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By: Jimmy Swaggart
ACTS 15:1 – “AND CERTAIN MEN WHICH CAME DOWN FROM JUDAEA TAUGHT THE BRETHREN, AND SAID, EXCEPT YE BE CIRCUMCISED AFTER THE MANNER OF MOSES, YE CANNOT BE SAVED.”
The phrase, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the Brethren,” presents the greatest crisis of the Early Church.
These “Certain men” from “Judaea,” were from the Mother Church in Jerusalem, but without the authority they claimed to have (Acts 15:24). Consequently, irrespective as to who they were, this gave them legitimacy and for all the obvious reasons. All of the original Twelve Apostles considered the Jerusalem Church their Church Home and attended there when they happened to be in the city. The weight of this credibility was awesome to say the least.
However, this in no way infers that the “Twelve” were involved in this “false Doctrine.” Even though it would ultimately have an effect even on Peter (Gal. 2:11-14), they were not its originators.
However, in this scenario it is my opinion that James, the Lord’s Brother, who served as the Pastor or Bishop of the Church in Jerusalem, did not take the stand at the beginning he should have taken respecting this false Doctrine. Consequently, it made it very difficult for the Apostle Paul, and was actually the cause of this first Council conducted at Jerusalem respecting Church Doctrine.
To James’ credit, the evidence will show that he properly followed the Lord respecting what was decided at that Council. But still, it seems that this problem plagued the Church throughout the account given to us through the entirety of the Book of Acts.
It must ever be known, that Satan does his best work inside the Church, rather than from without.
If the views broached by these Judaean Christians had prevailed, the whole character of Christianity would have been changed, and in fact, its existence cut short.
In fact, some think that Paul’s confrontation with Peter, to which we have just alluded, may have taken place before the Council at Jerusalem, and could have even precipitated this momentous occasion (Gal. 2:11-14).
Some think, that Peter, accepting Paul’s rebuke, preceded him and Barnabas, and prepared the way at Jerusalem for the solution ultimately decided.
And, indeed, Peter’s words at Jerusalem, as we shall see, are almost an echo of Paul’s words addressed to him at Antioch.
The phrase, “Except ye be Circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be Saved,” squarely describes the “Law/Grace” issue. As we have stated, this was the first Doctrinal Controversy.
The gist of this Doctrinal error was that to be Saved the person, be they Jew or Gentile, had to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour, plus keep the Law of Moses. Whether the proponents of this error understood it or not, in effect this was saying that the Price paid by Christ at Calvary was not enough, and man, consequently, has to add something to that price. In other words, it is saying that Christ’s Work was not a finished work, but rather an incomplete work. Of course, there could be no greater insult tendered toward the Lord than that.
However, this problem has persisted from then until now, and in various different directions. For instance, many presently believe that one in order to be Saved, has to accept Christ, plus be Baptized in Water.
Others claim that one has to accept Christ, plus speak in other Tongues.
Others claim that one has to accept Christ, plus join their particular Church, etc.
All of this, and in whatever direction it may take, is identical to the problem that faced the Early Church. Individuals were attempting to add to the Finished Work of Christ, in this case, the Law of Moses.
WHAT IS THE LAW OF MOSES?
The giving of the Law is found in the Books of Exodus and Leviticus in the Old Testament. However, the balance of the Old Testament as well as the Four Gospels, proclaims to us Israel’s participation in the Law and their terrible failure.
The Law of Moses, was actually the Law of God. It was the greatest Legislation the world had ever known, and, in fact, was the only perfect Legislation the world ever knew.
To be sure, there were many laws in the world before the Law of Moses, but they were all devised by man, and, consequently flawed, and seriously so!
The Law as given to Moses, dealt with every single aspect of human life. It dealt with man’s relationship to God, his relationship to his fellowman, and even to the animal kingdom and the environment. It left absolutely nothing undone respecting a pattern for living.
ISRAEL FAR AHEAD OF OTHER NATIONS
This which God gave, placed Israel far ahead of all the other Nations of the world. Actually, this was the only Law which told man how to live. As stated, it addressed every single part of his existence. It was totally fair, objective, impartial and straightforward. It did not favor a few while placing an undue burden on others. It was the same for the King as it was the poorest person in Israel.
