To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 09:51:46 -0500
Subject: HF008 - Using the Law Lawfully
Hebraics,
This is an eighth Bible study entitled, 'Using the Law Lawfully.' This
study will require your attention. It will also contain some repeats.
Please read over it carefully, and prayerfully, and then feel free to
enter into discussion.
The Scripture portion for this study is 1 Timothy 1:6-8 (NASB),
where Paul says, "For some men, straying from these things, have
turned to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law,
even though they do not understand either what they are saying or
the matters about which they make confident assertions. But we
know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully...."
Paul is speaking in regard to the Law of Moses. Why would he
have to say 'the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully?' Paul is saying
that the Law of Moses has to be viewed through the lens of the new
covenant, or, through what is also called 'the Law of Christ.' The Law of
Moses can serve as a text book in some respects, but it cannot be used to
take the place of the new covenant that now belongs to God's people.
Paul's point is that while the Law of Moses contained wonderful
truths of God, but there are parts of the Law of Moses that are
simply not applicable to the Law of Christ. The reason is that both
Laws are marriage contracts. We are espoused to the resurrected
Lord of glory. Israel of the Old Testament did not have that privilege.
In fact, Paul speaks with regard to those of Israel who rejected
Jesus, as Israel after the flesh. The King James Version is more
accurate in regard to 1 Corinthians 10:18; "But Israel after the
flesh; are not those which eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?"
Let's go to the prophet Jeremiah, where the Lord explains the new
covenant; "Behold, days are coming, 'declares the Lord,' when I will make
a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, NOT
LIKE THE COVENANT which I made with their fathers ... My covenant which
they broke, although I was a *HUSBAND* to them." (Jer31:31,32 Caps for
emphasis.)
Notice God says that the new covenant would not be like the
covenant of Moses. Why? There is to be a death of Israel's
husband, which will nullify the former marriage contract. From the
cross will come a new creation. This new order will take up the
name Christian, which means, 'belonging to Christ.' (Isaiah 65:15
speaks of a new name to be given God's people.)
This new order must have a marriage contract that is suitable to it
alone. Jesus said we cannot put new wine into old wine skins. The
covenant of Moses was never intended for a new creation people.
Now continue with Jeremiah; "But this is the covenant which I will
make ... I will put MY LAWS within them and on their heart..."
(Vs33)
In the new covenant, each person born from above, receives the
Spirit of Christ, who, in turn, works and writes new covenant laws in
their heart. It is the imprinting God's wonderful truths that cause us to
feel like we've been born again, again.
Again notice the Lord did not say He would put the Law of Moses
within them, but rather *His Laws*.
I need to repeat this for the sake of understanding - The law of
Moses was the law of the husband given at Sinai. In the new
covenant we are under a new law, which is called 'the law of Christ.' It
is a new marriage contract, without any curses. And yet, both the law of
Moses and the law of Christ contain the eternal laws (truths) of God.
For one thing, the covenant of Moses did not have the spiritual love
factors built into it that are contained in the new covenant. Yes, love
was commanded, but it was not fulfilled. Why? Because the defect of Adam's
sin still rested upon the people. Before the cross, no person could attain
the spiritual expressions that are found in the new covenant.
This is why Peter said, "And though you have not seen Him, you
love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him,
you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory." (1Pe1:8)
Listen to Moses singing his song; "They have acted corrupted
toward Him, they are not His children, because of their defect; but
are a perverse and crooked generation." (Deu32:5) The song of
Moses and the Lamb is a prophetic song. It reaches across the
generations.
What did Moses mean by their 'defect?' This reflects on the fall of
Adam. All humans on this planet inherited that defect. The best
religion in the world, and Israel had the best, could not remove the
defect. Only the cross could do that.
This is also why the new covenant cannot be classified as a
religion. It is a living union between God and His people. This is a love
union.
This is also why God's people began to tire of religion. When
believers go from Church to Church, it isn't necessarily that they
are being rebellious. Often they just don't understand that what
they are looking for cannot be found in any religion. Find the truth, and
God will flock you where you belong.
Let's return to Paul's teaching on Law. One problem we have in the
study of Scriptures is our distance from the writers. We are not
familiar with the thought form, with the customs, or with the word
usages, along with many other things that belonged to the early
Church, or to the new covenant. Because of this, we tend to lose
sight of distinctions being made. (Thank the Lord for the Holy Spirit who
continues to use the Bible as a text book, in explaining the things of God
to us.)
When we see the term 'the Law of God' in New Testament writings,
we automatically think 'Law of Moses.' In many cases the Law of
Moses is in view, but not always.
Let's see the distinctions. Paul puts three distinct Laws together in one
portion of Scriptures. (Some of you probably read this in an earlier
email, where Doug, Harold, and myself were discussing the 'Bride of
Christ.') Listen carefully to the language that Paul uses in 1 Corinthians
9:19-21.
Before I quote this portion, I want to show the distinctions. (1) Is a
reference to the Law of Moses. (2) Is with regard to the law of God. (3)
Is to the law of Christ. And, (4) is to those with no regard to any law.
Here is the quote:
"To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win the Jews; to
those who are under the Law(1), as under the Law(1) though not
being myself under the Law(1), so that I might win those who are
under the Law(1); to those who are without law(4), as without
law(4), thought not being without the law of God(2) but under the
law of Christ(3), so that I might win those who are without law(4).
Do you see the distinctions? Read it carefully in your Bible and
these three law usages will stand out.
Now look at another Scripture. Romans 2:14,15, says, "For when
Gentiles who do not have the Law(1) do instinctively the things of
the Law(1&2), these, not having the Law(1), are a law(2) to
themselves, in that they show the work of the Law(1&2) written in
their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, etc."
The (1&2) is used to show that the Law of Moses had encoded in it
God's eternal laws. And yet, the Law of Moses itself is not the
eternal Law of God. The Law of Moses had many laws that are not
eternal. They were for the moment, and for that marriage.
And so, it wasn't the Laws of Moses that was written in the hearts
of these Gentiles. It would have been God's eternal laws, or the
Law of God. (Hope this makes sense.)
This is a repeat - Again we come to the fact that the Law of Moses
was essentially a marriage contract between Israel and God. No
other nation had a part in that contract. A great portion of the Law of
Moses had to do with the land, with temple worship, with blessings and
curses of the marriage. Understand this and it will help you understand
the new covenant better.
And so, what laws did the Gentiles have written in their
conscience? The Law of Moses? Not hardly. God would not be
writing in the conscience of Gentiles a law of marriage that
belonged to Israel alone.
For the sake of time, let's bring this part of the Bible study to a
close.
Think about it - What did Paul mean, when he said, "But we know
that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully?"
Or, what did Paul mean, when he said, "the letter kills, but the
Spirit gives life?"
Do you see the picture? How many Christians are being bruised by
those who do not understand the covenant of Christ, or the love of
Christ, or the forgiveness of Christ?
Did you know that when a person reaches back into the Law of
Moses, to bring forth a curse upon a child of God, they are
transgressing the covenant of marriage we have with Christ?
There is no curse applied to a new covenant believer.
Let's discuss it.
Shalom in Christ,
Buddy
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org