1-20 Jesus And The Law Of Moses
Jesus being the perfect
sacrifice for sin and the ideal High Priest who could truly gain
forgiveness for us, the old system of animal sacrifices and high
priests was done away with after his death (Heb. 10:5-14). "The
priesthood being changed (from the Levites to Christ), of necessity
there is also a change of the law" (Heb. 7:12). Christ "has become a
priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry (i.e. just
because a man was a descendant of Levi he could be a priest), but on
the basis of the power of an indestructible life", which he was given
due to his perfect sacrifice (Heb. 7:16 NIV). Therefore, "the former
regulation (i.e. the law of Moses) is set aside because it was weak and
useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope (through
Christ) is introduced" (Heb. 7:18,19 NIV).
It
is evident from this that the law of Moses has been ended by the
sacrifice of Christ. To trust in a human priesthood or to still offer
animal sacrifices means that we do not accept the fulness of Christ's
victory. Such beliefs mean that we do not accept Christ's sacrifice as
completely successful, and that we feel that works are necessary to
bring about our justification, rather than faith in Christ alone. "No
one is justified by the law in the sight of God ... for, The
just(ified) shall live by faith" (Gal. 3:11 cp. Hab.
2:4). Our own steel-willed effort to be obedient to the letter of God's
laws will not bring us justification; surely every reader of these
words has disobeyed those laws already.
If we are going to observe the law of Moses, we must attempt to keep all
of it. Disobedience to just one part of it means that those who are
under it are condemned: "All who rely on observing the law are under a
curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to
do everything written in the Book of the Law’” (Gal. 3:10 NIV). The
weakness of our human nature means that we find it impossible to fully
keep the law of Moses, but due to Christ's complete obedience to it, we
are freed from any obligation to keep it. Our salvation is due to God's
gift through Christ, rather than our personal works of obedience. "For
what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful
nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man,
to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man ...” (Rom.
8:3 NIV). Thus "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law,
having become a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13)
Because
of this, we are no longer required to keep any part of the law of
Moses. The New Covenant in Christ replaced the Old Covenant of Moses'
law (Heb. 8:13). By his death, Christ cancelled "the written code, with
its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us (by
our inability to fully keep the law); he took it away, nailing it to
the cross ... Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or
drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration
or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come;
the reality, however, is found in Christ" (Col. 2:14-17 NIV). This is
quite clear - because of Christ's death on the cross, the Law was taken
away so that we should resist any pressure put on us to keep parts of
it, e.g. the feasts and the sabbath. Like the rest of the Law, the
purpose of these things was to point forward to Christ. After his
death, their typical significance was fulfilled, and there was
therefore no further need to observe them.
The
early Christian church of the first century was under constant pressure
from the Orthodox Jews to keep parts of the Law. Throughout the New
Testament there is repeated warning to resist these suggestions. In the
face of all these, it is extraordinary that today there are several
denominations who advocate partial obedience to the Law. We have
earlier shown that any attempt to gain salvation from obedience to the
Law must aim to keep the entire Law, otherwise we are automatically condemned for disobedience of it (Gal. 3:10).
There
is an element within human nature which inclines to the idea of
justification by works; we like to feel that we are doing something towards our
salvation. For this reason, compulsory tithing, wearing a crucifix,
reciting set prayers, praying in a certain posture etc. are all popular
parts of most religions, Christian and otherwise. Salvation by faith in
Christ alone is a doctrine unique to true Bible-based Christianity.
Warnings
against keeping any part of the Law of Moses in order to gain
salvation, are dotted throughout the New Testament. Some taught that
Christians should be circumcised according to the Mosaic law, "and keep
the law". James flatly condemned this idea on behalf of the true
believers: "we gave no such commandment" (Acts 15:24). Peter
described those who taught the need for obedience to the Law as putting
"a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we
were able to bear. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ (as opposed to their works of obedience to the law) we
shall be saved" (Acts 15:10,11). Under inspiration, Paul is equally
outspoken, stressing the same point time and again: "A man is not
justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ ...
that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of
the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified ... no
one is justified by the law ... by (Christ) everyone who believes is
justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the
law of Moses" (Gal. 2:16; 3:11; Acts 13:39).
