The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Malachi 4:4,
"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel."
Here is an interesting statement from the apostle Paul, "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?" Romans 6:14-15.
Here is what appears to be a contradiction! Many are the churches who are entirely confused on this issue of keeping the law God gave Moses. Particularly the ten commandments.
The Lord tells Israel through Malachi to keep the law, "Remember the law of my servant Moses." This is the law God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai during the 1400's BC. A millenia later, here in Malachi, the Lord continues to tell the Jews to keep the law. Was Paul wrong? Paul was Jesus Christ's apostle to the Gentiles and the New Testament's most prolific writer, having authored thirteen of the twenty-seven books.
Paul was not in contradiction at all with what the Lord told Israel through Malachi. We read in Romans 3:20, "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."
The Lord wanted Israel (and through Israel, all mankind) to know and do their best to keep the law. The purpose was to show mankind their sin, and as a result, their need for the Savior. As sinful man attempted to keep the law of God, they would (and did) fail, prompting a sense of hopelessness to achieve an eternity based on our own goodness apart from God's help. Attempting to keep the law would drive one to throw himself at the feet of God's mercy - preparing them for the gospel message. No one looks to be saved if they don't feel a threat. The threat, of course, is God's own judgment of us and the fear of being cast into that lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8.
He sent his Son to take our punishment on himself. And, in the court of God, payment for sin is fungible. All he asks of us is to embrace him in faith. Place our trust and faith in Jesus Christ.
Those who have done so no longer need to be convinced of the sin in their lives and so the teaching we have from Romans 7:6 is, "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."
Just how wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel."
Here is an interesting statement from the apostle Paul, "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?" Romans 6:14-15.
Here is what appears to be a contradiction! Many are the churches who are entirely confused on this issue of keeping the law God gave Moses. Particularly the ten commandments.
The Lord tells Israel through Malachi to keep the law, "Remember the law of my servant Moses." This is the law God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai during the 1400's BC. A millenia later, here in Malachi, the Lord continues to tell the Jews to keep the law. Was Paul wrong? Paul was Jesus Christ's apostle to the Gentiles and the New Testament's most prolific writer, having authored thirteen of the twenty-seven books.
Paul was not in contradiction at all with what the Lord told Israel through Malachi. We read in Romans 3:20, "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."
The Lord wanted Israel (and through Israel, all mankind) to know and do their best to keep the law. The purpose was to show mankind their sin, and as a result, their need for the Savior. As sinful man attempted to keep the law of God, they would (and did) fail, prompting a sense of hopelessness to achieve an eternity based on our own goodness apart from God's help. Attempting to keep the law would drive one to throw himself at the feet of God's mercy - preparing them for the gospel message. No one looks to be saved if they don't feel a threat. The threat, of course, is God's own judgment of us and the fear of being cast into that lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8.
He sent his Son to take our punishment on himself. And, in the court of God, payment for sin is fungible. All he asks of us is to embrace him in faith. Place our trust and faith in Jesus Christ.
Those who have done so no longer need to be convinced of the sin in their lives and so the teaching we have from Romans 7:6 is, "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."
Just how wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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