Living in the Last Hour

As I peruse the news on social media I find various stories on the push to put the Ten Commandments back in public places and in the public schools. The Ten Commandments are part of religious training in Christian religions. American Christians seem divided on the issue. I do not recall what role they had in my school, or ever praying in school. I do not recall learning them at church when I was a kid, yet I knew of God. I cannot say I was familiar with any of the Ten Commandments except for what I learned from the Cecil B DeMille cinematic rendition starting Charleston Heston. As a believer in Jesus Christ I know more today about the role they play in a believer’s life. But I know that Jesus Christ fullfilled the law, so the push for public display seems to fall under the traditions of men. The God of the heavens, The God of all things created, did not withhold His grace from the wretched young woman I was at age 22. I had no significant knowledge of the Ten Commandments. I had not been raised in a Christian home. On occasion my mom took us to the Catholic church. God’s grace is greater than anything we learn or don’t learn about Him.

So, last night as I read my Bible the Lord helped me to understand this push for public acknowledgment of the Ten Commandments. I cannot tell you how often I have read this scripture, chapter 9 of Romans. The writings of the apostle Paul in the Book of Romans are not easy to read. Understanding the apostle Paul’s spiritual insights takes great discernment and revelation by the Holy Spirit. I had read it before. I thought I understood it, but as the things of God go, I did not fully understand it until last night. Even now, the scripture is becoming clearer. There is so much packed into this one chapter yet these verses were the ones that came to life for me.

(vs. 9:30-33 NKJV) “What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Earlier in the chapter, I read “Notwithstanding it cannot be that the word of God should take none effect: for all they are not Israel, which are of Israel. Neither are they all children, because they are the seed of Abraham: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, are not the children of God: but the children of the promise, are counted for the seed. For this is a word of promise, “In this same time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son (Romans 9: 6-9).”

The way I understood this scripture, that all they are not Israel, was simply, not all who call themselves Christians are children of God. 

As I said, last night as I read, verses 30-33, the scriptures came to life. It had not occured to me that the Gentiles did not pursue righteousness. How could they? The Law was given to the Israelites. They were God’s chosen people. The Gentiles did not know the Law of Moses. When they attained righteousness, it was through faith in Jesus Christ. Israel had been living according to the Law and could never attain righteousness. They sought righteousness through works of the law. And the Law is such that if we break one law, we break all the law. Who can ever attain righteousness living by the law? The Ten Commandments is the Law as given to Moses. But even as it was being given to Moses it was being broken by Israel, though they did not know it. This stumbling stone made it difficult for many to believe by faith in Jesus Christ.

The law was so ingrained in their DNA they could not believe by faith. The law was the gold standard. Even though they knew the Scriptures and awaited the promise of a Messiah, Jesus Christ did not fit the image they had created in their mind. Whatever it was. Everything He said and represented did not meet their standard. So, it is essential to understand that all of Abraham’s seed were not Israel. Nor were they God’s children because they came from Abraham’s line. That was simple. When God told Abraham that he was going to have a son, Sara was past her childbearing years. And we know the story that followed. When Isaac became the central figure in the prophesy of a Messiah he was the child of the promise. That event changed everything. And the Israelites had lost sight of that promise.

As I thought about this push to post the Ten Commandments, I begin to understand the reasoning behind the push. Evangelicals who promote an adherence, observance, even a posting of the Ten Commandments, are promoting the Law which brings the hearer into bondage. We know the story of Jesus Christ. Evangelicals demand adherence to the Law they cannot keep and break daily.

Salvation affords us forgiveness of sin. We cannot continue to sin because we are under grace. The idea of excusing sinful behaviors with “I am not perfect, just forgiven.” is like scapegoating. Paul said that those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:5-6). If we who believe by faith and saved by grace are hardpressed to keep from sinning what hope does the Gentile have to keep the Law? Does that mean I want to live in a dangerous society? Of course not. But the devil has one objective. And he knows Scripture better than most Christians. He also knows how to twist it.

Essentially, Israel, that is not, Israel, promotes bondage to the Law over freedom in Christ. Feeling guilty about something we believe is wrong, or someone points out as wrong is not the same thing as a spiritual conviction. And does not lead to righteousness. It does not lead to a pure heart and mind. Only in Christ Jesus can we pursue righteousness.

Roman 6:14 says that sin shall not have dominion over us for we are not under law but under grace. Knowledge of the Law made us aware of our sinful nature, but keeping the law apart from Christ was impossible. Consider the rituals that were in place, BC. 

So, when we put the law before grace, we put the cart before the horse and the results, do not turn out as we expected. I saw it happen and could not understand why, until now. It’s like cleaning the outside of the cup and ignoring the inside of the cup. The problem is in the heart and that is what Jesus Christ desires, our heart. To live by the Law with a bad heart is an exercise in futility.

There is only one way to get to the place where we, with the Holy Spirit leading, can begin to live a life obedient to the things of God. The best thing we can do for the kingdom of God is to do what Christ told us to do.

Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Come back soon.