“Jesus now”, might strike some people as a pointless saying.
However I would argue that it is an important statement on the difference
between sentimentality and conviction. It recognizes the need to ask, how does
Jesus want me to respond? rather than, what would Jesus have done? The parables
of Jesus focused on what people understood; they were about farming and
everyday situations –situations, which differ vastly from ours today. The
parables were not Jesus’ only communication, his life was the message.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. … And the Word became flesh and
lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only
son, full of grace and truth.[1]
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the
prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he
appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is
the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he
sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for
sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…[2]
The writer of Hebrews stated that he was writing in the last
days. In another place the author speaks of Jesus who, “appeared once for all at the end of the age to
remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.”[3] Paul speaking of times past said, “These things happened to them to
serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends
of the ages have come.”[4]
Paul recognized he was living in the last days, and wrote to
the believers in Corinth about the temporary nature of special gifts and the superiority
of love;
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as
for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we
know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes,
the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I
thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an
end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see
face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have
been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the
greatest of these is love.[5]
Noting the short-term nature of supernatural gifts, Paul
indicated that believers at that time were in a transitional stage. The period
through which they were passing had two bo-na fide means of worshipping God;
Judaism in its last days, and Christianity in its infancy. The striking
conclusion of Paul’s dissertation on love was, Prophecies were to end, speaking
in tongues would cease, and knowledge would end. But, “faith, hope, and love abide.”
The scriptures are traditionally divided into Old and New
Testaments. That is a very confusing division that gives rise to numerous
erroneous doctrines. The classification of ancient scriptures as Old Testament,
suggests that God had nothing to do with people other than the Israelites,
which we know is not correct. Israel according to Paul was advantaged by being
given God’s word. Israel was special, its purpose was to protect God’s promise
that the Messiah would come through Abraham’s lineage. That promise was
fulfilled according to Peter,
And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those
after him, also predicted these days. You are the descendants of the prophets
and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, 'And in
your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' When God
raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each
of you from your wicked ways.[6]
God made a covenant with Israel at Sinai. The word of God was
proclaimed by prophets. Written down for the Israelites, looking forward to the
coming of the Messiah. Jeremiah prophesied that a second covenant would be
given to Israel, different to the one at Sinai. The second covenant would be
spiritual, and embrace all nations.
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like
the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to
bring them out of the land of Egypt--a covenant that they broke, though I was
their husband, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with
the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within
them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each
other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of
them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember
their sin no more.[7]
Jesus lived under the first covenant, his death ushered in
the new covenant. Israel would be transformed from a physical material kingdom
to a spiritual kingdom. The kingdom of heaven was prominent in the teaching of Jesus.
That spiritual kingdom would come of age, with the cessation the temple
sacrifices. The destruction of the temple circa 70 CE was the end of the age
for ancient Israel, the end to sacrifices, and the end of first covenant. The
books of the so called New Testament were written in the period of transition, and
directed to people living during that period. The conditions and circumstances
of the transitional period were unique and called for specific instructions for
the believer to navigate those times. There was difficulty understanding that
Judaism was ending and the new religion of Jesus was starting. Paul was accused
of rejecting the Law of Moses. When in Jerusalem, he was instructed to
demonstrate that he kept the traditions of Israel, and followed the Jewish ways
–that he did. His actions were not to satisfy the Jewish leaders, but to
demonstrate his unity with Jewish Christians.
… Then they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands of
believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law. They
have been told about you that you teach all the Jews living among the Gentiles
to forsake Moses, and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or
observe the customs. What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you
have come. So do what we tell you…[8]
“Jesus Now”, means to relate to Jesus in our own time and
circumstances. If we base our connection to Jesus solely on events that
occurred in his lifetime there is a danger we may be out of touch with him now.
Certainly we must keep Jesus the man as our prime example, as the scripture
says,
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles
us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God.[9]
Focusing on “Jesus Now”, embraces not just his humanity, but
his divinity as well. In our struggles Jesus is our example, “…for the joy set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.” The exemplary life of Jesus is what we must strive to
emulate. The disciple’s task is not simply to learn the teaching of his master,
but to become like him. The best way to become like Jesus is to have a
relationship with him. We can learn about Jesus by looking back to when he
lived on earth, realizing our relationship has to be with the living Son of
God. We believe that Jesus lived on earth and obeyed his Father’s will. We
believe the gospels represent the life of Jesus truthfully. More than that our
faith is in the living Christ. We are to be guided by the Logos; the life of
Jesus, the teaching of Jesus, and a relationship with the living Lord. The
apostle John saw and wrote about the victory of God over evil; the victory of
the kingdom of God over the kingdom of Satan. The kingdom of Israel gave birth
to the kingdom of heaven, but it was through the death, burial and resurrection
of Jesus that Satan and sin were overcome.
What was so exceptional about Jeremiah’s prophecy? It would
be different to the covenant of Sinai. The new covenant would not be written on
stone, but on the human heart. There would be no requirement for sacrifice. God
said, “I will forgive their
iniquity, and remember their sin no more.”
God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to
be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.[10]
The terms of the new covenant differ from the first. The
writer of Hebrews referring to Jeremiah’s prophecy, said, “In speaking of "a new covenant," he
has made the first one obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old will soon
disappear.”[11] With the cessation of sacrifice due to
the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem the first covenant ended. The key
feature of the first covenant was the sacrifice of atonement; without the
temple there could be no sacrifice. At the passing of the first covenant, the
second covenant, based on the sacrifice of Jesus, came into full effect.
As I view Christian practices I do not see evidence of the
spiritual covenant. It is not obvious to me that God’s laws are embedded in the
hearts of believers, nor do I see confidence of forgiveness. What is evident,
is a greater similarity with temple worship, and adherence to laws and rituals.
