Picking up from where we left off in the last post -- our study of John 7 -- we understand that Jesus stayed back for some time in Galilea, for in Jewry the Jews had sought to kill Him. This was an ongoing theme, as we understand from John's writing, because the Jews did not have room in their heart for His Word. Thus, when Jesus finally went up into the temple in the midst of the feast (to teach the people) Jesus asks, "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law?" (John 7:19)
This is an interesting question, given the number of professing believers today who still demand that we obey the law given to Moses -- even though Jesus' sacrifice on the cross -- the Lamb of God shedding His precious, holy blood for you and I was the ultimate sacrifice, paying the price for our sins once and for all.
"For this cause ..." (Hebrews 9:15-18)
Please note that the law does not only consist of the 10 commandments written on tablets of stone but also the 613 other laws given as well. But is this really what Jesus intended for His people -- for believers to return to the same bondage as before, even after the law as a schoolmaster has brought us to Christ? For believers who have been set free, standing in the liberty wherewith is Christ -- to return to worldly entanglements -- wherein we cast aside the boldness to enter into the holiest by way of the blood of Jesus by a new and living way -- "which He hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say His flesh"?
Let's examine the scriptures. First, we know through the prophets from afore, and the apostles' teachings that the Lord did a brand new thing in the new testament. We also know from Hebrews 9 and 10 that the law in the old covenant was a shadow of good things to come. We understand that it was therefore necessary that the pattern of things in the heavens should be purified with these: but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
"For Christ is not entered into the holy [places] made with hands which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others, for then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world that He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. " (Hebrews 9:24-26; Acts 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; John 1:10-11)
As well, in this current dispensation of grace, He writes His laws in our hearts.
"Wherefore the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that He had said before, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days," saith the Lord, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their sins and inequities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." (Hebrews 10:15-20; Hebrews 9:15-18)
Apostle Paul further clarifies by stating that even in the reading of the old testament, the vail remains on our hearts.
"Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: and not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (II Corinthians 3:12-17)
From the scriptures, we should likewise understand that in the new, the circumcision of the flesh which was of ordinances, priesthood, and annual sacrifices (physical) has been replaced with circumcision of the heart (spiritual) in this current dispensation of grace. The first covenant was a worldly sanctuary. It required the Holy Ghost this signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. (Hebrews 9:8)
"Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience ... which stood only in meats and drinks, and diverse washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." (Hebrews 9:9-11)
But Christ ...and for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance ... " (Hebrews 9:15-18)
As in the old, there had to be a purchase made, a sacrifice in blood wherein we the saints could be ushered in -- particularly after the Lord God had said, "Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me, in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure." (Hebrews 10:8)
But did the Lord our God (who willingly became our Saviour) stop there? No! He became the bridge for our salvation -- "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days," saith the Lord, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
"Above when He said, "Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law." Then said He, "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God, He takes away the first, that He may establish the second -- by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, but this [man] after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool -- for by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:5-14)
So apostle Paul continues -- "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace [be] on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." (Galatians 6:14-16; Galatians 5:5-7)
"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3)
"And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:10)
For example, if we jump over to Matthew 12 for a moment, we see Jesus going through the corn and His disciples (who were hungry) plucking the ears of corn and eating them. But when the Pharisees saw, they said unto Jesus, "Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day." (Matthew 12:1-2)
How does Jesus respond? Remember, this is immediately before Jesus goes into the temple and heals the man with a withered hand on the sabbath day.
Jesus asks, "Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him; how he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 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? But I say unto you -- that in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this means, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day." (Matthew 12:3-8; I Samuel 21:3-6; Exodus 25:30; Leviticus 24:5-9 Numbers 28:9-10; John 7:22-23; II Chronicles 6:18; Matthew 12:41-42; Hosea 6:6)
Note that Jesus similarly said to the Pharisees in another place, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that means -- I will have mercy and not sacrifice -- for I AM not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:13)
And earlier to the scribes, who within themselves accused Jesus of blasphemy. Again, knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, "Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Arise and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins ..." (Matthew 9:6)
In all of these situations, the scribes and the Pharisees should have recognized the prophecy from afore -- given through Hosea, when the Word of the Lord said to the house of Israel and the priests -- "For I desired mercy and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against Me ...." (Hosea 6:6-7; Matthew 12:7; Hosea 5:7; Hosea 8:1)
It is for this reason that Jesus could say to the Jews in the temple -- "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keep the law? Why go ye about to kill Me?" (John 7:19)
And "I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision, not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers, and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken, are ye angry at Me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgment." (John 7:21-24)
You see, when God decided His plan of salvation (even before the world was formed) He knew that after His kindness and love, He would also have to become our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7) And this He did in Jesus, wherein He could say to the Jews yet again -- "Ye both know Me and ye know whence I AM; and I am not come of Myself but He that sent Me is true, whom ye know not. But I know Him for I AM from Him and He hath sent Me." (John 7:28-29)
As we see once again, the Jews sought to take Him, but could not because His time was not yet come. Nevertheless, many of the people did believe on Him, asking, "When Christ comes, will He do more miracles than these which this [man] hath done?" (John 7:31)
Apostle Paul offers further clarity -- how He Himself hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us ...
"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh ... for through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone ...." (Ephesians 2:10-20)
So much to learn here, and obviously, much more to come. In the interim, stand in the offering plate.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone ...." (Ephesians 2:10-20)
So much to learn here, and obviously, much more to come. In the interim, stand in the offering plate.
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