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Jim Benfer

Sermo1118 for 1/10/21

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:17-20

Is Biblical Faith Still Relevant for Today?

An ISIS member was performing a routine traffic stop looking for infidels, and stopped the car of a Christian couple. “Are you Muslim?” asked the ISIS member. “Yes,” replied the Christian man, “I’m Muslim.”

The ISIS member says, “If you are a Muslim, then recite a verse of Quran.” The Christian man recites a random verse from the Bible, pretending as if it’s a verse from the Quran. “Ok” the ISIS member finally says, “you can go.” After they drove away, the man’s wife says “I cannot believe the risk you just took. Why did you tell him that we are Muslims? If he knew you were lying he would have killed both of us.” “Don’t worry,” said the husband, “if they knew the Quran they wouldn’t kill people.” [1]

I also marvel about how biblically illiterate most Christians are. According to recent research, only one in five Christians have read the Bible all the way through. Only nine percent have read it more than once. I still wonder after this brief of a reading, “How many people understood most of what they read?” With the exception of a few Bible devotees and serious scholars, most people aren’t very sure of what biblical faith really is, except what has been told them by a pastor or their family.

Jesus certainly believed in the Mosaic Law, but in the New Testament he reframed many of its harsh commands in the light of God’s love, but he also took some and sharpened them further to warn us against sin’s corrosive nature. How are we to understand what scripture to take literally, or should we at all? Isn’t that what many atheists love to push in a Christian’s face, the supposed hypocrisy of the Bible? Let’s go back to the Bible for some answers.

The first faith lesson is that the Mosaic Law is not in error. Jesus says as much in our scripture lesson this morning. How then can Jesus re-interpret the Law as when he says, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not murder”…But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” [2] The simple answer is that the Law was limited in what words can tell us, but Jesus gives us a way to understand the Law through the lens of God’s love.

A perfect example comes from our Judeo-Christian heritage: The Jewish people understood that God commanded a Sabbath rest on the seventh day. That day has always been interpreted to be Saturday, but because of division after Jesus’ death the early Christians began meeting on Sundays. Does that break the Law? No, as the Law never stated a certain day. Therefore, when one keeps the spirit of the Law, they are keeping the Law.

We understand that the Law was given because the people’s hearts were hard. God gave the Law so that people could understand the righteous demand for people to live in a holy manner. Since we are sinners, and we aren’t able to keep the Law, our sin is exposed. Having realized our predicament, the Law opens us up to our great need of God’s grace. It’s not a matter of whether or not the Law is unyielding and seems harsh, it still displays our need for a Savior. So yes, the Law is still relevant and needful in our day, just as it was in Jesus’ day.

The second faith lesson is that when we have given our lives to God’s will in faith to Jesus, we are no longer under the Law. In Romans chapter three, the Apostle Paul sums up God’s case against human sin and the failure of the Law to be able to save a broken humanity. “What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather through the law we become conscious of sin.” [3]

The apostle continues with these words, “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” [4]

This is a defining verse for Christians who should understand that their faith in Jesus should lead to behavior unchained from the Law, and a behavior superior to it because they live by the law of love. We forgive as God forgives; we love as God loves; we bless others not because they are worthy, but even in spite of their unworthiness. We are no longer justified by our keeping the Mosaic Law, but we are justified by living according to our faith in Jesus.

Some today are arguing that the old covenant is now obsolete and they point to the Levitical food prohibitions as examples of the need to ignore the various and sundry points of the Mosaic Law. They point out that we don’t stone our children for being insolent anymore, or feel it wrong to plant two kinds of seed in one field, nor do we shun the wearing of clothes made of two types of material. So, does that throw out the prohibitions against same sex relations that were called abominations and punishable by death?

One needs to draw some distinctions before answering. Although we can throw all these laws into one big pot and stir them, we understand that these laws were given to separate those who were faithful to God from the rest of the nations. Again, the Law was given to help people understand how to be faithful to God and to recognize and avoid sinful behavior. The Law is fulfilled most fully when we love our neighbor. The Law calls for obedience which comes by faith. We obey the Law because we trust that God’s commands lead to joy and blessing.

