The Fulfillment of the Law

Fulfillment of the Law

There is a lot of misunderstanding, and sometimes misdirection, concerning the two testaments of the scriptures. The purpose of this lesson will be to illuminate the difference between the two covenants and to determine what place the Old Covenant has in our lives today. We will look at some of the arguments that are brought, and we will see what the scriptures say as a whole.

Patches and Wine

As Jesus was about His ministry, He was often criticized by the Pharisees, priests, and lawyers of the Old Covenant. At one point He was criticized for the fact that his disciples did not follow the fasting procedure that the others were following. Jesus was certainly the most prolific at using a metaphor. He could always paint a picture with His words. He said,

Matt. 9:16-17

16No one places a patch of unshrunk material on an old garment, for that which is to fill it pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17Neither do they pour fresh wine into old wineskins, for the wineskins will certainly burst, and the wine will be poured out, and the wineskins are spoiled. But, they pour new wine into old wineskins, and both are preserved”

The Jews were trying to apply the old ways to Jesus, but that would not work. Jesus was bringing something new. In the same way, one cannot apply the rules of law from the Old Testament directly to the New Testament. There are several scriptures that confirm this. Jeremiah predicted the putting away of the Old Testament in Jer. 31:31-34. It was repeated and confirmed in the New Testament in the book of Hebrews along with some added input:

Hebrews 8:8-13 (NKJV)
8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah--
9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The Old Testament became obsolete at the cross. Paul confirms this in the letter to the Colossians. There were those who had come into the church and were attempting to get the church to obey the Old Testament law of circumcision. They were attempting to apply an Old Testament law to the New Covenant church. Paul answered them,

Colossians 2:11-23 (NKJV)
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--
21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,"
22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Paul points out that when we were baptized we received the circumcision of the new covenant. The ordinances that were written before were against us. He points out in verse 23 that these ordinances had no power at all against the indulgences of the flesh. This coincides with Romans chapters 6-7, where Paul points out that their baptism, as well as ours, was a crucifixion of the old man and a rising of a new man;

Romans 6:1-7 (NKJV)
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
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.
7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

Paul brings this analogy to into chapter 7 as he compares it to how the covenant of marriage is done away with at the death of a spouse. In the same manner, our obligation to the Old Covenant law was done away with when we died with Christ in baptism;

Romans 7:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

Paul uses the remainder of Chapter 7 to enforce the point that the law of the Old Covenant had no power against the indulgences of the flesh by speaking as a man under the law in the first person, as he had lived under the law himself. Paul continues his discourse into chapter 8 where he exposes the true and living power of the New Covenant. In it he refers to the law of the Old Covenant as the law of sin and death. He proclaims the law to be impotent to do the job because it was weak;

Romans 8:1-3 (NKJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

In many of Jesus’ teachings He painted a clear picture that He was bringing a new covenant that would be a change from the old covenant they had been given. In the Sermon on the Mount He made several statements as to this point. For example:

Matthew 5:31-32 (NKJV)
31 "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

And,

Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV)
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

These were only two of many changes that would come under the New Covenant. The law that Christ was bringing was going to be a big change in many ways from the laws of the Old Covenant they had been under.

The Purpose of the Old Testament History and Law

The question should arise in the seeking mind as to the purpose of the Law and even the Old Testament history. If it was all due to become obsolete and be re-established into a New Covenant, why was it necessary? We can assess this answer by examining the scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments. We can springboard from the teachings of Paul. We can begin from the letter Paul wrote to the Galatians. Judaizers had come in to again trap the church under the Law. Paul was giving insight as to the curse of being under the Law and related the covenant of Abraham. It is important to remember that the Old Testament history was only partially covered under law. Thousands of years had passed before the Law came into being. Abraham lived before the Law, and yet he was still justified through his faith. In Paul’s lesson we can learn about the temporal status of the Law and its purpose.

Galatians 3:15-29 (NKJV)
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Paul points out here that the promise made to Abraham was not a promise to bless him with many biological children, but it was about the one seed, Jesus Christ, through whom would come a myriad of spiritual children, AKA the New Testament church. He points out in verse 17 that the Law came 430 years after the promise of the seed, and that promise is not changed due to the temporary installment of the Law. Paul then askes and answers the question of what the purpose of the Law was.

