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Which Old Testament Laws Are Christians to Obey? | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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My message today will hopefully be brief, but I trust that at
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the same time it will provide an immense amount of clarity to
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what we believe as followers of Jesus Christ.
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And my prayer is that this clarity will instill a
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confidence, confidence in your peace, in your boldness, and in
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your proclamation of the truth, the truth that you have given
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your life to. I believe, and I hope it's fair
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to say, that in most Bible preaching, teaching churches
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that people understand the centrality of the message of the
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gospel, that they are able to explain the essence of the
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message of salvation. Not to say that in those
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churches everybody believes the gospel or has been transformed
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by the gospel, but that they are able to articulate the key
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components of what makes us different as Christians who
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follow Jesus Christ. That being said, I'm not sure if
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there is an equal level of clarity among professing
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Christians about how they can explain what is demanded of them
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in terms of practical, practical obedience to the Word of God.
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What I mean by that is, if you were to ask different believers,
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what does your life look like or what do you abide by in terms of
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trusting God, yes, but also living for Him, what do you turn
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to? What are you obligated to?
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What standard do you surrender to or ascribe to?
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I think you would get a variety of answers, especially when you
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factor in the Old Testament. And some groups will argue that
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the Old Testament is to be obeyed perfectly, and they will
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cite the words of Jesus from Matthew 517, where he famously
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said that he did not come to abolish the law of the prophets,
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but to do what fulfill them. And then you have others who
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would say that the Old Testament has 0 practical relevance to us
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as followers of Jesus in the new covenant.
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And at best, it's a historical document that you can make, you
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know, reference to, especially if you want to explain
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redemptive history or show how Jesus was predicted hundreds of
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thousands of years ago. And there are others who
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understand that the Scriptures tell us, especially in Second
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Timothy 316, that all Scripture is breathed out by God, all of
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it. And it is useful for not just
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understanding who Jesus is, understanding how God was going
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to save humanity, but for practical purposes in our
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teaching, in our correction, in our ultimate maturity, all of
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Scripture, including the Old Testament.
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And So what they try to do is then reconcile, reconcile the
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commands that you find in the old covenant with the commands
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that we have in the new, especially because the new
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covenant is God's revealed will for today and for the rest of
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the age. And so that mentality has led
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many to develop what is known as the threefold division of the
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law. What I mean by that is that you
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have people who have this view that we have to do something
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with the Old Testament, and the best way to go about it is to
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look at it in three different categories.
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And so you have the moral law, and then you have the ceremonial
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law, and lastly you have the civil law.
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Now, this is probably something that you've heard taught or
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you've probably even used to explain to someone who who
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wanted to know what commands from the Old Testament are
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binding on Christians. And so this has become popular
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in recent times. And I'll try to summarize what
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these three different elements of the law consists of.
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So when you talk about the moral law, what people mean by that is
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we're we're discussing the most important and enduring aspects
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of God's commands. And they are summarized really
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in the 10 commandments. This deals with his eternal
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nature, his character, His Holiness.
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And so it is applicable and it is timeless.
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It is bound for all time and all people.
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And then you have the ceremonial law.
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And the ceremonial law focuses on the rituals and the the
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rights that are related to Israel's worship and they
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include the sacrifices and it's generally seen as fulfilled in
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the person of Jesus Christ. And so those rights and those
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those things that were done in the temple no longer are
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applicable to us because they were fulfilled in the person of
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Jesus Christ. That's the ceremonial law.
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And then you have the civil law. And the civil law deals with the
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commands that are issued for daily life in ancient Israel
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society. And so really, they're all those
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specific commands that are outside of the 10 commandments,
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and they include also the judicial punishment for those
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who disobey such laws. And those who explain this would
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also clarify that they have no relevance to our modern context
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for a variety of reasons. So that's really a general
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summary of this threefold understanding of the law in the
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Old Testament. You have the moral, the
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ceremonial, and the civil. Why the distinction?
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Because those who hold to this explanation will then followed
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up with this, that there is a continuity with one out of the
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three of those categories, the moral law.
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The moral law is still standing because it reflects God's
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holiness, it reflects His character, and the 10
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commandments really reflect the bedrock of who He is.
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Therefore, it must continue on for all time for all people,
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especially Christians. Whereas the ceremonial and the
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civil law dissolve. They have been dissolved because
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Jesus Christ in His personal work fulfilled much of it, and
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we received clarity in the subsequent teachings of His
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Spirit appointed and inspired apostles.
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So in essence, that distinction is made so that people can know
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how to interpret the Old Testament in terms of practical
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obedience. I am bound to the moral law, no
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longer to the ceremonial or the civil.
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As helpful as that explanation may be, it has challenges.
