Explaining God's Different Laws And The Reasons For Them
Posted: Tuesday, December 13, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
It is vitally important that people “rightly divide” the word of God. Paul wrote to Timothy this admonition:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
From before the creation, the Omniscient God knew what the outcome of His creatures would involve. He also knew that for any to be recipients of his eternal reward a plan must be laid to permit it. Since sin was totally unacceptable to Him, there must be a plan which could allow a man to be cleansed from them. And, to willfully disobey any of his instructions, would condemn men and since there was nothing man could do to remove that sin, there had to be some one who could.
After He miraculously brought these descendants out of Egyptian bondage He gave them a very lengthy and detailed law, written so there was no excuse for not knowing it nor forgetting it.
One important factor to keep in mind as one studies these laws. They are referred to as laws, testaments and covenants. Laws are rules to which those who are subject, must obey. To break a law normally has penalties which are placed upon the offender. Testaments mean there are certain things promised the recipient, which can be in the form of reward or punishment. It is virtually the same as a promise or a will. Covenant is a binding agreement, a legal contract. All three of God’s covenants bore certain aspects of these definitions.
The problems came because most people did not keep their share of the agreements. It should be noted also that these laws were basically the same. They were different because of the different conditions, and therefore different needs. Much of this can be seen in the ten commandments which he gave to the Israelites. The ones which were the same under all three laws, we will discuss. But keep in mind The laws given to the patriarchs are not listed or itemized for us in the bible. But due to the content in those writings we can learn that the really basic rules were in place. Such as putting no other god before Him, this has always been demanded of mankind. Do not kill, we know that Cain was forbidden from killing and was severely punished for it.
The primary factors in all three covenants is boiled down to faith and obedience. Those two things will save a soul from eternal torment. Faith, as described in the bible is more than simply a, “Yes I believe in God and/or Jesus Christ”. Biblical faith means that you believe so strongly that there is an almighty God that you will look upon Him with reverence and awe! That you not only believe in Him but you believe His words are law and must be obeyed or suffer the consequences.
Under the patriarchal dispensation, there were virtually none who obeyed Him. All of them, execpt 8 people were destroyed in the universal flood.
Under the Mosaical dispensation, very few, again, lived favorably before Him. His promises to them for their disobedience, was that they would suffer famine, pestilences, failed crops and their enemies would smite them with the sword and they would lose their land which He had given them. All these things came upon them as he had promised.
They lived under difficult circumstances and God was extremely patient with them but finally, because of their going after false gods and worshipping idols, they lost their lands. Almost all of the books of the prophets are devoted to the Israelite nation, trying to get them to stop their sinful ways and return to Him. But they would not.
Now, here is a promise from God through the prophet Jeremiah, telling what was going to come:
In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:29-33 KJV emphasis added-JHH)
If any readers are confused by the phrase that the new covenant would be made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, it is written thusly because the Israelite Kingdom had split with the northern kingdom retaining the name of Israel while the southern kingdom was known as Judah. This new covenant came into effect after the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus and the apostles were under the Mosaical law until the first Pentecost after Jesus was resurrected. At which time the first gospel sermons were preached to all of the Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem for the Pentecostal Feast. (Acts chapter 2)
Not one sin ever committed, was ever remitted from anyone’s account until Jesus shed his blood on the cross. Those few who had lived under the patriarchal and the Mosaical ages, faithful and obedient to the best of their ability, then had their sins completely removed at his death. Their breaching of the promises made between themselves and God had physical consequences, which ever person sometimes had to share with their sinful nation. However, under the new law of Christ, only the one who eats sour grapes, have their teeth on edge. If, we suffer physical pain and troubles, it is not because of our sins. Those who are faithful and obedient towards Jesus Christ and his teachings through the Holy Spirit and apostles, may suffer persecutions and many problems, however, their reward is that their sins are removed through the blood of Jesus Christ. Providing our faith is strong enough to cause us to do our very best to obey.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Thanks for the continuing lessonsThank you for reading and commenting, Jack. I appreciate it.
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