19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

The Law was added on a temporary basis to restrain the people until the time of the promised seed. In the days before the flood there was no recorded law. Without any law the world became so corrupt that it was destroyed by God. The Law was a retraining tool to keep the people in check unto the time of the appointed seed.

22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

The Law confined all people under sin. This coincides with the lesson Paul gave in Romans 8. Everyone who is under the Law is helpless to keep themselves from sin. They are slaves to sin. They are confined and condemned by it as sinners. The Law did not have the power to recreate us into a new person as the Spirit of Christ does.

24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

This is a key point in understanding the purpose of the time that was spent under the Law and living through the history of the Old Testament. That time spent was a lesson for humanity. It was a learning process that humanity was to go through in order to prepare us for the time of Christ. In 1 Cor. 10, Paul reminded the church of many stories from the Old Testament era, such as the Exodus crossing through the Red Sea, bringing water from the rock, and the Israelite rebellion in the wilderness. In conclusion he said,

1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV)
11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

From the day of creation until the advent of Christ, every act, every curse, and every blessing upon humanity was a lesson plan perpetrated by God for humanity to learn from. There were different stages of history that are referred to as ages in the English translations. From the time before the flood we learn of the nature of mankind that is unrestrained by neither law nor love. Under the Law we learn of how restraint under the Law itself is not enough to set mankind free from sin and death. This led us to the logical conclusion of the matter. It is only through the Spirit of Christ and His love that a true transition can occur. We are in what Paul refers to as the “…end of the ages,” the last age. As Paul continues his letter to the Galatians he affirms this same sentiment,

Galatians 4:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

When the fullness of time had come, when the time was right, then God sent His Son. Paul was using a societal, metaphoric analogy from his time. Until the child became of age the Father had him work just as one of the servants. This is a lesson that many well to do people should learn to do with their children today. It was a learning process for them. It taught them how to work. It taught them about the other side, about the people they would be leading one day. It taught them about life and about themselves. But, when the fullness of time had come, they were given the inheritance. We had to learn about ourselves and the brutal consequences of sin before God could send the Christ to give us His Spirit so that we might receive the adoption as His children.

The Multipurpose Law

In the study of the Old Covenant, one will find that the Law was multipurpose. There was criminal law, civil law, but also there was ritualistic law, which in many cases was also prophetic law. For example, let us consider the Passover Feast and the sacrificial lamb that began at the Exodus;

Exodus 12:24-27 (NKJV)
24 And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever.
25 It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service.
26 And it shall be, when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?'
27 that you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.' " So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

In this passage we see that the purpose of this Law was for the Israelites to remember how God brought them out of slavery in Egypt in generations to come. It was a ritualistic law for that purpose. It was also a prophetic law predicting the coming of Christ.

John 1:29 (NKJV)
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John knew that the true sacrificial lamb was not an animal that was killed, but it was the Christ who would die for us. Beyond the point of the Passover lamb we see many laws of sacrifice. All of those laws were prophetic rituals to point us to the New Covenant. They were only symbolic and not meant to endure without end of time;

Hebrews 9:6-10 (NKJV)
6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.
7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance;
8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.
9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience--
10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

It is necessary at this point to address the use of the word “forever” that was quoted earlier in the context of Exodus 12:24. The text in English stated that this Passover ordinance was to be an ordinance forever. Translation can be a tricky business. Hebrew words often do not have quite the same meaning as the English words that are used to translate them. Misleaders will often use a quote with this word and even say something like, “Doesn’t forever mean forever?” The Hebrew word is, ‏עֹלָם‎ Transliteration: ʿôlâm (Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary). The literal meaning is “concealed.” The end is concealed, or unknown, or indefinite. When I was a young man, my father would sometimes give me some activity to do as a punishment for some misconduct on my part (Yea, I know, hard to believe). Sometimes I would ask, “How long do I have to do this?” He would say, “Until I tell you to stop.” That is olam: Until I tell you to stop. It would end, but the end was concealed from sight. This slight of tongue deception on “forever” is used by many to convince people to keep the Law, well, at least pieces of the Law. I looked into this meaning because I knew that there is no contradiction with God. He could not say it was without end and then end it at the cross. Never allow logic to be overrun by confusion or doubt. Search and,

2 Tim. 2:15

Labor to present yourself qualified to God, a workman who is not ashamed, correctly dividing the word of truth.