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There are challenges with that explanation for a variety of
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reasons, but here's the overarching 1 that try part
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division is not found anywhere in the Bible.
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Nowhere in the old or in the new will you find any author
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explaining or categorizing laws in those three ways, which is
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the reason why even those who believe this view and explain
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this view have internal debate. And the main debate is, well,
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how do we know which law belongs to which category?
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Which one fits under the moral, which one fits under the
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ceremony? Which one?
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And some are clearer than others.
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But let me give you one example of how this can be problematic.
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So you have the moral law, which is ultimately represented in the
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10 commandments, but then we no longer have the ceremonial or
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the civil. Those are just shadows.
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But then even if you look at the 10 commandments that we heard,
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as we heard just a few weeks ago, you have one of them that
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is treated in the New Testament as a shadow.
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Which one is that? Observe the Sabbath.
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And so why is that one treated as something that is fulfilled?
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What about the other nine? And then you can see how people
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can go back and forth on this. So I'm aware that there can be
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some people here who have found great comfort in that threefold
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understanding of the law, are now uncomfortable by what I am
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saying. But I want to encourage you
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today. Why?
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Because I believe there is a better answer from the Bible and
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helping us comprehend and be more confident regarding what it
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is that we subscribe to, what it is that we abide by in terms of
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God's demands for us in practical obedience.
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And here's what I discovered even over the years, that there
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is another law mentioned in the Bible that is rarely bought up
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and brought up in this discussion and even really
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expounded on in general. Let me show it to you Galatians
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chapter 6. Look with me at verse 2.
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Paul tells this group of believers bear one another's
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burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
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Fulfill the law of Christ. Law refers to a system of
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regulations, of instructions, of commands that determine the
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behavior, actions of those who are subject to it.
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That's what a law is. And So what Paul is alluding to
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here is that there is a set of teachings that are authoritative
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and they come from Christ. And this is helpful.
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So now we understand that there's this law called the law
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of Christ. And interestingly, there's only
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one other place where that phrase law of Christ appears in
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all of the New Testament. And when we look at it there, we
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receive even greater clarity of what this law consists of or how
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it contrasts to something else. So I know I just told you to go
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to Galatians, but go to 1st Corinthians.
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Now in Chapter 9, I want you to look at this verse with me
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beginning in 19, and we'll read down to verse 21. 1st
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Corinthians 919 Paul writes For though I am free from all, I
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have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of
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them. To the Jews I became as a Jew in
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order to win Jews. To those under the law, I became
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as one under the law, though not being myself under the law, that
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I might win those under the law. To those outside the law, I
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became as one outside the law, not being outside the law of
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God, but under the law of Christ, that I might win those
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outside the law. So here Paul has explained to
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these believers the depths of his sacrifice, what he is
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willing to do in order to win anybody to Christ.
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And in general, he's saying here, I'm very pliable and I'm
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willing to adapt to my circumstances and contexts and
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my audience as long as my adaptation never compromises the
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message of the gospel or or any clear principle from God's word.
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What Paul is saying is I'm willing to become like my
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listeners in order to obtain and win their ear without any
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hindrance on my part, any obstacle that I create.
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And so he understands that he has freedoms in Christ, but he's
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not willing to implement those freedoms in the presence of
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those who don't live by those freedoms so that again, he can
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have their attention and they can hear the gospel without any
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obstacles. And so as he breaks this down,
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which I want to say first, that there there's a call for wisdom
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here because there's a very fine line between the wisdom of this
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approach and compromise. Because there's a lot of people
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here who would quote Paul's words to try to justify anti
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biblical methods to get the gospel out.
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But that's not what we're talking about.
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I just have to get that out there.
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The main reason why I turned to this tax is because within it
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you have Paul making a distinction between the law of
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Christ and a different law. Notice at verse 20 what he says
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and speaking about the Jews, he says that he is willing to
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become as one under the law. Pause.
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I'm willing to become as one under the law.
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What law is he speaking about? The Jewish law.
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That's the context. I'm willing to become as one
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under the law. For what reason that I might win
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those who are under the law. So here's how you can translate
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this. I am willing to change and
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become adaptable to the customs of the Jewish law in order to
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minister to those who live by it.
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And he's not compromising anything.
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But I want you to notice what he says in the middle, he
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clarifies, though not being myself under the law.
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So though I may adapt, and though I may enter into the
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synagogue or enter into certain feast or honor certain
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celebrations in order that I can be with those who live by these
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things and then present the gospel, I want to make sure that
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you know that I am not under that law.
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So is Paul lawless, Is it just this kind of whatever you feel
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you need to obey God with? He'll honor that because you
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live by grace? No, Look at the next verse.
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Look at verse 21. Now to those outside the law, I
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became as one outside the law. Now he's talking about the
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Gentiles. He dealt with the Jews.
