Knowledge and New Life

In the Law of Moses, God demonstrated the knowledge a person has is a determining factor in consequences for transgression.  Exodus 21:28-29 says, "If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted. ²⁹ But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and it has been made known to his owner, and he has not kept it confined, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death."  If the owner was made aware and knew of the propensity of his ox towards violence, he was responsible to restrain it in a appropriate manner.  Should the owner of the ox neglect this duty and the ox kill a person, his life would also be required.

In the book of Romans, Paul makes a strong emphasis on what born again Christians can know since we know Jesus by faith in Him, and this ought to directly impact our actions.  Romans 6 strings together many things a believer in Jesus Christ ought to know (bold emphasis mine):

• Romans 6:3:  "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?"
• Romans 6:6:  "...knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."
• Romans 6:9:  "...knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him."
• Romans 6:16:  "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?"

Paul explained what happens spiritually when a person places their faith in Jesus Christ:  we died to sin and are raised to a new life with Christ.  Paul urged born again believers to reckon (to consider) this our new, immutable paradigm and reality.  Knowing we are dead to sin means we are no longer under the dominion of sin or the Law of Moses.  This knowledge ought to govern our decisions like knowing we are deathly allergic to peanuts makes us vigilant to avoid eating them.  If we own a car that uses petrol we never fill our tanks with diesel--even if it is bit cheaper at the pump.  If we quit one job and started another one, this knowledge direct us to wisely drive to the correct office to do our work and attend an important meeting on time.  God has graciously given us His word and the Holy Spirit so we can know God personally and helps us to do His will, for we can do all things through Jesus who strengthens us.

Believers know our body of sin was crucified with Jesus so we are no longer slaves of sin, the resurrection of Jesus shows death has no dominion over us, and that we ought to present ourselves as slaves of Jesus in obedience to Him.  The Law tells us what is right and wrong but gives us no power to follow it.  By the Law comes the knowledge of sin, and leads us to Jesus who has ushered in a new and living way to righteousness by faith in Him.  Man no longer can hide behind ignorance, for God commands all people everywhere to repent and believe on Jesus Christ Who will judge the world in righteousness with entire, perfect knowledge (Acts 17:30-31).  Know Jesus and know abundant life!  He is awesome beyond words.

Peace Of Mind

Only God has the power to save us from ourselves.  It is likely we ourselves pose a greater risk of ruin and fruitlessness than Satan and all his demonic minions could impose upon us by force.  As long as our hearts are selfish, self-confident, self-reliant and esteems self over others, we will stumble in our aim to walk in the Spirit.  While we can be focused on our tendency to do wrong, it can be what we neglect to do in obedience to God that hinders our spiritual growth and vitality.  Unbelief and lack of love towards God and others in our hearts causes more trouble for us than the symptoms of sin everyone can see.  I thought J. Sidlow Baxter made good points about the importance of examining our hearts:

"In the ultimate analysis there are just two things which prevent peace of mind--pride, and lack of love.  Pride always carries the haunting fear of humiliating fall; and where love is lacking there can never be that rest of heart which comes only with perfect motive.  I learned something about that years ago when I used to do a good deal of open-air preaching.  At times, when Communists and other hostile persons in the crowd seemed likely to react violently, I would feel fear.  Then I would say to myself, "If you were utterly down at the feet of Christ you could not possibly fear humiliation; and if you loved them as utterly as Jesus loves them you could not know fear, for 'perfect love casteth out fear' (1John 4:18)".  It is a high point in the spiritual life when, cost what it will, we submit to the divine will; but the highest point of all is when the mind has become so renewed by the Holy Spirit that every desire is altogether one with that divine will.  Oh, that is the way of "life and peace"!" (Baxter, J. Sidlow. His Deeper Work in Us: A Further Enquiry into New Testament Teaching on the Subject of Christian Holiness. Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1967. page 158)

In the classic rock song, "Peace of Mind" by Boston, the lyrics say the way to find peace of mind is to "take a look ahead."  While the song makes no allusion to the eternal state in the presence of God, considering our eternal future in the presence of Jesus does bring peace of mind.  But all those who are assured a glorious future can experience peace of mind now by humbling ourselves before Jesus Christ in faith, choosing to obey and rely upon Him to help us whether in our jobs or speaking to people who are hostile towards God.  The perfect love of God casts out fear and guides us to sacrificial living for the glory of God and the good of others.  There is no peace for the wicked, but those who submit self to the LORD to do His will find rest the world cannot know, for Jesus is our peace.

Better Covenant and Promises

One of the biggest problems with the Mosaic covenant was not that it was flawed, but that it exposed the flaws in people and demonstrated the impossibility of them keeping it.  God promised the Hebrews in Exodus 19:5-6:  "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ⁶ And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."  After Moses spoke the word of God to the people, they agreed to keep His covenant.  It wasn't long at all before they broke it, and ironically they did so before Moses descended from the mountain with the 10 Commandments in hand!