Incomplete Analogies

With the background that has been given to this point it is time to point out some of the incomplete analogies of those who would like to put people under Old Covenant law yet today. It is important to examine these arguments since those who are misled will often use snippets of scripture to confuse others into the same error of an incomplete view that they themselves have. We will look at the incomplete conjecture and then complete the picture with a comprehensive conclusion using a panorama of scriptures.

1. Conjecture: “Jesus said that He did not come to destroy the Law in Matt. 5:17.”

This is the abbreviated quote that is often presented by those who are attempting to put the saints back under the Law. If this were the extent of the matter, then the remainder of the Sermon on the Mount would be somewhat hypocritical as Jesus went on to list several changes that He was bringing in the New Covenant, as was previously exposed in this lesson. The complete statement of Jesus is,

Matthew 5:17 (NKJV)
17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Jesus’ proclamation was that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. This coincides with the previously quoted message of Col. 2:11-23. Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets by having kept all of the Law and having fulfilled all of the prophecies. He was then able to take it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.

2. Conjecture: We should not eat foods that were deemed unclean in the Old Testament.

This teaching is set aside by many of the scriptures in the New Testament. The laws of clean and unclean foods were also in line with laws that restricted the combining two crops in the same field, or the cross breeding of livestock, or the combining of two different materials in the same garment;

Leviticus 19:19 (NKJV)
19 'You shall keep My statutes. You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. You shall not sow your field with mixed seed. Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you.

These laws were meant as a lesson for the Israelites in reinforcing God’s desire for them to separate themselves from the other nations at that time. God brought these laws to an end during the New Covenant. This was the picture that God gave to Peter in Acts 10;

Acts 10:9-16 (NKJV)
9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.
10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance
11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.
12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.
13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean."
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common."
16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

It was after this that Peter was approached by Gentile men for him to come into the house of a Gentile named Cornelius. It is here that Peter interprets what the vision meant;

Acts 10:28-29 (NKJV)
28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?"

God had a prophetic reason for this law, and for the abolishing of the law. It was a prophetic law pointing to the fact that what God had called unclean He would later call clean in the New Covenant. It also behooves us to consider what Paul said about keeping the whole law. When Paul was rebuking the Galatians for accepting the doctrine that they needed to obey the law of circumcision, he warned them that they could not simply choose one law. If they were to put themselves under the Law, they had to take them all;

Galatians 5:3-4 (NKJV)
3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

Many of the misinformed who attempt to bring in a portion of the Law are only interested in their sacred cow. They pick out a few laws that they feel make them superior in some spiritual way, but they leave the rest. This restrictive law was not just about prohibiting the eating of pork, but it included rabbits, cat fish, shell fish, and many other foods that the Law called unclean. Obeying the whole law means going back to a priesthood, daily sacrifices, Passover Feasts, and so forth. It is all or nothing.

3. Conjecture: We should keep the Sabbath and other feast days because Paul kept the Sabbath and the feast days even in the New Testament.

Yes, Paul did follow the Sabbath and keep the feast days of his culture.

Acts 18:21 (NKJV)
21 but took leave of them, saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing." And he sailed from Ephesus.

Paul also took Timothy and had him circumcised;

Acts 16:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.
2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.

Was Paul talking out of both sides of his mouth here? We have already seen his letters proclaiming that Jesus nailed the Old Covenant writings that were against us to the cross, and we are not to allow anyone to judge us on keeping the Sabbaths or the feasts;

Colossians 2:13-16 (NKJV)
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

Paul also made it clear that we are not to keep the law of circumcision;

So, what is the deal here? The simple answer is that Paul did these things for other reasons than obedience to a law. Paul did these things as a ploy, and I do not mean that in a negative way. He was keeping the code of a good disciple;

Matthew 10:16 (NKJV)
16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Paul explains this in his letter to the Corinthian church;