LAW AND COVENANT IN ISRAEL
In Old Testament History and Theology, Covenant precedes Law. God made His historic Commitment to Abraham some 430 years before the Law was introduced at Sinai. And the Law made no basic change in the Covenant.
It is the Covenant that stands as the basis of Israel’s relationship with the Lord, and it is the Covenant with Abraham to which God will remain faithful.
Law was introduced to meet a need that existed within the context of the Covenant. God acted in Covenant faithfulness to bring Israel out of Egypt. But Israel’s unresponsiveness to God demonstrated that this people needed guidance and structure.
At Sinai, God provided the needed structure. He established guidelines for Israel for living with Him and with others, and, as stated, as individuals and in community. God also made clear the consequences of obedience and disobedience (Deut. Chpt. 28).
The individual or generation that lived in harmony with the Divine Teaching would receive Blessing. The individual or generation that wandered away from the path marked out by Law would be disciplined.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW AND
COVENANT IN ISRAEL
The Old Testament often has this emphasis on Law as marking out the path by which one might experience Blessing within the Covenant relationship.
Observing the Revealed Will of God shared in the Law of Moses was the way to Blessing. The Law was a great Gift to Israel, for it was their key to the experience of God’s best.
To understand the Old Testament, we need to grasp the relationship between Law and Covenant.
Covenant is the basis for relationship between God and human beings. But the Covenant was made with Abraham, and its fulfillment promised his descendants Blessings at history’s end.
What about those generations that follow one another across the intervening millennia? It is to these generations that the Law is addressed.
Law was designed to teach each generation of God’s people how to live, so that they might experience in their day the Blessings that God promised will be provided at history’s end. A generation might disobey the Law and violate God’s Commandments, but the Covenant itself was unaffected. All that the disobedient generation would do is to bring down upon itself the punishments established when the Law was given (Deut. 28:15-68).
THE EXTENT OF THE LAW
At times we may think of the Law as merely the Moral Code delivered by Moses. As we have seen, Law encompasses far more than that.
In its prescriptive elements the Mosaic Law functioned as: A. The Constitution of the Nation; B. The basis for determining Civil and Criminal cases; C. A guide to worship; D. A personal guide to good family and social relationships; and, E. A personal guide to relationship with the Lord.
Law comprised not only those regulations that define sin and establish guilt, but also the Sacrificial system through which the Believer might find Atonement for sins. In essence, everything in the experience of the people of Israel was guided by the Law.
ISRAEL’S FAILURE
Despite the all-encompassing nature of the Law and despite the fact that Law is seen in the Old Testament as one of God’s good Gifts, Israel fell far short of becoming a just and holy community.
The Prophets looked back and viewed history only as an unbroken series of disasters and tragedy, as generation after generation turned from the Lord and His Ways. Looking ahead, Jeremiah saw a new day when the Mosaic Law would be supplanted.
Then an effective and powerful guide to Holiness, “not like” the Mosaic Law would be introduced. The Lord declared through the Prophet: “I will put My Law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My People” (Jer. 31:33).
Law in the Old Testament is good. But Law is not permanent, and was not meant to be permanent, for Law has never been effective in making the people of God Righteous.
THE OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVER’S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LAW
While Law was unable to make a generation or individual good, Law was deeply appreciated by the person who trusted the Lord.
Two of David’s Psalms show us how highly esteemed the Law was among believing Israelites. Psalm 19 says this: “The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The Statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
“The Precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The Commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
“The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring for ever. The Ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether Righteous.
“They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
“By Them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Ps. 19:7-11).
PSALM 119
Even though it is not known for sure who wrote Psalm 119, inasmuch as it has much Davidic personality, it is possible that the Sweet Singer of Israel is the Author.
This Psalm, the longest of all incidentally, pays Praise and Tribute to the Word of the Lord regarding the Law, throughout its entirety, and as no other.
David perceived God’s Law in the context of personal relationship. The Law is not a stern external demand, but David experienced it as the caressing Voice of a God Whom he loved and Whom he rejoiced to obey.
