Sunday: The Law
Read Romans 3:31. What’s Paul’s point here? Why is this point important to us as Adventists?
In this passage Paul states emphatically that faith does not make void God’s law. But even those who kept the law, even the entire Old Testament corpus of law, were never saved by it. The religion of the Old Testament, as that of the New, was always one of God’s grace given to sinners by faith.
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Read Romans 4:1-8. How does this show that even in the Old Testament, salvation was by faith and not by works of the law?
According to this Old Testament narrative, Abraham was accounted righteous because he “believed God.” Therefore, the Old Testament itself teaches righteousness by faith. Hence, any implication that faith “makes void” (Greek katargeo: “renders useless,” “invalidates”) the law is false; salvation by faith is very much part of the Old Testament. Grace is taught all the way through it. What, for instance, was the entire sanctuary ritual if not a representation of how sinners are saved, not by their own works but by the death of a substitute in their stead?
Also, what else can explain how David was forgiven after the sordid affair with Bathsheba? Certainly it wasn’t law-keeping that saved him, for he violated so many principles of the law that it condemned him on numerous counts. If David were to be saved by the law, then David would not be saved at all.
Paul sets forth David’s restoration to divine favor as an example of justification by faith. Forgiveness was an act of God’s grace. Here, then, is another example from the Old Testament of righteousness by faith. In fact, however legalistic many in ancient Israel became, the Jewish religion was always a religion of grace. Legalism was a perversion of it, not its foundation.
| Dwell for a few minutes on David’s sin and restoration (2 Samuel 11-12; Psalm 51). What hope can you draw from that sad story for yourself? Is there a lesson here about how we in the church should treat those who have fallen? |
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I pray that the citation of David here doesn't imply David disregarded God's law. Of course he valued God's law more than anything. Twenty-eight times in Psalms he wrote about His commandments. Forty times he uses the word "law" and twenty-eight times the term statutes. Moreover he dedicates the entire Psalm 119 to praise God's commandments, law and statutes and precepts. I enjoyed these verses very much (44-45) "So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts."
What the lesson says is: We are justified by faith which leads to obedience out of love, neither hoping of reward nor fear of punishment. The keeping of the law is never an issue of extrinsic motivation. If we look more closely at what James says we see that he is not arguing for works in the absence of faith, but rather for works as the evidence of faith (2:18 ).He is sure that saving faith transforms the believer so that good works necessarily follow. When people have saving faith God transforms their lives. Faith is that power we receive from God after justification(John 1:12). It enables us to love His commandments the same way David sings praises of them. Faith bears obedience not disobedience. Paul certainly calls vigorously for faith, but he calls equally vigorously for lives of Christian service, when he writes, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" ( Gal 5:6 ). Those who keep His law do it out of love of God. "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.(Psalms 119:47)
Anele; do I understand that you're suggesting that David did not break the law?… Royce
Anele, David actually transgressed against God's laws. He later repented and sang God's praises
Yes that's true Jackie. Psalms 32 tells the whole story of his repentance after his committing adultery with Uriah's and orchestrating his death.
All what I said is that he had absolute high regard for God's law.
David's high regard for the Law did not save him. The Law only condemns. David could be saved only by grace through faith - as is true for all of us.
(I apologise in advance for the length of this post - but I couldn't express the essence of the though and support it with evidence any more briefly).
Many people will be familiar with the Ellen White quote that the law is the transcript of God's character (eg, COL 305.3). Unfortunately, there is the tendency to think that this law is limited to referring to the 10 commandments or similar 'codes' handed down.
But when I read Desire of Ages pg 21.2 & 3, (I have only included part of the quote - but the part is in harmony with the context) I find that this law is much, MUCH bigger:
"...in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life.
In heaven itself this law was broken. Sin originated in self-seeking. Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to be first in heaven..."
What do I find here? The circuit of beneficence (aka: agape love) is the LAW of life and it exists in heaven (and throughout all God's creation).
So "law" can never become invalid because it consists of the principles that underpin the reality of (abundant: zoe) Life. Without this law, life would cease to exist. Therefore so long as there is life, this law must necessarily remain.
The above quote also describes what sin is at its largest conceptualisation: living on a basis of self-seeking.
Notice these 2 core principles or 'laws': the law of life being the circuit of beneficence (agape love underpinning everything one thinks, says, does, etc) versus the law of sin (self-seeking underpinning everything one thinks, says, does, etc). Incase you think I am drawing too long a bow in referring to the law of sin, see Rom 7:23. I beleve Paul understood what I have outlined above. And Ellen White certainly seem to.
