Exposing the Gospel of Legalism

Galatians 3:10-14

THEME: The biblical teaching of Salvation by Grace through Faith can be clearly explained from the Old Testament Scriptures. The way to blessing and authentic Christian expression is always by Grace and through Faith; we must never look to religious systems, man-made metrics, or carnal strength to experience salvation, blessing,sanctification, or to sustain our service to Christ.  

Legalism is a distortion because it attempts to couple human performance or religious activities with the grace of God as a means of earning God’s forgiveness and salvation. Many would immediately recognize and reject this form of legalism; however, we fail to recognize that we are equally rejecting the Gospel of Christ when we live and serve in mere human strength and measure our performance with man-made metrics. 

Beloved, we are not free to erect an artificial standard of sanctification and service to measure ourselves with...or anyone else for that matter. You see, doing good things in human strength is sin, living by sight instead of by faith is sin, and living by humanly concocted metrics is equally sinful. Salvation from conversion to glorification is a "Baptism of Grace"! God designed redemption in Jesus Christ as a matter of grace through faith from conversion through sanctification to service and finally to glorification. It is always appropriate to live and serve by grace through faith. 

At no point are we free to abandon the whole Bible, the grace of God, the power of the True Gospel, the Holy Ghost’s awesome ministry, the image and model of Christ, and the great commission! We cannot reject the Old Testament Scriptures, fundamentally alter the role of grace, dilute the Gospel of Jesus Christ to get more “conversions,” live by the power of mere human determination, devise a private set of preferable standards of holiness, or merely reach people without discipling them and planting more churches. While it may not be immediately recognized as such, these deviations are deadly poisonous spores of legalism. They are gross deviations designed to accommodate our religious pride and lack of holy power. 

No, this article is not for the faint of heart, but if you are deeply humble and love Christ and His Gospel please read on. For all others, this article will only make you angry. I have no desire to hurt or anger anyone, but as always, I try to present the truth of our Faith as best I understand it based on the Scriptures. Constructive insight and feedback are always welcome.

LESSON:

CHRISTIAN SALVATION IS BY FAITH, NOT BY LEGAL OBSERVANCES (Gal. 3:10-12).

The Scriptures prove that salvation is by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Old Testament Law. Since these Legalists wanted to take the Galatians back into the OT Law, Paul uses the Law to show differently!

     1.  The Law Does Not Bless, It Curses.  Vs. 10

Salvation could never come by obedience to Law because the Law brings a curse, not a blessing. Here Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 27:26. Law demands obedience, and this means obedience in all things. The Law is not a "religious cafeteria" where people can pick and choose (see James 2:10-11). Its an all or nothing proposition. Beloved, none of us are capable of being perfectly obedient always without any exceptions or failures. This is what the Law requires--perfection. 

     2.  The Law Declares Salvation by Faith.   Vs. 11

Paul next quotes Habakkuk, "The just shall live by his faith" (Hab. 2:4). This statement is so important that the Holy Spirit inspired three New Testament books to explain it as mentioned before. Romans explains "the just" and tells how the sinner can be justified before God (see Rom. 1:17). Galatians explains how the just "shall live"; and Hebrews discusses "by faith" (see Heb. 10:38). Nobody could ever live "by Law" because the Law kills and shows the sinner he is guilty before God (Rom. 3:20; 7:7-11). In no uncertain terms the Law declares that salvation and sanctification are by grace through faith. It was always this way. 

     3.  The Law Demands Performance, Not Faith! Vs. 12 (See.  Lev. 18:5)

But someone might argue that it takes faith even to obey the Law; so Paul quotes Leviticus to prove that it is doing' the Law, not believing it, that God requires (Lev. 18:5). Law says, "Do and live!" but grace says, "Believe and live!" Paul's own experience (Phil. 3:1-10), as well as the history of Israel (Rom. 10:1-10), proves that works righteousness can never save the sinner; only faith righteousness can do that.

