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Are You Really Not Under The Law? This message was chosen because it is fundamental in understanding that God's Law was not done away with, and that you are therefore obligated as a member of the Body of Christ to observe and fulfill all that is ordained by Him for Believers. God's Law is not dead - it did not go out with the Old Covenant, nor is His Law just for the Jews. The Law is the High Holy Standard of God the Sovereign Authority, who commands your obedience to His Law (His Word/His instructions/the Bible), which results in bringing you into righteousness. It is God's Law that brings you into righteousness/faith; into obedience. As New Covenant Believers or Christians, your righteousness is of faith because of your belief in the Son of God (Jesus Christ) and you can't attain that without some prescribed indicator, which happens to be THE LAW - God's Word. So, how can you not be under THE LAW? That is God's Word. Carnal Ordinances Of The Law
Change of the law - not total obliteration of the Law, and this change was in the works/carnal ordinances or details pertaining to sin atonement, which reconciles man to God. The "law of works" or the Law of Moses, was replaced with the "law of faith" in the blood of Jesus Christ.
From this definition, ordinances are carried out by limited authority and in this case, the particulars or details of being forgiven for sin under the Old Covenant came under the guise of ordinances, carried out by the Levitical priests. By Jesus' death on the cross, He abolished of made null and void in His flesh "the law of commandments contained in ordinances" and not the Ten Commandments; and nor the rest of the Law of Moses. Remember, ordinances are orders governing some detail or procedure as in the works of the law for sin atonement. Those procedures were the work of the Levitical Priesthood and all having to do with sin atonement.
The Levitical Priesthood presided over the things of God such as the sin offerings and sacrifices (Leviticus 16:11-14). Since the priesthood had to be changed, this warranted the change in that segment of Moses' Law that contained those temporal promises (temple sacrifices, offerings, divers washings), and not God's spiritual or eternal Law - His High Holy Standard. The Meaning Of Sin Atonement Kaphar is the Hebrew word for atonement which means appease or to satisfy; to cleanse; to disannul or to make null; to forgive; to be merciful; or to be reconciled. You already know that sin is the willful transgression or breaking of God's Law - His High Holy Standard. You also know that until you go before God (not a man) asking forgiveness of sin, you are apart from God - separated from Him because your sin is darkness and God will have nothing to do with darkness/Satan/death. Saints, the direct way to God was made possible for you through Jesus' death. Until sin or the stain of darkness is washed from your soul, you cannot get near God. In fact, He'll only hear you if you're seeking forgiveness (John 9:31). Praise God! He made a way back to Him through Jesus' blood (forgiveness through blood - cleansing through blood - mercy through blood - reconciliation through blood - faith through blood). Why blood? Blood because, "life is in the blood," and what greater sacrifice can a man make than to lay down his life for a friend (John 15:13).
Under the Old Covenant, the atoning for sin was through works or deeds known as ordinances that were carried out by man. The works or deeds were:
Anything for God cannot be done haphazardly, but always with a plan or sequence, which is how these ordinances came about. To make the atonement for sin under the Old Covenant, the priest had to go by the rules governing the particulars or details prescribed so that the sins of the people could be forgiven or canceled. The prescribed procedures or ordinances were fleshly, in other words, carnal. Carnal ordinances! This fleshly act didn't please God, so He had to go to the next plan which He'd already spoken of to Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15). This plan was to be the installation of a permanent priest, Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.
Law I: God's High Holy Standard That Never Changes
Which is the great commandment in the law? The law? What law? God's Law of course; God's High Holy Standard for mankind to adhere to forever and ever. Because of God's immutability, His standards have not and will not ever change, and your righteousness and holiness is bound up in these Two Great Commandments that are a compilation of the Ten Commandments - God's Law. Remember, The Ten Commandments is God's Law that was written with His very own finger on tables of stone and was placed "into" the Ark (Exodus 25:16; Deuteronomy 10:2-5). This Law by God was placed into the Ark where the Spirit of God dwelt which meant there could be no change to His Law. It is this Law that is now in your spirit, THE FLESHLY TABLE OF YOUR HEART, where God's Holy Spirit dwells in truly Born Again, Spirit-filled Christians. There is still no change to this Law, and with it on the fleshly table of your heart - your spirit, it comes alive when you begin reading and living by the Word of God - the Bible.
As you can see, God's Law is still in effect - His High Holy Standard. This Law has not been obliterated, changed, nor abolished, and nor was it meant just for the Jews. The Law - the Ten Commandments - the Two Great Commandments, is alive and well, today, and with no change to it.