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I'm willing to become like a Jew to an extent so that I can win
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the Jews. But now I'm talking about the
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Gentiles. So those who are outside the
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law, I became as one outside the law, not being outside the law
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of God, but under the law of Christ that I might win those
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outside the law. So what is he saying here?
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So I'm willing to be like a gentile, that I can win an
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audience with the gentiles. And it says no.
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Paul is anticipating a rebuttal or a concern from his readers.
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So wait, you're willing to be like a gentile?
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And you know, there's negative connotation in the minds of the
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early readers here because Gentiles, especially to the
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Jewish audiences like heathen. So wait, you're willing to loose
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live and just kind of do what you want?
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And, and before they even can entertain the thought, Paul also
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reminded that I am not escaping even temporarily or even for a
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moment, God's righteous decrees from my life.
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And I want to clarify to you that I am under a law, even
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though I might be like a Gentile, but I'm under the law
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of Christ. That would have been a perfect
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time for him to say that I'm under the law of Moses, that I'm
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under the Sinai covenant, that I'm under the Jewish law.
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But he makes a distinction between the Jewish law and the
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law of Christ. So here's what would happen if
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you lived in Paul's day and you say, Paul, I have a question for
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you. What spiritual law are you bound
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by? What are you obligated to?
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And here's how you would answer the law of Christ, the law of
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Christ. And when we hear that, we think,
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OK, if Christ has a law, then what does it consist of?
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How do we know what he asks of us, if he asks anything of us at
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all? And there are many places I can
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go, but let me give you a very well known passage at the end of
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Gospel of Matthew, Matthew 2819 and 20.
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These are Christ's marching orders to His apostles, and
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really to the disciples that would come from them.
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Matthew 2819 and 20 Go therefore, and make disciples of
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all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
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the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
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that Moses commanded you, teaching them to observe all
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that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always
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to the end of the age. So Christ is telling his
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apostles that what they are commanded to do in building the
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church and making converts and winning people over to the truth
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is that they are going to from that place after laying the
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foundation that they're saved by grace, they are going to receive
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all that Jesus taught them. So the law of Christ comprises
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of all that Jesus taught in the Gospels and subsequently what
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the apostles added to that teaching.
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Because Jesus told the very same disciples in John 16 that I have
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much more to tell you, but you can't bear it now.
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But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will take what is mine
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and make it known to you. So that's why when we look at
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the epistles, yes, ultimately we're seeing Paul's writings,
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we're seeing Peter's writings, we're seeing John's writings,
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but they come from the Spirit who got what he got from Christ.
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So when people make this weird argument that I listen to what
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Jesus said, not what Paul said, not what John said, do you
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understand that what they said is what Jesus said because he
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told them that I'm going to grant you the Spirit and he's
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going to make everything that you need to know from me to you,
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and then you will be able to make a known to the church.
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So then that's the law of Christ, the commands of Jesus
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and his apostles who've been commissioned by Jesus.
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Where can you find it? It's called the New Testament,
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the 27 books of the new covenant or what granted or what's
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granted to you and I in order to understand what he asks of us.
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It's so clear, but there's even more that the Spirit reveals to
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us, making this reality even more irrefutable.
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So I'm, there's so many verses to touch on.
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I'm just giving you the key verses.
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So in a moment, we're going to turn to the book of Hebrews.
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But let me remind you what the book of Hebrews is about.
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The intent of the author is that he wants to present Christ and
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the new covenant far more superior to anything or anyone
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else, including Moses, including the Mosaic covenant and the
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Levitical priesthood. And at one point when he makes
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this argument about how Christ is far greater, how his covenant
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is far better, he makes this staggering claim.
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The staggering claim, and it's found in Hebrew 7 and verse 11
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and 12. Hebrews is a deep book and so if
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you tend to get distracted at any point of the service, this
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is not a place where you want to get distracted.
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Hebrews 711 and 12. Let's read this closely and
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carefully, shall we? Now if perfection had been
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attainable through the Levitical priesthood, for under it the
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people received the law, what further need would there have
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been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek
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rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
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You've heard me. I can't help it.
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I have to say it again. You can't know the New
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Testament. If you don't study the Old
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Testament, you will be spiritually anemic.
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If you don't honor the Hebrew Scriptures.
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What is he saying here? OK, you Jews that want to go
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back, you Jewish Christians that want to go back to the Old
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Testament, the Old Covenant, If the Old Covenant was so great,
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if the priesthood of the sacrificial system is so
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wonderful, then explain this to me.
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Why did the Holy Spirit tell us about another priesthood to
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come? Why does he speak of another
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priesthood to rise? And what priesthood is he
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speaking about? The priesthood of Melchizedek,
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Psalm 110, verse 4. You don't have to turn there,
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but there's reference there of Melchizedek also in Genesis 14.