The Judaizers wanted to seduce the Galatians into a religion of legal works, while Paul wanted them to enjoy a relationship of love and life by faith in Christ. For the Christian to abandon faith and grace for Law and works is to lose everything exciting that the Christian can experience in his daily fellowship with the Lord. The Law cannot justify the sinner (Gal. 2:16); neither can it give him righteousness (Gal. 2:21). The Law cannot give the gift of the Spirit (Gal. 3:2), nor can it guarantee that spiritual inheritance that belongs to God’s children (Gal. 3:18). The Law cannot give life (Gal. 3:21), and the Law cannot give liberty (Gal. 4:8-10). Why, then, go back into the Law?

CHRISTIAN SALVATION COMES TO US ENTIRELY AND EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (Gal. 3:13-14).

These two verses beautifully summarize all that Paul has been saying in this section. Does the Law put sinners under a curse? Then Christ has redeemed us from that curse! Do you want the blessing of Abraham? It comes through Christ! Do you want the gift of the Spirit, but you are a Gentile? This gift is given through Christ to the Gentiles! All that you need is in Christ! There is no reason to go back to Moses.

  

     1.  The Law’s Curse.   Vs. 13, “curse of the law” “cursed is everyone”

Paul quotes Deuteronomy again, "he that is hanged is accursed of God" (Deut. 21:23). The Jews did not crucify criminal, they stoned them to death. But in cases of shameful violation of the Law, the body was hung on a tree and exposed for all to see. This was a great humiliation, because the Jewish people were very careful in their treatment of a dead body. After the body had been exposed for a time, it was taken down and buried (see Josh.8:29; 10:26; 2 Sam. 4:12).

     2.  The Lord’s Cross.    Vs. 13-14, “being made a curse for us” “Hangeth on a tree”

Of course, Paul's reference to a "tree" relates to the cross on which Jesus died (Jn. 19:30-31; Acts 5:30; 1 Peter 2:24). He was not stoned and then His dead body exposed; He was nailed alive to a tree and left there to die. But by dying on the cross, Jesus Christ bore the curse of the Law for us; so that now the believer is no longer under the Law and its awful curse. "The blessing of Abraham" justification by faith and the gift of the Spirit are now ours through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:2-3; 4:4-6; Rom. 8:4-9).

     3. The Love of Christ.  Vs. 13, “Christ hath redeemed us”

The word redeemed in Galatians 3:13 means to purchase a slave for the purpose of setting him free. It is possible to purchase a slave and keep him as a slave, but this is not what Christ did. By shedding His blood on the cross (Rom. 3:24-26; 8:3-4; 2Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:12-15; 10:4-10; 1Pet. 1:18-21), He purchased us that we might be set free (Gal. 4:3-9). The Judaizers wanted to lead the Christians into slavery, but Christ died to set them free. Salvation is not exchanging one form of bondage for another. Salvation is being set free from the bondage of sin and the Law into the liberty of God's grace through Christ.

     4.  The Legalist’s Concoction.  Gal.  3:1

This raises an interesting question: how could these Judaizers ever convince the Galatian Christians that the way of Law was better than the way of grace? Why would any believer deliberately want to choose bondage instead of liberty? It would appear they had been “bewitched,” cast under some evil spell by a malign influence.  For this they were, however, without excuse because the Savior had been “evidently set forth”—clearly portrayed—(“to write for public reading” as with the posting of a public announcement) as crucified before them. Paul had vividly and graphically proclaimed the crucified Christ to the Galatians; yet their eyes had been diverted from the Cross to the Law. They were without excuse!

Perhaps part of the answer is found in the word “bewitched” that Paul uses in Galatians 3:1. The word means “to cast a spell, to fascinate.” What is there about legalism that can so fascinate the Christian that he will turn from grace to Law?

