Why
do you believe and follow what you do? Is it because this is the way which you
were taught or this is the way you’ve always done things? How do you know for
sure that you are right? What if what you believe and follow is not the case;
or maybe it was the case at some point in time but it is no longer? These
questions are vitally important in every area of life and particularly when
they regard things which have eternal consequences.
This
month, we continue examining one of the most misunderstood principles for
understanding the Bible which has led to why there are so many different
denominations and views on some Biblical passages. Hebrews 7:12 says, “For when
there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.” The
Bible lists 3 separate priesthoods (see below). Each of these priesthoods has
their own laws.
The
Patriarchal Age (Job
1:5)
|
The
Mosaic Age (Exodus
28:1)
|
The
Church/Christian Age (1
Peter 2:9)
|
|
Priests
|
Fathers: The
fathers of the households who served as priests, offering sacrifices and
mediating for their families.
|
Levities: Aaron’s
male descendants of his son Levi functioned as the priest.
|
Christians: Every
believer is acts as a mediator between God and the sinful world by being
responsible to tell others about God. (1 Pet. 2:9). Jesus is the only High
Priest and mediator between God and us as believers. God spoke through Jesus
(Heb. 1:2) and His apostles (Eph. 2:5).
|
Law
|
Oral: God spoke
directly to the fathers. This law was passed down orally through the
generations.
|
Written: God inspired
Moses and the Prophets to write the OT.
|
Spiritual: God
inspired the Apostles who wrote the NT (2 Tim. 3:16). This law has also been
written on the hearts of all believers (Heb. 8:10-11).
|
Worship
|
Family altars
(Job 1:5)
|
The Tabernacle
during the wilderness wandering period, and then primary at the Temple in
Jerusalem afterward.
|
Worship is to be
done in spirit and truth within every believer (John 4:23-24).
|
Sacrifice
|
Animals (Gen.
8:20; 22:13)
|
Unblemished
Animals (Lev. 22:18-20)
|
Jesus the Lamb of
God (Heb. 10:10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19)
|
We
today live under the New Covenant of the Church/Christian Age, and according to
Hebrews 8:13 God has made the former covenants obsolete. Some will say that
Jesus only did away with the ceremonial law of the OT; however, the NT does not
make such a case (see Rom. 10:4; Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14)! Therefore, in order for
the letter of the law to apply from a former covenant it must be restated in
the newer covenant. Thus, a lot of things have changed. This is why we no
longer offer animal sacrifices, be circumcised, or are bound by dietary
restrictions (Mark 7:19). This is why we are no longer bound by the Sabbath
commandment (Col. 2:16). Even still, we as Christians are commanded to continue
meeting together (Heb. 10:25). The Sabbath has always been Saturday. However, the
primary day in which we do that is the Lord’s Day, Sunday because that is the
day which Jesus rose from the grave and that was the day which the NT church
met (John 20:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Rev. 1:10). Even still the Lord’s
Day is not the new Sabbath for Christians; Jesus is where we as Christians find
rest (Matt. 11:28-30). And He promises a rest yet to come in heaven (Heb. 4:9).
Next
month, we will take a look at another extremely common misunderstanding, which
can be traced back to the law of the New Covenant under the Church Age, that
is: is baptism essential for salvation? But for now, let’s consider the
implications of being under the law of the Church Age. The OT law made nothing
perfect, and as Christians, we have great confidence, allowing us to approach
God, at any time, day or night (Heb. 7:19).
We are cared for deeply (Heb. 8:9). God’s law is in our minds and
written on our hearts (Heb.8:10). We are His specially chosen people (Heb.
8:10). God Himself has chosen to be merciful to us, forgiving our sins and
remembering them no more (Heb. 8:12). And now the only law which we are under
is that of love (Rom 13:8-10). It is because of love which God gave us His
laws; and it is because of our love for Him that we follow the law as Scripture
teaches.
Because
of God’s great love,
Matt
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