"Think not
that I have come
to destroy the Law...”
--Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:17)—
Many ministers and members of
churches who
sincerely believe they are
following Jesus,
have misunderstood some of his
most fundamental
teachings. Jesus himself
predicted there would
be much deception about what he
taught.
by Geoffrey R. Neilson
[To get
the most out of this article, read through it without stopping,
and then
re-read it, looking up each Bible reference].
Jesus said that no-one can come to him--and therefore; that no-one can even properly understand him--unless God the Father personally calls that person (John 6:44). Many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 20:16). Contrary to popular belief, Jesus often spoke in parables (Matthew 13:3,34; Luke 8:4) --to hide his meaning from the general public (Matthew 13:10-17). Therefore, understanding what Jesus taught is neither common, nor easily acquired knowledge:
“Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to [eternal] life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).
Jesus himself inspired the words, "Satan has deceived the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). The implication of that statement for religions worldwide, is staggering. Jesus prophesied that many false prophets would deceive many religiously (Matthew 24:11). And that it will be possible to deceive even some of the elect, just prior to his Second Coming (Matthew 24:22-25). If that were impossible, Jesus would have had no need to give them advance warning.
Jesus also knew that in the endtime when he returned, that the Church to whom his Father would have great pleasure in giving the Kingdom of God to, would be a "little flock" (Matthew 12:32). Not some universal church with millions of members. This confirms that few who claim to “believe in Jesus”, actually believe, know, or do, what he taught.
This is shocking, but true. It was no different during the earthly ministry of Jesus. Despite the huge crowds that saw his miracles, only about 120 people were genuine disciples of his, by the time of his crucifixion (Acts 1:15). And only about 3000 were baptized shortly afterwards on the unique first New Testament Pentecost. In this immoral age where “anything goes”, that ought to make everyone claiming to follow Jesus, seriously examine their beliefs against Scripture—instead of whatever church they belong to.
Christ predicted he is going to shock many who think they “know the Lord” now--when at his Second Coming, he doesn't recognize them, or their misdirected efforts—and informs them; “I never knew you”. (See Matthew 25:1-13).
In this sobering light, it ought to be expected that many claiming to be 'Christian', have misunderstood fundamental teachings of Jesus and the Bible. One of the main and oldest misconceptions is about the part that the Law of God plays in New Covenant salvation.
Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets" (Matthew 5:17).*
Any preacher who contradicts Jesus, saying he did do away with the Law, is preaching “another gospel”, which has very serious consequences (Galatians 1:6-10).
Jesus said he came "to fulfill the Law". Preachers of lawlessness claim, that like filling a bottle of milk, Jesus completed the task so that no one else, can or needs to, fulfill God’s Law.
That is clearly not what Jesus meant, because he also said “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle [meaning the smallest part] shall in no way pass from the Law, until all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18). And the old Earth and Heaven will only pass away, over 1000 years after Christ’s Second Coming, according to Revelation 21. That means the Law is still in effect now. Scripture never contradicts itself.
(It is true that certain laws Moses gave for operating God’s physical Temple in Jerusalem are not applicable now. But they are not done away. They are only suspended until the Temple is rebuilt in the Millennium. Those laws relating to the priests and animal sacrifices will apply to God’s Temple during Christ’s 1000-year reign. Read Ezekiel 40 to 48 carefully. This Temple can only be built when all 12 Tribes of Israel are re-united and re-gathered to the Promised Land, in “the restitution of all things” which all God’s prophets predicted. See Acts 3:19-26. Only the Messiah can accomplish that, and only from Jerusalem).
The Messiah (Jesus the Christ) was predicted to magnify the Law—not to minimize it, or do away with it. “Hear, you deaf and look, you blind, that you may see...The LORD...will magnify the Law and make it honorable” (Isaiah 42:21).
Note how this is precisely what Jesus did in Matthew 5:
Moses forbids the act of murder, Jesus classifies even angry and murderous thoughts as transgression of the 6th Commandment (v21-26). That makes the Commandment infinitely more binding.
Moses forbids the act of adultery, Jesus makes lusting sexually equal to transgressing the 7th Commandment (v27-32). That is far more difficult to obey than under Moses, it involves the control of every thought.
