Providence Presbyterian

Continuity & Real Discontinuity

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Lessson 4

1. One of the pretty immediate texts that could put a big speed bump in the oath of 'Scripture continuity' is the Letter to the Hebrew Christians. The main 'bump' happens to be from chapter 7 through 10. Take the time to read through this whole section, leaving behind other questions which may arise, & answer these questions:

1. In the context of these chapters, what laws are specifically said to be done away with? Remembering to speak where Scripture speaks, & to be silent where Scripture is silent, what laws does this passage specifically refer to with regard to change?
   
   If you say that these chapters mean that all of the laws of God are changed, or done away with, then you must support that assertion from these chapters (which are dealing with the specifics of priesthood, temple, washings, etc., and sacrifices).
2. Which laws have been left out of the discussion? What is the only thing you can legitimately assert when you are looking at these passages?
   
   This question requires a brute honesty. Nothing can really be said about the rest of God's law from these passages in Hebrews. The writer neither deals with them, nor even really mentions them. His focus is only on the commandments & the law dealing with priesthood, sacrifice, washings, & temple.
   
   If you say, 'They're all of a whole. There are no Biblical distinctions of moral, judicial, or ceremonial law.' That may or may not be the case. But you can't make it here. The writer forces you to only focus on certain, specific laws.
3. Therefore, what is the writer of Hebrews primarily interested in with this regard?
   
   The answer is pretty simple: Jesus the better Priest, the better sacrifice, the better way of perfection (10.14).

2. Another passage often used to validate that the law of God is done away, happens to be Colossians 2.11-23.

Read this passage, and then ask: 'What does Paul call these specific laws or regulations [esp. 16-22a]?'

The answer is: the commandments & doctrines of men.

Ever heard that before? How about in Matt. 15, where the Pharisees have annulled God's commandments with their doctrines & traditions? The specific items Paul is dealing with here has little to do with what God commanded in the Old Testament Scriptures. He is dealing with those who are adding to the Scripture - making up laws about food or drink, etc. How would Paul square this up with those today who want to condemn what God never condemned, & who want to mandate what God never mandated?

3. A final Scripture to examine would be Galatians itself. I don't want to spend a lot of time on this, because every object in Galatians has already been dealt in some way or other in Lesson 1 & 2, as well as in this lesson above.

1. 2.14-21 - no one is declared 'Right' with God by keeping the law. No argument there.
2. 3.1-9: The Gospel is ancient, proclaimed to Abraham.
3. 3.10-14: The problem is the curse of condemnation under the law, which Jesus has fixed for us at the Cross.
4. 3.15-18: Again, the Gospel promise is before the Law's being given at Sinai. The law is not opposed to grace or Gospel.
5. 3.19-25: One of the law's purposes was to lead us to Christ, by imprisoning us (Jew & Gentile - remember he's talking to Gentiles Christians) under sin (sounds like Paul's argument in Romans, doesn't it).
6. 3.26-29: Therefore, it is not law nor Jewishness that makes us Abraham's heirs, but Christ & trusting in Him (this is really the major thrust of the whole letter).
7. 4.1-7: Now, Gentiles & Jews IN Christ are Sons, filled with the Holy Spirit of Adoption.
8. 4.8-11:Therefore, throw off the extra-biblical rules & regulations of spirituality. In fact, because of v. 9, where Paul says they desire again to be in bondage to this type of thing, it leads one to assume that the festival days might have some connection to the pagan worship they came out of.
9. 4.21-31: Paul thrusts in his knife one more time to slay the whole Jewishness Pride, or ethnic segregationsim. We Gentiles are children of the Promise in Christ, so there is no need to put on the badges of Jewish Ethnic Identity!
10. 5.1-6: You are freemen in Christ (but not spiritual anarchists - see 5.13-26), because you have become God's Children of the Promise. Don't become shackled by Jewish Ethnic Identity badges (see 6.14-18). If you do, then you have denied that Christ alone is sufficient, & have exposed yourself to extreme danger.

The Real Discontinuity of Holy Scripture is found here in these passages, as I have laid them out. Christ has made us who were not a people to become His people. & we who never knew mercy have come to receive mercy. God has redrawn the lines of the House of Israel, & it now includes only Jews & Gentiles who are IN Christ Jesus!

Hopefully this will put to rest much of the nonsense that is floating around out there in Christendom in regard to the law, or in regard to Jews still being the chosen race, or the need to return to 'Our Jewish Roots.'

Lesson 5: God >>

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