WHY THE LAW? (Part 1 of ???)

I. What is the Law?
II. Salvation by Faith Leading to Works of the Law
III. The Purpose of the Law
- The Law Reveals the Nature of the Creator
- The Law Teaches the Proper Response to Grace
- Righteous Acts of the Law Preserve the World
IV. The Observance of the Law in the New Testament
- The Obligation Is Not the Same for Every Person
V. The Function of the Law in the Millennial Kingdom
VI. Typical Arguments Against the Law
- The Law Could Not Make Man Perfect
- Jesus Fulfilled the Law Resulting in the End of the Law
- Obedience is More Important Than Sacrifice
- The Law Was Temporary and Faded Away
- Jesus Set Believers Free From the Law
VII. The Continuing Importance of the Law
VIII. The End (Transformation) of the Law

It is almost impossible to discuss the original purpose and continuing relevance of “the Law” without upsetting someone. On one hand, most believers hold that the Law has been “abolished” because it was “fulfilled” by Jesus. In taking this position, believers ignore the historical usages of the rabbinic terms “fulfill” and “abolish,” and fail to consider that many promises of God, including the fundamental covenants given to Abraham, are contained in the first five books of the Bible, the Law. Further, abolishing any part of God’s Law runs contrary to the words of Jesus who said, “until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished,” (Matt 5:18). When we discount any part of God’s word, we endanger the continuing existence of the very creation (2 Pet 3:7), and come very close to discounting the Author of the word as null and void. The author of Hebrews considered this statement applicable at the time he wrote it,

“Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witness,” (Heb 10:28).

At the other extreme, some Gentile believers hold the Law as binding on all believers, but are inconsistent in living out the requirements of the Law in a Gentile world. The primary difficulties these believers encounter revolve around the keeping of Sabbath, the application of kosher restrictions, the laws of cleanliness, and the observance of the seven major festivals given by God in scripture.

A strong case can be made that many of Jesus’ Hebrew disciples and Hebrew converts continued to live in obedience to the Law. However, the Jerusalem council of Acts chapter 15 and the letters of Paul, primarily addressed to the Gentile audiences, make a strong case that Gentiles and Jews are not under the same standard of compliance to the commandments contained in the Law. Believers should appreciate that unity in Christ is through the Spirit and does not mean uniformity in all aspects of our faith.

(This post is several years in the making and subject to continuous improvement.  The discussion is much more complicated than quoting a few passages from scripture.  To do the study justice would probably require something equivalent to a college semester course so I will fall well short. - Scott)

YOU SHALL BE HOLY (Part 7 of 7)

I. What is Holiness?
II. Holiness is a Behavior Not a Covering
III. Teaching Holiness Through the Laws of Cleanliness
IV. The Consequences of Not Being Holy
V. The Challenge for the 21st Century Church
VI. You Are a Temple: The Call to Live as a Holy Person
VII. Do Not Wear Clothes of Wool and Linen Woven Together

DO NOT WEAR CLOTHES OF WOOL AND LINEN WOVEN TOGETHER

"Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled. 10 Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. 11 Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together." (Deut 22:9-11) (Lev 19:19)

The principle of clean and unclean was given for the people of God to make a distinction between the things that are holy and the things that are common. A parallel to the cleanliness laws is demonstrated through the prohibition against wearing clothing of mixed fibers, planting different crops in the same field, or yoking different animals together. We might be able to reason that varying sizes and strengths make it impractical and potentially harmful to yoke an ox and a donkey together. One of these animals might be forced to carry a greater load, a load beyond its ability, causing injury to the animal.

We have a much greater difficulty understanding the concern about planting different crops in the same field or wearing a garment that is woven of both wool and linen together. (Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, although cotton is loosely referred to linen, but was not available to the Egyptians or Israelites.) The prohibition is not against wearing either linen or wool since both materials were worn by the people of Israel, (Lev 13:48). Nor is the provision against wearing a heavier wool coat over a linen undergarment. Nor is the provision against wearing mixtures of materials that are different from wool and linen such as wool and cotton. The commandment is specifically against wearing a garment containing a mixed material of linen and wool, but why?

Chances are that at any point in time most believers are wearing clothes that are a mixture of different materials. Manufacturers do this to achieve the desired properties of the garment they manufacture. People often avoid materials that are 100% cotton because they tend to shrink when washed. Materials that are 100% wool are warm, but they tend to itch. Materials that are 100% synthetic are sometimes too stiff or do not properly ventilate and tend to make a person sweat. So why does God instruct his people to not wear clothing that is made from the composite materials of line and wool?

