09/19/2019
In Christ we experience the ultimate freedom. Knowing Jesus doesn’t put us in bondage, no, quite the contrary, it sets us free as we live out our faith, and as it boils down all of the law that once governed us in the Old Testament days into principals that are not heavy chains of rule, and discipline, but fluttering flags of freedom! Our faith is not oppressive, but joyous, and its yoke is easy.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1 ESV
Years ago I attended the Virginia Military Institute which is a four year military college. When you walk through it’s arches as a freshman you enter a period of extreme hardship, and oppressive rules. The rules are so many, and the physical demands are so great that you wonder if you will be able to survive a day, much less four years. However, with each passing year you are given more freedom, and the physical demands become a little lighter, until at last you are a senior, and you almost feel human. This is an intense, rigorous, and demanding system that doesn’t allow for much expression of freedom, and the Old Testament Law was much like that. It was difficult, overwhelming in its complexity, and the penalty for disobeying even the least of its statutes meant failure, and punishment.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Joshua 1:8 ESV
Jesus didn’t come to give more laws, or to make living a faithful life harder for us to succeed at, no, He came to fulfill the old law, and transform it so that it would be easier for us to live by, as God would have us do, and to free us from the burdensome complexity. In all there were 613 commandments in the Old Testament. There were 248 positive, 365 negative laws. Jesus didn’t remove their intent, but combined and refined them in such a way as to make them easier for us to remember, understand, and obey. He did so in such passages as this...
“And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."”
Matthew 22:37-40 ESV
“On these two commandments depend all the law”... the burden of the Old Testament law was made light by Jesus. He transformed what had become a legal system of many laws and punishments into a living faith in which God’s will for us could be understood, and followed, without an overwhelming fear of details and complexity that often meant failure. He made way for the Holy Spirit to give us understanding, and through Himself came God’s merciful forgiveness, that flowed from Him like water, and was carried along by God’s grace. So Jesus took the law in His hands and reshaped it; He took God’s commandments, and smoothed them for us, and by providing greater understanding He made them easier for us to abide by.
“"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”
Matthew 5:17-18 ESV
So rather than the heavy load of memorizing, and suffering under the weight of many laws... most of them written by man to insure he wouldn’t fail at pleasing God, Jesus began to teach us how to think in heavenly fashion. In this way we would be brought closer to conforming to the image of God. He taught us the meaning and purpose that the old law contained, and didn’t simple bind us to its letter. Now we don’t have to search out the intricacies of the law to determine its nuances, and to see if our actions are good; we have been set free, and through understanding can discern God’s will.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."”
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
So are we ready to be free? Are we prepared to give up the fear of failure by allowing Jesus to reshape our relationship with God? Today can be the beginning of a new and remarkable freedom in our faith; a freedom from sin, and an amazingly simple walk with God. Jesus brings us a new way of looking at God’s laws; He does this by bringing God’s grace into our lives, and the Holy Spirit’s understanding to us... He does this by giving us a heavenly perspective on God’s will.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for transforming the legalistic view I have had concerning your laws, and will, for me into an understanding of your purpose and desire behind the Old Testament Laws. Thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who you sent to fulfill the law. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that leads me to understand your Word, and all that is within it... teaching me to live by the your intent, and not the letter of the law. Help me Holy Father to be conformed to your desires without fear, and by living my life in the image of Jesus. Help me as I throw off the heavy burden of my own understanding, and cleave unto the light yoke of Jesus. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God in whose image we have been made. Great are you who we long to please, and whose statutes and laws we look to as guides in our lives. Gracious are you who sent His Son to ease the burden of the old law that once overwhelmed us, and has brought simplicity and understanding through the fulfillment of them in Christ. All glory is yours Father as your grace flows forth, and our redemption, and forgiveness is made complete in your Son. Praised be your name now, and forevermore.
“You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
Galatians 5:4-6 ESV
Rich Forbes