Moses forbids certain types of oaths, Jesus outlaws them all, applying the spiritual intent of the 9th Commandment (v33-37). This is a far wider application than in the Old Testament.
In the time of Moses, the second half of the 10 Commandments were meant to bring harmony between neighbors. Jesus says such love must be shown to one’s enemies as well. (43-48). That is exceedingly more difficult, and is a huge magnification of the Law.
Rather than do away with the Law, Jesus expanded it to cover every facet of life. Jesus made the spirit of the Law apply to all 10 Commandments. And made it far more binding and imperative to obey, than Moses ever did.
The Apostle Paul agreed. He wrote:
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest (or evident), which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkeness, revellings, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
Note that several of these sins, are direct contraventions of the letter of the Law of the Ten Commandments that Moses gave. The rest involve contravening the spirit of the Law.
The Commandment that causes most people to murmur against God’s Law is the Fourth. In light of his other statements, it’s clear that Jesus magnified the Law of the weekly Sabbath as well. On the one hand he swept away the man-made restrictions of the Pharisees which God never intended. Jesus said “the Sabbath was made for man” (not for the Jews), as a blessing. Satan has deceived people that it’s a curse.
On the other hand, Jesus implied that it is not only a sin to work on the Sabbath, but in the spirit of the rest of the Law he magnified, it’s a sin to have one’s mind on worldly business or pursuits during God’s Holy Day. Immediately after the death of Jesus, the women who followed him “rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandment” (Luke 23:56). Jesus never told them the 4th Commandment would be on another day, or done away—because he never came to do away with the Law of his Father, God. And he never observed any other weekly Sabbath.
Satan Originated Sin (Transgression of God’s Law)
Long before Adam and Eve were created, Lucifer rebelled against God--vainly and irrationally thinking himself superior to God. He rose from Earth to Heaven, to take over the reigns of the Universe—in a coup d'etat that failed (Isaiah 14:12-15).
This archangel--one of only three mentioned in the Bible--was the most talented and beautiful God made. Note Ezekiel 28:11-19. This can only be talking about Lucifer who was in Heaven originally, covering the throne of God with his wings, and later located in the Garden of Eden. He was perfect in his ways, (which God says of no human)--from the day he was specially created by God*--until iniquity [that is, "lawlessness"--meaning "sin"--was found in him (1 John 3:4). That shows that God's moral Law existed long before Adam was created.
Jesus said Satan was the father of lies. Lies contravene the 9th Commandment. And Jesus called the Devil “a murderer (manslayer) from the beginning” (John 8:44). Murder contravenes the 6th Commandment. Satan was the original sinner and the Originator of Sin.
God had assigned this Archangel to Earth, with a third of the angels (Revelation 12:3-4). He became distorted in his thinking, pride and vanity made him miscalculate that he was superior to God: "I will be like the most High" (Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:2-3,17). Eventually he persuaded the angels under him to join his rebellion. They rose to Heaven, but were thrust back to Earth (Revelation 12:3-4).
God renamed them "fallen angels" or demons"--because they fell from Heaven and from God’s revealed Truth. God renamed Lucifer, "Satan" (meaning Adversary), and "the Devil", and the "Dragon" (Revelation 12:3-4; 20:2).
Jesus said he saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven (Luke 10:18). The angels who did not keep their first estate (Jude 6), were thrown down to Earth with Satan and restrained--but not entirely. Jesus encountered some of them during his earthly ministry, and Satan is still allowed like a roaring lion, to walk around, seeking whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). He does this by influencing attitudes the child of God must resist. (See James 4:7 in the context of its chapter, along with James 1:12-15 which shows how dwelling on wrong thoughts leads to sin, that in turn ends in death).
No doubt after duly instructing them about the Sabbath he’d just made, and his other universal Laws affecting interpersonal relationships, God sometime later gave Adam and Eve their famous test. He informed them that there were two trees in the garden, one representing his way of life, and one the way of living that results in death. God instructed them not to eat of the latter, which as all sin eventually does, would cause their death. (See Genesis 2:8-17; 3:1-24)
Subtle Satan deceived Eve, if she took of the forbidden fruit--she’d be wise--and would not die. In other words, that she’d have eternal life. Satan’s first lie to humanity’s parents, that they have an immortal soul, is still believed by the majority of the world. It forms the cracked foundation of many religions.