         A.  For One Thing, Religious Legalism Appeals to the Flesh. The flesh loves to be “religious”-to obey laws, to observe holy occasions, even to fast (see Gal. 4:10). Certainly, there is nothing wrong with obedience, holy living, biblical standards, fasting, deeply convicting Bible preaching, or solemn times of spiritual worship, provided that the Holy Spirit does the motivating and the empowering. The problem is many Christians do good things for the wrong reasons and in the wrong strength. When we undertake godly endeavors but fail to insist on God’s power and grace we effectively deny the utter necessity of the cross, resurrection, and current priestly ministry of Christ. Beloved, this is fleshly carnality! The flesh seizes occasion to brag about its religious achievements and strength—how many prayers were offered, how many souls were saved and baptized, how many were in attendance, how fast the church is growing, how much money was raised, how many gifts were given, how many missionaries are supported around the world, how expansive the campus is, and how many churches belong to the fellowship or association (see Luke 18:9-14; Phil. 3:1-10). The appeal is great (but entirely carnal) to measure our performance with artificial standards to distinguish ourselves as “spiritual,” “committed,” “sold-out,” or “biblical.” This form of legalism is amplified exponentially in fellowships where these types of metrics and measures are expected and are regarded as assurances or key indicators the church, fellowship, or college is spiritually healthy.

         B.  Another Characteristic of Religious Legalism that Fascinates People Is the Appeal to the Senses. Instead of worshiping God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24), the legalist invents his own system that satisfies his senses. He cannot walk by faith; he must walk by sight, hearing, tasting, smelling and feeling. There is a definite shift from edification to entertainment from preaching to performance, and a gravitation to talent over godliness. Worship has become an effort to produce a certain feeling and experience for the church attender and not about the exalting, adoring, magnifying, honoring, and praising of the one True God with our entire being. To be sure, true Spirit-lead and Bible-informed worship does not deny the five senses. We see other believers truly engaging God; we sing and hear the hymns as unto His Majesty; we taste and feel the elements of the Lord’s Table reminding us of the sacred price that was paid for our sins. But these external things are but windows through which faith perceives the eternal. They are not ends in themselves. Far too many worshipers race into the church on Sunday morning to “get their praise on” so they can soon get on with the rest of their self-absorbed lives afterwards.

         C.   The Person Who Depends on Religious Legalism Thrives on Measuring by and Comparing Himself with Others (1 Cor. 10:11-13; Lk. 18:9-13). This is yet another intoxicating fascination associated with legalism. Believers compare Bible reading habits, prayer time, witnessing adventures, converts, and giving records to afford evidence of their spiritual acumen. Churches unofficially compare attendance, number of bus riders, baptisms, and property value to determine who is most successful. Preachers tend to be far too prominent in their sermons or they are the heroes in their stories…. But the true believer measures himself with Christ, not other Christians (Eph. 4:11). Beloved, there is entirely no room for pride in the spiritual walk of the Christian who lives by grace (Rom. 3:26-28; 1Pet. 5:5); but the legalist constantly brags about his achievements, attendance, baptisms, buildings, income, bus riders, and his followers (Gal. 6:13-14). They glory in the flesh, the carnal, the natural, the merely human, the personality, and the man-made metrics! These Christians and churches lust for religious success as affirmation, and they yearn for the reinforcing approval of their fellowships and associations who regard these metrics as indicators they are pleasing to God. Unfortunately, too many Christians and Christian leaders give up frustrated because they cannot live up to the man-made metrics. They feel themselves failures or inadequate…so they will isolate themselves from fellowships to avoid embarrassment and eventually quit and re-career. This is a painful tragedy that could have been avoided if we appreciated grace and authentic spiritual acumen.

CONCLUSION:

Yes, there is a fascination to the Law, but it is only bait that leads to a trap; and once the believer takes the bait, he finds himself in bondage. Enslaved to man-made metrics that only hint at biblical requirements, and in bondage to the unjustified expectations of a fellowship or association. Far better to take God at His Word and rest in His grace and power. We were saved "by grace, through faith" and we must live "by grace, through faith." This is the way of Christ and His prescription for life and ministry. Any other way is the way to bondage.

Finally, there is an appropriate and biblical usage of the OT Law for today. Not only are its principles a moral compass, but it is an extraordinary tool for evangelism. The Lord Jesus used it this way and so did the apostles. You see the Law helps the sinner see he is a sinner by an absolute and objective standard of righteousness. Once the Law has done its work to reveal our guilt before a holy God, the Gospel and the Law together point the sinner to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. But, Christians observing the Law as OT Law is not required; we are not Jews/Israel or a government entity. We cannot enforce the associated penalties of such a Law; this simply is not New Testament Faith. Without official enforcement it is not actually Law.

