Principles of living a godly life [34] – Christians and divine law [1]

 Faced with the concept of Christians walking around within the Breath as the means of living a godly life, Christian legalists still try to direct Christians to the written codes of divine Law when it comes to living a godly life day-by-day. They react with horror and they protest loudly when faced with the slightest qualification concerning the written codes of Sinai Covenant Law. So we still need to get to grips with the position and function of the written codes of divine Law.

The Apostle Paul addresses the theme of the Christian’s attitude to the written codes of divine Law most particularly in Romans chapters 6, and 7. Chapter 7 is a difficult chapter and this means that it has been interpreted in a number of ways. So in the next series of posts I will go through this chapter verse by verse so that we can try to follow the Apostle’s logic and reasoning in the light of all that we have seen so far. But first we need the context of what he is saying.

Earlier in his letter to the Roman Christians, Paul has been teaching that everyone, without exception, misses the mark and exists under divine condemnation. He has proposed that divine approval is obtained by being persuaded of and entrusting in the Messiah, such persuasion being evidenced and brought to completion by obedient behaviour. Unlike the Sinai Covenant, this way of divine approval is not restricted to Jews. Then, in chapter 5 v 20a Paul makes an interesting statement. ‘Now law entered close beside in order that the falling away became greater in number’. This seems to state the very opposite of what Christian legalists propose. They turn Christians to divine Law to promote a godly clean life, but Paul says that the effect of law is to increase the amount of falling away and transgression, and earlier he has said that ‘Law is working down settled anger’, (Romans 4 v 15a), not godliness. We will see why this is the case in due course.

Paul says that if self-forfeiture and loss abounds, the divine gift super-abounds, and then he responds to a couple of potential objections. The first objection is this - ‘Shall we remain and persist in self-forfeiture in order that the extended free favour increase?’. His immediate response – ‘May it never be!’, (Romans 6 v 1, 2a). This objection, along with the second one presented in verse 15, defines what Paul is talking about. The general theme is divine approval, and these objections are about divine approval in the Christian’s day-to-day life. The question is framed like this – 

If divine favour super-abounds when self-forfeiture increases

Then HOW SHOULD WE LIVE OUR LIVES AS CHRISTIANS?

Should we self-forfeit all the more so that the free gift exceedingly increases?

‘By no means’, says Paul. The super-abounding of God’s free gift of salvation does not give Christians licence to self-forfeit or sin. Paul says that ‘We died away from self-forfeiture and no share - in what way even now will we be alive within it?’ (Romans 6 v 2b). Even now, at this present time, Christians are not summoned to be alive to and positively responsive and active within self-forfeiture. 

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [33] – Divine Law and the gospel

 So what is the position of Christians when it comes to divine approval moment-by-moment and Sinai Covenant Law? Paul declares that Jesus ‘gave himself on behalf of us in order that on receipt of a ransom he release us away from all lawlessness and cleanse for himself a people existing all around, zealous of good works’, (Titus 2 v 14). Peter says this to Gentile Christians, ‘you were released on payment of a ransom away from the empty futile way of your life handed down to you from your ancestors 19 … by precious blood of the Messiah in the manner of a lamb without blemish’. (I Peter 1 v 18b, 19). To Jews it is stated like this, ‘Therefore men it is known to you that by means of this the sending away of self-forfeiture and loss is openly proclaimed. 39 And away from all that within the law of Moses you were not able to be approved, within Him, all entrusting are approved’, (Acts 13 v 38, 39).

Speaking to both Jewish and Gentile Christians who were in danger of turning to Covenant Law in order to live a godly life, Paul says this. ‘But when the fullness of time came God sent forth His Son, having come from out of a woman, having come under law 5 in order that he completely buy out those under the law, in order that we begin and continue to receive adoption. 6 And because you are sons, God sent forth the Breath [Pneuma] of his Son to reach into our deep inner core, crying out out, “Abba, Father”, (Galatians 4 v 4 – 6). Later, Paul plainly states the principle of Christians living a godly life day-by day, and he does not direct them to Covenant Law. ‘So I say, walk around within Breath [Pneuma] and absolutely do not bring to completion eager fleshly desire. 17 Because the flesh is focused on passionate desires against the Breath, [Pneuma] and the Breath [Pneuma] against the flesh. Because these resist and oppose one another in order that if you desire, you do not construct it, 18 and if you are led by the Breath [Pneuma], you are not under law’, (Galatians 5 v 16 – 18). 

