Israelites-part 3

Life/Law in the Spirit
_ our identity

<<Israelites part 1 was an introduction to this brief study on who we are as Christians relating to being the same promise as given to the Israelites of Old Testament. I was introduced to this concept through a conversation with a friend. Israelites part 2 then identified who it is we believe in-meaning both as Christians and Jews. My next exploration is examining how Christians are to identify themselves as we are now equal-meaning Gentiles and Jews now being equal. What does this look like as presented in the New Testament? Please read along with me as I complete this brief study>>

The context of this conversation stems from Ephesians 2:11-22.

"He did away with the law of the commandments in regulations, so that He might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace." verse 15

What did he do away with? The Commandments in regulations. These can be found in the Book of Leviticus, or the law of the Old Testament. These were doctrines given to help establish the society and culture of the Israelites. The primary focus was that the Israelites would be set apart, or holy. These Commandments of daily life were different from the cultures around them for that very reason. It was a symbolic outwardly way to emphasize that they were God's chosen people. Some of these laws for example were to not eat pork, women to not cut their hair, to not get tattoos, to not work on the Sabbath, ect.

Going back a verse, it says: "For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh..." verse 14

This is and no doubt reflecting upon what happened during Jesus's crucifixion and death. As we read and Mark 15:33-41 with the emphasis being on verse 38, God has torn the veil separating the Holy of Holies place in the sanctuary; thus, allowing all people to enter into His presence. This of course symbolically showing what had already physically happened with Jesus's body being broken for all men's sins.

As we read on in Ephesians 2 verse 21 it says: "that the whole building is being fitted together in Him and is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for God's dwelling in the Spirit"

As echoed many times in the New Testament, we see that the importance of God's presence is not located in a four-walled building, but rather in our bodies. His Spirit now dwells in US! He now dwells in all people. All people are His "chosen people" when we call upon Jesus to save us.

We will now transition to what it says in the Book of Romans. It is here that we see a progression of laws. In the beginning we had the most dominant law being the Mosaic Law. As we read on through the prophets, like Isaiah,we see that God allows our hearts to become a heart of flesh. This allows us to feel and not just do. Later on Paul calls it the Law of the Flesh. This is soon becomes the binding law of sin, as Paul claims it: you do that of which you don't want to do. But finally comes the Law of the Spirit. This Law of the Spirit is described in Romans 8.

So what is the Spirit & what does it do?

The Greek word for Spirit means wind. Wind is described as an always moving or forcible source.  The other imagery given towards the Holy Spirit are: the Breath of God, the dove that descended upon Jesus during His baptism and tongues of fire as seen in Acts.

In Matthew 10:20 we see that in the moments that we are being tested by man the Holy Spirit speaks on our behalf.

In 2nd Timothy 1:7 we see that the Holy Spirit gives us power, love, and sound judgment.

Galatians 5:22-23 says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control.

Thus, evidence of the Holy Spirit being present is by what comes out of my mouth, what is presented in my actions and is ultimately my new way of life.

This is what God had originally designed in the beginning. That being a unbreakable bond between Creator and His creation, mankind. It was never about knowing a list of laws,commands, and regulations to make things right. It was all about acknowledging that we could never live up to the holy of holies so He humbled himself for us and took our punishment. All so that connection could be restored!

The Mosaic law taught us what sin was. It taught us how to live in this world. It was full of works, but the concept was to be set apart. Ultimately, though it put a spirit of fear within us. Holiness was too much for us to bear. The law says if you break one commandment, you break them all. Thus, we were screwed. It was all about works, works, works, works. But the cross of Jesus did for us what we could not. God desired grace and mercy, not sacrifice. It is by faith combined with works powered only through the Holy Spirit of Jesus that we are able to be Christians or Messianic Jews. This Law of the Spirit or Law of Grace, teaches us how to live for eternity and not just for the present. It is the spirit of freedom and Truth.

*Knowing these things, why would someone want to follow the Old Testament laws, commandments of regulations, traditions and rituals? What are you achieving from these things?

It is true that we would not know Grace if we did not know the law. However, we must live in Grace and not under the burden of the law. Jesus had emphasized this over and over again in the New Testament/the new promise. The regulations (not the Mosaic Law which are just the 10 and not 600+) set in Old Testament/the old promise, where for that particular time and place. God does not condemn us if we do not live by those regulations in today's time period. The main objective is to be set apart or holy. And that Holiness ONLY comes through a life in the Spirit of Jesus Christ.