                                                                                               

Fighting for the Gospel of Grace

  

GALATIANS 3:6-29

THEME: The biblical teaching of Salvation by Grace through Faith can be clearly explained from the Old Testament Scriptures. The way to salvation and authentic Christian expression is always by grace and through faith; we must never look to religious systems, man-made metrics, or carnal strength to experience salvation, blessing, sanctification, or to sustain our service to Christ.  

INTRODUCTION:

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been under assault from its very inception, so disagreements surrounding the significance of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection are not new. Initially, opposition came from jealous opponents of the Gospel and eventually confusion rose up among the churches that had been infiltrated with false notions. The Galatians churches fit in this last group; Judaizers had come into the churches insisting that elements of the Law must be observed to be fully Christian. This was a gross perversion of the Christian Faith. Today this perversion survives in a number of legalistic forms—requiring baptism as an essential part of salvation, requiring Sabbath observances as vital to salvation, requiring membership in a Catholic church or any other denomination as essential to salvation, and generally requiring “good works” or “exceptional performance” as a means of salvation. All of these perversions fit in the larger category of religious legalism. Legalism is a distortion because it attempts to couple human performance or religious activities with the grace of God as a means of earning God’s forgiveness and salvation. Once again let us look to the Scriptures to clarify these concerns.

LESSON:

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE WHOLE BODY OF SCRIPTURE (Gal. 3:6-14)

Paul turns to the objective evidence of the Word of God to make this critically important point. We must never judge the Scriptures by our experiences or opinions; we must painstakingly examine our experiences by the Word of God. The whole body of Scripture is God’s standard and not humanly devise notions. The Scriptures prove that salvation is by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Old Testament Law. Since these Legalists wanted to take the Galatians back into the OT Law, Paul uses the Law to show differently! And, since they magnified the place of Abraham in their religion, Paul uses Abraham as one of his witnesses! (Wiersbe)

A.  ABRAHAM WAS SAVED BY FAITH (vv. Gal. 3:6-7).

Paul begins by quoting Moses to show that God's righteousness was placed to Abraham's account only because he believed God's promise (Gen. 15:6).

     1.  Righteousness Was Accounted to Him.

The words accounted in Galatians 3:6 and counted in Genesis 15:6 mean the same as imputed in Romans 4:11, 22-24.

         A.  Imputed Righteousness to Sinners.  The word ‘impute’ means "to put to one's account."  When the sinner trusts Christ, God's righteousness is put to his account. 

         B.  Imputed Sin to the Savior.  (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 1:16-18; Philem 1:18)

More than this, the believer's sins are no longer put to his account (see Rom. 4:1-8). This means that the record is always clean before God, and therefore the believer can never be brought into judgment for his sins.   (Isa 53:5-6; 1 Peter 2:24)

         C. Imputed Righteousness by Faith Alone.  Gal. 3:7 “they which are of faith”

(Rom. 4:16-17)    Those men of faith; that is, who derive their position from faith, belong to faith, are above all things characterized by faith.  Just here, what he is concerned to affirm is that the possession of faith is a complete and sufficient qualification for sonship to Abraham. There is, perhaps, a argument against the teaching of certain false teachers in Galatia, that, to be sons of Abraham or interested in God's covenant with his people, it is needful for men to be circumcised and to observe the ceremonial Law. This error would be satisfactorily met by the clear teaching of the Gal. 3:7, that by simply being believers, constitutes men sons of Abraham.