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But the Bible tells us of another priesthood to come.
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So if this one, this Levitical 1 is permanent, everlasting,
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enduring, perpetual, unending, then why did the same God who
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issued the law and the priesthood under Moses and Aaron
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tell of one that would come through Melchizedek?
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Good point. Brilliant point.
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But he even goes further than that.
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Look at verse 12. For when there is a change in
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the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law
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as well. Have you ever seen that verse
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before? Here's what he's saying.
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If the Levitical system was God's final plan for mediation
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between man and God, what's the reason for a priest to come from
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the priesthood of Melchizedek Furthermore.
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The new. Priesthood, if it's to be
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introduced, would necessitate a corresponding change in the law,
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since the Levitical order was so deeply connected to the existing
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legal system. In other words, you can't
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separate the Levitical priesthood and the Mosaic Law.
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Why? Because the priesthood came from
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the law, and the priesthood upheld the law, it practiced and
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exercised what the law asked for.
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So he already. Made the point that there's
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going to be a change in the priesthood because Melchizedek,
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there's what what are you going to do with that?
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That's in the Hebrew Bible. But let me also tell you this,
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that if there's going to be another priesthood.
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That means there's also going. To be another law.
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If the ironic priesthood is gone, so is the law that was
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also under that priesthood practiced, initiated, and
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upheld. So be ready for.
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A change in the less of the point that he is making here.
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And what might that law be? The law of Christ.
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The law of Christ. And if that segment was
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difficult to follow, just keep in mind that this passage in
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Hebrews clearly shows that under the New Covenant we are bound by
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a new law. And the law of.
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Moses no longer applies to us. It's the law of Christ.
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Yes, that should make you excited for many obvious
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reasons. But while we're in Hebrews, let
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me take you to another passage. Go to Hebrews.
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Chapter 9, beginning in verse 6. Again, this is.
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Another section that describes the limitations of the Old
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Covenant and the system of the Old Covenant.
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Notice what he says. Look at verse 6.
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Let's read carefully together. These preparations having thus
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been made, the priests go regularly into the first
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section, performing their ritual duties.
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But into the second. Only the high priest goes, and
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he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he
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offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the
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people. What is he discussing here?
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He's talking about the Tabernacle.
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He's talking about the sections of the Tabernacle.
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He's talking about the protocols of the Tabernacle.
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He continues in verse 8. By this, the Holy Spirit
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indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet open as
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long as the first section is still standing.
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That's so deep. That's a sermon in itself, verse
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9, which is symbolic for the present age.
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That's why it's so deep. By the way, let's continue
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according to this agreement or arrangement.
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Rather, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the
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conscience of the worshipper. So he he goes through all this
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to say this is not sufficient to deal with your conscience, to
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deal with your record of sin verse 10 but deal only with food
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and drink and various washings, regulations for the body
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imposed. Look at these last few words
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until the time of reformation. Reformation that.
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Word in the Greek is only found here.
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You know what it means to make crooked straight.
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So after giving a general overview of the Levitical
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system, he says, yeah, these things aren't perfect.
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They're insufficient. They don't really deal with the
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core of who we are. But there's a time of
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reformation that's coming, amendment shift change.
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And So what is he explaining here?
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That the ordinances of the Old Covenant were temporary by
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nature, intended only to last until a perfect system would be
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introduced. And that's what he means by time
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of reformation. And that's what we know to be
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the New Covenant and also the law of Christ.
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Now someone. Who disagrees might respond.
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Well, it's convenient for you to claim that there is a change in
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the law. And base your.
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Defense solely on the New Testament.
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But there is no. Shred of evidence of what you
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are saying in the Hebrew scriptures, to which I would
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respond. Are you sure about that?
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There are many. Places we can go, but I want to
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bring up. To your attention.
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Something that is often missed. It's in a section that deals
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with Messiah, one of the clearest, most profound
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prophecies of Jesus in the book of Isaiah.
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So now let's go to the Old Testament, and let's go to
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Isaiah chapter 42. So we've seen in the new.
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Testament, right? How Paul and how the author of
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Hebrews and we're going to get to Jesus.
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I know many of you might be thinking about Matthew 517.
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We're going to get there. That's how we're going to end.
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But now let's come to the Hebrew Scriptures and see if the
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prophets have anything to say about this change.
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Isaiah 42 beginning in verse one.
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Behold my servant whom I uphold my chosen, and whom my soul
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delights. I've put my spirit upon him.
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He will bring forth justice to the nation's.
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He will not cry aloud, or lift up his voice, or make it heard
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in the street. A bruise read he will not break,
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and a faintly burning Wick he will not quench.
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He will faithfully bring forth justice.