Evicted from the Garden of Eden and access to the tree, whose fruit was the Holy Spirit, which imparts Godly understanding and the seed of eternal life, Adam and Eve and most of their descendants have never been truly converted.
Proof of that is the following sequence of events. 1656 years after Adam was created, the world had become so lawless, that God exacted the penalty of sin, and executed the death sentence on the entire population of the Earth, except for 8 people—Noah and his family. After the Flood, Noah’s great-grandson Nimrod, led a rebellion against God. He built the Tower of Babel in a vain attempt to reach Heaven, and to escape any subsequent Flood, not having faith in God’s promise that he wouldn’t send one.
Nimrod’s Babel was the foundation for all Babylonian religion—which has influenced the whole world-- which the Bible condemns from Genesis to Revelation. It rejected the Law of God and his ceremonies, by replacing them with a counterfeit religion that appeared similar, but which not only allowed, but promoted sin. (Genesis 10:8-10 should read that Nimrod was a mighty hunter “against” the LORD. Also see Revelation 17,18 and 19).
After God gave people many languages at Babel, they scattered worldwide--taking Babylonian religion globally—thus it acquired many culturally different forms, but it all had the same roots. Babylon remains the source of many of the religious traditions the world observes, even if the customs have been given Christian-sounding names. (See “The Golden Bough” by Sir George Frazer and “The Two Babylons” by Alexander Hislop, which can be found on the internet).
Of all the people on the planet at that time, God found only one man who was faithful to his Commandments. God blessed him and eventually promised him (and his descendants through Isaac), the whole world--“Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my Commandments, my Statutes, and my Laws” (Genesis 26:5).
The New Testament credits Abraham with genuine faith in God. It calls him the father of the faithful. It prophesies that he will be in the first Resurrection when Jesus returns (Hebrews 11). That means God must have given him his Holy Spirit, without which it is impossible to be resurrected to immortality.
Abraham’s son Isaac, grandson Jacob (the father of the 12 Tribes of Israel), and his great grandson Joseph were also faithful. But after moving to Egypt, after hundreds of years, the children of Israel gradually forgot about God. Eventually, Moses led Israel out of Egypt, and God reminded them of his Law. They rebelled, so God let them wander in the desert for about 40 years.
Everyone over 20 years died—except Joshua and Caleb—and weren’t allowed into the Promised Land. After the death of Joshua and his successors, Israel began to backslide again, until at the end of the period of the Judges, every man did what was right in his own eyes, as opposed to what was right in God’s eyes (Judges 21:25). They were back to the rebellious attitude Satan originated and Eve ingested with the forbidden fruit.
Israel wanted a human King. God gave them Saul who wound up consulting the Devil and died as a result. King David was the only righteous King over united Israel. After his son King Solomon died, Israel split in two. His servant Jeroboam rebelled, taking the 10 Northern Tribes, and ruled them from Samaria, which became known as the House of Israel. Its Kings consistently disobeyed God and led the way to idolatry and false religion. From 721 BC God had the Assyrians defeat and remove them from the Promised Land for these sins. Since they abandoned the weekly Sabbath, the 10 Tribes became lost to history. Though Jesus and the Apostles knew where they went in their day (Matthew 10:6; 15:24; James 1:1).
The Tribe of Judah (the Jews and the Tribe of Benjamin, with some Levites, remained in Jerusalem as the House of Judah. They had some obedient Kings, but eventually went the same way as the non-Jewish majority of Israelites. Over a hundred years later King Nebuchadnezzar defeated them and evicted them to Babylon. After 70 years about 50,000 of them returned to the Promised Land. Many of them became fanatically strict Sabbath observers in an attempt to avert another deportation. As a consequence the world began to view them as the only Israelites. A view they eventually mistakenly believed themselves, and still hold today. Jesus never approved of their humanly devised, burdensome restrictions placed on Sabbath observance, nor did he do away with the Sabbath—he kept it as God intended. (The separate histories of the House of Israel and the House of Judah are found in the books of Kings and Chronicles).
Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian Empire was responsible for the destruction of the first Temple of God in Jerusalem. The unHoly Roman Empire—which derived it’s pagan religion/s from Babylon via other sources—was responsible for the destruction of the second Temple of God in Jerusalem.
Revelation 17,18 & 19 show that Babylonian religion—inspired by Satan—will be the central force behind the Great Tribulation against Israel; against the true Church of God; and is the chief opponent of Christ at his Second Coming. It hasn’t disappeared. Revelation describes it as huge and deceptive.
After Adam and Eve rejected “the Holy Spirit”—which “God has given to them that obey him” (Acts 5:32)—symbolized by the fruit of the Tree of Life—the Hebrew Scriptures containing the Old Covenant, record few examples of people receiving this gift from God.
Who or what the Holy Spirit is, remains one of the least understood Bible topics. In partial summary, the Holy Spirit is the power of God, through which he achieves what he creates (Acts 1:8; Romans 15:13,19 ). The supreme creation of the Creator is to make sons of God, of whom Jesus is the firstborn from the dead of many brethren. (See Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
The first New Testament Day of Pentecost, was the first time the Holy Spirit was simultaneously given to a group of believers (Acts 2). It previously had mainly been given to prophets and some Kings of Judah and Israel.
The most prolific writer of the New Testament, the Apostle Paul is often misunderstood to have taught that the Law is done away. These statements from Romans 7 refute that idea:
“...the carnal [natural, fleshly] mind is emnity [an enemy] against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:9). “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Romans 8:14).
In other words, one can only keep the spiritual intent of Law of God if one receives the power of the Holy Spirit—which God only gives to those who first obey (the letter of) the Law (Acts 5:32). The Holy Spirit gradually converts (changes) the human mind, so that is no longer hostile to God’s Law, and enables one to keep the Law in spirit and in truth.
“The Law has dominion over a man as long as he lives” (v1). It’s not done away.
“Is the law sin? God forbid. I had not known sin but by the Law”. In other words, the Law defines what sin is, and outlaws it—such as adultery, coveting, etc (v3, 7).
“The Law is holy, and the Commandment holy, and just and good”. (v12).
“The Law is spiritual” (v14)—meaning it is eternal and of great value.
“...I delight in the Law of God after the inward man? (v22).
“...with [my] mind...I serve the Law of God...” (v25).
Paul’s words are not those of someone who believes God’s Law has been done away.
When a certain wealthy young ruler asked, what good thing he should do to enter eternal life, Jesus answered:
“You know the commandments. Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother”. These 5 Laws Jesus itemized are half of the 10 Commandments. Obviously Jesus meant all 10 must be observed to enter eternal life. (See Matthew 19:16-30).
This man said he had kept the Commandments since very young. By asking him to get rid of his wealth and follow him, Jesus exposed the fact that he was breaking the spirit of the Law. He was trusting in his wealth instead of having faith in God. By regarding his money more important than God’s invitation to be involved in his Work, the rich man also placed something between himself and God—which is idolatry.
In reality, Jesus told the rich man to observe the same Law that Moses and the Apostle Paul referred to, in order to inherit eternal life. These are hardly the words Jesus would have used, if he did away with his Father’s Law.
It was the same Law God reminded ancient Israel of through Moses, after their Exodus from Egypt, where over hundreds of years they had forgotten the Law (Exodus 20). That’s why God said “REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it holy...the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God...” (v8-10). Israel had forgotten it.
God’s weekly Sabbath was ordained on the 7th day of Creation, long before Israel or the Jews existed. “The Sabbath was made for man”--not just for the Jews (Mark 2:27). The whole world will eventually worship God every on weekly Sabbath (Isaiah 65:22). Jesus said he is the Lord of the Sabbath, therefore, the seventh day of the week is the Lord’s day (Luke 6:5).**
It was the same Ten Commandments--which God had Moses remind the new generation of Israel of--just before they went into the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 5. The reminder was that all their parents died because they disobeyed God’s Law—without entering the Promised Land!