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NKJV)
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;
20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;
22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Paul kept the Law in the presence of his people, the Jews, in order to influence them. He lived as the Gentiles while among them in order to win them. However, he makes it clear in verse 21 that he was never without the law of Christ. Even though we are not under the Old Covenant Law, we are still under law to Christ. We are not to disobey the law of Christ in any circumstance. This picture is seen clearly in the situation Paul found himself in on his final journey to Jerusalem. When he came to Jerusalem he was in grave danger. The church leaders had warned him that many of the Jews were seeking to harm him because it was reported that he was teaching the Jews that they did not have to keep the Law of Moses. The story shows how it was the policy of the church to allow the Jewish believers to continue in their traditions, but it was not a law of the New Covenant upon the Gentiles;

Acts 21:17-25 (NKJV)
17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;
21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.
23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow.
24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.
25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality."

This passage makes the policy of the church clear. They were keeping the Law as a means of stealth influence upon the Jews, even the ones who had turned to believe in Christ but were still weak in the faith. Paul even entered into the plan by assisting in the completion of a vow taken by some of the Jewish believers, but the leaders made it clear that keeping the Law was not a New Covenant law that was binding upon the Gentiles.

4. Conjecture: We should not eat any meat with blood in it.

This subject is one that comes into question more often in places where there is idol worship, or among Islamic communities. The Muslims do not believe in eating an animal that was not properly killed by hanging it up after cutting the throat to drain the maximum amount of blood. Many in the churches have questions about the issue due to the statement that the Jerusalem church made in the aforementioned quote, “But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality" (Acts 21:25). This is good advice for health reasons; but what was the spiritual connotation? The issue was about idol worship. It was a practice of idol worship to save the blood of an animal for consumption. They would drink the blood directly or strangle an animal in order to preserve the maximum amount of blood in the meat and consume the meat raw. This is certainly an unhealthy practice, but the reason for the concern was that they were participating in idol worship. Paul addressed the nature of these concerns in the first letter to the Corinthian church;

1 Corinthians 10:23-33 (NKJV)
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake;
26 for "the earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness."
27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake.
28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness."
29 "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?
30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Paul started this thought with the statement, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” This is sometimes taken out of context to apply it to committing some sin. The context is about the consumption of food. It was not lawful in the new covenant to consume the foods that were at one time considered unclean, but was it helpful? Was it necessary if it offended, or sent a misconceived message? He points out that eating food sacrificed to an idol is neither sinful nor harmful to the individual eating it. But, if someone points out to you that it was offered to an idol, it could lead them to believe that you are participating in idol worship because they are not well grounded in spiritual understanding. This paints a clear picture as to the intent of such instructions as the one found in Acts 21:25. The Gentiles were new to following God. Their consciences would easily be lead into a bad direction; therefore, they were given some basic instructions as to babes in Christ: Do not participate in idol sacrifices and stay away from sexual immorality. There was certainly a lot more to following Christ than that, but this was the basic platform they started with.

God's Patient Transition

As we consider the picture of this transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, we are spiritually enlightened as to the patience of God. We have seen how Paul contorted his lifestyle in order to patiently influence his Jewish nation. We saw how the church at Jerusalem worked to appease the minds of the Jews who had come to the faith until they might come to the fullness of understanding. We saw how the church did not burden the Gentiles entering into the kingdom with an abundance of rules and regulations until they had some time to grow in the faith. God understood that many years of cultural influence and upbringing would not be displaced in a moment of time. This was going to take patience and wisdom. Notice the wording of the Hebrew letter;

Hebrews 8:13 (NKJV)
13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Although this was written after the New Covenant was in effect, the writer states that it is “becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” At this point there is some unfinished business. God was about to paint a finishing prophetic stroke on the Law. He had given time for the Jewish people to see the picture, but He was about to put an end to even the very perception that the Law could somehow be kept. Jesus made a bold prediction that the day would come when not one stone would be left upon another in the city of Jerusalem.