In the commandments, the LORD provided beneficial ways of living while demonstrating His deeper spiritual truths. Paul used the prohibition against yoking a donkey and ox together, to tell believers, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers,” (2 Cor 6:14). The prohibition against mixing animals, seeds, and cloth are all part of the greater context of Leviticus chapter nineteen, “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy,” (Lev 19:2). Although believers are called to live in the world, we must guard against mixing with the ways of the world. Just like clean and unclean, the prohibition against mixing wool and linen is given to teach us and remind us of a greater spiritual truth.

In scripture, linen is the clothing that priests were commanded to wear when serving in the temple.

“Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer. Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron’s sons, to give them dignity and honor. After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests,” (Ex 28:39-42).

For this reason, David and all the Levites were clothed in linen when they brought the ark from the house of Obed-Edom to Jerusalem.

“Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the singers, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod.” (1 Chron 15:27)

Linen is consistently seen in the Bible as the clothing of the heavenly beings. The angels in the Book of Revelations who come out of the temple bringing judgments are said to be clothed in “shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests,” (Rev 15:6). The armies of heaven that return with the LORD are said to be “riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean,” (Rev 19:14). Finally, the saints of the Most High, the bride of the Lamb, are made ready by wearing “fine linen, bright and clean…Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.” (Rev 19:7-8).

Linen comes to represent the purity of heavenly beings and the purity of the saints who are called to be Holy as God is Holy, (Lev 11:44). When God instructed people to not wear garments that are a mixture of linen and wool, He provided a physical picture to remind us that the purity of our walk must not be polluted with the unholy things of this world. Remember, “Bad company corrupts good character,” (1 Cor 15:33). Like most instructions from God, the commandment to not weave a garment mixing wool and linen has both a literal meaning and a spiritual application.

Too often many believers do weave the fabric of this world deeply into their lives. As Gentiles, we may not be obligated to avoid clothing that is composed of a mixed fabric or to avoid planting two types of crops in the same field, but we are called to “Be holy, because I am holy,” (1 Pet 1:16). When our lives become mixed with the world we take on the appearance of the church of Laodicea in the Book of Revelations. The LORD advised the people of Laodicea to buy “white clothes to wear so you can cover your shameful nakedness,” (Rev 3:18). In effect, the LORD instructed the people of Laodicea to put on linen garments by performing righteous acts and living spotless lives free from mixing with the wool sins of the world.

Teresa and I had an interesting experience two weeks ago as we search for a new church home in Austin. We attended a church that has an auditorium, but no sanctuary. I do not mean to elevate the church building because it is sanctified by the people who attend who have studied the word, as it is written, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth,” (John 17:17). Yet in this church I saw an abundance of coffee cups, but few noticeable Bibles. Believers are called to be sanctified, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified,” (1 Thes 4:3).   Sanctification begins through the study of the word of God.  How important is sanctification?

“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification (holiness) without which no one will see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14).

 - Scott

YOU SHALL BE HOLY (Part 6 of 7)

I. What is Holiness?
II. Holiness is a Behavior Not a Covering
III. Teaching Holiness Through the Laws of Cleanliness
IV. The Consequences of Not Being Holy
V. The Challenge for the 21st Century Church
VI. You Are a Temple: The Call to Live as a Holy Person
VII. Do Not Wear Clothes of Wool and Linen Woven Together

YOU ARE A TEMPLE: THE CALL TO LIVE AS A HOLY PERSON

Now comes the most difficult part of the chapter. How do believers demonstrate holiness, especially those who have taken a position that the commandments no longer apply? To paraphrase Peter, “What sort of people are believers and how are believers demonstrating holy conduct and godliness?” (2 Pet 3:11).  In simple terms, what actions make the Christian unique and different from the rest of the world that will prevent believers from melting into the mass of humanity?

Since believers are often compared to the temple (1 Cor 6:19), let us take a few minutes to look at the temple and the articles in the temple. Every object that was dedicated for use in the temple became “HOLY TO THE LORD.” These words were engraved on the golden plate worn on Aaron’s forehead, (Ex 28:36). The phrase both reminded Aaron of the gravity of his responsibility to represent the people before God and the nature of the clothing he was wearing. The phrase “HOLY TO THE LORD” may also have been inscribed on other articles used in the temple to remind the user of their sacredness. Once an article of clothing or a vessel in the temple had been set apart for the LORD, it had to be handled in a manner that reflected the sanctification of the article. Remember, to be made “HOLY” is to set a person or object apart for the service of the LORD, (Lev 20:26).