Jesus did not come to destroy God's Law nor the entire Law of Moses. Jesus came to fulfill or to perform that which was prophesied concerning the change in Moses' Law for blood atonement for man once and for all. Again, this atonement under the Old Covenant was in those carnal ordinances performed by flesh/men. The question that was asked Jesus: "Which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus goes on to answer "…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). These Two Great Commandments Jesus speaks of are all Ten Commandments inclusive - a summation of the whole of God's Word - His High Holy Standard, the Bible. Keep in mind God's immutability - He never changes. The Two Great Commandments The Son Jesus speaks of and the Ten Commandments The Father wrote with His very own finger look like the following when lined up: First Great Commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37) comprises the first four of God's Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-11), and relate to God alone:
Second Great Commandment: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:39) comprises the last six of God's Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12-17) and relate to your neighbor or mankind:
All of this is still in effect - no change to it, because this constitutes the entire Bible, which is the actual covenant between God and you. The covenant, the enforceable arrangement in writing, or the words of the covenant, are none other than the TEN COMMANDMENTS. “…And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments” (Exodus 34:28). “And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he [God] wrote them upon two tables of stone” (Deuteronomy 4:13). As all covenants are, this is everlasting (Hebrews 13:20) and is for all mankind. The covenant of the Ten Commandments was the only time that God Almighty wrote a covenant down instead of speaking it, and when Moses broke the tablets on which they were written, God Almighty wrote them down a second time with His very own finger. You have to ask yourself just what is the importance of this. Very important! It is the covenant of salvation and by writing it Himself, He communicated to mankind the importance and the permanence of these Ten Commandments. God’s moral code never changes, for it is the fundamentals of right and wrong and these Ten Commandments remain intact for all hands-on use in life. Attention! The covenant of Ten Commandments was not changed in any form or fashion because it cannot be changed. The change was in how it was enforced.
Law II: Moses' Handwritten Law That Changed You are aware of the immutability of God - He changes not. But, God knew in the beginning that He would change the Old Covenant and He announced that in Genesis 49:10 and Deutronomy 31:24-26 which reads:
The Law of Moses placed in the side of the Ark, at that time contained all carnal ordinances written by the hand of Moses (not God), could have more ordinances or laws added to the scroll, therefore could be and was affected by change. It was the parts of this law that pertained to sin atonement that was changed or nailed to the cross on Calvary. The Law written by Moses' hand was placed in the "side" of the Ark of the Lord; The Law (Ten Commandments) written with God's own finger was put "into" the Ark of the Lord. Jesus died for your sins so that you don't have to have a priest go before God with the blood of animals, but you can go directly to the High Priest forever, Jesus, who is your meat offering of shed blood on Calvary. This is why He, Jesus, came and died, and it was not to abolish the whole of God's Law, but the carnal ordinances passed on in Moses' Law (offerings of meats, drinks, and divers washings). These were abolished in Jesus' flesh when He was nailed to that ugly cross (Hebrews 9). Below is a partial list of the carnal works that were crucified and are forever changed, including the Levitical Priesthood and the lack of mercy. Offerings: Burnt · meat · peace · pollution · trespass · sin · consecration · scapegoat (Leviticus chapter 16) · perfect offering (Leviticus chapter 22) · Numbers chapters 15, 28, and 29 Divers Washings: Leper test (Leviticus chapters 13 and 14) · uncleanness (Leviticus chapter 15; Numbers chapter 19) Levitical Priesthood: Leviticus chapters 6 and 21; Numbers chapter 8 No Mercy: Leviticus chapter 24; Numbers chapter 35 Old Covenant: Circumcism of the flesh (Genesis 17:11; Leviticus 12:3). Mercilessness In The Law Of Moses The ordinances written by Moses had no mercy on the people. According to these laws, there was retaliation for injury with the purpose of "dishing-out" punishment comparable to what one had inflicted upon another. An example
Let's look at what the "Merciful Jesus" had to say about the mercilessness in Moses' Law:
This is mercy on your behalf as a Saint or a child of God because of the change to the ordinances that were placed on the outside of the Ark. Be mindful though that the change was not in the omitting of sin and its punishment, but in granting mercy by giving you the opportunity to repent and be reconciled to God. Another example of "no mercy" under Moses and now mercy under faith in Jesus is in John 8:3-11 where one could be stoned to death for adultery.
Saints, understand, sin is still sin - it's transgression of God's Law - His High Holy Standard and ALL must pay a price for sin regardless. But, God's mercy and justification through His Son's death on the cross enables you, personally, to repent (not do it again) and be restored to Him even in the midst of the punishment phase; and without an "eye for an eye" or a "tooth for a tooth" at the hand of your brothers and sisters in The Lord. Even though God is now saying, you don't have to be stoned to death for adultery or any other sin, it does not mean you will go unpunished.
Yes, you will be given room to repent - mercy, and thus justified or made free from sin after your repentance. But, when you continue to commit the same old sin over and over again, it will be revealed by way of your punishment coming from God's direct order to Satan and his demons to "have-at-it" with you.
