GRANDFATHER AND GRANDDAUTHER

Correspondence between granddaughter and myself.
Grandpa, I have a few questions. I just started two online courses through the Institute of Jewish Studies. One is on Jewish cultures and customs. We have discussion times between the classmates (about 10 of us). One question was raised in the discussion that got me thinking. It was “should we use the law as a guide to holy living since that is what God considers holy?” Here is my idea on this and I would like to hear what yours is too: We know that Christ has fulfilled the law for us and that to return to it we would be only returning to “salvation by works”. But, after salvation should we look to the law as our guide for being “careful to maintain good works”? It seems to me that the New Testament offers a completely new look at holy living. In Jesus sermon on the mount he gives a guide for discipleship so different from the “eye for an eye” way of the Old Testament. The Old Testament gives the physical rules while the New Testament gives the heart’s attitudes as God sees it. I guess the question really becomes, if we are supposed to be separated from the world, in what ways should we be separate? I don’t think it should be by following the Old Testament laws but instead the charges given by Christ and the writers of the epistles- to me they seem very different. What are your thoughts on this?
Grandpa: In Romans 3:10 we read “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Verses 18 and 23 have the same thought. Luke 1:5 and 6 tell us that Zacharias, a priest and his wife Elisabeth were righteous before God, walking in all His commandments and that they were blameless. This is God’s assessment of them so therefore true. It does not do to pit one verse against another. We may be confused but God never is. The answer to this riddle (and it may appear so to some) is in Ephesians 2: 19 to 22 especially in the last two verses where we are told that we are the temple of God. As we look at the temple we find that the inside is covered, first with cedar, which speaks of the humanity of Christ. We read in 1 Kings 6:18 that no stone was seen on the inside. Within the Holiest of all was the ark of the covenant. Above the ark was the Mercy Seat. In Exodus 25:22 we are told that God would meet His people from this place. Within the Holy Place the cedar, (which already covered the walls) was to be covered with gold. While the cedar spoke of the humanity of Christ, the gold spoke of His deity. The picture here is that we can come to God only through Christ, because of His atoning blood. As Romans 3:10 and other verses tell us “there is none righteous”. We can only come to God through Christ because of His perfect righteousness. In 1 Kings 6:18 we are told that inside the house their was no stone seen. The stone was seen on the outside. This is where the Christian comes in contact with the world. The priest could only come to God (Who dwelt in the Holy Place) through Christ. Outside was simply the stone of the temple. This is where the Christian comes in contact with the world. Here verses apply such as Matthew 5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see you good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Before God we have no righteousness but in the world God commands us to “be careful to maintain good works”: Titus 3:8. What about the law being our guide? There is an old road from Holland to Grand Haven. Some years ago a new highway was put in. I can drive on the new road while keeping my eye on the old. But I will sooner or later hit a tree. Also, we don’t keep the Sabbath which makes me a judge of the law deciding which ones I should keep.There are universal laws such as murder or stealing and you will find them in both testaments. Every country has speed laws but I don’t stop at a stop sign in the US because England has the same law. Grandpa

Thanks so much! Sorry it took so long for me to respond and since my battery is almost dead I can’t write for very long. Yes, I will retype this all so you can put it on the blog. As I retype I’m sure other discussion topics will arise out of this! I hope you are doing well. Miss you and the boggle and chess games! Love, C________

Grandpa (answer)
After looking over your e-mail I see something I forgot.
Read the story of Jehoiada’s son, put to death by King Joash. In his dying prayer
he is calling for vengeance. This is in 11 Chronicles 24:20-22. This was in the Old
Testament. In the New Testament in Acts 7:60 is Stephen’s prayer for foregivness.
Yes, we are in a different dispensation.
Your,
Grandpa.

C_______, I had this all ready to go and then two more questions came. I think the answers will explain the questions.
To answer the first, yes we do live on a higher plain than the Old Testament saints.
We have more information now for one thing. Jesus said in John 6:63 “the Words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life”. I think the answer in the next paragraph will touch on some of the first question.
There are two kinds of universal laws. The covenant with Noah is going to operate
regardless of what you do about it. The same is true of the seasons and the months.
The law of the seven days is just as absolute but depends on man’s obedience.
Also, remember, the law of capital punishment was before the ten commandments
were given. It’s another absolute law. What of today? The government, according to Romans 13, wields the sword. You and I do not unless we are acting as agents of the government.
As Christians we are in favor of capital punishment simply because the Bible says so. But at the same time I must remember that the murderer is also a victim of Satan .
Ephesians 6:12 is quite plain on this: “we wrestle not against flesh and blood—but
against— spiritual wickedness in high places”.
Therefore even if the crime directly affects me I forgive the offender. This the Old
Testament believer was not expected to do. At this point I live on an entirely different plain. But if I do not demand justice I have no pity on the victim and will let crime grow unhindered.
We see both sides in Psalm 72:4 “He shall judge the poor of the people, He shall save the
children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor”.
It is a very true axiom: Law without love is not law=Love without law is not love.
Although there are two testaments there is one Book with one Author.
I suppose this leaves you with more questions than answers. Let me send this and take those up later.
Your
Grandpa