We shall not enter the Promised Land of eternal life in God’s Kingdom if we commit the sins ancient Israel was guilty of. God intended these things to be recorded for the instruction of New Testament converts as well:
The Apostle Paul wrote “...our fathers [meaning these ancient Israelite ancestors]...drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these were our examples, to the intent
--we should not lust
--neither be idolaters
--neither let us commit fornication
--neither let us tempt Christ
--neither murmur
Now all these things happened to them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world have come” (See 1 Corinthians 10:1-14).
Note that the same Commandments ancient Israel was expected to keep, are applicable to the Christian in the endtime. Note also that Christ Jesus was the Rock—the God of the Old Testament whom Moses and Israel knew. Jesus himself said that no man has seen or heard the voice of the Father, except himself when he was in the flesh (John 1:18; John 5:37; 1 John 4:12).
In other words, anciently it was Jesus who gave the Ten Commandments to Israel.
The death of the ancient Israelites who disobeyed God’s Law, was a prototype of what will happen to New Testament converts—who are spiritually Jews (Romans 2:28-29)—if they fail to keep the literal and spiritual intent of the Ten Commandments.
“...it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift...partakers of the Holy Spirit...if they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing that they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh...” (Hebrews 4-6).
This should remind the reader that the idea of “once saved, always saved” is a deception not taught in Scripture.
The reason why those who “fall away” from “the love of [God’s] truth” crucify Christ again, is because they have disdained the death of the Savior—and their new unrepented of sins, whose penalty is death--demand Jesus be crucified again. Which is about as big a blasphemy as anyone can commit. (See 2 Thessalonians 2;3, 10-12).
“Deuteronomy” means “the second giving of the Law”. Jesus, the Rock—who made a Covenant (or binding agreement) with ancient Israel to keep the Law--quoted more from this book more than any other. The reason should be obvious—it is relevant to New Testament converts.
God made that clear through the prophet Jeremiah:
“Behold the days come says the LORD, that I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel, and with the House of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers...[when]...I took them...out of...Egypt; which my Covenant they broke...”
“But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel; After those days, says the LORD, I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:31-33).
This New Covenant became possible because the life of the death of sinless Jesus--the Son of God, is worth more than all humanity combined, since he created all things (John 1:1-5,14; Hebrews 1:1-2). He paid the death penalty that would otherwise be demanded from every sinner. The death of Jesus doesn’t save anyone from eternal death. It reconciles us to God the Father, (who is never associated with sin), by obliterating our lawless sins as if they never existed, upon our contrition and forsaking of Law breaking.
God’s Law wasn’t nailed to the cross. Actually it wasn’t even a cross. It was a T-shaped upright stake, symbolizing the Babylonian god Tammuz (Greek=stauros)—which represented Satan’s counterfeit lawless religion (See “cross” in Vine’s Expanded Dictionary of New Testament Words). What was nailed to the stake, was Jesus, and our sins. Our individual and collective transgressions of God’s Law demanded we pay the death penalty (Romans 6:23).
The death of Jesus paid the ransom price, to reconcile to God, every individual who repents and accepts Christ’s sacrifice (Matthew 20:28). This wipes the slate clean of any previous acts of breaking the Ten Commandments in letter or in spirit.
We aren’t saved by the blood or death of Jesus. That justifies, or correctly realigns, and reconciles us to God, by covering past sins. We are saved from eternal death by the resurrection to eternal life of Jesus, as Romans 5:9-10 makes clear.
On the first New Covenant Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter was inspired to proclaim that those wanting to follow God should (Acts 3:38-39):
“Repent” (which means to brokenheartedly turn around, stop breaking God’s Law, and start keeping it).
“Be baptized everyone” (which meant no exceptions are allowed: every decision-capable adult, must be fully immersed in water as a symbol of their burial as Law of God breaking sinners, and given a new lease on life).
This must be done “in the name of Jesus Christ” (that is, by his authority).
It is “for the remission of sins” (meaning, for the release from the penalty of, and forgiveness of, breaking God’s Law).
“You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (which as a gift, cannot be earned by works, but which is only given to those who obey God (Acts 5:32).
