People are always looking for some secret code, some special insight, some cosmic cookie cutter that will transform them into the person they want to be. This happens as much with the Bible as it does with anything else. How many sermons have you heard or books have you read that used the Old Testament like a magic book, weaving a spell born, not of the Spirit of God, but of the self absorbed seed sprung forth from the soil of the imagination?
The law is not a secret code from God – those that do not have the law still have the ideals of the law written on their consciences, and yet no one obeys it. Paul is continuing to make his point that all are without hope if they are without God’s mercy. It isn’t that we look into the law to find some secret way out of life’s trials and troubles, but that we look into the law and find we are trapped. We are without hope of salvation apart from the Christ, not apart from the code.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse, doing 70 in a parking lot, or residential area, is breaking the law of your conscience as well as the law of the land. Conversely, you can do right even without knowing right. You could be obeying the speed limit without knowing it, and you could be breaking it without knowing it, but either way, you are either doing it right or you are not, regardless of your knowledge of it.
The law isn’t a secret code we have to dig back through and find out the greater meaning of, even the people who have never heard of the law have it; the point is that none keep it. It is not some mystical knowledge of the law that will save you, like Jewish mysticism (Zohar / Kabala). The doing of the law perfectly would save you but no one has or will be able to do it but Christ, and that was the point. The Old Testament was pointing to Christ but it had been veiled (John 5:39 / Luke 24:27). Now the mystery has been revealed; it is not a secret it is out in the open (Colossians 1:26).
The Old, or First Testament, as important as it is, is not the greater revelation, the New Testament is. The focus is not on the New Testament pointing us back to God’s law, but the New Testament truths of the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.
Consider 1 Peter 1:18-21 (ESV) – knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
We must defend the faith (Jude 3). Your faith is not in some old ritualistic system, your faith is not in finding some secret knowledge, and your faith is not in your own good deeds or the condition of your heart. Your faith must be in Christ alone, and what He alone did. He alone fulfilled the law, He alone paid the price, and He alone is your salvation.
8 comments:
I want to let you in on a little secret...Jesus is all you need...
I guess since I posted twice today, and this one is under the other, it remains a secret post...
And yet, I'm surprised at how many church people (not from my own church) shy away from reading and studying the Old Testament. I have worked in Christian companies, and thereby have been able to peek into certain areas. Too many speakers/teachers/pastors are interested only in commentaries for the New Testament, as if the Old Testament was cryptic and beyond our comprehension, or maybe irrelevant. No, it adds depth of understanding, rich context and bright color (if you will) to the teachings of the New Testament.
But sorry, no secret codes.
I agree Craver, the OT is a rich resource...my last four sermons on this site are taken from the OT...my Saturday Sermon for tomorrow will be NT focused, however...
I think people need to look at 1 Corinthians 10 and Romans 15:4 for some perspective...
The OT has some wonderful reading in it. Great stories for adults, teens, and children.
And the only code is God's Word. We see too many that try to put more into it, whether it be every first letter of every book or scripture means something or what have you.
Good post, JD.
Thanks Buggy, nice to see you...
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