IMPUTATION: The great theme of the book of Romans has to do with the doctrinal expression of imputation of the righteousness of God to the believer as it pertains to his salvation. It is quite obvious, therefore, that this truth is of great consequence to the Christian's salvation. The Pauline epistles in general clearly show that this phase of imputation is the groundwork of the Christian's acceptance and standing before an infinitely holy God. Only this righteousness can find acceptance for salvation, and through it alone one may enter heaven. The pregnant phrase "the righteousness of God" (Rom 1:17; 3:22; 10:3) signifies not merely that God Himself is righteous but that there is a righteousness that proceeds from God. Since no human being in God's eyes is righteous (Rom. 3:10), it is clear that an imputed righteousness, the righteousness of God Himself, is sinful man's only hope of acceptance with the Holy One. Possessing this righteousness is the only thing that fits one for the presence of God (Phil 3:9; Col 1:12). When this righteousness is imputed by God to the believer, it becomes his forever by a judicial act, since it was not antecedently the believer's. It is thus patent that this demands a righteousness that is made over to the believer, just as Christ was made to be sin for all men (2 Cor 5:21). By the believer's baptism "into Christ" this righteousness is made a legal endowment by virtue of the death of Christ. Indeed, imputed righteousness becomes a reality on the basis of the fact that the believer is "in Christ. --Merrill F. Unger

      2.  Righteousness Was Not Accounted to Every Jew.

The Jewish people were very proud of their relationship with Abraham. The trouble was, they thought that this relationship guaranteed them eternal salvation.

          A.  John Preached Salvation for Individual Jews.

John the Baptist warned them that their physical descent did not guarantee Spiritual life (Matt 3:9; Luke 3:7-9).

These words show that John had the splendid courage to strike boldly at the very root of Jewish pride. Gradually Jewish belief in the especial favor of God, which they were to enjoy through all eternity, had grown up till it resulted in such extravagant expressions as these: "Abraham would sit at the gates of hell, and would not permit any circumcised Israelite of decent moral character to enter it;" "A single Israelite is worth more in God's sight than all the nations of the world;" "The world was made for their (Israel's) sake." This incredible arrogancy grew as their earthly fortunes became darker and darker. Only an eternity of bliss, of which they alone were to be partakers, could make up for the woes they were made to suffer here, while an eternity of anguish for the Gentile world outside Israel was a necessary vengeance for the indignities this Gentile world had inflicted upon the chosen people. --Joseph Exell

          B.  Jesus Preached Salvation for Individual Jews.

Jesus made a clear distinction between "Abraham's seed" physically and "Abraham's children" spiritually (John 8:33-47). Some people today still imagine that salvation is inherited. Because mother and father were godly people, the children are automatically saved. But this is not true. It has well been said, "God has no grandchildren."   (See the account of Zacchaeus’ conversion in Luke 19:8-10).

B.  THIS SALVATION IS FOR THE GENTILES (vv. Gal. 3:8-9).

     1.  God Justifies the Heathen Through Faith.   Vs. 8

The word “heathen” (Gal. 3:8), as used here, simply means Gentiles.

         A.  God Was Always Concerned About Saving Gentiles Through Faith.

Paul's quotation of Moses (Gen. 12:3) proves that, from the very beginning of Abraham's relationship with God, the blessing of salvation was promised to all the nations of the world.

         B.  Gentiles Salvation Was a Part of God’s “Gospel” Good News Promise to Abraham.  Vs. 8

God preached the "Good News" to Abraham centuries ago, and Paul brought that same Good News to the Galatians: sinners are justified through faith and not by keeping the Law.

               1.  Therefore, the Legalists Message Must Be False.

The logic here is evident: if God promised to save the Gentiles by faith, then the Judaizers are wrong in wanting to take the Gentile believers back into Law. The true "children of Abraham" are not the Jews by physical descent, but Jews and Gentiles who have believed in Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:25-31; 9:30-33; 10:8-13;11:4-7; Heb. 9:11-15). God still has marvelous future plans for the Jews as a people. But at no time of history-before or after His special calling of the Jews-has any person been brought into saving relationship to God by any other means than faith.

               2.  All Those Who Are “Of Faith” (Believers) Are “Blessed With” ‘Believing Abram.’  vs. 8

Personifying God’s Word, the apostle goes on to say, the “Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen (Gentiles by faith) through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham” beforehand to Abraham-which is an exposition of Genesis 12:3—“In thee shall all nations be blessed” (Gal. 3:8).  And all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in Abraham’s seed-Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:16).” “Gospel” means “good news”, and God’s good news to mankind has always been salvation by faith alone, provided by the power of His grace. Salvation by works would not be ‘good’ but bad news. All the nations, Jews and Gentiles alike, are justified and blessed for the same reason Abraham was justified and blessed: their faith. So then those who are “of faith” are “blessed with” Abraham, the believer. To “be blessed” means to be the recipient of all that divine love, grace, and mercy bestows on those who are in Christ (see Eph. 1:3; 2:6–7).

