Bible Question: explain the details about grace and law |
Bible Answer: I will do this in parts: Are we under the Law? No. All those who walk in the Spirit, are no longer under the Law but under grace So is the Law worthless? Do we through it out like trash? No. Before we go any farther I want to make myself clear: The Law is not trash, it is not to be thrown away it is not blotted out. It is the Word of God and is not to be viewed as secondary in importance to the New Covenant Scriptures, for without the Old the New would be like a man with only half a head – half a head means dead. As I speak let us have this mind: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NASB95) There are three general categories of Law in the Old Testament Judicial Ceremonial Moral Judicial Law is the Law that held the penalty for certain actions: But we see that Jesus did not carry out the judicial law when confronted with the adulterous woman because the theocracy that existed does not exist any more – Israel is not led by God (nor is any other nation). Ceremonial – this includes sacrifices and things done in order that you might be kept clean and know when you are unclean and for how many days etc. before you were able to worship God again. Hebrews chapter nine gives us a beautiful picture of how the earthly is a representation of the heavenly. There were regulations of how to worship and there was a temple in which to worship. In the temple there was the holy place and behind the veil there was the Holy of Holies. Preists were always in the outer part, but only once a year did the high preist enter the Holy of Holies and in order to enter and not die he had to bring blood with him which he offered for his own sins and for the sins of the people that were committed in ignorance. Now this is what the author of Hebrews says: "The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation. " (Hebrews 9:8-10, NASB95) This was a picture of things to come – it is a symbol – showing that it was yet unclear how one would become right with God so as to be able to go to the holy place at all times – for it was only once a year and each and ever time blood must be brought – therefore it was imperfect, not able to clean the conscience of the worshiper – pointing to the fact that there would be a time of reformation. And that reformation has come: "let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. " (Hebrews 10:22, NASB95) We have been declared clean by God – all of us who believe on the name of Jesus Christ therefore may draw near to God even in our bodily uncleanlyness – for it is written: Lev 13:45-46 45 "As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, "Unclean! Unclean!' 46 "He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp. NASU A man with leprosy was unable to come into the temple to worship, cut off from the people. But now, even though we are a leper we can come to God and worship in His presence. BUT – this was all a shadow of what was to come, though we need not clean ourselves outwardly: 1 Cor 11:27-31 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. NASU Therefore the picture in the Law – one must be clean before God is shown to be true and we must examine ourselves before Him, is our conscience pure? The sacrifices fall under this category as well – they were a picture of Christ – the need of bloodshed for forgiveness of sins – He came and He paid, once for all (Heb 9:12) – I think we have seen that – there is no need for sacrifice any longer – |