You may not be stoned to death for your sins because of God's mercy and your justification by faith in Jesus, but God's punishment is much worse because the hedge of the Holy Ghost is pulled down from around you and Satan is permitted to inflict punishment upon you through various means (e.g., through other people, sickness, accidents, death, etc.). Another example of a merciless act under the law is in Deuteronomy 17 which reads,
This law was not nailed to the cross but the merciless penalty of being stoned to death for transgressing it was nailed to the cross because you are still not expected to commit such a sin. You who once practiced the occult but are now saved, Moses' Law would have had you stoned to death while still in sin, and you would not have had the opportunity to repent, and would have made hell your home. To this day, Deuteronomy 18:10-14 warns against sacrificing children in fire - divination - observing times (horoscope) - enchantment - witch charming - consulting familiar spirits - wizardry - necromancy, all of which are abominable acts before The Lord. This law was not nailed to the cross, but the penalty of it without mercy was nailed to the cross. You have to stop and ask yourself, if God's Law was nailed to the cross, why is it that we yet see Deuteronomy 18:10-14 as sin? Incest in Leviticus 18, as sin? Murder in Leviticus 19 as sin? Do you just pick and choose what you want to see as having been abolished or nailed to the cross with Jesus? Hardly. The Changes In Those Ordinances Was For Your Justification
The Law of Moses offered no justification. Your justification is through faith in Jesus and what the shedding of His blood did for you. I repeat, those Ten Commandments/Law of God having been placed in the Ark was a shadow of them being placed in your heart after the shedding of the precious blood of Jesus Christ the Justifier. You know that when the Bible speaks about not being under the law, it is clearly referring to the law of works - those carnal ordinances of Moses' Law. You can see from this that there is a law of works or carnal ordinances and that is the law that you are not under. There is no justification under the works of the law because animal sacrifices for sin is abolished. Interjections: Saturday Sabbath is still to be observed. Taking a look at Hebrews 9:22 which reads:
It said "almost" all things, not all things, but almost, which means everything other than those carnal ordinances - the washings, the sacrifices, etc., yet stand before God. (e.g., women wearing pants that show their form; the eating of unclean foods such as pork, catfish, shrimp, etc.). GOD IS HOLY AND YOU MUST BE HOLY! Hebrews And The Law - Now Better Understood
Hebrews 7:15-17 - carnal commandments
Hebrews 7:23 - There were many priests and they died one after the other - the priesthood changed.
God wanted an unchangeable priesthood; a priest forever, so He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, who suffered, died, was buried, rose from the dead, and now lives forevermore. There had to be change. Hebrews 7:24-25 - Unchangeable priesthood - priest forever, sitting at the righthand of the Father.
Hebrews 8:2
Jesus did not do away with the Law of God, but the carnal (pertaining to external or flesh) ordinances of meat and drink offerings, and divers washings. (See Leviticus 16:1-34.) Jesus said Himself:
Hebrews 9:26 - Jesus: New High Priest Forever
It was the law of commandments contained in ordinances that Jesus died to replace, and not to replace God's Ten Commandments/His Word/His High Holy Standard, and nor the rest of Moses' Law. The Law Until…
God's Word will be fulfilled when Satan is bound in hell forever and ever, and both God The Father and The Son are dwelling in the New Jerusalem here on earth. This of course is after the Millennial Reign, and after Satan is let loose and comes to war against Christ and the camp of the Saints (Revelation 20:7-10).
God's Law is fulfilled in Revelation 21
You see, Saints, at this point, the Son, Jesus, is already on earth and will have been for one thousand years. Revelation 21:2 and 3 are speaking of Father God; Him, whom no one can look upon or they will die. At that time, the Father can be looked upon because all flesh will have returned to dust as God spoke that it would, thus making mankind immortal, whereas during the Millennial Reign of Jesus, mortals will be living.
In Verse 4 The Lord tells you that "the former things are passed away" and Matthew 5:18 tells you that God's Word will not change, but be fulfilled - not one jot or tittle will change. The passing away of the old heaven and the old earth - the death of them both, also means gone are the jot and tittle in the Law of God; gone is God's Law too, because it is now fulfilled in His actual presence, in total. Saints, up until this time, the jot and tittle are still in God's Law, which means, God's Law is "alive and well", always has been, and you must always obey it - all of it. (This means Saturday Sabbath, which was not nailed to the cross.) This Law of God's, you are still under because it now dwells on the fleshly table of your heart and not on the tablets of stone.
Church, this is where it will all end - God's Law fulfilled. God's Law STARTED with Him in the creation and ENDS seven thousand years later with Him dwelling on this earth. Alpha and Omega - beginning and end - THE LAW FULFILLED. This end to the Law of God will be because God The Father and The Son will be dwelling here on earth, and there will be no need for it just like there will be no need for the sun nor the moon to shine because He is the living light - righteousness.
Church, this will truly be the end of God's Law here on earth, but, in the meantime, "…Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
God still expects this of you -
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