Is Obedience Legalism? “Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?” Matthew 12:5 It was the Levitical priesthood that worked in the Temple on the Sabbath, and the only work they were permitted to perform were those of the sacrificial system. Christ already performed the perfect sacrifice, so the Levitical priesthood that performed this sacrificial system ceased at the crucifixion when the veil before the Holy of Holies was rent. Furthermore, the temple Jesus was referring to is no more either. The priesthood that Christians perform is likened to the one described by St. Paul in the book of Hebrews, the order of Melchizedek. Therefore, the Levitical priesthood, which was only a shadow of things in heaven, and thus temporal, cannot be compared to the priesthood we as Christians are members of which is eternal as well as the temples of our bodies which also are eternal through the power of the resurrection and indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. Matthew 12:6-7 Freedom in Christ and freedom from the burden of the law by no means implies that we are free to break the 4th commandment and consume abomination. If that were the case, why am I not allowed to break any of the other commandments? Did you know that when the Lord returns He says that He will destroy those who consume swine? They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swines flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. Isaiah 66:17 Yes there are essential tasks that need to be performed regardless what day of the week it is, such as fight fires, crime and war. Matthew 12:7 says it all: But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. The Apostle Paul did not in any way claim that we are free from keeping the law, he said we are free from the condemnation of it, that is the meaning of the curse of the law, the wages of sin, death. Paul was referring to the change from temporal Levitical priesthood to eternal spiritual priesthood with Christ as our High Priest. Hebrews 4:7 says “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” What changed in the law was the method of atonement for sin. Before the cross, atonement was made for a limited number of sins by the blood of a sacrifice, but Jesus having been made the perfect sacrifice for the remission of all sins, for all man, for all time, fulfilled this requirement of blood with His perfect blood sacrifice, therefore replacing the temporal priesthood with an eternal one. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 8-11 No labour, no work, no having anyone do work for you, no shopping, cooking or cleaning. It is a day of rest in honour of the 7th day in which God rested from his creation which is a prelude to the 1000 year millennial reign of Christ on earth. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8 The last 6000 years from Adam to now is likened to the first 6 days. This is why in Joel 2:28 when the Lord talks about pouring His Spirit upon all flesh in the later days, He is referring to the last 2 days of the week, the last 2000 years. Are Christians to obey the law of Moses? “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” Matthew 23:1-3 The law of Moses is the law of God, and Jesus is God. We are to be obedient to God as best we can, in what is practical and achievable, it is the intentions of the heart that the Lord weighs. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:8 We are saved by grace through faith and not by works, but faith without works is dead. “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 23:39:20 +0000
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