When God commanded Moses to make implements for the temple, He gave specific instructions that those implements could not be carried beyond the boundary of the temple because they had been made holy. The articles in the temple became sanctified, as Jesus spoke, “What is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?” (Matt 23:17). Once an article is made holy, it can not be used for a common purpose. Elizabeth never said to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, “Could you pick up a few extra dishes from the temple while you are serving next week? We are having company the week after you return.” We know what happen to one man who took the vessels and utensils from the temple and employed them for common use; he was “weighed on the scales and found wanting,” (Dan 5:27).

As part of their inheritance, the priests received a portion from the altar of certain grain and animal offerings. Because these offerings had become holy by contacting the altar, the priests were commanded to take the offerings and “eat it in a holy place” (Lev 10:13), “for it is most holy,” (Lev 10:12). In other words, animals that were offered up on the altar, had to be eaten in the temple complex, with the exception of the Passover Lamb. Earthenware that had been used in the temple, but subsequently became contaminated was broken rather than relegated to a service outside of the temple, (Lev 11:32). While vessels of gold, silver and bronze could be washed (baptized) to restore their sanctification, washing was insufficient to restore common pottery because it was porous and could absorb contaminates.

Everything in the temple was Holy, was to remain Holy, and could not be taken beyond the boundary of the temple into an area that was not Holy. The phrase “be holy, because I am holy” predominately occurs in the book of Leviticus to remind the priests that their actions must reflect the nature of their calling and the environment of their service. The zeal of Jesus to overturn the money-changer tables reflects His desire to maintain the sanctity of the temple.

The scriptures tell us that Jesus “would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple,” (Mark 11:16). Apparently people traveled through the temple as a short cut to get from one side of Jerusalem to the other. In doing this, people diminished the sanctity of the temple by constantly mingling the common objects of life with the holy temple, ignoring the word of God to establish a “divide between the holy and the profane,” (Ezek 42:20). The imagery is unmistakable for believers. Believers are called “priests” (Rev 1:6), made holy by the blood of Jesus. The life of each believer should reflect this sanctified state. A life that constantly mixes the holy and the common profanes the name of the LORD, (Ezek 36:20-23).

When John tells us that “and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life,” (Rev 21:27), he is painting a picture of how the New Jerusalem will operate in a sanctified state like the temple. God Himself will dwell in the New Jerusalem and all the people who live there along with all the articles contained in the city will be “HOLY TO THE LORD.” The words of John are supported by Zechariah who wrote,

"In that day there will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “HOLY TO THE LORD.” And the cooking pots in the LORD'S house will be like the bowls before the altar. 21 And every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of hosts; and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. And there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts in that day." (Zech 14:20-21)

The phrase “HOLY TO THE LORD” is the same phrase inscribed on the head-piece worn by the High Priest and written on articles used in the temple. To inscribe this phrase, “on the bells of the horses," (Zech 14:2), requires horses to be located in a Holy place. Horses were generally not allowed in the temple complex. Inscribing “HOLY TO THE LORD” on the bells worn by horses implies that Holiness will extend beyond the temple complex to encompass all of Jerusalem. This understanding is supported by the words of Zechariah who told us that “every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of host.”

Just as in the vision of John, Zechariah is telling the reader of a future time when not only the temple, but all of Jerusalem will be 'HOLY TO THE LORD.'  Isaiah also foresaw this future time and wrote, “Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem,” (Isa 4:3).

The first century Jew went to great lengths to maintain the cleanliness laws, which are analogous to a condition of holiness. Devout Jews avoided people who were unclean and pressured their acquaintances to do the same. This position resulted in the criticism against Jesus for “eating with sinners and tax collectors” (Mark 2:16)(Matt 9:10)(Luke 5:30). Such people were generally unclean because they continually contacted unclean articles, people, and they did not worship in the prescribed manners.

This practice continues even today in the Orthodox Jewish community and runs contrary to our perception of social norms. Many people are offended by the apparent “standoffish” nature of Jewish people, not appreciating that they are trying to maintain a level of holiness because Jews, and Gentile believers, are both commanded to,

“Be Holy, for I Am Holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16)(Lev 19:20-21)

Maybe believers need to be a little more “standoffish” and practice some of the standards of holiness established by scripture and practiced by our forefathers. In a song of David, after the LORD had defeated his enemies, David said, “The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands,” (2 Sam 12:21). David understood that the blessings of the LORD were related to the holiness of David. Paul called believers to maintain a sanctified condition before God saying,.

"Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." (Rom 12:1)

"Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him." (Eph 1:4)(Col 1:22)(Heb 3:1)

“Therefore, ‘Come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the LORD. ‘And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ says the LORD Almighty,” (2 Cor 6:17-18).

If not greater obedience to the commandments, how will a believer achieve holiness.

(to be continued - Scott)

YOU SHALL BE HOLY (Part 5 of 7)

I. What is Holiness?
II. Holiness is a Behavior Not a Covering
III. Teaching Holiness Through the Laws of Cleanliness
IV. The Consequences of Not Being Holy
V. The Challenge for the 21st Century Church
VI. Living as a Holy Person
VII Do Not Wear Clothes of Wool and Linen Woven Together

THE CHALLENGE FOR THE 21st CENTURY CHURCH

“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him,” (Eph 1:4)

If holiness involves being separate from the world, it becomes difficult to find holiness in many believers within the greater body of the church. Most believers are too assimilated into the world with few discernable differences from the world. If I asked the typical believer, “what makes you different from the world,” how would they respond?

Some believers might speak of their good deeds. While mitzvoth earn merit with the Father, there are many non-believers that perform good deeds for their fellow man. Even corporations perform their “civic duties” and movie actors and royalty are often depicted helping others in need. Theses acts alone do not make a person holy, especially if the balance of an individual’s life is worldly. Some people might say that they go to church or read scripture, but unless those actions are accompanied by a change in “behavior” (1 Pet 1:15), to quote Peter, even good deeds do not make a person holy.

The constant challenge among believers in the Church is to have an impact on the world, without the world having the greater impact on the Church. If the Church fails to maintain separation from the world, then the Church itself will ultimately assimilate into the world and cease to be a separate and unique entity. Therein lies the great danger. The present day Church is too much like the world. Believers too often go to the same places, laugh at the same jokes, watch the same worldly movies, maintain the same level of tolerance to drinking, accept immodest dress codes, and attend questionable social events.  Remember the warning of the apostle John, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world,” (1 John 2:15). What makes any believer different ?

Fifty years ago, the more conservative elements of the Church of Christ generally prohibited drinking, forms of dancing, immodest clothing, inappropriate social gatherings, and the like. The modern Church mocks that type of behavior as outmoded relics from an uptight generation. Laugh as we may at those “hedges,” as the Pharisees would call them, these restrictions kept the greater body of believers from quickly dissolving into the greater mass of humanity, assimilating believers into the body of non-believers. What can we point to today that we can call a hedge?

My brothers and sisters, the church is in great danger of disappearing by assimilating into the world. This process may reflect the beginning of the great apostasy spoken from the mouth of Paul, a time when the “man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship,” (2 Thess 2:3-4). The “man of lawlessness” is a descriptive name indicating that this man will not follow the law or the commandments, nor will he permit anyone to follow the commandments. The commandments separated the people of God from the rest of the world keeping the nation of Israel and the Church holy and unique, a distinct people for the LORD God. This man’s desire is to do away with the things that separate making all people the same. In this condition, NO ONE WILL BE HOLY.

Remember that “The Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good,” (Rom 7:12). In other words, the Law has the power to make us holy, in that, the obedience to the Law separates us from the people who are not obedient to the law, i.e., the lawless. For this reason, Paul warns that in the latter days many believers “will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires and will turn away their ears from the turn and will turn aside to myths,” (2 Tim 4:3).

A recent article from MarketWatch.com entitled, "10 Things Generation Y Won’t Tell You," lists the general beliefs of children born to baby boomers. Many of these beliefs are not conducive to holiness. For examples, Millennials are said to value “equality and diversity,” which means that all lifestyles and attitudes are acceptable. This blending of all lifestyles runs counter to a position calling for separation, or holiness, and accepts gay marriage, abortion, and other social positions that run counter to scripture. Millennials also tend to be a generation of people that dress and act any they want because, “This is me, and I will go out and represent me true to who I really am.” In other words, Millenials do not feel compelled to any higher standard than the one they personally establish. Many Millenials find the standards and teaching of the church at large, weak as it often is, as too restrictive and intolerant. The expectation of the apostles was for believers to maintain a lifestyle separate from the world. This is reflected in the words of Peter asking the rhetorical question,

“What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,” (2 Pet 3:11).

So what sort of people are we called to be?  People whose lives reflect “holy conduct and godliness.”

(to be continued - Scott)