The Wanderer

Our culture likes to discard the old traditions, picking and choosing what they wish to hear and trashing what “doesn’t apply to them”. This is our greatest downfall in the church alone. We have called the Old Testament, the Law, old-fashioned and deemed it unnecessary – instead, chasing after the loving New Testament letters of grace. We have ignored our holy God and have forgotten the necessity of repentance. We have replaced praying and fasting with programs and devotionals galore. Jesus is shown to have sat, both listening and talking, in the presence of the scribes. If His grace needed to nullify the Law, wouldn’t He have only talked?

And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

Luke 2:46

This story is evidenced so many times throughout Scripture that it is both breathtaking and shocking. Half the time, we don’t even notice the intertwined stories. Here’s a taste:

Ruth was a Gentile, an outsider. She was brought to the “house of bread” (Bethlehem’s literal meaning). She happened upon the field of Boaz, her kinsman redeemer. She wanted to be placed under his care by becoming his wife, but he had to first go to the closer kinsman redeemer who wanted the property but not Ruth. It is the same with us: Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer, but He first has to buy us from the Law.

Here’s another:

Esther was part of the Jewish people in the court of the enemy Gentile kingdom. Yet, she was placed in the position she was in for such a time as this. The enemy of her people, Haman, sought to kill everyone. When she discovered it and stopped it, the law was not revoked (as it was not custom to do so), but, instead, it was protected against by arming the people with the necessary means to defend themselves against the destructive edict. It is the same with us! The Law came to destroy us mercilessly, but God sent grace for such a time as this and provided us with the means to protect ourselves against the destruction. The Law was never nullified but protected against through Grace.

The Bible shows mercy over sacrifice so many times. The law is so important because, in it, Grace is fulfilled by Jesus! He cannot fulfill it if it is not still active. He is our Passover Lamb. He is the Stone tablets broken by the Law for the people in anger. He is the perfect Son slain on the altar by His father (Abraham and Isaac). He is the manna come down from Heaven. He is the blood spilled out. He is our Messiah! He is the one who brought us out of spiritual Egypt into the promised land! We don’t see these amazing stories when we ignore the old testament! He is the answer and the fulfillment of every little detail in the Old Testament. The Law is our school teacher for grace. The Pharisees and Sadducees were so close. They saw Christ on earth, yet they didn’t believe Him still!!

For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

2 Corinthians 10:10-11

The Law is weighty and powerful, but it is weak to save and speaks justly and harshly of its condemned. But Grace is so much more powerful; she is kind and gracious. Love covers a multitude of sins. Christ, the love of God, was sent to die and bleed on the cross to fulfill the Law. His blood blotted out the sin debt! He was nailed to the cross for all to see. The earth quaked! The rocks rent! The VEIL was torn!!! We have direct access through grace. However, we must not forget Grace because through it we can understand and know what the Holy Spirit reveals to us under the wings of grace.

And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

John 7:15

In Christ, we know the Word of God. The Word of Truth. Apart from Him, all wisdom is foolish gain. Solomon showed us this. The church must return to the whole Bible, teaching not just letters picked and chosen but the whole book! For out of the mouth of babes comes praise and the Kingdom of Heaven is for those who become like children. The Gospel is so simple. The world is looking for something harder, something they can do themselves. That is the marvelous message of the cross and the resurrection: no work, just belief!

[[A Psalm of David, Maschil.]] Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. … I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Psalm 32:1-2,5

When we place faith in the perfect Lamb of God, the angel of death passes over us. Our souls are the Lord’s. We are His sheep! Jesus is knocking and asking, “Who do you say I am?” How will you answer?

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 16:13-17

One day the book will slam shut. It will be fulfilled. Are you reading the Words of Truth? The Ethiopian was brought to an understanding by God using Philip to help him know and believe the words of Isaiah. Have you learned the Bible? Are you reading the letter of the Law to those lost and dying, telling them of the merciful Grace that came?

Jesus alone was able to open the scroll. Do you call Him worthy?

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? … And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Revelation 5:2,5

We must return to the whole book.

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? - Luke 10:26

The preachers today are picking and choosing. We must read the Bible correctly and not bring anything to the table. From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

1 Timothy 1:6,7

They desire, but apart from God anointing them with the Holy Spirit who reveals all things, they speak empty words and know not what they say. They have turned us aside and tickled our ears with what we wish to hear.

We are to continue in His word, growing on the Root of David. We cannot transplant our roots to something they will die in. Grow in grace and truth.

Paul was on his way to persecute the Christians. He had letters of approval in his hands as Jesus stopped him on the road and called him to grace. Grace steps in at the most unexpected and beautiful times.

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