It
is a sure sign of the apostasy of popular Christendom that many of
their practices are based upon elements of the Law of Moses - despite
the clear and laboured teaching considered above that Christians should
not observe this Law, seeing that it has been done away in Christ. We
will now consider the more obvious ways in which the Law of Moses is
the basis of present 'Christian' practice:-
Priests
The
Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican churches openly use a system of human
priesthood. The Roman Catholics see the Pope as their equivalent of the
Jewish high priest. There is "one Mediator between God and
men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). It is impossible, therefore,
that the Pope or priests can be our mediators as the priests were under
the Old Covenant. Christ is now our High Priest in Heaven, offering our
prayers to God.
There
is absolutely no Biblical evidence that the authority possessed by the
Spirit-gifted elders of the first century - e.g. Peter - was passed on
to successive generations or to the Pope in particular. Even if the
possibility of this were admitted, there is no way of proving that the
Pope and priests personally are those upon whom the spiritual mantle of
the first century elders has fallen.
The
miraculous Spirit gifts having been withdrawn, all believers have equal
access to the Spirit-Word in the Bible (see Studies 2.2 and 2.4). They
are therefore all brethren, none having any more spiritually exalted a
position than another. Indeed, all true believers are members
of a new priesthood by reason of their baptism into Christ, in the
sense that they show forth the light of God to a dark world (1 Peter
2:9). They will therefore become the king-priests of the Kingdom, when
it is established upon earth at Christ's return (Rev. 5:10).
The
Catholic practice of calling their priests 'Father' (the 'Pope' means
'father' too) is in flat contradiction to Christ's clear words, "Do not
call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in
heaven" (Matt. 23:9). Indeed, Jesus warned against granting any fellow
man the sort of spiritual respect demanded by modern priests: "But you,
do not be called ‘Rabbi’ (teacher), for One is your Teacher, the
Christ, and you are all brethren" (Matt. 23:8).
The
ornate robes worn by priests, bishops and other clergymen have their
basis in the special clothing worn by the Mosaic priests and high
priest. This clothing pointed forward to the perfect character of
Christ, and, as with all the Law, its purpose has now been
fulfilled. It is indeed heartbreaking, that clothing which was intended
to extol the glory of Christ, is now used to advance the glory of the
men who wear it - some of whom admit that they do not accept Christ's
resurrection or even the personal existence of God.
The Catholic idea that Mary is a priest is grossly wrong. Our requests are in Christ’s
name, not Mary's (Jn. 14:13,14; 15:16; 16:23-26). Christ is our only
High Priest, not Mary. Jesus rebuked Mary when she tried to get him to
do things for others (Jn. 2:2-4). God, not Mary, brings men to Christ
(Jn. 6:44).
Tithing
This,
too, was part of the Mosaic Law (Num. 18:21), whereby the Jews were to
donate a tenth of their substance to the priestly tribe of Levi. Seeing
that there is now no human priesthood, it can no longer be obligatory
to pay a tithe to any church elders. Again, one false idea (in this
case concerning priests) has led to another (i.e. tithing). God Himself
does not need our offerings, seeing that all belongs to Him
(Ps. 50:8-13). We are only giving back to God what He has given us (1
Chron. 29:14). It is impossible for us to gain salvation as a result of
our material offerings, e.g. in financial terms. In gratitude for God's
great gift to us, we should not just offer a tenth of our money, but
our whole lives. Paul set an example in this, truly practising what he
preached: "... offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and
pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship" (Rom. 12:1
NIV).
Food
The
Jewish Law categorized certain foods as unclean - a practice adopted by
some denominations today, especially regarding pork. Because of
Christ's removing of the Law on the cross, "... do not let anyone judge
you by what you eat or drink" (Col. 2:14-16 NIV). Thus the Mosaic
commands concerning these things have been done away, seeing that
Christ has now come. It was he to whom the 'clean' foods pointed
forward.
Jesus
clearly explained that nothing a man eats can spiritually defile
him; it is what comes out of the heart which does this (Mark
7:15-23). "In saying this, Jesus declared all foods 'clean'"
(Mark 7:19 NIV). Peter was taught the same lesson (Acts 10:14,15), as
was Paul: "I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is
nothing unclean of itself" (Rom. 14:14). Earlier, Paul had reasoned
that to refuse certain foods was a sign of spiritual weakness (Rom.
14:2). Our attitude to food "does not commend us to God" (1 Cor.
8:8). Most incriminating of all is the warning that apostate Christians
would teach men, "to abstain from foods which God created to be
received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth" (1
Tim. 4:3).
