) Moral laws, 2) Ceremonial laws, and 3) Civil laws. We as modern day believers should abide only, by those instructions considered to be “moral commandments” The “ceremonial and civil commandments” were for a different people in a different time and thus no longer apply.
While this “teaching” might have a good ring to it and stand in unison with most Bible commentaries, it has no Scriptural support. None. Time and again throughout the Scriptures, the Lord tells us to keep all of His commandments so that it might go well for us. We need to understand that every command from the God of Israel is a “moral” commandment, given from a loving Father to His children. He defines right and wrong, we trust and obey. At a time before there was a “New” Testament, Paul told Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”. (2Tim 3:16-17) Paul evidently did not read many Bible commentaries. Also, look up Leviticus 19:3…in it God says “Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God”. How would we divide that one?
Filter No. 4
"The Church was given a New covenant which did away with the Law of Moses."
The next “flawed filter” that is often used, but never “tested” against the Word of God tells us that... “we in the church are under a new covenant, so we don’t have to obey the Commandments of God”. Many believe that God for some reason changed His mind concerning His Torah, and made a deal with the “church” that allows for us to forget about keeping His commandments. So, with a hearts desire to know the “truth of the matter”, let’s take a fresh look at Scripture, laying aside what we think we know and ask the questions... Who is the new covenant given to and does it do away with the Law as given thru Moses? Remember, we are talking about the new covenant that most in the Church claim as their own. Here goes…Hebrews 8:8 “Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—“not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more”
Houston, we have several problems! 1)The “new covenant” is clearly given to Israel. 2) He calls them “My people” and 3) The law will still not be done away with! Once again, we find it problematic to adhere to any form of replacement theology which does not recognize the “church” as part of the redeemed of Israel. And once again, Scripture teaches obedience to Torah. Even in the “New” covenant! Notice, nowhere in Scripture do we ever find permission to come up with our own set of commandments.
Filter No. 3
"The Division of God’s Law (Ceremonial, Moral, and Civil)."
An often repeated, yet completely unscriptural “filter of interpretation” that many have added to their “vehicle of understanding” goes something like this: The Commandments of God can be divided into three different categories: 1) Moral laws, 2) Ceremonial laws, and 3) Civil laws. We as modern day believers should abide only, by those instructions considered to be “moral commandments” The “ceremonial and civil commandments” were for a different people in a different time and thus no longer apply.
While this “teaching” might have a good ring to it and stand in unison with most Bible commentaries, it has no Scriptural support. None. Time and again throughout the Scriptures, the Lord tells us to keep all of His commandments so that it might go well for us. We need to understand that every command from the God of Israel is a “moral” commandment, given from a loving Father to His children. He defines right and wrong, we trust and obey. At a time before there was a “New” Testament, Paul told Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”. (2Tim 3:16-17) Paul evidently did not read many Bible commentaries. Also, look up Leviticus 19:3…in it God says “Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God”. How would we divide that one?
Filter No. 4
"The Church was given a New covenant which did away with the Law of Moses."
The next “flawed filter” that is often used, but never “tested” against the Word of God tells us that... “we in the church are under a new covenant, so we don’t have to obey the Commandments of God”. Many believe that God for some reason changed His mind concerning His Torah, and made a deal with the “church” that allows for us to forget about keeping His commandments. So, with a hearts desire to know the “truth of the matter”, let’s take a fresh look at Scripture, laying aside what we think we know and ask the questions... Who is the new covenant given to and does it do away with the Law as given thru Moses? Remember, we are talking about the new covenant that most in the Church claim as their own. Here goes…Hebrews 8:8 “Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—“not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more”
Houston, we have several problems! 1)The “new covenant” is clearly given to Israel. 2) He calls them “My people” and 3) The law will still not be done away with! Once again, we find it problematic to adhere to any form of replacement theology which does not recognize the “church” as part of the redeemed of Israel. And once again, Scripture teaches obedience to Torah. Even in the “New” covenant! Notice, nowhere in Scripture do we ever find permission to come up with our own set of commandments.
No comments:
Post a Comment