Bob Josey - Mosaic Law and Its Relationship to Believers in Jesus (part 2)

The Relationship Between Believers in Jesus and the Mosaic Law Part 2

Slides

Introduction

Last week we discussed the purpose of the Mosaic Law in relation to Israel.

The purpose for God giving the Law of Moses to Israel is as follows:

o To Reveal the Holiness of God

o To Reveal sin

o To Cover Sins and Restore Fellowship

o To Reveal the Messiah to Israel

o To provide a Rule of Conduct for Israel

We also learned a few other things about the Law of Moses last week.

· It was given to Israel exclusively.

· The Ten Commandments were major headings for placing the other 603 commandments.

· Keeping the Law of Moses did not remove the sins of an Israelite.

· Before the Law was given, during the 1500 years that the Mosaic Law was in effect, and after Jesus ratified the New Covenant, faith has aways been God’s standard for the removal of sin.

· The Mosaic Law was operative from the giving of the Law on Mount Sanai until the death of Jesus the Messiah.

· With the ratification of the New Covenant by Jesus’ death, the Mosaic Law was rendered inoperative.

The Relationship Believers in Jesus have with the Mosaic Law

All believers in Jesus are said to be “in Christ.” This is a mystical union we have with Him. Because we are “in Christ” we are privileged to participate in the blessings of the New Covenant found in Ephesians 1:3.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ… Notice we receive every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places “in Christ.” Since we are in this mystical union with Christ, we receive all the spiritual blessing of the New Covenant.

The laws of the New Covenant are also called the Law of Christ as seen in Galatians 6:2. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

The New Covenant is also called the Law of the Spirit of Life as seen in Romans 8:2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Lastly, the Mosaic Law is called the Perfect Law and the Law of Liberty in James 2:25. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

The New Covenant, also called the Law of Christ, the Law of the Spirit of life, the Perfect Law and the Law of Liberty contains all the individual commandments and blessings from Christ and the Apostles applicable to a New Testament believer.

Since the death of Christ inaugurated the New Covenant and made the Mosaic Covenant inoperative, then what should a Jewish believer in Jesus’ relationship with the Mosaic Law be? Since Gentiles were never under the authority of the Law of Moses, what should their relationship be? Let’s first discuss the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments

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There is no doubt that the relationship between believers in Jesus, the church, and the Ten Commandments is the most confusing and misunderstood aspect of the Law of Moses. We have seen several verses that demonstrate that the Mosaic Law was rendered inoperative at the death of Christ. The Ten Commandments are part

of the Law of Moses that was rendered inoperative at the death of Christ. So how can Jews, who believe in Jesus, be under the authority of the Ten Commandments, if it’s inoperative? Also, how can Gentile believers be under the authority of the Ten Commandments when they were never under the authority of the Ten Commandments. Many Christians think they should keep the Ten Commandments but fail to worship on the Sabbath? Sunday is not the Sabbath. Friday evening sundown to Saturday evening sundown is the Sabbath. Also, there are curses for not keeping the Sabbath. If believers are under the authority of the Ten Commandments, then the curses for not keeping the Ten Commandments are applicable today?

The Ten Commandments New Covenant Commandments

1. You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

… you should turn from these vain things to a living God… Acts 14:15b

2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; Exodus 20:4-5

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Cor. 10:14

3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Exodus 20:7

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; James 5:12

4. Remember the Sabbath day by

keeping it holy. Exodus 20:8

There is no command in the New Covenant to keep the Sabbath.

5. Honor your father and your

mother. Exodus 20:12

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor you father and mother… Ephesians 6:1-2a

6. You shall not murder. Exodus 20:13

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15

7. You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14

… adulterers…will not inherit the

kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

8. You shall not steal. Exodus 20:15

…steal no longer… Ephesians 4:28

9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16

Do not lie… Colossians 3:9

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:17

Covetousness must not be names among you… Ephesians 5:3

The Law of Moses has been rendered inoperative and we are now under the Law of Christ. There are many different commandments; under the Law of Moses, we would not be permitted to eat pork, but under the Law of Christ we may. There are many similar commandments, but they are nonetheless in two separate systems. If we do not kill or steal today, this is not because of the Law of Moses but because of the Law of Christ. On the other hand, if I steal, I am not guilty of breaking the Law of Moses but of breaking the Law of Christ

In Chafer’s Systematic Theology Vol. 4, pp 208–209, Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer made the following profound statement comparing the Ten Commandments to the Grace Commandments found in the New Covenant,

“Under the teachings of grace, the appeal of the first commandment is repeated no less than fifty times, the second twelve times, the third four times, the fourth (about the sabbath day) not at all, the fifth six times, the sixth six times, the seventh twelve times, the eighth six times, the ninth four times, and the tenth nine times. Yet further, that which is even more vital should be noted: The teachings of grace are not only gracious in character and of the very nature of heaven itself, but they are extended to cover the entire range of the new issues of the life and service of the Christian. The Ten Commandments require no life of prayer, no Christian service, no evangelism, no missionary effort, no gospel preaching, no life and walk in the Spirit, no Fatherhood of God, no union with Christ”

Questions and Comments

Now let’s explore the relationship that Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ should have with Mosaic Law today. The key to a believer’s relationship with the Mosiac Law is found in 1 Timothy 1:8.