I would propose that Christianity has come to conceive of law way too narrowly when the law/God's law is only seen as the 'codes handed down' at Mt Sinai etc - or even the "...law of God, as given to Adam after his fall..." (PP pg 364.2).
Why might this be an important issue and not just semantics? If the law is actually as typically conceptualised, then perhaps we need a salvation that involves someone taking our punishment for breaking the law. On the other hand, if the law is the principles that underpins (ie make possible) Life, then perhaps salvation is a completely different scenario.
And what might that different scenario look like? Perhaps it would be someone entering humanity to retrace the steps of the first Adam who 'fell' from living in accordance with the 'circuit of beneficence/law of life' into living in accordance with 'self-seeking' as their core tendency. And perhaps this second Adam would not 'fall', but would hold fast to living in accordance with (ie, obedience to) the 'circuit of beneficence/law of life' no matter what (see Rm 4:19)- even to the point of death on a cross (see Phil 2:8). This would mean that salvation would be about actually restoring willing members of humanity back from living in accordance with self-seeking to once again living in accordance with the circuit of beneficence/law of life as their core tendency via 'rebirth' (see Jn 3:6-6) whereby the indwelling Holy Spirit actually re-produces/re-forms the character of the second Adam within so that the willing person's character reflects that of the second Adam.
I suspect David knew something of this reality and why he was called a man after God's own heart (see Acts 13:22) - because David desired to have a clean heart and right spirit (Ps 51:10) that would actually enable him to be transformed to live in harmony with/obedience to the circuit of beneficence because it is the law of life.
Perhaps the law of life - the circuit of beneficence - is actually the foundation from which grace naturally flows. As Ellen White correctly noted in an earlier part of the above mentioned paragraph, "...it is the glory of our God to give..." (DA 21.2).
And I would propose that if we could understand this, it would also make a difference in how we would treat those who have fallen...
Phil
If I am understanding you correctly, (and I may be missing all of your points), I agree with the substance of what you are saying.
There has always been an overarching Law of God that goes back to eternity. That is the law that is eternal and will continue into eternity future, because it is the foundation of God’s government and the substance of His character.
The Ten Commandments are a sub-set of that Eternal Law, and is a “dumbed down” (in human terms, no disrespect intended) version compiled for a weak, childish group of former slaves.
When Jesus amplified the law (e.g. Matt 5) as captured in Exodus through Deuteronomy, He was leading the minds of the people from the elementary law to the Supreme Law.
As I have tried to say many times, there is more to living a Spirit filled life than just keeping the Ten Commandments. The Israelites tried to do that and failed. As a matter of fact, they kept the Sabbath but never entered into God’s rest. Living in harmony with, and in accordance with the direction of the Eternal Law can only be accomplished with the power of the Holy Spirit of God Himself.
You are correct Fred.
That overarching Law is the foundation of God's government and the substance of his character. And to amplify one further aspect - is is also the fabric of reality - even the reality that God inhabits.
I also agree with you that this Law goes back to eternity (and forward to eternity). This Law is perpetual and immutable because, without it, reality CANNOT possibly exist - it is this Law that enables order and therefore reality is possible. Otherwise there would only be chaos - and chaos CANNOT support life or reality.
Because it would appear that neither life nor reality can exist without this Law, I would propose that God did not create this Law. For if He did, there would have to have been a reality in existence prior to that Law in order for God to be alive and exist before he created His Law. Consequently, I describe God as both 'inhabiting' this Law and subsequently creating in accordance with this Law (again because it is the only way that reality can exist and be sustained). Perhaps there is a more viable alternative explanation, and if there is, I am open to consideration of it.
The reason I outline the above is to magnify both God and the Law that God inhabits and creates life in accordance with (including life on this earth) - and to hilight the character and nature as well as the absolute perpetuity and immutability of both.
If we could all remember that the eternal Law of God is the law of self-renouncing love, we would not be so tempted to see the Law of God as the same kind of law as arbitrary human laws. Rather, as others have pointed out, the Law of God is like the law of gravity. It is the law of life for the universe. (See Desire of Ages, p. 19)
We should just simply share with those who have fallen the "Hope," that we have to depend on for our own salvation ----"Jesus Own Merits," in our behalf.
Amen. The Good News we tell to others needs to be simple.
The perversion of the gospel of grace by the Jewish legalistic hierarchy was a strategic device of the old serpent in his failed effort to thwart God's plan of redemption and thus render it ineffective to save mankind. I thank God for sending His only Son to give His life a ransom for us, taking our place of complete condemnation which deserved the penalty of death. I thank Jesus, our Savior that He did not come down from the cross. He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free, yes! He could have but He chose to bear the sin and the shame of the whole world and to die alone for you and me.