     2.  God Promised to Bless ALL NATIONS Through Abraham.   Gal. 3:8-9

When you read God's great covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3; 22:17-18, you discover that many different blessings were promised some personal, some national and political, and some universal and spiritual. Certainly, God did make Abraham's name great; he is revered not only by Jews, but also by Christians, Muslims, and many others. God did multiply his descendants, and God did bless those who blessed Abraham. He also judged those who cursed his descendants (Egypt, Babylon, and Rome are cases in point).

         A.  The Blessing and the Seed.  Gal. 3:8-9, 14, 28-29             

But the greatest blessings that God sent through Abraham and the Jewish nation have to do with our eternal salvation. Jesus Christ is that promised “Seed," through whom all the nations have been blessed (Gal. 3:16).

         B.  The Christ and the Seed. (Read carefully Gal. 3:13-16)     

Paul argues from the lesser figure of verse 15 to the greater figure of verse 16, that the covenant of promise was superior to the covenant of law because it was Christ-centered. The immutability of the covenant (Gal. 3:15-18; Heb. 6:13-18) involving faith directly relates to God’s last and final covenant established through His Son, Jesus Christ. The covenant of law could not possibly have interrupted or modified the previous covenant of promise (Gal. 3:17-19), because the first one not only was inviolable and permanent in itself but was inseparable from God’s supreme covenant, the New Covenant in the Messiah, the Christ (Gal. 3:16).

         C.  The Spirit and the Seed.   (Gal. 3:16, 28-29)

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who inspired the writing of both Genesis and Galatians, Paul exegetes the quoted Genesis passage. The term “seed,” he declares, is singular in Genesis 22:18. It was therefore not referring to many, but rather to one, “And in thy seed.”

Based on grammar and context alone, the meaning of ‘seed’ in Genesis 22:18 could be either singular or plural. But in interpreting His own Word through the apostle, the Holy Spirit makes clear it is singular, referring to only one.

         D.  The Serpent and the Seed.    (Gen. 3:15)

In an even earlier promise, a clearly singular use of ‘seed’ also refers to Christ. To the serpent in the Garden of Eden, God said, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it [singular, referring to “her seed”] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:15).   (See also Jn. 12:31-32;1 Jn. 3:8; Heb. 2:14; Lk. 10:18-20; Col. 2;14-15).

         E.  The Promise and the Seed. (Gal. 3:22, 29) See also 2Cor.1:19-20

The one and only heir of every promise of God is Christ. Every promise given in the covenant with Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus Christ and only Jesus Christ. Therefore, the only way a person can participate in the promised blessings to Abraham is to be a fellow heir with Christ through faith in Him.

Gal 3:29, [And heirs according to the promise] See Rom 8:17. Are heirs of God. You inherit the blessings promised to Abraham, and partake of the felicity to which he looked forward. You have become truly heirs of God, and this is in accordance with the promise made to Abraham. It is not by the obedience of the Law; it is by faith-in the same way that Abraham possessed the blessing; an arrangement before the giving of the Law, and therefore one that may include all, whether Jews or Gentiles. All are on a level; and all are alike the children of God, and in the same manner, and on the same terms that Abraham was. --(from Albert Barnes' Notes)

Summary:  Whether before or after Christ came to earth, salvation has always been provided only through the perfect offering of Christ on the cross. Believers who lived before the cross and never knew any specifics about Jesus were nevertheless forgiven and made right with God by faith in anticipation of Christ’s sacrifice, whereas believers who live after the cross are saved in looking back to it. When Christ shed His blood, it covered sins on both sides of the cross (Heb. 9:12-15; 10:4-10; Rom. 3:24-26). The Old Covenant goes to the cross (Gal. 3:19); the New Covenant comes from it. On the one hand faith pointed forward, whereas on the other it points back.