It should be noted that following this Pentecost, receipt of the Holy Spirit after baptism was received in the accompanying ceremony of “laying on of hands” (Acts 8:18). Hebrews 6:1-2 shows it is a foundational principal of Christianity. Other similarly important ordinations involving “the laying on of hands” by God’s representatives, were performed when appointing the High Priest, and other individuals God selected for a special purpose, such as the Kings of Israel, and the New Covenant ordination of ministers, blessing of young children, and anointing of the sick).
Keeping God’s Law is showing God’s Love
No-one can earn eternal life by keeping the 10 Commandments. It's a free gift from God (Romans 6:23). However, "sin is the transgression of the Law" (1 John 3:4), and "the wages of sin are death" (Romans 6:23). Therefore, whoever violates God's Law, whose main points are the 10 Commandments, earns death--which is the complete absence of life. Since "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23), all humans, individually and universally, are condemned to death. That's why we need a Savior to literally rescue us from death, which is the total end of life forever.
God gave King Solomon more wisdom than anyone about this physical life. His conclusion as the richest, wisest, man of his day, who had extraordinary judgment, literary, musical, architectural, economic, military and other gifts--with which he did great things--besides having 1000 of the most beautiful and important women in the world to communicate and sleep with, is that ultimately it’s all futile, because death ends everything. King Solomon started and ended the Book of Ecclesiastes with this view. (The positive spin of the last few verses, was added later by Ezra the scribe, who canonized that part of the Bible).
Solomon correctly understood that at death, life ceases (Ecclesiastes 9:5). Death stops one’s work, knowledge, or things remembered (Eccl 9:10). A dead human has no advantage over a dead animal, in this regard (Eccl 3:19-20). Like Abel’s blood, the Book of Ecclesiastes cries out for a Savior to rescue mankind from eternal death. Unlike his father King David, God did not allow King Solomon any understanding that there is life after death (Eccl 9:6). But Solomon’s understanding of the state of the dead is 100% accurate.
Jesus confirmed this by saying that no human has ascended to Heaven, except himself, who came down from Heaven (John 3:13). The Apostle Peter supported this saying, “David [a man after God’s own heart] is dead and buried and his sepulchre [grave] is still with us, and he has not ascended into the Heavens” (Acts 2:34). If David is not in Heaven, then why would numerous lesser humans be there?
The Apostle Paul made the point, that unless Jesus was completely dead and completely resurrected—our faith is in vain, because our sins have not been paid for or blotted out. And when we die, that’s it (1 Corinthians 15:12-17). Precisely what Solomon correctly understood is the consequence of death without a Savior.
The righteous dead don’t immediately gain immortal life. They are raised in their order, Christ first, then those in the first general Resurrection, which occurs at Christ’s Second Coming (verses 23 & 52). They don’t go to Heaven at death. They’re completely dead like Jesus was for 3 days and nights. Jesus was the firstborn to be resurrected from the dead, to live forever. The resurrection of the first righteous dead people to eternal life, will be at the sound of the 7th Trumpet, announcing the glorious return of Jesus Christ as King of kings and LORD of lords (1 Corinthians 15:35-57). “The rest of the dead don’t live again until the 1000-years are finished”. Note they are dead. They are not in Heaven or elsewhere.
Those in the first resurrection will rule as immortals, with Christ on Earth, for the full 1000 years (Revelation 20:5-6).
By living as a human, yet without breaking God’s Law, Jesus demonstrated that the spirit of the Law can be kept. To be the disciples of Jesus, we must do what he did. The Commandments of God are eternal (Psalm 111:7-8). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).
The Old Covenant was an agreement between Israel and God to keep his Law. The Old Covenant wasn’t the Law itself. And the sacrifices were only added later to look forward to the sacrifice Jesus later gave, because Israel didn’t keep the Law. Israel had contractually promised to obey God's Laws. In return God would provide his blessings and protection. In general Israel failed to keep their part of the agreement and God evicted them from the Promised Land. The statutes involved matters of national administration, and judgments are binding decisions based on God's previously revealed fundamental Law, the Ten Commandments (Numbers 27:11).
