Monday: Rituals and Sin
There is a document that records God’s endless, dispiriting struggle with organized religion, known as the Bible.
-Terry Eagleton, Reason, Faith, and Revolution: Reflections on the God Debate, (Yale University Press, 2010), Kindle Edition, p.8.
Image © Krieg Barrie from GoodSalt.com
Not quite true, and that’s because the religion of the Bible, the religion that God has given humanity, has always been an organized religion.
On the other hand, there is no question that in the book of Jeremiah, the Lord was seeking to get people away from the cold, dead, but very organized rituals that came to dominate their faith, rituals that they believed covered their sin.
As said earlier, yet it is worth repeating, the vast majority of Jeremiah’s struggles were with leaders and priests and people who believed that because they were the chosen ones of God, the children of Abraham, the covenant people, they were just fine with the Lord. What a sad deception, one that we, also of Abraham’s seed (Gal. 3:29), need to watch out for.
What is the message of the following texts in Jeremiah? Most important, how can we apply the principles there in our own walk with the Lord? (Jer. 6:20, Jer. 7:1-10).
Read Jeremiah 7:9-10. If one ever wanted to find a situation that fits what has been called cheap grace,
the term certainly applies here. The people do all these sinful things and then come back to the temple and worship
the true God and claim forgiveness for their sins? God is not mocked. Unless these people change their ways, especially how they treat the weak among them, they are going to face harsh judgment.
What a deception they are under, the belief that they can claim God’s forgiveness and go on doing what they want, without regard to the conditions of the covenant so that they can continue on in those sins.
What is the difference between what Jeremiah is warning about here and what Jesus said in Matthew 9:12? Why is it important to know that difference?
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“Righteousness by faith” was sweet music to the ears of Judah, but they either did not understand or did not wish to. This enduring doctrine informed their escape route from destruction, but it was not allowed to interfere with their lifestyle. They carried on in sin while placing faith in the sacrifices which represented the work of Christ. The rituals were meaningless (Jeremiah 6:20).
Spiritual Babylon has copied this approach to salvation. Embracing salvation by faith partly and in theory only the law is banished and sin excused (Romans 6:1-2, 15).
It is not the Savior’s intent to increase saving grace (Romans 5:20), but to reduce the need for it until it is finally expired at the close of probation. Then only sustaining grace will continue as at the beginning.
Showing up for the temple services false prophets, priests, princes and people of Judah celebrated freedom from law and license for transgressions (Jeremiah 7:9-10). The fallen church supposes that weekly services, a little offering, rapturous singing and ‘anointed’ praying substitutes for obedience or purchases a pass for abominations. God says no! (Proverbs 28:9)
The purpose of grace is undermined when lawlessness is promoted by clever or blatant means; for sustaining grace is only necessary because of standards of law and saving grace because of sin – transgression of law. “Righteousness by faith” implies obedience (Revelation 14:9-12). The final test, like the first in Eden demonstrates this.
While many may reject the earnest plea to flee the false ideas and practices (Jeremiah 7:3-7; Revelation 18:4) the faithful like Jeremiah remain true to the end.
Romans 5:20. KjV version "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.
But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" Abound=increase by amount. how had the words/ur intrprtion 'reduce grace' appear instead??
I have to admit to a degree of discomfort about the distinction between saving and sustaining grace. I don't see the distinction as Biblical, but I may need to learn. I am not suggesting that the grace of God is licence to do anything we like. Far from it. Salvation is about living now and sharing that grace with others. It is not a celestial retirement plan.
The message that I hear in the Bible is that we are saved by grace and that as a result and commitment, we walk in the way God intended.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:28
We need God's saving grace all the time on that walk.
Both in the OT and the NT Jehovah says to the people: Be holy/perfect because I am holy/perfect. Or in other words as Adam & Eve were created perfect in the image of Myself, I am offering to re-create you in My image again. I want to change your character to be like Mine. I don't want you to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, I want you to be a sheep through and through. And the reason why I offer this miracle is because I want to have a loving relationship with you and because it will make you abundantly joyful.
