Monday, 04 May 2009
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Do We Minimize the Importance of God's Commandments?
by miss goldenrod
Pastor is in the middle of a sermon-series on Deuteronomy 28; I hope it's the middle, because so far he's only touched on the first 14 "happy" verses. But what about the other 54, the doom-and-gloom ones? I find the line that separates the positive portion of this chapter from the negative part incredibly thin: If you fully obey the Lord your God and keep all the commands I'm giving you today, then the Lord your God will exalt you... But if you don't...all these curses will come and overwhelm you.I'm somewhat tempted to write off Deuteronomy 28 as being beneficial to only the prosperity-teachers and the hellfire-and-damnation guys. I want to read it through the lens of Jesus, but it all seems so ponderous. As Jesus said in Matthew 5, "I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved."
I realize this is going to subject me to comments pointing out to me how great God's grace is, how amazing is his mercy. That if I love him, I'll automatically and instinctually strive to keep his commandments. That God will give me the strength to keep his laws. Yeah, I get that. But I don't see Biblical support for these arguments which also negates the importance of keeping God's commands. I sometimes feel as though we minimize the incredible vastness and importance in doing what God told us to do.
Maybe Pastor doesn't need to go into the curses provided he teaches well what falls under the blessing-stipulation; after all, he is definitely not a prosperity-preacher and his congregants are well-informed to the "if/then" stipulations in Scripture. Look, people know what it is to be both good and bad, and we Michiganders need optimistic sermons right now, not ones that paint a picture similar to our daily realities. And there are a lot of commands in Deuteronomy, most of the book, actually. But, all the rules that Moses was directed to give are merely specific elaborations on the basic Ten/Two Commandments.
Jesus gave us two rules: love God (more than anything), and love others (the way Jesus loved us...and Jesus loved us enough to die for us, mind you). They seem easy, but they're not, and perhaps have been quoted so much that they're easily dismissable. Those two commands ought to encompass every single moment of our lives.
And they don't in mine.
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Comments (17)
Good post... This is something I struggle with quite a bit.
We are no longer under the Old Covenant. As Galatians says, the law of Moses is a tutor, useful for a time, but no longer needed. Now we are under the law of Christ. I highly recommend a study on Galatians as to the role of the Mosaic law in the life of a believer.
Also, as far as the quote by Jesus in regards to 'fulfilling' the law - what does fulfill mean? If you fulfill the requirements for a class, do you need to keep writing papers? If you fulfill the obligations for paying a speeding ticket, do you need to keep paying fines? No. That's what it means when Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. When something has been fulfilled, it is completed. Done. Over. Jesus didn't come to ignore the requirements, he came to fulfill them.
In Deuteronomy 10:12-16, God had commanded the Israelites:
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? 14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. 15 Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.
But keep reading through to Deuteronomy 30:6: And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
Anytime we read the Old Testament we need to look for shadows/prophesies of Christ there. Anytime we read the law we need to allow it to take us to grace. (e.g.-see Galatians 3, or better yet all of Galatians, as @Theophilus166@xanga said.)
All of us who have received Christ, who have believed on His name have received God's Holy Spirit who will works in us to will and to do of God's good pleasure (Phil. 2:12-13). God's commandments are burdensome to us because along w/ God's commandments comes God's resurrection power to keep them. See also Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8; Romans 6:1-7:6. Col. 2:11-15. The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.
When we are under the law of Christ, we are under the law of Moses by default. It is because Christ continually sacrifices Himself to fulfill the OT law that we do not follow the letter of the OT law; it is assumed that by following Christ, we follow the OT law as well, in a sense.
Hence why we are called "Spiritual Jews".
@Theophilus166@xanga - I absolutely agree. Well said.
am i the only one to see a small irk here?
i believe a more accurate translation of Jesus's words are that He came to accomplish the Law's purposes.
17 "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. (NLT)
What was the purpose of the law? to pave a way for God and man to stand in relationship with each other. But instead of bringing life in relationship with God the law brought death through conviction.
But then came Christ, through the glorious timing of the Father. To not just fullfill the requirements of the law, but to fully and utterly complete the original purpose of the law, which is relationship with God/Christ.
When looking at the law through the perspective of it's purpose, we find that it is a means thather than an end. And i do not believe we lose perspective of the law when in relationship with Christ, but through His spirit we are lifted to life above the law.
angles .....
Regarding your title, I minimize the importance of God's commandments for people under a different covenant. At the time they were important, but they don't directly apply now (e.g., does v. 21 really fit? is v. 30 something we should take heed against?). There are some conditional statements in the NT that may reflect what you're trying to say better. Beyond that, a distinction must be made between the old covenant (what the author of Hebrews calls obsolete) and the new one.
Hmmm....
Firstly, we need to recognize that Jesus Christ is the Word Incarnate.
When you read the law and the prophets - as well as the NT - you are reading the words of Jesus, who created the whole world. From beginning to end, the Bible is the story of Christ, and man's rebellion against Him.