Relatively few individuals in ancient Israel obeyed God. Some of these Old Covenant examples of faith, of people who will be resurrected when Christ returns, are mentioned in Hebrews 11. They kept the Law of God as well as having faith. They received the Holy Spirit.
"Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. Yes, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: shew me your faith without your works, and I will shew you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:17-20). "You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
Fruits of Repentance (Matthew 3:8) must be brought forth over a period of time to show one's commitment and sincerity. After one receives the Holy Spirit one must grow in grace and knowledge and bear the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5.22-23). Paul had no false illusions that after accepting Jesus as Savior, there were no works to be done (Philippians 3:12-16; Ephesians 6:10-18). And he knew that in the end there would be perilous times with widespread breaking of God’s Law (2 Timothy 3:1-8).
"...the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Eternal life cannot be earned. It comes by the grace of God, unmerited by humans. "And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work" (Romans 11:6). Grace does not do away with the Law of God. By grace God gives the repentant undeserved pardon for past sins. By grace God gives the repentant sinner the undeserved gifts of the Holy Spirit and of Eternal life. Works can earn none of these things. But works are nevertheless required.
While human faith in the existence of God and his promises is necessary, it is the faith of Christ in us that accomplishes God's will. Christian hope is based on the promises of God not human expectations. Christian (agape) love is only possible if one has received the Holy Spirit, and is the most important characteristic of the genuine believer. (See 1 Corinthians 13).
Personal Bible Study is the ingesting of spiritual food, which like physical food, needs to be imbibed on a daily basis to sustain growth. It must be done in conjunction with prayer and meditation. Fasting--the complete abstinence from food and water--to draw closer to God, is an occasional necessity that Jesus practiced especially during a period of crisis.
Over time, and at different times, God evaluates people's activities, after which he renders his verdict, giving rewards to the righteous and passing sentence on the wicked. The true Church is undergoing judgment now. "For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17).
Israel was the only nation God directly revealed himself to. By the time Jesus came preaching, the 10 Tribes had long gone into idolatry, and he warned the religious leaders of Judah that they were off-track. 40 years later God allowed the Romans to destroy the Temple in Jerusalem.
The record of the Apostle’s writings shows progressively worse problems entered the early New Testament Church, both among Jewish and Gentile converts. The legend is that 11 of the Apostles were martyred. Rome certainly executed Paul, and claims to have executed Peter, whom the Bible never places in that city.
In the last about 2000 years since then, the majority of those claiming to be Christian have not obeyed the cardinal points of the Law of God, the Ten Commandments. Even though the Apostle Paul gave the brilliant analysis of love—which fulfills the Law by conforming to it, not by breaking it—in 1 Corinthians 13—and even though Jesus said, “...All things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). In other words, Jesus meant that one who keeps the Law and teachings of the Prophets is showing love to God and neighbor, and is keeping the Ten Commandments in their intended spirit. Jesus also said:
“Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to [eternal] life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). This has always been true. Widespread understanding of Scripture and what genuine salvation means--and the actual attainment of eternal life--will only become widely available after Christ’s return and 1000-year reign on Earth. In that day, “...the Earth [not Heaven] shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).
Jesus taught that “Whosoever...shall break one of the least of these Commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).
Come Judgment Day, the person professing to be a disciple of Jesus--who has thought Christ came to do away with the Law--will have to answer why he or she didn’t believe, and obey, the clear words of their Savior.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his Commandments. And his Commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
* In referring to the Law and the Prophets, Jesus meant two of the three major sections of Hebrew Scripture. The third being the Psalms, also called the Writings (Matthew 5:17).
**This is not to be confused with the period called “the day of the LORD”, when Heaven openly intervenes in world affairs in conjunction with Christ’s Second Coming to establish the Kingdom of God from Jerusalem--as all the prophets have predicted (Acts 3:19-26).
***While perfect from birth, Jesus was not created. He has always existed, and is infinitely superior to created angelic beings (John 1:1-4.14; Hebrews 1:2,4).
The biblical Sabbath is observed from sunset at the end of Friday afternoon, until sunset at the end of Saturday afternoon, as God kept it from Creation week.
~~~15 May 2007~~~