FREEDOM THROUGH DEATH
In seeking to do
God's will, some Christians mistakenly believe that righteousness comes from
obeying certain regulations under the Old Covenant. They find justification in
adhering to Old Testament rules and regulations. Two such groups of people in
the Bible are the Pharisees and Sadducees. For the most part, they only
observed the letter of the law and Jesus referred to them as vipers. They are
the epitome of those who say unto the Lord, "Lord, Lord," yet will not
enter into the kingdom of heaven. Also there are people that cast out demons
and perform miracles in the name of Jesus who will not make it into heaven
(Matthew 7:21-23). Why is it, then that Christians think performing works to
find favor with God such as giving monetary tithes and offerings will have any
effect today?
The use and or the
distortion of some Bible passages can cause Christians to perform acts contrary
to what God requires. Meanwhile this chapter first points to the New Covenant
and the freedom it gives Christians from Old Covenant laws and practices.
Furthermore this chapter addresses the freedom from the curse that Christians
enjoy as well as the righteousness they have apart from the law.
THE NEW COVENANT
Old Covenant rules
and regulations don't lead to true acts of righteousness from those who believe
in the risen Savior. Christians are not to abide by Old Covenant law as a means
for justification, righteousness, or judgment, since they are under a New
Covenant.
OLD COVENANT
ATTRACTIONS
According to Hebrews
13:8, and Luke 6:46:
Because of these
verses, many Christians believe that they are obligated to follow Old Covenant
rules and regulations. They fail to realize that although Jesus is the same,
God's people have changed due to the sacrifice of Jesus.
Many Christians
adhere to some Old Covenant commands because they seem to relate to today. For
example, Christians refer to Deuteronomy 8:11
According to this
verse God's people are to observe his commands that He is giving this day. This
coupled with Jesus being the same yesterday and today and forever led
Christians to follow some commands throughout the Old Testament. The problem is
that the commandants under the Old Covenant for the Jewish community are not
the same as those under the New Covenant for Christians.
New Covenant
commands, shows that Christians also have a set of instructions to observe, as
a result of the New Covenant. Christians are often faced with undue pressure to
follow Old Covenant laws. Fellow saints accuse them of not believing in the
whole Bile and of not following all of God's commands. Believers succumb to
this pressure out of guilt and fear, and consequently abide in Old Covenant
Laws and practices. Tithes and offering, or a modified version of them, is one
area of Old Covenant Law where Christians are being pressured to follow. Today,
Christian giving is commonly taught from Proverbs 3:9.
According to some,
this specifically requires Christians to pay God first and then pay personal
debts afterward since, God always wants the first and the best of a person's
increase or money. Combining the ideas from Proverbs 3:9 and Leviticus 27:30,
one is led to believe that God commands Christians to give tithes and that is
important. Verses such as this, and their application to Christianity, make it
important to understand the freedom Christians have through the death of Christ
Jesus.
CHANGE IN THE PRIESTHOOD
Notice in Hebrews
chapter 7:11 that the priesthood of Jesus is like that of Melchizedek, but not
the same as Melchizedek. Melchizedek's priesthood was not in conjunction with
blood for the remission of sins.
This verse states
that perfection was not attained through the Levitical priesthood. So another
priest was to come, but not in the order of Aaron. The burnt and sin offerings
performed under the Levitical priesthood could not take away sins. For if there
had been nothing wrong with the first covenant no place would have been sought
for another. Hebrews 8:7
CHANGE OF THE LAW
HEBREWS 7:12, 18-19
Notice Hebrews 7:19.
It states that the law made nothing perfect which stems from the fact that
perfection was not attained through the Levitical priesthood. This affirms what
Paul told the Romans. Romans 6:14. Therefore, tithing is also useless because
it is part of the law. However, this change in the law does not allow
Christians to convert the real tithe into a monetary tithe or the real
offerings (all of them) into one combined monetary offering.
THE NEW COVENANT WITH
ISRAEL
A better Covenant is
now available to Christians. By calling this Convent new he has made the first
one obsolete. Hebrews 8:13, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:6-11, Galatians
3:10-29.
carl@freedomjournalpress.comcastbiz.net