The writer of Hebrews explained how God put everything under Jesus Christ, and that He is greater than Moses and the angels:  the unique, only begotten Son of God who is both eternal King and High Priest.  The ministry of Moses was great in bringing the knowledge of God's law and His covenant, but Jesus did far greater and awesome as it says in Hebrews 8:6:  "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises."  The first covenant was dependant on people keeping it, yet the new covenant established with the shed blood of Jesus rests on Christ's obedience to lay down His life on Calvary.  The point of emphasis of the Gospel is not what we must do to be saved but on who Jesus is and all He has done to offer us the free gift of righteousness by grace through faith in Him.  God has opened up a new and living way to fellowship with God by faith in Jesus.

The Law gave no promise of eternal life, yet Jesus freely offered forgiveness and salvation forever to all who repent and trust in Him.  The promise is not limited to the Hebrews alone but to all who receive Jesus Christ as Saviour.  Revelation 1:4-6 reads, "John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶ and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."  The Law foreshadowed the Saviour Who would bring grace to us and the opportunity of peace with the everlasting God.  God promised the Hebrews in Exodus if they kept His covenant they would be to Him a kingdom of priests and a holy nation; to Jews and Gentiles alike the new covenant makes us "kings and priests" to God Who has glory and dominion forever.

John wrote of Jesus Christ in John 1:16-17:  "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."  The covenant and special position God provided Israel remains unchanged, yet through the Gospel a better covenant with better promises has been revealed which is extended to all people by faith in Jesus.  Receiving the fullness of God personally was not on offer by the covenant of Law, yet born again Christians are now the temple of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us.  We are not worthy of such privilege and access, yet let us walk worthy of this heavenly calling as God's children, sanctified and fit for His use by His grace and truth.

Intentional Grace

Every time I read the classic Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness by Jerry Cook with Stanley Baldwin, I am reminded how much I like it.  The book resonates with me because it is written with grace and practical examples we can apply in our own lives and ministry.  He holds forth a simple philosophy founded on scripture that the church is people, equipped by the Holy Spirit, to meet needs everywhere in the name of Jesus.  Rather than seeking to wield or maintain control over others, the approach to ministry held forth in this little book embraces releasing people to serve by faith in God.

One point Cook makes is to consider what messages we send, that fruitful Christian ministry is reserved for the trained professionals, the gifted or experienced.  Rather than implying real ministry takes place primarily in a church building, Cook encourages people to use their spiritual gifts in the situation God places them in the real world.  While there is a valid place for teaching, training and preparation, our methods can convey what king Saul did when he was willing to let David fight Goliath:  he was permitted to fight as long as David wore his armour.  Saul wanted David to resemble him externally when David was filled with the Holy Spirit and prompted by faith in God within to do what Saul was afraid to do himself.  Cook writes:

"What I'm saying is this:  people who are filled with the Holy Spirit are already basically equipped for ministry.  What the church needs to do is help people to understand this truth, not mislead them into thinking they are somehow unqualified to serve.  

Christianity is not difficult to communicate.  It's simple.  We make it hard by our extreme efforts.  We give soul-winning courses that take eight weeks or eight months.  This communicates to our people how difficult it is to win anyone to Christ.

As a result, Christians are scared to death to tell anybody about Jesus.  They memorize every possible question any non-Christian could ask as well as the correct answers--they want to have all the bases covered.  When they have done that we say they are equipped.  They aren't equipped, they are incapacitated.  We have them so intent on nailing people with the Bible, giving answers to them, that they forget there is a person there--hurting.

Maybe the correct answer does not help.  Maybe what a friend or neighbor needs is a cup of coffee to drink and an arm around his shoulder.  Someone to listen and care.  Someone to exercise the greatest spiritual gift of all--love.  It doesn't take a professional to love."  (Cook, Jerry, and Stanley C. Baldwin. Love, Acceptance & Forgiveness. GL Regal Books, 1984. pg. 58-59)

I encourage people to sign up for courses and take classes offered by a church for the spiritual health and instruction of congregants.  Rather than seeing these as a hindrance to ministry, they can enhance our understanding and ability.  What is refreshing about Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness is not the institution of a pattern, but it is a timeless exhortation to be yielded to the Holy Spirit, know God rules over all, and a gentle reminder to examine what patterns have been established in our church or ministry and the unintended messages they might send.  If the ministry and usefulness of the church is limited to what I can do, nothing will come of it.  Yet if we walk together by faith in Jesus Christ, rely on His guidance and serve one another in love, God will never cease to do amazing things by His grace.