Apart
from the Law
By Brian Hennessy
Part 1
In the first
century, the gospel of faith in God’s mercy and grace went out from Jerusalem
like a tidal wave. It inundated Judea and Samaria, swept across the borders of
Israel and crashed upon the uttermost parts of the earth. Although the initial
impact of this spiritual tsunami has long since subsided, its powerful influence
continues to reshape the world’s religious landscape to this day.
But now, after
all these centuries, the waters are again stirring. Slowly, deliberately,
solemnly, they are being withdrawn to the place from whence they sprung - to
Jerusalem, and to the House of Judah. There the wave will gather new strength
before rising up and providing one final earth-shattering display of power and
glory and righteousness that will transform creation forever, sweeping away all
traces of sin and death in the process, to usher in the King of Kings and His
Kingdom.
It means that
the “set time to favor Zion” (Ps. 102:13) is now at hand. The Biblical
promises that the Jewish people would in the last days be gloriously restored to
their own olive tree and reunited with their brethren from among the nations is
about to be fulfilled. Jewish eyes are now slowly opening to see that the One
they rejected 2000 years ago - Yeshua, whom the world calls Jesus, truly was and
is their promised Messiah. “For I say they did not stumble as to fall, did
they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the
Gentiles. Now if their transgression be riches for the world and their failure
be riches for the Gentiles, how much more
(of a blessing) will their fulfillment be...for the gifts and calling of God
are irrevocable!” (Rom. 11:11,12,29)
But even while
the gospel recedes from Gentile shores and begins to head back to the land of
Israel, and to the Jews recently regathered there, another phenomenon is also
taking place. Millions of "Gentiles" around the world who received the
gospel message and were born again are being caught up in the spirit-filled
undertow. These believers are awakening to the amazing truth that their faith in
the Jewish Messiah means they are not just the spiritual seed of Abraham, as we
have been taught, but his chosen physical offspring
as well. “If you belong to Messiah, you ARE Abraham’s offspring, heirs
according to promise.” (Gal. 3:29) And they, along with their awakened Jewish
counterparts, are asking, like the disciples on the day Jesus ascended, “Is it
at this time Lord, that you are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
And the answer coming back is a resounding, “Yes!”
However, as we all draw closer to the fulfillment of our promised inheritance and glorious family reunion (whether we know it or not), an old stumbling stone has reappeared which threatens to keep many from their promised reward. It’s the same stumbling stone that tripped up our forefathers in the first century and led to the first division in the Church.
It’s the issue that Paul spent so much time confronting in
his letters to the churches. Namely, the
mistaken notion that the Mosaic Law has a vital and necessary role to play in
the life of a New Covenant believer.
Although the issue has remained dormant for 1800 years, mainly because Jewish leadership in the Church has been virtually non-existent, with the advent of the Messianic Jewish Movement in 1967 it has again sprung to life. And it seems the controversy has lost none of its original passion over the centuries. Although it is primarily affecting Jewish believers, even non-Jewish believers are being persuaded to include the Mosaic Law in their Christian walk. Adherence to the Law is being promoted as the common ingredient needed to unite Jews and Christians together into the one Israel of God. (Overlooking, of course, that this is the role fulfilled by the presence of the Holy Spirit within each of us.)
As a result, this Moses Movement is quickly growing into another Christian denomination.
There are many
cultural and historic reasons for why most Jews continue to cling to the
practices of the Law after coming to faith in Jesus. The Law is, after all, a
3400-year-old religious heritage for them, which they had no doubt been
practicing to some degree since childhood. The Law is so wrapped up in their identity as a
people, that to abandon it is to somehow deny their own uniqueness and, in
effect, disappear as a Jew. Consequently, they keep their finger in it, if not
their whole hand.
But why in heaven’s name, we might ask, would non-Jewish Christians want to pick it up? What would cause them to want to shoulder the Law with all its burdensome dietary restrictions, Sabbath requirements, feast days - and especially the rite of circumcision? Nevertheless, as I say, many non-Jewish Christians are indeed embracing aspects of the Law in ever increasing numbers.
Many are attaching themselves to Messianic Jewish synagogues, even though they are often (not always) looked upon as second-class citizens due to their “Gentile” status. In addition to Sabbath keeping and kosher cooking, others are going so far as to don Jewish religious clothing like the talit, the large Jewish prayer shawl. Or the familiar skullcap called the yarmulke. A few are even learning to speak Hebrew, not to converse in Israel, but because they have been convinced it as the “holy” language required by God. And some have even submitted to – oy! – circumcision.
I can see
several factors at work that help explain this puzzling behavior. First, most
see themselves, as I do, as being literally part of Israel in every way, both
spiritually and physically. (Not citizens of the present state in the Middle
East, but the nation in God’s sight.) However, in their zeal to recapture
their lost Israelite identity, these Christians perceive the Law as being an
integral part of that missing heritage. A view being greatly encouraged by a
number of teachers in the movement. To embrace it then, in their mind, is to
more fully reclaim that heritage.
