Two heresies about the law have shaped not only Adventism but several other traditions which exist in the Christian “stream”. These two false beliefs are:
1. The Law of Mount Sinai was given to all mankind.
In fact, it wasn’t given to all mankind, and it isn’t for humanity in general. David confirms this fact in Psalm 147:19, 20 where he says:
“He has revealed His word to Jacob, His laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws.”
Further, Psalm 78:5 says:
For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children.
In the New Testament, Paul confirms this Bible fact in Romans 2 and Ephesians 2:11-22. Romans 2 explains that the Jews had the law, yet even with these oracles from God, they were hopelessly sinful. Gentiles, in contrast, did NOT have the law. Nevertheless, some Gentiles still honored God. In this chapter, Paul’s point is that both Jews and Gentiles are completely guilty before God by nature.
Ephesians 2:11, 12 further emphasizes this contrast between Jews and Gentiles:
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Scripture clearly explains that the Law was given exclusively to Israel. Other nations did not have the right to “claim” it, and even today we cannot make it ours legitimately. We can only read it as part of God’s revelation of Himself as He revealed His plan to reconcile us to Himself through the blood of His Son. The law declares truth and shows us that through the history of Israel, God demonstrated that even with divine commands, mankind was unable to obey those commands or to please God.
2. The law of Mt Sinai can be divided into different groups of laws.
God did not divide the law into “ceremonial law” (also known as “law of Moses”) and “moral law” (also known as Law of God). In the words of Christian apologist R.K. McGregor Wright:
Traditional discussion of the Law divided the many specific laws into three classes: the moral, the civil, and the ceremonial laws. This threefold classification stems from the exegesis of the early Middle Ages. It remains an integral part of the ongoing discussion of the theological significance of the Ten Commandments and of catechetical teachings.…In other words, the traditional threefold division of the Law is intended to buttress the view that only part of the Law was fulfilled by Christ in his redemptive work. The rest remains for us to live by. According to this reasoning, the Ten Commandments are “the rule of life for the believer’s sanctification,” thus defining the Puritan’s “third use of the Law” beyond the two functions of 1), showing us what sin is, and 2), leading us to Christ. The Bible makes no such reference to a “third use” of the Law (https://blog.lifeassuranceministries.org/2018/12/07/the-unity-of-the-law/).
This false idea that the law was divided was adopted by the Roman Catholic Church and taught for generations by its scholars and clergy. In fact, later generations of Protestants developed the idea of “covenant theology” and perpetuated this idea that the law continues for Christians. Once we delete this false premise, however, the new covenant emerges with its new commandments for all believers. In fact, just after Judas left the last supper meal to betray Jesus, He said to His eleven remaining disciples:
“Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn. 13:33–35).
Jesus’ command is only for those who believe in Him—and His new covenant command is not possible for anyone to be able to adopt without being born of the Spirit. Jesus did not remind His disciples to keep the Ten Commandments; on the contrary, He gave them a NEW commandment—a commandment that depended upon His presence in their lives—they were to love one another!
God, being always just, gave the gospel to the Jews first, as He promised, but they rejected Him and the new covenant in His blood. Instead, they clung to the law, looked at Him as the law’s Fulfillment, and refused to believe. Even today they as a people (not individuals) have their law and their Sabbaths, but they don’t have Jesus.
The law (Hebrews 10:1) and the Sabbaths (Colossians 2:16, 17) are shadows of the reality of Jesus Christ. Now, on this side of the cross, if we persist in “keeping” these shadows, we must turn our backs on the Light of the World.
If we turn to Christ, however, the veil that obscures Him when we cling to the law is removed (2 Cor. 3:14).
Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:15–18).
Turn to Christ today—and LIVE!
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- A New Covenant Needs New Words - November 23, 2023
It has been said, that assumption is one of the banes of human existence
Most science, including medicine, recognize the need to check assumptions at the door, for likely obvious reasons. But religion, not so much
Adventism’s teachings are rife with assumption, most proven wrong, yet not corrected. Why?
The strictest definition of a cult, is that which asserts that their way is the only way to heaven. Adventism no longer does this overtly, but skates very close to it by intimation.
There is another definition of a cult, and that is continuing to teach known and proven error as truth. Adventism fits this definition. There is no way around it