There has never been nor can there ever be salvation apart from the finished work of Christ. The covenant with Abraham was fulfilled in the covenant of Jesus Christ, and therefore the covenant of law, whatever its character and purpose, did not abrogate or modify those two covenants, which really merged into one. (Gal. 3:17) Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as the solution for your sins?

Out with the Old and In with the New

Hebrews 9:6-10

Theme: The Sacrifice of Christ purged sin and dedicated the New Testament while fulfilling the Old.  The New Covenant provides eternal redemption, thorough forgiveness of sin, and the anticipation of Christ’s return with full salvation. We have no need of any other religious system or supplements to Christ’s service to have a clear—guilt free— conscience with God.

Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. ⁷ But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: ⁸ The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: ⁹ Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; ¹⁰ Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:6-10)

How often do you think about Christ’s death on the cross? What does his suffering for you make you feel? Often, we may reflect on the death of the Lord Jesus several times during a week.  Others perhaps may think about Him offering up Himself to God weekly during church services or when it’s mentioned in a sermon.  Then, no doubt there are people who consider Christ’s redemptive sacrificial death at Calvary once or twice a year during the religious holidays.  Finally, there are too many who never give Christ’s sacrifice a second thought.

When I reflect on Calvary, I unmistakably recall how His sufferings move me and what feelings grip me deep within. Sometimes I am even conflicted…hating the fact that Jesus needed to die because of my sins, but at the same time so thankful that He voluntarily suffered in my stead to pay my penalty. Honestly, profound gratitude fills me whenever I give the subject serious thought. These emotions usually lead to a sense of obligation to live for Christ because He literally died for me. Like yourself, I know we can never really repay Him for His sacrifice; to even attempt this would be an insult to a gracious God. Still we never want to take His Cross for granted either. It’s a spiritually healthy exercise to meditate upon the significance of Christ’s fully-sufficient atonement at Calvary.

The sacrificial system was a vital element in Old Testament faith. The Mosaic Law code established standards which, while shaping the lifestyle of Israel, no individual could live up to. And anyone who fell short, in even one point (James 2:10–11), was guilty of sin.Yet God made provision for sinners. With the Law, God gave Moses the pattern for building a tabernacle, and established a sacrificial system. A sinner could bring a required blood sacrifice, have his sins covered, and so approach God. The one way into the tabernacle—the only door to the courtyard of the place of meeting with God—opened onto the altar of sacrifice. There was no other way for a sinner to approach God. Only blood on the altar could cover human sin. –Richards, Larry; Richards, Lawrence O.: The Teacher's Commentary

What kind of purification from sin occurred in the symbolic system of the Old Covenant with its tabernacle worship? (Heb. 9:7, 9, 10)

A.    The Tabernacle System Was Symbolic for That Present Time (Heb. 9:9).

1.      A picture of something better to come, it was an imperfect representation of Christ’s perfect work. What this indicates for the present time is that the Old-Covenant sacrificial system did not meet human need at its deepest level. It could not clear the conscience of the worshiper.

2.      The gifts and sacrifices could never make the worshipers perfect regarding the conscience. If complete remission of sins had been procured, then the offerors’ conscience would have been free from the guilt of sin. But this never happened.

B.     The Levitical Offerings Dealt Only with Ritual Defilements—Externals (Heb. 9:10).

1.      They were concerned with such externals as clean and unclean meats and drinks, and with ceremonial washings that would rid the people of ritual impurity, but they did not deal with moral uncleanness.

2.      The sacrifices offered, and the blood applied to the mercy seat could never change the heart or the conscience of a worshiper. All of the ceremonies associated with the tabernacle had to do with ceremonial purity, not moral purity. They were “carnal ordinances” that pertained to the outer man but that could not change the inner man. –Wiersbe, Warren W.

3.      The offerings were concerned with a people who were in covenant relationship with God. They were designed to maintain the people in a position of ritual purity so that they could worship. They had nothing to do with salvation or with cleansing from sin. The people were saved by faith in the Lord, based on the work of Christ still future.

C.    Finally, The Sacrifices Were Temporary (Heb. 9:10). They were imposed… until the time of reformation.

1.      They pointed forward to the coming of Christ and to His perfect offering. The Christian era is the time of reformation referred to here. This is a clear restatement of the temporary nature of the Levitical system (Heb. 7:10–19; 8:13; Gal. 3:15-22).

