Numbers 29 : 37

Numbers 29 : 37

Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

There is a process. God sets out certain processes and methods for doing things and accomplishing his will. In the OT these range from how to pray to how to kill your chickens – there was a rule and process for almost everything they did.

Today we cannot even seem to come to an agreement on how to do anything. Have we lost something by setting aside the processes in favor of "freedom." Is this really the type of freedom Jesus taught. Didn't he say he came not to change a jot or tittle of the law. I recognize that Paul writes extensively about our freedom from the law and the need to experience the law through Jesus' sacrifice and the freedom that brings but did he really mean that we no longer needed to follow all the processes of the OT?

In the OT days the people knew that if the followed all the rules God would bless them, except the rules were impossible to follow exactly. So they never knew the fullness of God's blessings. They always were lacking somewhere and thus there was always a gulf between them and God. Even Moses who spoke with God like speaking to a man couldn't follow all of God's processes and procedures due to his humanity and was accordingly denied entry into the promised land. How could the average man ever hope to  become right with God through these rules and processes?

Of course that is where the Messiah comes into the picture – the perfect sacrifice to bridge the gap from rules we can't keep and a God that demands them. A sacrifice that doesn't just cover past sins over but makes them as though they never happened and provides cleansing for our new sins. Does this mean I no longer have to follow the rules.

Many churches teach that the OT rules no longer apply to me while holding onto ones that they like. The pastor will tell me the rule against pork is set aside but the one dealing with the tithe isn't. The rule that says that a homosexual is committing a deadly sin is still in effect but I can get a divorce, even though Jesus himself spoke against divorce. Dancing and drinking may, or may not be a sin depending on the pastor and branch of the church as may be smoking and a simple tattoo.

How do we pick the rules we need to follow and which ones are no longer in force under the freedom we have in Jesus. Does this freedom mean we live in a lawless society where I can do anything as long as I claim Jesus as my lord and savior. Do the 10 commandments even have the force of law or are they just 10 old rules that I can follow if I want but I am free not to if the "spirit" moves me in another way?

Since I can eat pork and shrimp can I also ignore the tithe. They are both set our as rules in Deuteronomy 14 with equal force but why is only one now ok???????

Where do we dray the line and who draws is. I know a common answer is that through prayer and seeking God we can come to a comfort within our-self as to what is right but this is, in my humble opinion,  complete nonsense. Just because I have a comfort level with killing you does not make it right it just makes me a sociopath. We are told that we live under grace, does this mean I can just sin with impunity? Where is the fence? Paul tells us "⁹ Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6, 9-10. Obviously there are rules and fences we just need to look for them and recognize that they are not within ourselves but are set by God.

Jesus told us the most important commandment was to "37 . . . . love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-39. He didn't say "follow me and ignore the law," he said that loving God with everything and loving others were the essence of the law. A law he came to fulfill.

So where does that leave me? What rules must I follow? If what I am doing meets these two rules is that enough? Think on them. Can I really ignore the rules and still say I love God with all my heart, soul and mind and my neighbor as myself? But if I decide I must follow all the rules does this mean I don't trust in the atoning blood of Jesus?

If I am truly free in Christ why does Paul say "that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God?"

So many question marks – so few answers. I must think on this again.

--
Rod Knier
ministrare quam ministrari
(to serve rather than to be served)