He could have called ten thousand angels (Author: Ray Overholt)
They bound the hands of Jesus in the garden where he prayed
They led him thru the streets in shame
They spat upon the savior so pure and free from sin
They said, "crucify him: he's to blame
He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world and set him free
He could have called ten thousand angels
But he died alone, for you and me
Upon his precious head they placed a crown of thorns
They laughed and said, "Behold the king"
They struck him and they cursed him and mocked his holy name
All alone he suffered everything
When they nailed him to the cross, his mother stood nearby,
He said, "Woman, behold thy son!"
He cried, "I thirst for water," but they gave him none to drink
Then the sinful work of man was done
To the howling mob he yielded: he did not for mercy cry
The cross of shame he took alone
And when he cried, "It’s finished," he gave himself to die
Salvation's wondrous plan was done
Hi Claudette
So true what you said about the old serpent being behind the perversion of the gospel of grace in the days of the Jewish legalistic period.
And thanks for the reproduction of Ray Overholt's words - reading that evokes some very deep emotions regarding some of what Jesus went through in His pursuit to give me (and everyone who is willing) the opportunity to be reconciled and restored back to harmony with Him.
I wonder what specific approach/approaches that old serpent may be using today to pervert the gospel of grace?
You are welcome Phil. We all have to be 'sober' and 'vigilant' when it comes to the tricks of our adversary, the serpent of old, but we can rest assured and claim God's promises in His word in 1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
King James Version (KJV)
Amen to that awesome song. And I would also add to that song on the part that says "But He died alone, for you and me." I would add this: "But He died alone to set us free."
The Bible clearly states that Jesus did not come to do away with the Law, as if there was a problem with it but rather, He came in order to FULFILL it! Some have tried to argue that once you accept Christ by faith and focus on Him that's all you need. This leads to the following question being asked: Are we now free to ignore God's law? Paul asks: "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." And John declares, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous." Ellen G White makes the point: "In the new birth the heart is brought into harmony with God, as it is brought into accord with His law."—The Great Controversy, page 468. In my view this is an entrenched and commonly known principle teaching in Scriptures and in the Adventist Church. Salvation by faith does not exclude submission to the “law of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2). As argued before faith does not and cannot negate the need for obedience; rather, it establishes it. I believe Paul is making the same point.
Jesus was and is the embodiment of the "Fulfilled law", but he did not need a savior like we do. That is why our focus is never to be the law but the embodiment of that law---Jesus---our savior.
Well said Bulumko.
David would also agree with you. He was a "man after God's own heart" - he had a saving relationship with God. And it was in this state that he penned the words in Psalm 1:1-3.
David understood that God's law in its fullest expression was a necessary, vital and inseparable part of abundant life (Jn 10:10). Living by faith is inseparable from living in harmony with the God's law.
Somehow the 'law' has gotten a bad name that it doesn't deserve... and I have a pretty good idea which serpent is behind that! To use a proverb, by all means change out the bathwater ... but don't throw out the baby in the process.
Bulumko, is there any way of "keeping the law" *without* focusing on a relationship with Jesus? It is only Christ who can fulfill the law in us. A focus on the law cannot do it, as I can attest from experience, and Paul says that the purpose of the law is to reveal sin.
It is Christ all the way, not Christ part of the way, leaving us to 'finish' our salvation. So, yes, as followers of Jesus, that's all we need - to focus on allowing Him to be Lord of our lives and live within us. He is the embodiment of the eternal Law, and He will bring our lives into harmony with His.
God is looking for men and woman who will totally depend on Christ for perfection. People who will be totally reliant on Christ for eternity, people who He can trust for eternity, people who depend on Christ for character development. The good news is, you can become dependent now.
"Some seem to feel that they must be on probation and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim His blessing. But these dear souls may claim the blessing even now. They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot form a Christian character. Jesus loves to have us come to Him, just as we are—sinful, helpless, dependent. Faith and Works, Page 38.1.
John, I assume page 38.1 is a quote from EGW. Faith is liberally found in both the old and the new testament. Deuteronomy to Revelation. I would offer that Faith and Grace are very closely related. Many opinions have been expressed over the meaning of faith, and who's faith, Ours or Gods? If EGW has what is referred to, I am confident that the page on "Faith and works" are words of encouragement.
Psalms 32 may provide some insight. Royce.