Paul and the other Apostles consistently contrast the written codes of Covenant Law bringing down settled anger on one hand, over and against hearing, persuasion, and the Breath of God and His Son bringing down divine judicial approval on the other hand. Their instruction is to –

Persevere within persuasion and walk around moment by moment within the sphere of the Breath that they have received and which dwells in their deep inner core, at the foundation of their thoughts, emotions and desires

This is not an abolishing or dissolving of divine Law, but a unique way of life that is only possible for Christians because only Christians possess the indwelling and working energy of the Breath of God and His Messiah. It is a way of life within the Messiah that upholds the principles and fulfils the requirements of Divine Law within a superior priestly order. 

But Christian legalists usually raise their hands in horror at this. They suggest that such a position is anti-law – antinomian. But over the course of these posts I hope that we are seeing that this is not the case. Christian legalists propose that this is a lawless approach – that there are no moral or spiritual safeguards. But on the contrary, we have seen that Christians possess the Breath. Christian legalists propose that this approach opens the door to Christians being led by their emotions, fleshly desires and a deceitful heart, or that those who advocate such an approach are dismissing the word of God. But I am saying that Christian legalists are in danger of denying their Messiah. So let’s see what Paul has to say about the written codes of divine law.  

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [32] – Divine Law and the error of legalism [2]

 If Christians turn to the written codes of divine Law to try to attain godliness and maintain divine approval day-by-day, then they are putting their faith in their flesh, in the strength of their human constitution, and thus they are taking a step backwards. They are stepping away from their calling to a superior order of a royal priesthood. In the case of Jews they are turning back to the Sinai Covenant and Levitical order, or in the case of Gentiles they are imposing the old and inferior Sinai Covenant with its Levitical Law given through Moses to Jews, onto Gentile Christians. More than this, in turning to the written codes of Law in this way they are in danger of rejecting their Messiah. They are going back to a form of divine approval by their work and effort – to maintaining divine approval by means of their own energies, actions and behaviours. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews says this - ‘But the judicially approved of Me will be alive from out of persuasion to the point of obedience, [Faith]. He who cowers, withholds or shrinks back, My Breath [psyche] is not well-pleased within him, [Habakkuk 2 v 4]. 39 But we are not those cowering and shrinking back penetrating into being cut off, but persuaded to the point of obedience penetrating into possessing life-breath [psyche]’, (Hebrews 10 v 38, 39). 

Elsewhere we read, ‘….if the people were completely fulfilled and made complete through the Levitical priesthood – on the basis that it was ordained and sanctioned by Covenant Law – why is there still need for another priest to be raised up according to the rank of Melchizedek, not being spoken of according to the rank of Aaron? [who was a Levite] 12 Because the priesthood is being transferred from out of necessity, from out of compelling need, and a transformation of law is coming into being. 13 Because these things [about Jesus as high priest] are being said on the basis of another tribe [Judah] participating…’, (Hebrews 7 v 11 – 13). I spent some time in earlier posts talking about Christians being placed into a different priestly order. Christians do not attain divine approval by seeking to obey the written codes of Levitical Law. God has brought them forth within hearing and persuasion of the good news of the Messiah, placing them into a royal priesthood of the order of Melchizedek. Therefore they do not now continue their Christian life day-by-day by turning back to, or placing themselves under trying to keep the written statutes of Levitical Law. Neither are they now free in the sense of being lawless or anti-law. Instead, there is a transformation of law. Divine law is not abolished or dissolved. The superior priesthood into which they have been placed exists alongside the written codes of Sinai Covenant law. For Christians, the principles of divine law work and come to fruition in a different way. 

So what is the Apostolic instruction to Christians? Trust in Jesus and work to keep the written codes of Sinai Covenant Law? No, not at all. The Apostles never say this. Instead they say, ‘Therefore, in the manner you have received the Lord Jesus, Messiah, walk around within Him, firmly established and built up within Him, making the persuasion secure in the manner you were taught, super-abounding within thankfulness’, (Colossians 2 v 6).

