The Law - Part II

It’s been a while since I have written, busy and nothing really caught my eye or inspired me as of late, until again, the subject of the law came up. So, I would like to revisit what I have written earlier and add to it. Recently I am seeing a resurgence of people who want to say we must follow the law and Jesus only did away with the sacrificial part of the law; this my friends, brothers and sisters, is not a truth. What is the truth? Jesus fulfilled the law, no, he did not destroy it and it is written upon our hearts, but there is nothing in the New Covenant which makes us follow one iota of the law, either in part or in its entirety.

Jeremiah 31:33, “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.”

Hebrews 10:15-17, “Whereof 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 iniquities will I remember no more.”

Let me explain the difference between fulfill and destroy. When you fulfill a contract, you have met the requirements and now the contract is done, over. If you buy a car, when you pay it off the contract is over yet the contract itself still exists, now days somewhere in cyberspace. This contract is not destroyed, it is kept on record, yet it is over, it is fulfilled. Alright, let’s take a look at dictionary definitions;

Merriam-Webster defines:
Main Entry: ful•fill
Variant(s): or ful•fil \fu̇(l)-ˈfil also fə(l)-\
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): ful•filled; ful•fill•ing
Etymology: Middle English fulfillen, from Old English fullfyllan, from full + fyllan to fill

Date: before 12th century

1 archaic : to make full : fill
2 a : to put into effect : execute b : to meet the requirements of (a business order) c : to bring to an end d : to measure up to : satisfy
3 a : to convert into reality b : to develop the full potentialities of

Main Entry: de•stroy
Pronunciation: \di-ˈstrȯi, dē-\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French destroy-, destrui-, stem of destrure, from Vulgar Latin *destrugere, alteration of Latin destruere, from de- + struere to build — more at structure

Date: 13th century

transitive verb 1 : to ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of ; also : to ruin as if by tearing to shreds
2 a : to put out of existence : kill b : neutralize c : annihilate, vanquish

Now, Read 2a, b, c and d of the definition of fulfill and 2a of destroy:  Jesus was the only man who could measure up to and meet the requirements (fulfill - 2b, d) set forth by God to bring to an end (fulfill - 2c) the Old Covenant (The Torah – The Law) and put into effect (fulfill - 2a) the New Covenant whereby we no longer have need to follow any part of the law. Jesus did not put out of existence (destroy -2a) the law, He didn’t take a flame to the Torah and burn it nor did He rip the pages out of Scripture; they remain as record, yet Jesus fulfilled the law, bringing it to an end (fulfill – 2c). It’s really that simple. The Old Covenant is over and done, it has been done away with and the New Covenant has been put into effect, no law.

Malachi 2:14, “Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.” Again I will use the marriage covenant as an example. There is a significant difference between a marriage being destroyed, and a marriage being fulfilled. In the marriage ceremony one of the vows is “’til death do us part.” This vow then being taken means this marriage, or covenant, cannot be broken unless/until one of the partners passes away. This is then the fulfillment of the covenant. Was the marriage destroyed? No, it is forever known you and your spouse were married and now, being that one has passed away, this covenant is fulfilled, yet still remembered. The living spouse is no longer held to this covenant though, even though it existed at one time, it is fulfilled and the living partner may go on living their life and even remarry if they so desire.

Colossians 2:15-17
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

So, let’s look at the law, one of the “ten commandments” even; following the Sabbath and it being a holy day. Under the law the seventh day was a day of rest, from Friday sundown to Saturday sun down, you did almost nothing. You had to prepare everything the day before the Sabbath, again, you could literally do almost nothing on the Sabbath, including leaving your house (until the Jews reinterpreted the law and said you could leave…anyway). If you did anything on the Sabbath you were to be killed (FYI – some laws, if broken, it states in the law you are to be killed, as with the Sabbath). So we see here a man who, on the Sabbath, decided to go gather sticks, let’s see what happened to him;

Numbers 15:32-36
32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

They literally killed a man just for picking up sticks on the Sabbath, he broke the law. Sunday, believe it or not, is not the Sabbath, nor was it ordained by the RCC or any other “church” to be a day or worship, but rather in accordance with things happening on the 8th day (Sunday), Apostolics chose this day to worship. Do we have to worship on Sunday? No, nowhere in Scripture does it say what day we must worship, and as a matter of fact we should praise and worship Him every day! So, knowing this, if we are to keep any part of the law, then we are to keep all of the law, and if we are to keep all of the law then we are not in agreement with Scripture, with Jesus or the apostles.

Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

“If a Gentile is converted to accept the Law and begins to observe moons, Sabbath days, eating of meats, circumcision, and other practices, this is going back into the bondage of the curse of death. For all who accept the law must be willing to accept the punishments for violations of the law. In some cases as in the Sabbath keeping, a violation is death. Yet most law-keepers do not practice the death penalties. Therefore they do not keep the law.” – Dr. (Bishop) G. Reckart.

If we go back to law keeping, in any form, we have made the death of Christ in vain:  Galatians 2:21, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

There are 613 precepts to the law, if Christ only did away with the sacrificial part of the law, we are all well out of order, yet we know we are not. The law was a shadow, a schoolmaster and now it is done and over. We live by grace through faith in our great God and Saviour Jesus Messiah, not by the law. We are the Israel of God now, His Church, His chosen people.

