Leviticus 1:1-9
We catch a glimpse of what Jesus was proclaiming in a couple of other places… in the Book of Acts, for example, in chapter 13 it says, “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgive-ness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him, everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.” And, in Hebrews 9:26 it reads: “But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man was destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. The Law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming…it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.”
So, does this mean that the Old Testament is “null and void” for those of us who are called New Testa-ment Christians? No, in fact, I am convinced that Christ stated this specifically for all those well intentioned people who are forever saying, "We not under law, but under grace."…Somehow we seem to have drawn the faulty conclusion that the Old Testament no longer matters, that it no longer applies, that it’s just a collection of historical books, filled with rules and regulations and sacrifices that we no longer have to follow,…we just have to believe. And yet, Christ plainly said “I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.” It becomes even more confusing for some if we read what Paul wrote in Romans 10:4 where he says “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” I think I might have to spend a few days writing about this particular “I came” quote.
Well in order to properly understand what Christ said, we have to understand what was or what is the law?
1) The Ten Commandments – which are the Law with a capital “L”.
2) The law was considered the first five books of the Bible, or the Pentateuch - otherwise known as the “law of Moses.”
3) The Law and the Prophets refers to what we now call the Old Testament.
In Luke 24:44 Jesus said, "These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, con-cerning me." Christ said that he came not to destroy that law… but to fulfill it.
The Psalmist David had a very different concept of Law. He spoke about God’s Law in Psalm 19:7-10 and said, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for life. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.”…This is the view that Jesus brings to the Old Testament Law. This is what Christ said would not pass away, the fact that the law is “trustworthy; perfect; making wise and bringing joy; they are to be desired”…but there was also a fourth meaning of the law which Christ was talking about – that is the Ceremonial law.
This was all the laws, rules, regulations, and traditions, that had to do with the offerings and sacrifices that were required in order to have sins forgiven and have a right relationship with God.
It was the Ceremonial law that the Apostle Paul is speaking of in Colossians 2:14 where he says “He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the “written code” - the Ceremonial law - with its regulations… “he took it away, nailing it to the Cross!” Jesus, God’s Son, was the final sacrifice.
This should help us to understand the Law a little better, and what Jesus meant when he said “I have come not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.” So, the question then is, how should we live? Should we live as though we have no use for the Ten Commandments or the law of Moses, or the Prophets? Should we live as though we have a license to sin, because Christ died once and for all? Of course not. In fact, biblically, this is the only way we can lose our salvation. Hebrews 10:26 says “If we “deliberately” keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment.” Deliberate rebellion and a willful continuation of sin, is like throwing God’s free gift of salvation back in his face.
I like the way the Living Bible translates Hebrews 10:23-25 which is just before this… Because of what God did by sending his Son, “Now we can look forward to the salvation God has promised. There is no longer any room for doubt, and we can tell others that salvation is ours, for there is no question that he will do what he says he will do! In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other, and in doing good. Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back is drawing near”… “I have come not to destroy the law, but to fulfill the law” said Jesus…
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