In my mind, I can see a link between the thought in Jer 7:9-10 and this little piece of history. It relates to the sale of INDULGENSES, in the days of the Reformer, Martin Luther.
"One day, as he sat in the confessional [hearing people's sins], some citizens of Wittemberg came before him, and confessed having committed thefts, adulteries, and other heinous sins. "You must abandon your evil courses," said Luther, "otherwise I cannot absolve you." To his surprise and grief, they replied THAT THEY HAD NO THOUGHT OF LEAVING OFF THEIR SINS; that this was not in the least necessary, inasmuch as these sins were already pardoned, and they themselves secured against the punishment of them. The deluded people would thereupon pull out the indulgence papers... and show them in testimony of [i.e. show them to prove] their innocence. Luther could only tell them that these papers were worthless, that they must repent, and be forgiven of God, otherwise they should perish everlastingly." (History of Protestantism, vol 1, p.261)
The 'insanity' of INDULGENSES is no longer seen (or at least they are no longer seen to the same extent), and this might make it appear that the danger is past. But today many professed Christians are taught that they can sin with impunity, and that Christians are effectively saved in their sins. This teaching (saved in sin) is the equivalent to the old Indulgence... but now, instead of people having to pay money for them, the indulgences are given free!
Stewart,
Your customary insightful comments are on point. The 'free indulgences' are sometimes said to be paid for by Christ, and the 'indulgence papers,' in the form of a few select texts from the epistles of Paul, boldly pulled out to prove this (2 Peter 3:14-18).
Those who Christ said that are in need of a doctor because they are sick are the one who was doing evil and felt that they could come back to God and live that way and they were alright.
We who knows to do right and continue in doing evil are sick to the degree that we are truly in need of a Savior to show us how to live right what is the matter with our way of thinking to think that we who are suppose to be Christian and live as though there is no Judgment are we fooling ourselves there will come a time and in this near future when God will cut sin short.
Hugh, thank you for your comments, as I do not get to a Sabbath School class, this forum is my whole study. Could you please explain your comments above on 'saving grace' as distinct from 'sustaining grace'.
Jane,
Thanks for your question. ‘Saving grace’ as the term implies is concerned with salvation, which was not required before sin and will be unnecessary after sin is eliminated, that is in Heaven and New Earth. ‘Sustaining grace’ as the term implies is concerned with support to maintain a standard, and is always needed as long as there is a standard to maintain or position to preserve.
Saving grace is in simple terms pardon for the sinner on account of Christ’s sacrifice. This declares the repentant sinner righteous (Ephesians 2:8). Sustaining grace is in simple terms power to live in harmony with the Creator’s Law, the transcript of His character. It is that which preserves the unity of man with God. It keeps the unfallen and the saved righteous (Luke 2:40).
Before human sin Adam and Eve needed sustaining grace to keep the law for on their own they would err and did. Jesus needed sustaining grace only having never sinned. He depend on His Father with the help of Holy Spirit (John 5:30; Luke 4:1). For the human being sustaining grace is made available through the agency of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).
There is a major problem if believers only desire saving grace or pardon, but do not care much for sustaining grace or power to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Mankind does not continually need pardon unless continuing to sin, but always need support. Humans may live without a Mediator, and will, but not without support. Both saving grace and sustaining grace require faith or trust.
Hopefully this helps even a little.
Thanks Hugh, this helps me to understand a bit better. Yes, I always need support to abstain from intentional sin and really look forward to the day when hopefully I will be on my way to live in heaven with Jesus my Redeemer and then I will completely understand. My human brain limits me so much!!!
this helps me too .I didn't always understand the the twofold Grace.Thank you !Happy Sabbath ! l hope we shall all be rejuvenated !