A second reason
that causes this group of believers to be drawn to the Law is that many are in
the process of severing their traditional ties to institutional Christianity.
They see (as I do) that organized Christianity is largely a man-made religion
without divine authority which was subtly imposed upon the Body of Messiah over
the centuries. And they now reject most, if not all, of that theology so far as
it applies to corporate organization and celebration. But since that leaves them
without any formal religion – a situation most are obviously not comfortable
with - they are adopting the Law of Moses as a fitting religious replacement.
They reason, that in contrast to the “laws” of traditional institutional
Christianity, the Mosaic Law at least is an authentic religion, given directly
to Israel by God. (Even though many of today’s practices are not actually
found in the Law, but are rabbinical interpretations added later. Such as not
eating meat and dairy at the same time.)
Still, you have
to wonder how these Christians could be so easily taken in by this mindset. I
know many of them personally, and we’re not talking about flakes here. For the
most part they are born-again, Spirit-filled believers who love and read God’s
word daily and are as excited about Jesus Christ and His coming kingdom as
anyone on earth. What’s more, they had the courage of their convictions to
leave something they saw as unscriptural and move on, rather than just continue
to warm a pew. So their willingness to suddenly surrender so much of their
freedom in Messiah to embrace the Mosaic Law is as troubling as it is revealing.
The Fly in the
Ointment
I believe the
underlying reason why these non-Jewish believers – and Jewish believers - are
so willing to subject themselves to the regimen of Mosaic regulations is because
there is a fundamental flaw in their understanding of the New Covenant.
Specifically,
they have not grasped what faith righteousness truly is. Or how it should be
practiced. Or why nothing else is acceptable to God. And it is this fundamental
flaw at the core of their Biblical understanding that is causing them to stumble
over the stumbling stone.
But let me say
also that this fundamental misconception is not limited to Mosaic believers only, but it pervades the thinking of most of the Body of Christ!
I say that
because Mosaic Christians are not really doing anything different from what
other Christians have been doing for centuries. Which is simply replacing one
set of doctrines and religious practices that they no longer consider Scriptural
with those they see as more correct. But changing the particulars doesn’t
change the substance. No matter how you rearrange the eyes, ears and nose on Mr. Potato Head,
he is still a potato. Likewise, no matter how many doctrines Christians add or
subtract, if you end up with a written set of do’s and don’ts to be
practiced regularly, you are still clinging to some
form of religion!
In the case of
these Mosaic Christians, they are simply exchanging a number of traditional
Christian practices and holy days they correctly perceive to be of Gentile
origin (like the Sunday Sabbath) for a more Jewish expression of Christianity
built around the commands of Moses. But they aren’t rejecting religion
per se. They are just reorganizing it
As long as Christians think they still need a religion, they can always be persuaded to adopt one that appears to be more correct than the one they have now. That is how we got suckered into the mess of Roman Catholicism to start with. These who are subscribing to the teachings of Moses today may think they are separating from the sect of Gentile Christianity by returning to this pristine, more Jewish approach to their religion. But the ‘sect of the Judaizer’ is still a sect.
So the question
is: why do Christians still think they need to practice some form of religion to
live the Christian life?
A few years ago
I began to cry out to God for some Biblical understanding on all this. I started
studying all that the Bible had to say about law and grace and faith and
righteousness. I had no doubt that the Holy Spirit through Paul was waving a big
red flag in front of the Mosaic Law. But I knew I was still missing some simple
bottom-line truth that would quickly expose the root of the problem to help keep
New Covenant believers from ever thinking about including the Law in their
Christian walk again. Or from embracing any other set of religious rules and
rituals, whether Gentile or Jewish!
The
Just Shall Only Live by Faith
As the 2001st New Year dawned, so did the light of my understanding. I suddenly saw
where we had gotten off the track. The same scripture that God used to set
Martin Luther free from Roman Catholicism, and which sparked the Protestant
Reformation, spoke lively to my heart. “The just shall live (and keep on
living) by faith.” (Rom. 1:17)
I saw
immediately that it was the central truth that we had let go of. We had
exchanged it for a half-truth (which is Satan’s most effective lie). One that
taught that faith was just needed for
getting into the Kingdom. But then after getting in, the just shall then
live – not by faith – but by practicing some type of religious works on a
regular basis. And in so doing, we actually abandoned the foundation of our
salvation confession, all the time thinking we were just being good Christians.
And we have bought that lie for centuries. Even after the Protestant
Reformation!
What we should
have been taught was that faith righteousness is not just a one-time thing. That
it is not something we use once in order to get saved and then put aside. It is
also the way we must now continue to live
under the New Covenant. It is to be our new lifestyle. Our saving faith is only
our “introduction” to our walk of righteousness in Him.