On the last day, Jesus Christ will judge the world. And by what law will He judge? His law, of course. "The word that I have spoken shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48)
Although we are under the New Covenant, we are still bound to obey God. It's that simple. And it's not as if the prophets of the NT throw the OT out the window, like so many "Christians" today -
But rather, the New is an exegesis of the Old.
Consider the words of Paul where he says - as in many places -
For it is written in the law of Moses - "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt this is written that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of that hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing that we reap from you material things?
It is true that the Old Covenant is "passing away", having been replaced with a New Covenant, whose mediator is Christ. However, the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Shall we mutilate the living word of God to be what we would have it be? Or shall we live by the principles of righteousness within God's law, as Paul prescribes above? There are many, many curses for disobedience, and I for one would not like to receive any of them.
God's law is there to teach us how we ought to live and conduct ourselves. We think of God's law as a purely Israelite-era part of the Bible, but even in the Garden of Eden - even in paradise! - God gave His law to Adam, complete with consequences for disobedience. "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die."
...And if any man fails to warn his congregation about the curses of disobedience, he is only preaching half of the word of God.
I don't think it's so much that we downplay the commandments, but that we know that we cannot fully live up to them. We are human and we make mistakes. But I think it is important to still try and to ask God for his help.
the only reason the Law is not as important in Christianity as it is in Judaism is because Paul chose to focus on converting Gentiles and wanted to make the new religion more accessible. prior to this, one had to be a Jew to be a follower of Jesus.
@QuantumStorm@xanga - You said, "Christ continually sacrifices Himself."
I am curious how you square that with the "once for all" passages in Romans 6:10, Hebrews 7:27, 9, 10, and 1 Peter 3:18. These leave me with the impression that Jesus, unlike the OT sacrifices, only had to be sacrificed once.
'Michiganders need optimistic sermons right now, not ones that paint a picture similar to our daily realities.'
This is a great prayer! How does the Bible (or what God says) align with my personal reality in each moment. Seems to me that is the crux of it...and God's hope for each of us. That we will seek Him to find the answer! I've come to appreciate suffering for that very reason...that it has led me to a place of hope...in deeper awareness of who He is and who I am.
For what its worth, I've come to believe that much (all?) of the Bible is not about what we 'should' do, but is merely a discussion of what is (the reality of this world)! Its only yes in Christ (2 Cor 1:19)...even to sin. Perhaps that a bit strongly stated and easily misunderstood, but I recognize that I'm not sinless (not that I've given up), but if I do sin, there's only consequence and repentance. And when I repent...only grace...and God no longer even sees my sin!
I've come to really believe the Gospel truly is only 'good news!'
God bless you on your journey!
I think it is possible to walk rightly and blameless. but only with the help of God, through intimacy.
And this is mandatory for Christians.
"If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned." - John 15:6
When we choose to sin, it is because we are essentially rejecting God and have lost our Joy/faith in God.
I am not saying I am perfect. I reject God lots. but I am constantly reminded of my need for him. and of his promises and how good he is. And when he is near, I know that it is the safest place I could possibly be in no matter the circumstances.
So when temptations come my way to sin, If I keep God near me, If i remember to put on Christ, and to allow him to live in me. I won't sin, I really can't sin. But its a daily, moment by moment infilling of his spirit in my life. We are to be filled with his spirit ephesians 5:18 unforunately there are times where we get disatisfied and want the world more than we want God, and we choose to put the world first and ourselves on the throne of our lives instead of God. and this is wrong and if we do not repent of this, will lead to death and hell.
fortunately when we do fall short, God is gracious and merciful to forgive us because of what Christ has done on the cross, and can restore my right standing with him and can be renewed with his spirit and filled. The kingdom of heaven is near, Repent and believe in the Gospel
We need his power to overcome sin. 1 John is pretty clear on this.
"God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." 1 John 1:6
we don't fight sin in our own ability. making it a work's based religion. our own abilities can never do good, they are like filthy rags to God. But its by fellowship with God and his spirit, his grace. its all grace, that empowers us to overcome sin.
everyone likes Romans 8 because it says "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus... By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh"
but they don't read nor understand what comes right after it
"in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled inus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit."
notice how it says in us, and not just for us as some might interpret. which means that christ came so that we might also die to sin and live to righteousness. meaning christ died on the cross for our forgiveness of sins, but also so that we may also walk rightly and fight sin.
and to do this, is by the grace of his spirit that guides us. its by fellowshiping with him and being in relationship. Him living in you.
like Jesus had the spirit. we ought to live like him.
the christian life is not complex, quite simple actually.
but not easy.
thank God for Jesus
may He help us all
His Kingdom come, His Will be done.
no one likes to discuss this which shows why there are only 16 comments now 17.
as I was reading my bible I came across this great passage that illustrates my point further and I thought I would share it with the xanga community.
Basically true Christianity, is always followed by sanctification and godliness, a turning away from all sin. and if you are the type of person who easily minimizes sin, and tells others that it's ok to sin.
this word is for you
"Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing." - 1 Timothy 63-4