I realize I am generalizing and that there are exceptions. I am however,
looking at the big picture, the vast majority, and I cannot see the difference
between current practices and those required by the first covenant. My
father-in-law emphasized that in many cases when Paul referred to “the Law”,
there was no definite article or capitalization. Paul’s angst over being under
law, was that it nullified grace. The point I’m making is that “law” or other
words used in its place, such as regulations, or policies, have the same
effect. A relationship with Jesus has to be based on faith. Confidence comes
from an association with Jesus now, supported by the words of ancient scriptures.
To be able to quote many scriptures is a talent, to mature
in God’s word is a necessity. There is a passage in Hebrews which has always
interested me, partly because of what it says, and partly because no one seems
to pay any attention to it.
…you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to
be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary
principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid
food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of
righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who
because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to
maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of
faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the
resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God
permits.[12]
The definition of spiritual maturity given by the writer is,
having one’s senses trained to discern good and evil.
That maturity comes from practice. The admonition in this passage is to strive
for maturity. Spiritual immaturity is having to keep going over basic
teachings. This concept is quite remarkably ignored by the greater population
of churches. Most churches subject their members to the constant repetition of
doctrines, and efforts to convert any non-member who may be in attendance. We
should take note of the topics the writer considered elementary, “…repentance from dead works and of
faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the
resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.” –Not a catalogue of
rudimentary doctrines in any church I know. The purpose of any church should
be, to support the maturation process of all believers. I can think of nothing
more important.
Peter and John were brought before the religious elite of
Judaism. The rulers, elders and scribes, and no
fewer than four men of
high-priestly descent. The two fishermen, disciples of Jesus, faced a
daunting task addressing that audience. Peter and John responded to the
questions, “By what power,
or in what name, have you done this?”[13]
Their demeanor and speech were not what was expected. “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter
and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were
amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”[14] Today, the challenge for a believer is
to be recognized as having a relationship with Jesus, the living Lord. That
task is hindered by the demands of institutional churches. Christianity is
associated with churches, and that’s a problem. Peter and John were recognized
as having been with Jesus, they weren’t noticed because they belonged to a
certain group. Too often, a person’s piety is associated with church
attendance. There are threats of eternal damnation if one leaves “the flock” –a
church. Nowhere in scripture will you find that church attendance has anything
to do with the hope offered through Christ. I don’t believe it matters if a
person attends, or belongs, to a church. It is not impossible, but very
difficult, to achieve spiritual maturity in a church, because the task to be
like Jesus gets mixed up with commitment to the church and its programs.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of
you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither
male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to
Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.[15]
Abraham lived by faith, and is the father of the faithful.[16] Paul
writing to the Galatians used an allegory to make his point,
… For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and
the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to
the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the
promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in
fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is
Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in
slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem
above; she is free, and she is our mother. …. Now you, my friends, are children of the
promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according
to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it
is now also. But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the slave and her
child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child
of the free woman." So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave
but of the free woman.[17]
We are children of the free women. The promise was given long
before the Law of Moses, and was not affected by law. We are free by faith in
God’s promise through Jesus. Looking back to what Paul wrote concerning a time
limit on prophecy and knowledge, we can appreciate his concluding remark on the
permanency of faith, hope, and love. Those elements are basic to a spiritual
life. Striving to be like Jesus is not advanced by ritual, or by knowledge, but
through a faithful relationship with Jesus now.
God has stated, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”[18] In
a different letter Paul asserted that, “…we walk by faith, not by sight.”[19] These statements are not clichés, they
insightfully disclose the nature of spiritual life. No matter how much we know
of the past or present, we know little of the future with absolute certainty
–that depends on faith. Acceptance of God based on the collected evidence of
his existence alone, is not what God requires of us.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen. …without
faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must
believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.[20]
I have heard people say, “I have faith, but not blind
faith!” I’m sure their intention was to suggest that their faith was well-founded.
However, Paul’s words suggest the opposite, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” If the
road ahead is clearly marked out, and one proceeds based on knowledge –that is
not faith. Faith may be supported by what we know and learn, but faith does not
dependent on knowledge. Following laws or regulations from a previous religious
era is not walking by faith, it’s seeking to be righteous through what you do.
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you
are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make
you free.’[21]
Jesus told his followers that by continuing in his word,
they would know the truth, and that truth would set them free. Does that
nullify faith? Not at all, Paul reinforced that principle,
”But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our
message?’ So faith
comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.”[22]
God’s word is the basis for faith, the scriptures reveal the
message of hope, and principles to live by as children of God.
We know little about religious life at the time of Abraham.
We understand from scripture that Abraham met Melchizedek, Priest of God and king of
Salem, on his return from a battle with the five kings. On that occasion Melchizedek blessed Abraham
in the name of “God Most
High, maker of heaven and earth.”[23] Abraham
honoured Melchizedek
by giving him a tenth of everything. From what is written, that was Abraham’s
only encounter with God’s priest. Abraham had a personal relationship with God,
“’Abraham believed God, and
it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God.”[24] This is important because Abraham is
the father of the faithful. To him, God made the promise of blessing though one
of his descendants. We are recipients of that promise. The first covenant given
at Sinai did not negate the promise. The Israelites lived under the Sinai
covenant and Law. Jesus as promised, came into the world; he was sacrificed as
an atonement for sin. Jesus was raised from the dead, giving hope, and life.
The new covenant was ratified through Jesus’ blood. Through the period of
transition, God communicated with believers through his spirit, supporting the
gospel with miracles and signs. The old covenant ended with the temple’s
destruction; the new covenant became of full force at the same time. Under the
new covenant, we have a relationship with God through Jesus. As the children of
Abraham we live by faith. We learn from, but are not regulated the Law of
Moses, or edicts given to believers in the period of transition.