“For
in it (the gospel), the righteousness of God is revealed
from faith to faith; just as it is written, ‘the righteous will live (and
keep on living) by faith.’” (Rom. 1:17/ Hab. 2:4)
And also -
“Although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil
deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order
to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach - if
indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast...”
(Col. 1:21-23)
That means that if we go back to the Law or some other program of religious works righteousness after we first believed, we have become backslidden. “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law that I might live for God.” ” (Gal. 2:18.19)
Returning to the practices of the Law in effect nullifies our former confession that we believed our justification was based on faith alone. And we then cut ourselves off from all the benefits of knowing Messiah. "You have been severed from Messiah, you who are seeking to be justified by Law; you have fallen from grace." (Rom. 5:4)
But why, if
there are so many Scriptures warning us not to practice the Law or other
religious works, do we continue to so?
Part of the
problem is that we don’t truly understand what is expected of us once we get
saved. It’s a brand new life to us when we are born-again. So not knowing what
to do, we trust what the Church leadership tells us. And since most Church
leadership is promoting institutional Christianity, that means we’ll no doubt
be involved in those types of directed activities. It all appears right to us
because we know we have to do something. There are clear requirements given to
us in Scripture, that after coming to the Lord, we are to perform works of righteousness that verify and demonstrate our
faith. The apostle James declares, “What good is it, my brothers,
if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds (James 2: 14)
But - the
religious works dictated by religious law, whether Jewish or Gentile, are NOT
the “deeds” James was speaking about. Religious works are the carnal man’s
way to go. They just require we pick up the book – whether the book of Moses
or the book of institutional Christian living - and just routinely and
obediently do what it says. Unfortunately for us, those works will not
accomplish what God requires of a New Covenant believer. And all those works
will be in vain.
To do New
Covenant work you have to follow the voice and leadership of the Holy Spirit.
Not the voice of men. Or books. These Holy Spirit-directed activities are more
difficult to discern because they are intensely personal. They are whispered
into our heart. “Do this.” Or, “don’t do that.” “Go here - or go
there.” These works of obedience – which always agree with the broad
commands of Scripture - must be individually discerned by
faith. And it is these works alone that count in God’s Kingdom and
contribute to our sanctification process...”without which, no one will see the
Lord.” (Heb 12: 14).
To walk in these
works requires a God-centered life of total
dependency and trust upon Jesus, not just as Savior, but as Lord. It is a
walk of faith from start to finish. One that follows in the footsteps of our
father Abraham, who when he was called, went out not knowing where he was going.
On this highway, which the Bible calls the “highway of holiness,” every step
we take is a step of righteousness. It is also a walk of suffering, designed to
root out of us the effects of sin. That’s why Paul exclaims, “that we
rejoice in our tribulations, because we know that tribulation produces
perseverance, perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not
disappoint.” (Rom. 5:3,4) Paul knew that suffering was God’s most effective
way of purifying us, which cup he drank to the fullest.
If we follow
Jesus in the way we will discover the adventure of truly being one of His
disciples. And if we persevere and don’t turn back, like Dorothy on the yellow
brick road to Oz, we too will come over the hill one day to see the coming and
the power and the glory of the Kingdom of God. And enter in.
The Way To Go
New Covenant living is all about a new way of following God - apart from the Law. This is testified to by the fact that the early Church was originally called “the Way.” (Acts 9:2) Jesus said of Himself, “I am the way.” (John 14:6) The way is to walk by faith and not by sight. The Law represented the way of sight. The new way was to walk by faith through the Holy Spirit. If we return to a works-righteous mentality of Law-keeping we are in essence trying to maneuver God away from His righteousness as a gift into the position of Him owing us something in payment for our good behavior. Which is something He will never allow to happen. “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.” (Job 41:11)
If we would just stop and think for a moment, we’d realize that the only thing God really owes us, based on our repeated failure to keep the Law - is condemnation! (See Rom.4: 4-6) And therefore any favor we have been shown is only by His mercy and grace.
Therefore, what
we started by faith, we must finish by faith. We can’t practice law and faith
at the same time. It’s like trying to mix oil and water. “For the Law is not
of faith.” (Gal. 3:12) That’s why Paul insists that our righteousness can
only be established - apart from the Law!
”For we maintain that a man is justified by faith (and continues to be
justified by faith) apart from the Law.” (Rom. 3:28)
“Apart from
the Law,” means just what it says. It means completely separate and
independent from any activity having to do with the Mosaic Law. After coming
into the New Covenant through the blood of Jesus, any attempt to return to the
practices of the first Covenant (which is based on the blood of goats and bulls,
even though not practiced today), could only be interpreted as a form of works
righteousness.
Those who
foolishly think they are pleasing God by doing so ignore the clear teaching of
the Bible “that without faith, it is impossible
to please God.” (Heb. 11:6) And since the “Law is not of faith” (Gal.
3:12) - it is therefore impossible to please God by the practice of it. By
reason of deduction, that tells us Law-keeping will only displease Him. Something only a fool would do deliberately.