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He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has
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established justice in the earth and the coastlands.
27:33
Wait for his law. Some of you already saw.
27:36
It. But let me explain.
27:38
Here we're dealing with what Messiah will do, what he will
27:42
accomplish. And already from these verses we
27:44
know that his impact when he arrives will not be limited to
27:48
Israel. It will have a global impact.
27:51
It will have ripple effects throughout the earth.
27:54
It will be beyond the boundaries of this people group.
28:00
And notice the word. That he uses there at the end of
28:01
verse 4 until the coastlands. Coastlands or islands?
28:05
What is he referring to? Coastlands.
28:07
There he's speaking about Gentile regions.
28:10
How do we know that? Because.
28:10
That's the context. Look at the statement right
28:13
before Till he has established justice where in Israel.
28:18
In the earth. In the Earth.
28:21
Early on, what does he say at the end of verse one?
28:23
He'll bring forth justice to where?
28:26
The nations, the nations, the Earth coastlands.
28:30
So we're talking about what? Messiah will do across the
28:32
globe. And what he's saying.
28:35
Here with his prophetic vision, Isaiah is that these Gentile
28:39
regions. In some way are.
28:42
Expecting something from Messiah, this perfect servant of
28:45
God. And what's the one thing that
28:46
they're expecting? We talked about justice, yes,
28:49
but notice at the end of verse 4, the coastlands wait for His
28:54
law, Messiah's law. Interesting.
29:01
His law. You know what the word law is in
29:03
the Hebrew Torah? They're going to be waiting for
29:08
his Torah. Messiah is going to come, yes,
29:12
to bring justice. But he's also coming to bring a
29:15
law, a different law, a law that the New Testament expounds on
29:22
and clarifies. Is that not right?
29:25
And that's why now when? You read all those verses where
29:27
Jesus says if you love me, you'll do what you'll obey my
29:31
commandments. And he commissions the.
29:34
Disciples and he says go and teach them what I commanded you.
29:37
What is he doing there? He's fulfilling Isaiah 42 four.
29:41
That he has come. Now with his law, and Paul by
29:46
the Spirit gives us the label of that law, the title, that law,
29:49
the law of Christ, the law of Christ.
29:54
Now you might be wondering, is this about Messiah?
29:58
It is about Messiah. It is about Jesus.
30:02
Matthew. 1215 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there, and
30:08
many followed him, and he healed them all, and ordered them not
30:11
to make him known. This was to fulfill what was
30:14
spoken by the prophet Isaiah, verse 18 of Matthew 12.
30:18
Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my
30:21
soul is well pleased. I'll put my spirit upon him, and
30:24
he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
30:27
He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his
30:29
voice in the streets. A bruised Reed he will not
30:31
break, and a smoldering Wick he will not quench until he brings
30:34
justice to victory. And his name the Gentiles will
30:38
hope. What does Matthew do?
30:40
Matthew wants to let you know that Isaiah 42, one to four.
30:43
Really, that whole passage is about Jesus.
30:47
So Jesus is going. To come and he's going to bring
30:51
his law, his law. Speaking of fulfilling, I want
30:59
you and I to consider probably the biggest objection to what I
31:03
just shared in the past 30 minutes.
31:06
And it is what the. Lord, Jesus says in Matthew 517
31:09
to 19. So let's turn there to look at
31:14
these words, refresh our memories, and properly interpret
31:18
them. Matthew 517 and 19.
31:29
Do not think. That I have come to abolish the
31:31
Law or the prophets. I have not come.
31:35
To abolish them, but to fulfill them.
31:38
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not
31:41
an iota, not a dot will pass from the law until all is
31:47
accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one
31:50
of the least of these commandments and teaches others
31:52
to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
31:54
But whoever does them and teaches them will be called
31:56
great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Can I just say something on a
31:59
personal level? This passage changed my life.
32:02
For. Many.
32:03
Reasons. But there was one particular
32:05
point in my life where I saw how every part of the Bible is
32:08
important. Because my Jesus, your Jesus,
32:11
says that whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments,
32:15
what's going to happen? He'll be called least in the
32:17
Kingdom of heaven. I don't want that.
32:19
So evidently. Christ cares about every
32:22
component of His revelation. So when people have.
32:25
This idea like this is this is. Well, you got to be.
32:28
Careful there, because if you relax any part of his word that
32:31
is clear and obvious, then you're doing something to your
32:35
own reputation in the age to come.
32:40
But here's how this. Passage is commonly known.
32:43
Todd understood Jesus, in fulfilling the Law, came to obey
32:48
every aspect of the Law of Moses.
32:51
And every part of. The Law of Moses remains in
32:52
effect forever, and it is to be honored and enforced by all who
32:57
are truly part of his Kingdom, right?
