Subjects such as this may seem a real bore to some Christians, but they provide fundamental understanding that can enable one to escape the clutches of many unbiblical teachings in our day.
I am thinking chiefly of dispensationalism, which is unbiblical and based on the ideas of men.
But there are more blatant forms of false teachings out there floating around in the contemporary church. Many are written on in this blog: the prosperity gospel; the mystical gospel; the gospels that have been adapted to CRT and LGBTQ. Other man-made gospels include the JW’s and the LDS versions….
There has always been some heretical doctrine for the church to contend with since the beginning. The aforementioned are just a few with which we currently contend.
The Holy Bible was given by God and is the only sure teaching. Luther, by God’s grace, clarified that during the Protestant Reformation. But currently, even reformed churches are falling to some of these new and strange man-made doctrines.
Additionally, the article and video touch on the matter of salvation by works vs faith. No one can be saved by works, as the apostle Paul made abundantly clear in Galatians and the initial several chapters of Romans.
[The mainstream Roman Catholic Church errs on that topic; those who have studied through Galatians and Romans know how that is so.]
It took me years to understand ways that I was seeking salvation by works; I am not sure I am through that yet. The Holy Spirit, to use Pastor Paul Washer’s terms, crushes a born-again believers idols (all those things he / she trusts in other than Christ)….
Another point touched on in this post is that there is only one people of God, see Ephesians. God picked a people from the world in Genesis 12 when He called Abraham; God made a covenant with him and eventually, Abraham’s descendants became a nation. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel in Genesis:
Gen 32:28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
God confined His dealings to Israel until the time of the New Covenant, when His Spirit was poured out upon all flesh and the Gentiles were incorporated into the one people of God, His elect:
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will….
(See my recent post titled, Pentecost; and many posts in the CATEGORY of Covenant Theology.)
Ceremonial laws were done away in Christ. Those were temporarily established via the laws God gave by Moses, Galatians explains that.
[Regarding the article below, all bracketed statements and emboldening are mine.]
QUESTION:
What is the purpose of the Mosaic Law?
ANSWER:
[Link to article or those who would like to view all scripture references, in orange font by laying mouse cursor on reference. https://www.gotquestions.org/Mosaic-Law.html ]
The Mosaic Law was given specifically to the nation of Israel (Exodus 19; Leviticus 26:46; Romans 9:4). It was made up of three parts: the Ten Commandments, the ordinances, and the worship system, which included the priesthood, the tabernacle, the offerings, and the festivals (Exodus 20—40; Leviticus 1—7; 23). The purpose of the Mosaic Law was to accomplish the following:
(1) Reveal the holy character of the eternal God to the nation of Israel (Leviticus 19:2; 20:7–8).
[God chose a people in the world to display, as on a stage, that there is a God; He also made many things about Himself clear to all peoples via Israel.]
(2) Set apart the nation of Israel as distinct from all the other nations (Exodus 19:5).
[They were set apart because they were of the One true God. This God put Himself on display by delivering His people from Egypt via 10 plagues; parting the Red Sea….]
(3) Reveal the sinfulness of man (cf. Galatians 3:19). Although the Law was good and holy (Romans 7:12), it did not provide salvation for the nation of Israel. “No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin” (Romans 3:20; cf. Acts 13:38–39).
(4) Provide forgiveness through the sacrifice/offerings (Leviticus 1—7) for the people who had faith in the Lord in the nation of Israel.
(5) Provide a way of worship for the community of faith through the yearly feasts (Leviticus 23).
[That ‘remnant’ that was always present, as Paul talks about in Romans and elsewhere.]
(6) Provide God’s direction for the physical and spiritual health of the nation (Exodus 21—23; Deuteronomy 6:4–19; Psalm 119:97–104).
(7) Reveal to humanity that no one can keep the Law but everyone falls short of God’s standard of holiness. That realization causes us to rely on God’s mercy and grace. When Christ came, He fulfilled the Law and with His death paid the penalty for our breaking it (Galatians 3:24; Romans 10:4). By faith in Him, the believer has the very righteousness of Christ imputed to him.
The purpose of the Mosaic Law raises these questions: “Are you trusting in yourself to keep all the Ten Commandments all the time (which you can’t do)?” OR “Have you made the choice to accept Jesus as your Savior, realizing that He has fulfilled all the commandments all the time for you, even paying your penalty for breaking them?” The choice is yours.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Five Views on Law and Gospel by Stanley Gundry
More insights from your Bible study – Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!
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[I am a student of the Bible, not a theologian; people like R C Sproul and the fellows of his ministry sites, explain such things with authority. I recommend Ligonier Ministries and their YouTube site to you.]