Law of Stone

LIFE WITHOUT CONDEMNATION!

Moses is the man who carried the Ten Commandments of the Law on Stone to the people.  Doesn’t that image conjure up coldness and rigidness in and of itself?  Well, this is how many people feel toward the Old Testament and Covenant.  As discussed in last blog:(https://maryellenboyle.com/2016/02/is-the-father-calling-you/,) the Ten Commandments, written on Stone and delivered by Moses to the people, were laws that man were given to see their need for a Savior.  People were unable to keep this law and so God the Father sent God the Son, Jesus to the cross and by His sacrifice, we are set free from all the death the law imposed on man.  No more condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:31).  No more shame, or guilt, or fear of man.  All these were nailed to the cross and done away with once and for all mankind at the cross of Christ.

Colossians 2:14-15 (AMP)

Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us).  This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His ] cross.   [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of the, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

Thank You Jesus! Thank You Father for the New Covenant bought and paid for by Jesus.

This does not negate the Law but it does do away with the judgment it required which was death if even one part of the law was not kept.  Only the perfect Lamb of God was a sufficient sacrifice to fulfill the Law of our Holy and Perfect God the Father.  He made a way for us where there seemed to be no way to have peace with a holy and perfect God.  Thank You Jesus!

Much of the Old Testament is prophetic, meaning, that although it was written in the ancient of days it still has meaning and precedence for our day.  How awful it would be to simply dismiss the Old Testament writings because the Old Covenant has been replaced with the New Covenant.  After all, it is the Full Counsel of God, New Testament plus The Old Testament  is God’s word.

Looking at some of these prophetic passages through the eyes of the Law being written in stone is interesting.  Written in stone carries with it a permanence and yet one that is rigid and cold.  Even, unwavering and inflexible.  Now when permanence, unwavering and inflexible is attached to something that you need to trust or count on in the character of a person, we want that right! 

HOLY, HIGH, GOD!

Listen how Isaiah describes this perfect, holy God of ours:

Isaiah 57:15 (NLT)

The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, The Holy One says this:
“I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.

This is a holy God who does not live with that which is unclean.  In order for Him to live among His children they must be cleansed in the blood of Jesus by their belief that Jesus sacrifice; cleanses them of all uncleanness and separates them out of the unclean world.

FATHER’S HEART

But when it is written as Law to command humans who are unable in their own character to uphold and keep it or die if it is not kept …well that’s a bit harsh to say the least!  That is a Father then who is a harsh dictator and that is not who our heavenly Father is!  Our heavenly Father always looks for a way to bring us back to Himself by healing, leading and restoring.   Can you hear His heart for His children in this scripture?

Isaiah 57:18 (NKJ)

I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him And to his mourners.

God’s Law is permanent, unwavering, and full of truth, which also describes His character that is unchanging from one century to the next (Hebrews 13:5) yet at the same time full of mercy.  He is as holy today as he was in centuries past and as He will remain to be in the future no matter how people may choose to interpret Him by their own thinking and cultural changes.  This brings us comfort because, unlike our current economy, we don’t know what to expect and therefore it makes it difficult to plan and run a business without undue stress.  It would be difficult and hard to base your life on a God whose character would change too.

DEPENDS ON GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS!

We who have received Christ also receive His righteous nature and are being transformed daily into His image and character by the work of the Holy Spirit within us.  As Jesus is so are we in this world.  We may still fail to keep the Law but we are not focused on that. We are focused on Jesus who justifies us and who fulfilled the law for us on our behalf.  His blood was shed so we can be cleansed of all unrighteousness.  Without God we are left to our own inability to be righteous and we fall back to trying to keep the Law or live for our own ways in what “feels” right.  How often have feelings led you astray?  Yikes I hate to count the ways.  .  It depends on His character of righteousness not our own.  When you have the help of the Holy Spirit and the righteousness of God helping you to do what is right and pleasing it doesn’t become something we strive to be, but rather who we are.

God the Father has so much compassionate mercy on us.  He goes before us to help to take the stones of the Law out of our way so that we can walk with Him in joy, ease and peace.

Isaiah 57:14 (NKJ) reads:

And one shall say, Heap it up. Heap it up!  Prepare the Way Take the Stumbling block out of the way of My people.

This is the Father presenting the Son as the perfect sacrifice so that the stumbling block of the Law can be removed out of the way of His people coming to Him!  All who believe that the sacrifice of the Son is payment for their sins past, present and future are free to receive the blessings of Christ.  It does not negate the Law, but through Jesus the Law is fulfilled!

Romans 10:4 (Amp)

 Christ is the end of the law [it leads to Him and its purpose is fulfilled in Him], for [granting] righteousness to everyone who believes [in Him as Savior].

God’s character which is unchanging for which gives us the security in which to trust in Him gave His Son to fulfill the holy Law.

Hebrews 13:8 (Amp)

Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.

By believing in Jesus we receive the Law already fulfilled by faith thru the grace manifest in Jesus at the cross for all who will believe!  Whoever will reject God’s Word as truth then rejects the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the free gift of salvation unto everlasting life.

STUMBLING OVER THE STONE

I wonder if sometimes people confuse the stone Law with the fact that Jesus has already fulfilled the Law.  Get condemned by the Law and the Old Covenant without knowing the condemnation has been done away with and a New Covenant is one of love, peace and grace in Jesus who loves them and wants a relationship with them.  They still stumble over the stone that has been taken out of the way and take on a rock of offense to Jesus and His teachings!

1Peter 2:6 -8 (AMP)

For this is contained in Scripture:  “BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOSEN STONE, A PRECIOUS (honored) CORNERSTONE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] WILL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED [in His expectations].  This precious value, then, is for you who believe [in Him as God’s only Son – The Source of salvation]; but for those who disbelieve,

“THE [very] STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” and,

“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”,

For they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed.

Are you still stumbling over the Stone that was removed out of your way and still standing in the doorway of your peace due to deception, misunderstanding or simply accepting a lie in the place of the truth? Has someone along the way taught you about the Law in a hard, rigid and inflexible way and beat you over the head to fulfill it on your own?   I know that was my experience!  Is it yours too?  Still stumbling over the rock by thinking you have to keep the Law by your own will and way.   Jesus only asks for us to believe that He is the Way the Truth and the Life.

John 14:6 (AMP)

Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

This is who God says we are when we take Jesus as our Savior to freedom:

1Peter 2:9 (AMP)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Will you take a moment in the quietness of this moment and examine what you believe and why?  This is not a decision or a thought process you want to be rushed into having.  But take the time and have the courage to ask yourself the questions?  You may find that you are still stumbling over a Rock that has been removed.  Can you imagine walking around with a stone in your shoe and how good it feels when it has been removed!  This stone has already been removed by a Father who loves you!  Will you believe it?  Will you believe Jesus?

Praying:

Your Word Lord:

Psalm 42:3 (NKJ) Oh, send out Your light and your truth!  Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle.

Thank You Jesus for removing the effects of the Law and fulfilling the Ten Commandments for me so that I can have relationship with my Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in heaven who love me!  Thank You for releasing me from the captivity of the lies, deception, and misunderstandings that have kept me from accepting You and all You have done for me.  Thank You for the cross and taking my place for every sin I have ever and will ever commit.  Hold me now and teach me Your ways and I trust You to keep my feet on Your righteous right path.  Thank You that You have given me your righteousness because my own was far from sufficient but with Yours I am made complete in Jesus!  In Your Holy hands I commit my mind, body, soul and spirit.

Welcome to the family of Jesus Christ!