2.      The word… “reformation” … means in its physical sense the making straight, the restoring to its natural and normal condition, something which … has gotten out of line, as for instance broken or misshapen limbs.

                                                  i.      It means “to set things to rights.”

                                                ii.      …The word in its context here means “to bring matters to a satisfactory state.” It refers to the introduction of the New Testament which latter displaces the First Testament. The First Testament never was satisfactory, so far as offering a sacrifice that could pay for sin was concerned. It could not actually in itself save the believer. –Wuest, Kenneth S.

3.      Christianity itself is the great Reformation of the current Judaism (Pharisaism) and the spiritual Judaism foreshadowed by the old Abrahamic promise (see Gal. 3 and Rom. 9). –Robertson, A.T.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews argued that the Old Testament sacrifices spoke of Jesus, the perfect Sacrifice, who has done what animal sacrifices could never accomplish. Jesus has actually perfected the sinner washed in His blood and made the sinner holy in God’s sight! There is no need for repeated sacrifices, for by His one sacrifice on Calvary Jesus has fully met our need, freeing us completely from sin, guilt, and shame.Why is this teaching so important to believers today? Because, when we understand just what Jesus has done for us, we find our conscience cleansed and experience release from our bondage to past failures. And we have hope that we will live a new and holy life. –Richards, Larry; Richards, Lawrence O.: The Teacher's Commentary

Paul outlines in Romans 10:9-10, writing, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” We cannot simply believe anything about Jesus, we must believe the Son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and God raise Him up again the third day for our justification before The Father. It is crucial that we understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us (Rom. 1:14-17).

Christ’s suffering at Calvary was God providing payment for our sins. That is literally what Calvary was about—justice was served, and sin was paid for in full. Now sinners like me and you can be saved—born again to enter a relationship with God. It is the Spirit who regenerates us and gives us new life when we trust Christ. We cannot save ourselves no matter how good, sincere, or diligent we are. Instead of trying to justify yourself to God, I urge you to acknowledge to Him that you, like all humanity, do not measure up to His perfection and requirements. Like myself you know deep down inside how desperately imperfect you are. My friend that imperfection and tendency to do, say, and want what God forbids is evidence of our innate sinfulness. Our own conscious condemn us. Look at how often we lie or shade the truth. Look at how we love our self but fail to love God and others. If you take evidence seriously, then consider the many times you felt guilty for some moral or ethical failure…. I cannot count the number of times I have experience the sharp piercing of guilt in my own heart. I felt condemned in my own soul…and so have you. Beloved, this is evidence of our inborn sinfulness and we cannot change this about ourselves. We are at the mercy of God to change us deep within.

Being born again means we become a part of a new family, God is our Father who shares with us His very own divine nature. All of this is realized the moment we humble ourselves before God acknowledging our sins while trusting Christ and His payment for them. We must accept this payment personally. Beloved, we must exercise faith in the Person and Work of Christ to experience this spiritual new birth. What about you? Do you have one or two births?

Beloved, rest assured the work, his sacrificial atoning death and resurrection, that Jesus did was definitive. We no longer need to offer blood sacrifices in acknowledgment of our sin. We need only have faith in Jesus Christ and accept what He has done on our behalf. Why not cry out to God owning your sin and pleading for His forgiveness and mercy. I did back in 1990 and God forgave me and gave me a brand-new beginning!

The writer of Hebrews says that God took away the first means of blood sacrifice that He might establish the second means, the sacrifice of Jesus. The sacrifice of Jesus was the only one necessary. The phrase that is used is a powerful one: “once for all” (Heb. 10:10).

What Jesus did on the cross, He never needs to do again, and neither does anyone else ever have to suffer and die as He did. He is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement for all sin.

  

Come trust the Lord Jesus Christ today as your personal substitutionary sacrifice. God’s greatest provision for our sinfulness is a singular substitute for all humanity—Jesus Christ’s death at Calvary! By faith receive Him as your personal Substitute and full payment for your sin. Yes, even now place your trust in Jesus.