Matthew 24:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

After that He warned them that when that time came they were to run and not look back;

Matthew 24:15-18 (NKJV)
15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),
16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.
18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

The Holy Place to the Jews was the temple and the abomination would be the Gentiles trampling onto the temple grounds and destroying it. That prediction did not come to pass until after the writings of Paul and the Book of Hebrews. In 70 A.D. the Roman Empire came into Jerusalem and killed millions of the Jewish people and sacked the city. At that time they did not totally destroy the city itself, but in 132 A.D. a Jewish leader, Simon ben Kosevah, or Cosibah, known to posterity as Bar Kokhba, rose to power and began a revolution against Rome that lasted until 135 A.D. At that time it was recorded by historians that the Romans demolished the buildings, even plowing up the foundations, and they salted the earth in an effort to prevent the chance of the city returning to its previous stature. From this point in time Jewish history was lost for about 200 years and all records of lineage are gone. According to the Law only a descendant of Aaron could serve in the capacity of the sacrificial priest and the High Priest. Only the sons of Levi could tend to the articles of the tabernacle or the temple. By taking away the lineage and that time of history, God removed any doubt even to the carnal mind that the law could ever be kept.

There are times of confusion where some religious leaders are misled to believe and to teach that somehow the Jews are going to rise up again to some physical grandeur in this physical world. It makes for an electrifying picture to the yet carnal minded, and it tends to solicited some hefty monetary donations towards the building of a futuristic perceived temple, but it is no more than wishes and empty promises.

Romans 9:6-8 (NKJV)
6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,
7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called."
8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.

And:

Romans 9:30-33 (NKJV)
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;
31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.
33 As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

Do not be deceived, we, the Gentiles who believe in the Son of God, we are the Israel of God in this end age. We are a spiritual kingdom of faith, hope, and love that cannot be compared to those physical things that are doomed to perish.

Our Spiritual Patience and Maturity

Our Lord left us an example of patience and love in these scriptures we have seen. Today there are a lot of people who are struggling with the transition from their old self into the new man. As we saw earlier in this lesson, when we submit to the baptism of Christ we arise to walk in a new life;

When we are baptized He gives us His Holy Spirit;

Acts 2:38-39 (NKJV)
38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

Even though we are this new creation infused with the Spirit of Christ, we begin the new life as a baby, yet carnal minded in many ways. We have to grow, through much struggle, pain, and change, into the fullness of Christ. This is not only true of us ourselves, but it is true of others. Once we have matured we need to have the patience of our Lord to let others mature. When it comes to law, in the realm of Mosaic Law, and cultural and religious rules that enter into the picture, There is a lot to sort out. It is not only about the Old Covenant laws of eating certain meats, holy days, Sabbaths and the like. It is a matter of such things as contemporary holidays, such as Christmas or Easter celebration. It can be about the eating of meats or being a vegetarian. How are we to deal with those issues? Thankfully, Paul gave us a chapter devoted to that in the Roman letter;

Romans 14:1-8 (NKJV)
1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

In these few opening remarks Paul addresses two common issues of the church. Like today, there were questions about holidays and foods to be consumed. Paul’s answer is that those things are between a person and his/her maker. Paul goes on;

Romans 14:13-21 (NKJV)
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

This is the same spiritual attitude we have seen throughout the New Testament by God the Father, Jesus, and Paul. If someone’s conscience is bothered by something, let it go. Do not do it around that person and give them time to grow. Do not make it a point of contention. Let it go. In the beginning of this message by Paul he referred to these issues as doubtful disputations. One has to decide, “What is a doubtful disputation?” Since we have already established that we cannot bind the Law of the Old Covenant, and certainly not a law of our own imagination, we must conclude that anything other than a clear command from the New Covenant, hence the law of Christ that Paul spoke of in 1 Cor. 9:21, is a doubtful disputation. However, Paul does add this,

Romans 14:22-23 (NKJV)
22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Your freedom in this matter could become your undoing. While it is not your place to judge your brother, it is your place to judge yourself. You have to be honest with yourself, because if logic tells you that a thing is a sin, or is likely a sin, but yet you do it anyway, that thing now becomes sin for you because you chose to obey the temptation in spite of the fact that it may be an offense to God.

Paul summarizes his message in Romans 15 with some strong spiritual insight.

Romans 15:1-6 (NKJV)
1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot leave the subject of the fulfillment of the Law without adding Paul’s conclusion in Romans 13;

Romans 13:8-10 (NKJV)
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

May the God of love teach us to love as He loved.