32:59
Isn't that how most people understand it?
33:01
He came and he obeyed. It perfectly and the law remains
33:04
in effect forever and if you want to be great in the Kingdom
33:07
of heaven, then you're going to enforce it on your own life and
33:09
you're going to teach others to abide by everything that the
33:12
law, the law of Moses, the law of the prophets.
33:18
But is that what Jesus? Meant when he said I've come to
33:20
fulfill the law, is that what he was trying to convey?
33:23
That I'm here to obey everything perfectly.
33:27
Not primarily. It includes that, but that's not
33:30
what he is trying to communicate.
33:32
When he says here that he has come to accomplish all that the
33:35
law and the Prophet spoke of. What he means is I have come to
33:40
satisfy all that the law foreshadows.
33:43
And all that the. Prophets predicted that Messiah
33:46
would do. I've come.
33:49
To become the substance of the shadows of the law.
33:53
And I've come. To perform everything that the
33:56
prophet said, like what we heard in Isaiah 42, the prophet said
34:01
Messiah would do. I'm here to fulfill that.
34:04
I'm here to accomplish that. And if you're.
34:07
If you're confused by that idea, then remember what we just read
34:11
in Matthew 1217, where Matthew tells us that this Jesus who did
34:14
certain things did so in order to do what?
34:17
Fulfill what Isaiah the prophet said.
34:19
And then he quotes Isaiah 42. So even when.
34:23
You look at the broader context of the book of Matthew, you'll
34:25
notice how the word fulfill is genuinely implemented.
34:28
So let me give you one example. If you're there in Matthew 5, go
34:30
to Matthew 2. And you see this in.
34:33
Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and other chapters surrounding his birth
34:37
and his arrival. But look at Matthew 2. 14 and
34:39
15. And he rose, and.
34:42
Took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and
34:45
remained there until the death of Herod.
34:46
This was to fulfill. With the Lord had.
34:50
Spoken by the prophet out of Egypt.
34:52
I called my son. And you see that same phrase
34:55
repeated whenever prophecy is fulfilled.
34:58
This was done to fulfill, to fulfill, to fulfill.
35:02
And from Jesus. Own lips he stands before his
35:05
audience on that glorious mount, because he made it glorious.
35:09
And he said, I haven't come to abolish the Law of the Prophets,
35:13
I've come to fulfill them. I've come to.
35:16
Accomplish what the Law foreshadowed, what the law was
35:19
pointing to. And I've come also to show you
35:22
that I'm the one the prophets predicted.
35:25
I've come to do all that they predicted.
35:28
So this is what it means. That he has come to manifest
35:32
what the Old Testament was ultimately speaking about.
35:37
But there's. Another layer to this concept of
35:38
fulfilling. Christ.
35:41
Also meant when he said that I have not come to abolish all,
35:43
but to fulfill it. That he has come.
35:47
To give the truest application of the law.
35:53
In other words, in his. Day there was such a shallow and
35:56
often misguided interpretation of the law.
35:59
And so when he says this, he means to say that I've come to
36:02
reveal the true essence of the law, the true purpose of the
36:05
law, showing how it is accurately fulfilled.
36:11
Seeing how are you? Saying that because you can't
36:14
just end it at Matthew 520, that's the beginning of the
36:19
Sermon on the Mount. What is he going to say after he
36:23
says that I've come to fulfill the law.
36:26
Let me give you a few examples. Look at Matthew 521.
36:29
You have heard that it? Was said of those of old you
36:33
shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to
36:35
judgement. But I say to you, I say to you,
36:41
Matthew 527, you've heard that it was said you shall not commit
36:44
adultery. But I say to you.
36:48
Matthew 530. One, it was also said, whoever
36:51
divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.
36:54
But I say to you and over and over he does this.
36:57
But I say to you, but I say to you, but I what is he trying to
37:00
say? He's he's here to say that I've
37:02
come to give the true application, to reveal the true
37:06
essence of the law. So then what is the Lord
37:12
expecting of his people? Very simple that we believe that
37:16
He fulfilled everything. That the law.
37:18
Foreshadowed that the prophets predicted concerning who he is,
37:23
and to live by his explanation. And his.
37:27
Application of the law which becomes what?
37:30
The law of Christ Good. That's what he's saying, that
37:37
is. Why he ends the sermon of the
37:39
Mount the way he ends the sermon of the Mount.
37:43
Look at Matthew 724. I know there's many verses
37:45
because I want I want you to see with your own eyes.
37:48
And not quote. Me, but quote the Bible.
37:51
Matthew 7. 24. This is how we end it.
37:55
This is how he lands the sermon. Everyone then, who hears these
37:59
words of who? Mine everyone who hears.
38:04
These words of mine, and does them, will be like a wise man
38:07
who built his house on the rock. So in the same.