In the context of this kind of relationship, all who trusted the Lord could say:
“Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy Statutes.
“With my lips have I declared all the Judgments of Thy Mouth.
“I have rejoiced in the way of Thy Testimonies, as much as in all riches.
“I will meditate in Thy Precepts, and have respect unto Thy Ways.
“I will delight myself in Thy Statutes: I will not forget Thy Word” (Ps. 119:12-16).
JESUS AND THE LAW
In Jesus’ time the Rabbis (the Teachers of the Law we meet so often in the New Testament) focused their Faith on Law. God had given the Torah, the first five Old Testament Books, to Moses. All else (the writings and the Prophets) were but Commentary on this core.
The Religious Leaders in Jesus’ day were sure not only that these Mosaic Books were the key to life and death but also that the individual could keep the Law and please God. The young Ruler’s question, “What must I do to inherit Eternal Life?” (Lk. 18:18), sums up the understanding of religion held by most of the religious people in his generation.
When Jesus appeared, He did not deny the Law (the Books of Moses), but rather upheld it in its totality. But He did directly challenge the understanding of the Old Testament on which contemporary Jewish Faith was based.
To understand the challenge and to sense Jesus’ Own view of “Law” as the term is used in the Gospels, we need to examine several significant Gospel Passages.
TO FULFILL THE LAW
Matthew 5:18-48: Jesus began by stating His Own allegiance to the Old Testament. But then He made this dramatic declaration concerning His Purpose for coming to earth:
“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.
“I tell you the Truth, until Heaven and Earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Mat. 5:17-18).
Jesus continued with a warning: The Commandments are to be practiced (Mat. 5:19). But then He said:
“I tell you that unless your Righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mat. 5:20).
Jesus then illustrated what He meant. He picked Commands from the Law, saying, “You have heard . . .” and then He went on, “But I say to you . . . .”
In each case, Jesus shifted the focus from a behavior regulated by Law (“Do not murder”) to inner attitudes (Anger) from which the actions flow.
His point is clear: Law looks on the outside which is all Law can do, but God is concerned with the heart. It is the human heart that must be transformed and not merely expressions of sin that must be restrained.
HEART ATTITUDE
Matthew 7:12; 22:36-40: Jesus taught that the Law and the Prophets can be summed up simply:
“In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Mat. 7:12).
An expansion on this statement came when Jesus was questioned by one “Expert in the Law” (Mat. 22:35). Asked which is the greatest Commandment, Jesus answered:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest Commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two Commandments” (Mat. 22:37-40).
Again the issue shifts from strict compliance with the detailed instructions of the Old Testament to one’s heart attitude. Love for God and Love for others is the key to Godliness.
THE NEW COVENANT SUPERSEDES THE LAW
Matthew 11:13; Luke 16:16-17; John 1:17:
The New Testament indicates that with the appearance of Jesus, the foretold day in which the Mosaic Law would be superseded had arrived.
John wrote that “The Law was given through Moses; Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1:17).
Luke quotes Jesus: “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God is being preached” (Lk. 16:16).
The Old Testament economy was not rejected. Not at all. Instead, all that the Old Testament foretold had come with Jesus. In other words, He is the One Who fulfilled all its Symbols and Ceremonies. He is the Prophet Who was destined to bring the Message that supersedes that of Moses (Deut. 18:15).
The Way of Life He introduced did not abolish the Mosaic Code but supersedes it with the New Covenant that the Prophets promised (Jer. Chpt. 31).
THE MOSAIC LAW A DIVINE COMPROMISE
Matthew 19:3-9: When Pharisees came to Jesus to raise a point of Law concerning Divorce, Jesus answered them by stating God’s intentions for marriage. From the time of Creation God has intended marriage to be a permanent union.
The Pharisees insist, “Why then did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of Divorce and send her away?” (Mat. 19:7).
Jesus’ response is stunning, cutting the ground from underneath those who saw the Mosaic Law as a perfect expression of God’s Righteousness. “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard”
(Mat. 19:8), Jesus replied.
(Mat. 19:8), Jesus replied.