May we all grow in the grace and knowledge of our great God and Saviour Jesus Messiah.
Minister of the New Covenant

It Is Finished

John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

I have never questioned law keeping (Old Covenant/Torah). I was not aware this was an even an issue, Scripture clearly states Jesus fulfilled the law. Yet, many people to this day, who are of the Apostolic faith, still hold to the law (or rather think they do), either in part or whole. It saddens me to see this. I know of at least two separate individuals who made definitive statements we are to either keep the whole law, or only the sacrificial part of the law was fulfilled. I don’t associate anymore with the one who said we must keep to the whole law (this person has some other very off the wall doctrine as well, I can’t understand why this person bothers to say they are Apostolic, as their doctrine is not that of Christ and the Apostles). The other I hold dear to my heart, and we have had a conversation about it, but I cannot seem to change this person’s mind, even with Scripture which clears shows, no law. This is dangerous ground, for Scripture plainly states if we keep the law, then we make the death of Christ to no effect: Galatians 2:21, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

What is the law? It was the Old Covenant God made with Israel, and He gave them laws to follow. The book of the law (the Torah – the first 5 books of the Old Testament) contains 613 precepts, all of which, if you observe the law, have to be kept. If not, then you should be put to death. So I took it upon myself to educate myself further. I took a college class on the subject; I have read and reread Scripture. I pulled out my Strong’s and my Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. I have spent some considerable amount of time now on this subject and have come to the same conclusion, the only conclusion available, as the Apostles did: Acts 15:24, “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:” We are not to keep the law, either in part or in whole.

Let me make this clear as well, no “gentile” was made to follow the law; the law was for the Israelites. Romans 2:14, “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:” This is one case where I will say, look at the “who”, because this is important, gentiles were not included in the Old Covenant. Yes, you could convert to Judaism, but the Old Covenant along with the law, as they are hand in hand (see Exodus 34) was made between God and Israel. This is important to understand because we, as gentiles, cannot be law keepers unless we convert to Judaism, and as such, would no longer be Christians.

Now, the law was discussed by the Apostles in Acts 15:1-11. They held a meeting, and in this meeting in Jerusalem, the Apostles came to the conclusion the gentiles were not to be held to the law. It was determined that salvation can only be through faith in Jesus Christ, and the grace of God would be without practice of the law. They then sent out a letter which clearly states no one should keep the law or be circumcised. Acts 15:24, “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”

It is clear; we are not to keep the law, not one iota of it. The only reason it was ever under debate was because the Jews thought it to be so, the Pharisees and the scribes of the day. Acts 15:5, “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” But those who knew better, stood against them, and Peter said no, this is not the case (Acts 15:7-11). The Pharisee said the Law of Moses, notice this Pharisee did not say, “This part or that part of the law must be kept,” but “…to keep the law of Moses.” This is the entire law, all 613 precepts, to include the death penalty for anyone who did not follow the law!

Paul observed Peter doing something which was wrong, and not only did he tell him as much, he did it publically so all would know the law is not to be followed, any of it.

Galatians 2:11-16

11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Acts 13:38-39

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

We cannot be justified by the law, in any way. We are not made righteous by the law, yet we have been brought into a relationship with the Lord through our faith in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is inaccessible by submission to any law, or by man’s own merit or any other form than faith in Jesus. II Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice as the fulfillment of the whole of His requirements (the Old Covenant/the law).

Romans 4:8-40

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Abraham was not circumcised when he received the Abrahamic Covenant, it was later used as a seal or sign of the covenant. Because of Abraham’s faith he received the covenant; so all of us, who by faith believe on the LORD Jesus, shall also be heirs in the promise (covenant).

Marriage is a good example of a covenant and what happens when it (the covenant) is fulfilled. When two people enter into a marriage, they enter into a covenant (Mal 2:14). The fulfillment of this covenant is when one of the partners passes away. When this happens, the covenant has been fulfilled (“’til death do us part”), the marriage is over, it no longer exists, it is finished, sound familiar? John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” When Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant, it was finished, done, over.

Hebrews 8:10, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:” He has written it upon our hearts, no longer are there stone tablets with commands on them which we must follow, for God has put them in our minds and in our hearts.

For one last emphasis on not following the law, let’s look at the Sabbath, which we do not follow. Exodus 34:21, “Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.” This is the commandment written upon the tablet which was placed into the Ark of the Covenant, a little different than what you see in the “10 Commandments”, yet this is the one, again, that was written on the tablet. Question: How many of us do not do anything, including cooking, leaving home, cleaning, any “work” at all, from Friday night ‘til Saturday night (no Sunday sun up to sundown is not the Sabbath). This was the observance of the Sabbath, 24 hours of doing nothing, you were to rest. All food had to be prepared the day before. You couldn’t even collect sticks, or you were put to death:

Numbers 15:32-36

32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Our rest (Sabbath) is now found in Jesus. Hebrews 4:10, “For he that is entered into his rest {Sabbath}, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” Let no man judge you on observance of any holy day, including observing the Sabbath. Colossians 2:16, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” Once again it is clear, the law, including the 10 Commandments, was fulfilled by Jesus at Calvary.

If we say we must abide by any of the law, including what most call the “10 Commandments”, for they are part of the law, then again, we make Christ’s death in vain.

May God bless you!

Be encouraged –

Minister of the New Covenant