But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully…

None of the New Testament writers ever disparaged the Mosiac Law, but Timothy could have taken it that way as Paul was writing about the false teachers teaching the Mosaic Law to others. Paul wanted to be sure that Timothy did not misunderstand his intent in the previous verses. He was not mocking or deriding the Law. In Romans 7:12 Paul viewed the Law as “holy, righteous, and good” Thus he clarified his point by emphasizing that the Law is good provided it is used lawfully. The Greek word translated lawfully means “being in accordance with normal procedure.” Most translations translate the Greek word lawfully. However, the NIV translates it” properly” and the NLT translates it “when used correctly”. There is a proper and a correct way to use the Law of Moses as a believer, but many believers use it inappropriately. So, let’s now discuss a few ways to use the Law of Moses properly.

As we discuss the ways the Mosiac Law can be used by believes today, let us keep in mind that the Mosiac Law was rendered inoperative at the death of Jesus when the New Covenant was inaugurated. The Mosiac Law is not a code of conduct or the standard by which believer lives by today. It‘s the New Covenant. So, how then can the Mosaic Law be used properly?

1.The Mosiac Law can be used to show people their sinfulness – Even though the Mosiac Covenant is not in force today, it can still show people their sinfulness. The Law of Moses is not for one who had already recognized his sin and trusted Christ as Savior. That person should now walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:13–26). The Law of Moses is intended for unbelievers in Jesus who remain unconvinced of their sin. The Mosiac Law can be used to convict unbelievers of their sins in any language group or county.

2.The Mosiac Law can be used as examples to caution believers against disobedience.

After the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt, God blessed Israel is so many ways. In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul listed four of these blessings”

· They were guided by God’s presence in the form of a cloud and a pillar of fire. (Exodus 13:21–22)

· They safely escaped the Egyptians by crossing the parted Red Sea. (Exodus 14:21–29)

· They feasted on manna and quail in the desert. (Exodus 16)

· They were provided with water supernaturally. (Exodus 17:1–7).

One would think one would think the Israelites would have responded to these blessings with gratitude and praise. But they didn’t. Instead, they were ungrateful and disobedient. In this same chapter Paul listed four ways in which Israel proved themselves unfaithful and suffered as a result.

Ø They repeatedly complained to Moses and God about their conditions in the desert. (Exodus 17:2–3);

Ø They committed idolatry by worshiping the golden calf. (Exodus 32:1–6)

Ø Their grumbling turned into rebellion, which resulted in a widespread plague. (Numbers 16:41–50);

Ø They engaged in sexual immorality with women of Moab in connection with Baal worship. (Numbers 25:1–9).

Paul connected the experience of the Israelites with that of the Corinthian church (10:6, 11). He was using these lessons from the past as examples not to follow and to caution them against disobedience. Paul gave these warning in verses 6 and 11.

6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction…

The Old Testament is chocked full of examples and lessons that should warn believers in Jesus today against disobedience We see the sin and consequences of other biblical characters. Adam and Eve’s sin has caused pain, suffering, and death for 6,000 years for every human who has ever lived and will live. Abraham’s choice to have a baby with Hagar, with the result being Ismael, has caused the world problems for 4,000 and is still causing problems. There are also examples of faithful servants and the faithful choices biblical characters made such as Mary and Joseph, Daniel, John the Baptist, the 11 disciples who followed Jesus, Simeon, Anna the Temple widow etc. These faithful men and women should should encourage us to be obedient. The successes and failures of biblical characters serve to provide us warnings and instructions on making the right choices in our lives. If we are teachable, the lessons from others in the past will help us make the right choices as we live for Christ in the present. We all know the consequences of sinful or wrong decisions in our lives.

Also, remember that others are looking at us to see our reactions and the choices we make just about every day of our lives as believes. We should not only be subjective witness in which we are the subject sharing the gospel with people. But we are also objective witnesses because we are the object others are looking at.

Use the illustration of Pastor Clay and His four-year-old daughter at Target.

World War II produced many heroes. One was Butch O’Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. One day while on a mission, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. Unable to complete his mission, he turned around and headed back for the aircraft carrier. As he headed back, he saw a squadron of Japanese Zeroes heading straight for the American fleet. All the American fighters were out on a sortie, leaving the fleet virtually defenseless.

He dove into the formation of Japanese planes in a desperate move to divert them away from the fleet. After a frightening air battle, the Japanese airplanes broke off their assault on the fleet. Butch O’Hare’s tattered fighter plane limped back to the aircraft carrier. He was recognized as a hero and given one of the nation’s highest military honors. O’Hare International Airport in Chicago is named after him. Butch O’Hare was a great example to others.

Some years earlier, there was a man in Chicago called Easy Eddie. In those days, Al Capone virtually owned the city. Capone’s mob was involved in bootlegging booze, murder, and prostitution. Easy Eddie was Al Capone’s lawyer and kept Big Al out of jail. In return, Easy Eddie earned big money and lived like a king on an estate so large, it filled an entire city block.

But Easy Eddie had one soft spot—a son whom he loved dearly. Eddie saw that his son had the best of everything: clothes, cars, and a good education. Despite Eddie’s involvement with the mob, he tried to teach his son right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. But there were two things Eddie could not give his son—a good name and a good example.

Deciding that giving his son these two things was more important than lavishing him with riches, Eddie had to rectify all the wrongs he had done. He had to make matters right in his life. He went to the authorities and told them the truth about Al Capone.

Easy Eddie eventually testified in court against Al Capone and the mob. He knew the cost would be great, but he wanted to be an example to his son and leave him with a good name. Within a year of testifying against the Mob, Easy Eddie’s life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. He had given his son, however, the greatest gift he had to offer at the greatest price he would ever pay. He had given him a good example. What do these stories have to do with one another? Butch O’Hare was Easy Eddie’s son.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, our example, whether it is good or bad, will provide lessons for others now and in the future. May the Lord help us all to set a good example of a wise and godly life.

Selah!