Understanding God’s Do’s and Don’t
Am not sure how this message will be received in a time like this when Grace is the sermon from almost every pulpit across christian communities and Live Streams on TV’s and social media platforms. God is presented as a soft and considerate creator who overlooks Man’s weakness. I have heard a preacher say “It doesn’t matter if you sin or not. It’s that simple. Jesus has paid for your sins and he did so in advance”. So congregants come to Church with the mindset that the sins they plan to commit after service is forgiven already. And so Jesus has bought us over with his blood. Grace has got us all covered. Does it then mean Yahweh has discarded his own words or swallowed them like we often say? Is his commandment obsolete? Not at all. His principles are still the same.
God’s Laws Are Forever
After God released his people Israel from bondage in Egypt he read out his expectations to Moses which became laws that should guide them. This is today known as the Ten Commandments. It became pertinent to provide rules and regulations as man would be lost without them and would challenge his creator. He would also forget to worship his maker who protects, defends and provides for him.
The Mosaic Law
To begin with, concerning the Law, Jesus cleared the air about his position when the scribes confronted him.
Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Preceding his birth are prophecies and establishments that pointed towards the purpose of his coming. Worthy of note is God’s plan especially concerning the methodology of worship. Jesus would after resurrection become the recognized high priest, one whose priesthood would be by the order of Mekizedek, and of the tribe of Judah.
Some aspects of the law will be modified such as the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Jesus understood that God The Father still remains the Power that be whose principles must be adhered to. He remains still the God of all flesh and a very jealous one at that.
Though Christ’s death meant we could sin against God and be forgiven, it is not an excuse to sin freely. To correct that impression quickly, Christ gave instances of punishments that would be meted out to those that would fail to meet up with God’s standards. For example, the story of the Rich and Poor man points to a similar kind of Justice that was obtainable under Moses.
The difference is the time of it’s execution. While offenders were punished instantly under Mosaic Law, under Christ the Soul that sins and dies in sin is condemned and would be thrown into hell. While Grace and Mercy buys you more time to become better and to take advantage of the opportunity Jesus offers us to paradise, it is not a guarantee that you will automatically enter into eternal rest. Now this is why Paul advises us to:
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” – Philippians 2 vs 12
Like the early Christians and Apostles we must get to work and diligently improve ourselves with Heaven on our minds. God still is dishing out judgement on wickedness.