38:12
Context where he says I haven't come to abolish the law or the
38:15
prophets, but to fulfill them. He ends the sermon by saying,
38:18
abide by what I say. By what I.
38:21
Command. But how I interpret the law, the
38:24
essence of the law, That is what you're subject to as my
38:27
followers. And we know that to.
38:31
Be not just in the Sermon of the Mount, but across the New
38:34
Testament. And you're saying, well, yeah,
38:37
but OK, what do you deal with things that you find in the New
38:40
Testament that are also found in the Old Testament?
38:42
Well, in the wisdom of Christ, by his own prerogative, if he
38:45
wants to choose certain laws from the Old Testament, from the
38:48
Old Covenant to be carried over into the new, he'll do that.
38:51
That's why you find. Paul in Ephesians 6, for
38:53
example, telling children to obey their fathers and their
38:56
mothers, and he quotes the 10 commandments.
39:00
That's why we find. Commands about not committing
39:02
adultery. But remember.
39:05
We're in the new covenant. We're in the time of
39:08
reformation, according to Hebrews.
39:09
So you know what we don't do when somebody commits adultery?
39:12
We don't stone them to death. But what do we do if?
39:16
They're unrepentant based on 1st Corinthians 5, because we're
39:19
under the law of Christ. If they don't repent of that
39:21
sin, they're excommunicated from the church.
39:26
So how do I know? What the law of Christ is, you
39:28
go to the New Testament, you go to his teachings, you go to his
39:31
apostles who've expounded upon what he said, and that's how you
39:34
know the law of Christ. And so there might be even more
39:39
questions then. How do I engage with the Old
39:40
Testament then? And that's an important
39:43
question. Primarily, you're supposed to
39:45
see the Old Testament with the lens of Jesus being the
39:49
fulfillment of it. So when you come to the old.
39:53
Testament. Now you're looking for Christ.
39:57
You're interpreting it with the understanding that these shadows
39:59
and these prophecies have been fulfilled.
40:04
But more than that, you're also looking.
40:06
At what it can. Instruct you with because the
40:10
Bible tells us in the New Testament, in the law of Christ,
40:14
if you will, how we should deal with the Old Testament.
40:18
I know I've given you a lot of verses, but let me give you 3,
40:20
three final ones, very quick ones.
40:23
Write them down if you don't want to turn there, but I just
40:24
want to quote them in your hearing very quickly.
40:27
Listen to what the apostles say about the Old Testament as they
40:30
admit that they are under the law of Christ.
40:33
First Corinthians. 10-6 Now these things took place.
40:36
He's talking about the Old Testament, the stories in the
40:38
Old Testament, specifically the wilderness exodus.
40:41
Now these things took place as examples for us, as examples for
40:46
us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
40:51
First Corinthians. 1011 Now these things happen to them as
40:54
an example, but they were written down for our
40:56
instruction, our instruction on whom the end of the ages has
41:00
come. So I'm already learning in one
41:03
chapter of the New Testament alone that I could come to the
41:06
Old Testament, not just to look for Jesus, not just to teach and
41:10
preach on messianic psalms or shadows of Christ, but I can
41:14
actually not come to the Old Testament and do what?
41:16
Look for examples and illustrations of New Testament
41:20
truths. And I can look.
41:23
For instruction. So I'm not just.
41:26
Looking at prophecy now, I'm looking for practical guidance
41:29
in the Old Testament. In what way?
41:33
Well. If you come to Bible.
41:34
Study and Fridays you would know this, that we always repeat this
41:37
word principle. What's the principle behind this
41:39
passage? What's the principle behind this
41:42
story? What's the principle behind this
41:44
example? And we're discovering in the Old
41:46
Testament the heart of God, the character of God.
41:50
We're looking for principles that are confirmed in the New
41:53
Testament. Let.
41:55
Me give you another one. From the New Testament, Romans
41:58
15, four. For whatever was.
42:03
Written in former days was written for our instruction
42:07
that. Through.
42:07
Endurance. And through the encouragement of
42:11
the Scriptures, we might have hope.
42:15
So Corinthians. Says you can find examples.
42:17
In the Old Testament you can find instruction.
42:20
And Paul adds, in Romans you can find encouragement.
42:24
What scriptures are you? Referring to.
42:25
He's not even referring to Ephesians.
42:27
He's referring to the old. Testament.
42:31
So you have those. And and they have, I know where
42:34
they're coming from, but they're wrong in this, where they.
42:37
Almost. Scorn at Christians who would go
42:39
to stories in the old Bible and applied it to their personal
42:42
lives because they want to defend the honor of Christ.
42:45
So they say it's all about Jesus.
42:47
The Old Testament is all about Jesus.
42:49
Don't you dare put your story in this.
