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Law of Jesus versus Law of Moses 1

Posted by Aug 10, 2016 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism Leave a Comment
Law of Jesus versus Law of Moses 1

Law of Jesus and Law of Moses originated from the same Legislative Office. But, the law of Jesus is an updated version of the Mosaic Law.

I heard preachers in the church and on media preaching to me that I am no more under the law. I got confused because if I’m no more under the law that says: “Thou shall not steal”, then do I have the liberty to steal from the church’s offering box?

During my personal Bible study today, I asked the Holy Spirit if Christians are under the law. If yes; which of the laws applies to us?

This article will open your mind to understand the issue of “under the law” which had raised a lot of controversy in the Christendom.

I read Matthew chapter 5 and spent more than 40 minutes to understand the true interpretation of verse 17 to 20. The Holy Spirit is my Interpreter.

Jesus says: “Don’t misunderstand why I come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest details of God’s law will remain until the purpose is achieved.

So, if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s law and teaches them will be great in the kingdom of Heaven.

But I warn you – unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can’t enter the kingdom of heaven at all!”

This topic can’t be explicit without the definition of ‘Law of Moses’, ‘Writings of the Prophets’ and the ‘Fulfillment of Jesus Christ’.

What is the Law of Moses?     

The Law of Moses usually refers to the basic commandments of God-given to His children through Moses. The first comprehensive Law is called the 10 commandments. Other laws are derivatives of these Ten Commandments.

“And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.

For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

“You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:1-17)

Other laws were recorded in the book of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

The Law of Moses can be grouped as:

  1. Religious law: which include; worship law, sacrificial law, ceremonial law
  2. Moral law
  3. Administrative law

What is the ‘Writings of the Prophets’?

This refers to the prophecy of the first coming of the Messiah:

  • Prophet Isaiah prophesied: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

 

  • Prophet Zechariah prophesied: “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10)

 

  • Prophet Malachi prophesied: “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1)

How did Jesus fulfill the Law?

The sacrificial law/religious law was the major law fulfilled by Jesus on the Cross. No more slaughter of sheep to cleanse our sins because the blood of Jesus on the Cross had delivered us from the bondage of sin.

Revelation chapter 1 verse 5 says: “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

So, Christians are no more under the religious law of sacrifices. Ephesians chapter 5 verses 2 say: “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

Are You Under the Law?

I won’t be shocked if this topic is not acceptable by the majority! I realized that a typical human being does not want to be under any law.

For instance, Adam and Eve were only given a single law and they could not stick to it. “…but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die…

So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis chapter 3)

Also, the Israelite disobeyed God’s law while the Pharisees and teachers of law twisted the commandments for their selfish interest.

Jesus says in Matthew chapter 5 verses 19: “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

So, the “rule breakers” shall not be recognized in Heaven (least). Only the obedient children of God would be recognized in Heaven (Great). Thus, Christians are not lawless entity. Yes! We are not under the bondage of sin, but we don’t have the liberty to behave anyhow.

Beware of false teachers or pastors who present the Grace of Jesus to you as a license of liberty to break the essential laws!

Jesus did not give us the impression that we have no law to obey. The second part of this article will show the law of Jesus and its importance to the children of God.

Is the Grace of God Enough to Save Us?

Posted by Oct 25, 2015 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism, Podcast, Word of Faith , , 2 Comments
Is the Grace of God Enough to Save Us?

Grace of God is a special help to save us from any trouble of life. I experienced a remarkable grace of God many years ago in the Polytechnic. I had a terrible illness during my final examination. And I used all the drugs prescribed by the doctor, but none could cure the illness. I was unhappy, because I might fail the exams and suffer an extra year in school.

On the third day of the exam, I could not leave my room because I had no energy to lift myself. I did not have the imagination of going to the grave, but I saw death staring at me.
I cried out to God with all my strength for His mercy and grace. And a wind of healing blew into my room, and I was healed miraculously through the power in the grace of God. This grace of God marked the turning point of my life to become a genuine Christian.

 

How true is the Grace of God?

• Noah enjoyed the Grace of God
The grace of God had been available since the beginning of the world. Noah and his family were the first to enjoy the grace of God. They were saved from the first destruction of the earth. Genesis chapter 6 verse 8 says: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

• Lot acknowledged the Grace of God
Lot did not support the sinful lifestyles of his neighbor. And he was saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah through the grace (favor) of God. Genesis chapter 19 verses 19 say: “Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life…”

• Moses saw the Lord through the Grace of God
Moses was one of the few prophets who saw God and the grace of God upheld him from dying. Exodus chapter 34 verse 5 to 9 says: “Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there… So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped… I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us…”

 

Grace of God is real and abundant in our generation through Jesus Christ as written in the book of John chapter 1 verse 17: “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Am happy we are not under the sacrificial law of the Old Testament. Grace of God is enough to save us through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. And His resurrection is the power that seals our salvation into eternal joy.

Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the power of sin dominated the heart of man. But, God chose to give us a permanent deliverance from sins by releasing abundant grace to our generation.
Whosoever belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ will enjoy the grace of God. John chapter 3 verse 16 says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The grace of God is the ticket you need to embark on the holy journey to heaven.

 

What are those things the Grace in Christianity can’t do?

1. Grace of God is not a license to live like the worldly people.
Romans chapter 6 verse 1 and 2 says: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
2. Grace of God does not stop you from obeying the instructions of Jesus Christ in the Bible.
Jesus says in Matthew chapter 7 verse 21: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
3. Grace of God is not a Robot
I always felt uncomfortable when some ‘Christians’ told me that they were praying for the grace of God to take away the hard-to-leave sins in their lives. Unfortunately, I discovered that the hard-to-leave sins are worldly actions they love to do.
Don’t give the excuse of lack of grace for your continuation in sinful practices. You might be sitting on a gun powder! Romans chapter 6 verses 14 and 15 say: “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”

 

The grace of God will save you from eternal condemnation if you surrender your life to Jesus.
Grace of God is the favor you receive from God to find it possible to live a sinless life. Grace of God cannot control your choice of living, because God respects your power of choice in life.

Please, I want you to run away from any teaching that abuses the grace of God. The grace of God in you does not give you the access to live a lawless and careless life.
Bible says we are no more under the law but grace. Yes! The Bible is referring to the customary and sacrificial laws of the Old Testament. Grace of God does not exempt you from obeying the instructions of Jesus in the New Testament.
The grace of God is available for everyone on earth. If you want to enjoy the grace of God forever, then give your body, soul and spirit to Jesus. Read the Bible daily, and practice the Word of God. Put your faith in Jesus Christ, and the grace of God will save you forever.