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [31] – Divine Law and the error of legalism [1]

Some Christian leaders propose that now that Christians have attained deliverance away from divine condemnation by means of entrusting in Jesus, then in order to go on, live a godly life and attain the highest standards of godliness day-by-day, Christians should now turn to the written codes of divine Law. They should turn to the written codes of the Sinai Covenant, where we find the Ten Commandments for example, to spur them on to avoid sin and encourage holiness. 

Here is Paul’s response to such a suggestion. ‘I wonder and marvel that in this manner you are quickly changing sides and transferring away from your summons within the Messiah’s free gift, penetrating into a different kind 7 that is absolutely not another good message. If whether there are some who are disturbing you and wish to corrupt the good news of the Messiah. 8 But even if we or a messenger from out of heaven proclaim good news to you alongside that good news we announced to you, let him be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so even at this moment I say, ‘If anyone is announcing good news to you beside what you received, let him be accursed!’’, (Galatians 1 v 6 – 9). Then, after defending his reputation, authority and integrity and that of the Apostles and the gospel message, he repeats the gospel which says that Christians are delivered from condemnation by faith, not by observing the written codes of the Law. Then he says, ‘O unthinking Galatians! Who has begun and continues to fascinate you not to be having confidence and trust the truth - that eyes down Jesus the Messiah announced as crucified? 2 I merely desire to learn this from you, did you receive the Breath [Pneuma] by means of working energies of Law, or by hearing confident entrustment? 3 Are you so thoughtless? Breath [Pneuma] beginning to make complete, [but] now at this present time, flesh? 4 Did you have so much heavy emotion without purpose, if indeed also without purpose? 5 Therefore, the supply of the Breath [Pneuma] to you and active power within you - from out of actions of Law or from out of hearing entrustment?’ (Galatians 3 v 1 – 6). 

Paul does not hold back. He says that a core aspect of the gospel is being undermined. Once again he contrasts the written codes of the Law on one hand, with hearing and persuasion, and with the Breath of God and God’s Son on the other hand. He places these in opposition to each other. If Christians turn to the written codes of Law in their attempt to attain godliness day-by-day, they are entrusting in their own energies and efforts to maintain judicial approval. They are entrusting their own flesh and the energies inherent within their human constitution. This means that they are taking a step backwards. The written codes of divine law are working down settled anger, not godliness.

 

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [30] – Divine Law and Divine approval [2]

 Christians are rescued from God’s judicial condemnation by means of entrusting Jesus. God’s chosen deliverer, rather than by seeking to enact all of the written regulations of Sinai Covenant Law. As part of God’s free gift, Christians receive the Breath of God to indwell their deep inner core or ‘heart’ – the foundation of their thoughts, feelings and intentions. Paul places faith and Breath in contrast to working to put into practice the external written codes of the Sinai Covenant. 

So what happens then? What happens in the Christian’s day-to-day life? As a result of their enlightened perception away from the Breath of God, and their entrustment in the Messiah, Christians are exhorted to exercise illuminated self-control so as to live a godly life by walking around within the set-apart Breath of God. Nowhere do the Apostles instruct Christians to turn to and work to put into practice the external written codes of divine Law. But as we have seen, divine Law – with its emphasis on purity, cleanliness and being set apart from the worldly arrangement and its values – has not been abolished. Christians are not given a licence to engage in wayward speech and behaviour because they now trust Jesus. But the exhortation to, and purpose of, living a godly life places them in a battle, in warfare, because within their physical, fleshly constitution, raw energies and passions produce an impetus that leads to speech and behaviour that God disapproves of. No Christian is perfectly clean and pure in their speech and behaviour, despite their best intentions, or their most transcendent experiences. 

Given this purpose and summons to live a godly life and the opposition created by the energies within their physical, fleshly constitution, as well as by the values and behaviours of the world being displayed around them, where does this leave Christians? How are they to go about their daily lives successfully overcoming temptation? How are they to maintain the best standard of godliness that they possibly can? 

Different Christian leaders suggest different approaches, but the particular focus here is on divine Law. ‘Aha!’ say some Christian leaders. ‘Christians need to turn to the written codes of divine Law, like the Ten Commandments, to ‘spur’ them on or ‘goad’ them towards godly behaviour’. Are they neglecting Sunday worship? The Law says ‘Keep the Sabbath set apart’. Are they stealing? The Law says ‘You will not steal’ and so on. But I strongly disagree with this approach. I propose that this is not Apostolic teaching and that it falls into the error of ‘Christian legalism’.