The point of Jesus’ response is this:
God in the Law established a requirement for His people that was less than His ideal. Rather than being the highest possible Standard, the Mosaic Law is a Divine compromise.
What God truly desires is utterly beyond possibility for people whose hearts are hardened by sin. To make it possible for Israel to even approximate God’s real standards, He gave them a Law that made allowances for less-than-perfect Righteousness!
No wonder, then, that Jesus taught that our Righteousness must surpass that of the Scribes and Pharisees. God calls on the Believer to find a Righteousness that is greater than that expressed in the Law: A Righteousness that flows from and finds expression in Love for God and Love for others.
JESUS FULFILLED THE LAW
In the Gospels, then, “Law” usually means the first Five Books of the Old Testament, although at times it means the Commandments contained in them.
Jesus denied that His Teaching threatened the Old Testament Revelation. Instead, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament, both in the sense of explaining it correctly and in the sense of being Himself the Goal toward which the Old Testament points.
As far as the specific Commands contained in the Mosaic Law are concerned, Jesus introduced a Righteousness surpassing them.
This is possible because the moral regulations of the Law are simply practical guidelines on how to Love God and one’s neighbor. When Love fills the Believer’s heart, the reality to which the Law points will come.
LAW AS A TOTAL SYSTEM
Both the Book of Hebrews and the Apostle Paul approached Law from a system’s perspective. (It is my belief that Paul wrote the Book of Hebrews.)
For the writer of Hebrews, Law is that perfectly balanced Old Testament system that includes Commands, Sacrifices, Priesthood, and Tabernacle Worship. The Book of Hebrews argues that this Old Testament structure is like a modern mobile, which suspends a number of objects in balance with each other.
The writer introduces Jesus as a Priest “In the Order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:11) rather than of Levi and argues that “There must also be a change of the Law” (Heb. 7:12).
The system is so balanced that change in any single element implies a change in all other elements within the system. That is how intricate, balanced, and perfect was the Law of Moses, at least perfect in that which it was designed to do.
Under the New Covenant there must be a New Sanctuary, New Sacrifices, and even a New Approach to Righteousness. The Laws that the Older Covenant engraved on stones will be “Put in their minds” and written “On their hearts” (Heb. 8:10).
Paul’s constant contention in Hebrews is that what we now have is “better than” what was provided by the Old Testament system — better at every point. The Old was merely “An illustration for the present time” (Heb. 9:9), replaced now by the reality to which it testified.
In saying that “The Law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming — not the realities themselves”
(Heb. 10:1), the writer includes the total Old Testament system — Ceremonial (Heb. 10:2-14) and Moral
(Heb. 10:15-18).
(Heb. 10:1), the writer includes the total Old Testament system — Ceremonial (Heb. 10:2-14) and Moral
(Heb. 10:15-18).
(Some of the material on “Law” was provided from the exposition of Lawrence O. Richards.)
(The above article was derived from the Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary, “Acts”, Chapter 15.)
We hunger for the Law somewhere inside and get all confused. Even the best of us.
Romans 7:21” I find then the law, when I desire to do the right, that evil is present with me.”
Look at all the forums where the discourse goes back and forth between participants trying to divide and find Truth. A hunger is inside, sometimes rightly motivated, sometimes not. At times it is someone just trying to find justification.
Any other organization that ran it’s operations the way God runs His would find themselves in chaos. He trusts newborn babes in the congregation to be Ambassadors of all that He is. People are out on the streets representing God without Governmental controls or constant monitoring to keep the integrity of the organization intact. God allows us to represent something we cannot ever possibly receive enough training to properly even really comprehend.
We know we are unqualified so we hunger for Law that we may walk the correct path. Even those who know with every inch of their being the Law is deceptive ( Romans 7:11) still look for information and interpretation of what the scriptures are trying to say. If we were able to be Spirit led 24/7 then why would we need to read articles like the one above?
As it states above we have “a shadow” and not reality. Hence we have the need so urgently for the truth of the Cross to be preached. It breaks past the failures of our interpretations and presentations.
Pity the poor Church who has come to rely on the Law and each other to keep organized. They reject The Only Hope.