42:50
Don't you dare put your life in this.
42:51
Yeah, you can go an extreme way and make everything about the
42:54
Bible concerning you. But then you're missing out.
42:56
On this blessing that I can actually go to the story of
42:59
David and Joseph and Daniel and guess what?
43:03
Not just look for prophecies being fulfilled, but look for
43:06
encouragement for my own life. You're allowed to do that.
43:09
You're actually told to do that. So.
43:13
Here's what we learned at church today.
43:17
If anybody. Asks you.
43:20
What Old Testament? Laws do you abide by?
43:22
Do you? Obey this law.
43:24
Or that law? Do you keep this day or that
43:26
day? Be like Paul?
43:30
I'm under the law of Christ. I'm under the law of.
43:33
Christ and you have these verses, these key verses to
43:36
hopefully make a defense and see people liberated.
43:39
Who are under something that. They've not been called to be
43:41
under. And may the Lord give us.
43:44
All wisdom to know how to properly interpret the
43:46
scriptures, divide it rightly and to see the value, yes, of
43:50
the new and what the new has to say concerning us in the new
43:53
covenant, but also the old and how the two are married to each
43:55
other. And to trust.
43:57
That every part of God's word, Hebrew and Greek, little bit of
44:01
Aramaic, is for us, is for us. So, believers, you are under the
44:08
law of Christ. How do you know what the law?
44:11
Crisis study your New Testament. But if you want to know the New
44:14
Testament, even better study the Old Testament.
44:18
We're liberated. We're.
44:18
Freed we're under, we're under a better covenant because of our
44:22
Lord Jesus Christ. And in this covenant he tells us
44:27
to take these elements and to gather together as a church and
44:33
to remember what he has done. Because even the law of.
44:36
Christ though they are commands and regulations and observances.
44:41
They are built upon. The the basis of His
44:43
forgiveness, the gift of grace and His sacrifice for us.
44:47
Can we prepare our hearts to celebrate this truth together?
45:03
We thank you. From the bottom of our hearts,
45:05
Lord, that your word is wonderful.
45:09
Oh how real it is. Oh, how harmonious it is, how
45:15
brilliant it is. It's so clear that you were the
45:19
author of it. And we'll thank you.
45:21
For this group of people today that are like the Bereans, who
45:26
have a high regard of the Scriptures, who search it
45:29
diligently, may we always be people of the book, may always
45:33
guide us. Lord into truth, may you grant
45:36
us the gift that you gave to the disciples at the end of the
45:38
Gospel, Luke, where we're told there that you open the minds of
45:41
the disciples to understand the Scriptures.
45:44
We pray for that miracle. Every day.
45:47
And Lord now as we. Come to prepare to eat of this
45:49
table because in this new covenant you set this as an
45:52
ordinance for us. Help us do so in an honorable
45:55
way, in a way that would bless you and bless us as a result.
46:00
In Jesus name we pray, Amen. Well, the praise team is going
46:03
to join us here in a moment as we we sing these truths that
46:07
will help our hearts be aligned with the things that we are
46:10
going to partake of. And I just want to.
46:15
Encourage you that if you're, you're not a Christian here
46:17
today, this is an ordinance that Christ has designated for
46:21
believers, those who have put their faith and trust in the
46:24
person of Jesus Christ. So we would respectfully ask you
46:27
to refrain from participating if if you know that you haven't put
46:31
your faith in Christ, if you've not repented, if you've not been
46:33
born again, but that you would participate by observing what's
46:36
happening here. And believer, even as we sing
46:40
and as we're about to eat, I encourage you to do what the
46:43
Bible says to examine yourself and ask yourself, is there
46:47
anything that I'm holding onto that I know breaks the heart of
46:49
God? Not things that you're fighting
46:52
against and resisting, but things that you're justifying
46:54
that you know, the Scripture says that you cannot justify.
46:57
Then deal with that with the Lord as as Pastor Daniel opened
47:00
up with. If you know that there's people
47:01
that you have conflict with in the church, then you confront
47:04
that brother in in love and you reconcile before you would even
47:08
partake. And ultimately, believers, we're
47:12
here to celebrate. We're here to rejoice that his
47:16
body, his blood. Is the ransom.
47:18
That saves and redeems us. It's not about your works.
47:22
It's not about any law that you keep.
47:25
It's because of what He's done in His love for you.
47:27
He paid your debt. No matter what may seem to be
47:30
going wrong in your life, one thing is guaranteed and can
47:33
never be taken from you. You have eternal life.
47:37
You have heaven, you have God's favour forever, you are in the
47:41
palm of His hand and no one can take you out of it.
47:45
That's what we have come to celebrate.
47:46
Amen. Well, let's stand now, and let's
47:48
rejoice in the Lord.