The early Christians, as told in the Book of Acts, released the followers of Jesus from the kosher laws and circumcision because these laws had been overtaken by the recognition that all people are made clean by what is in their hearts, not by what they put in their mouths. The circumcision was an old outward sign of covenantal faithfulness, while the new covenant with God is made through repentance, baptism and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Nevertheless, the penalty for all sin, not just sexual impurity, is death. The old Law points to that, and we are grateful that it is up to God to judge, and that sinners who put their faith in Jesus receive mercy and life instead of death. The Law remains faithful to guide us away from sin.

The third lesson is that we cannot live by the Mosaic Law alone, just as we cannot live apart from it. In other words, biblical faith still looks intently into the Mosaic Law to understand right from wrong, and sin from righteousness. Jesus said none of the Law will disappear until it accomplishes what God intended it for. What is that intention? It is to point out sinful human behavior, so that we understand it and avoid it.

In many circles today, God’s word is being re-defined by those who would like to sweep sin under the rug because it’s no longer socially or politically expedient to point at it any longer. That has happened with our definitions of marriage, our moral apprehension of adultery, our thinking about homosexual relationships, and many other things. But understand, the Bible is unchanging in its prohibition of experimenting with what we desire over what God has ordained for our blessing.

One can use the words of the apostles to try and make love cover every situation that was once called sin. You can rationalize behavior the Bible makes forbidden. But doing so in the name of human rights or love does not change what Jesus said would not be changed until heaven and earth disappear. A Christian holds the Law in one hand to recognize sin, and love in the other to dispense God’s grace. However, twisting God’s word to fit our contrived definitions of acceptable behavior does not nullify their still being sin.

I know that much of the trouble in the United Methodist Church began with well-meaning progressive souls who really wanted the New Testament to kick the Old Testament to the curb. In doing so, new social experiments could push the envelope of a society deemed irretrievably old-fashioned. Other troubles erupted within the conservative ranks of the church that knew how sin was defined in the Bible, but just as fervently wanted to judge sinners rather than redeem them.

I am not here to take the side of either of these extremes today. Rather, I hold up God’s word as inerrant in helping us understand sin, define it, and avoid it. I hold up God’s grace through faith in Jesus as a way to point to the cure for our lostness. Without submitting to God’s will and holding fast to God’s word we will wander into the darkness. I want to call us back to the Wesleyan heritage where we too are people of one Book. Not people of part of a book, nor a people who pick and choose verses—but people with a faith based on God’s word and a firm hold upon it. I hope in the days ahead as news articles once again try to sway us toward one understanding or another that we will be a people of solemn prayer, a people of faith built upon the foundation of God’s word, and a people in touch with God’s love through the Holy Spirit. May we hold fast to a Biblical faith founded on the words of this Book. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Devotional Thoughts

• How many times have you read through the Bible?

• Do you take notes as you read or connect references to other scriptures? Do you pray or meditate on God’s word?

• How does a Christian faithfully read the Law of Moses and apply it to their life?

• There is a difference between a Christian’s following of the Mosaic Law and that for a Jew. Does that mean that the Law was given in error?

• If we are not under the restrictions of the Law, how can it guide our Christian understanding of how to live?

• What was the purpose of the Law according to the Apostle Paul? Read Galatians 3:10-13

• The Mosaic Law helps us to understand what sin is. Why is that important?

• Why do people think that they can re-define sin to whatever they think is right?

• Many people would like to pick and choose scriptures that they think support their point of view on a subject. What is the danger in ignoring other scriptures?

• What harm can come from deciding what we think is right and then asking God to bless our conclusions?

• Whether we are naturally progressive in our thinking or naturally conservative, having an open mind to ask God for wisdom is always better than debating amongst ourselves. Read Isaiah 55:6-11; James 1:5, 22-25

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[1]

[2] Matthew 5:21-22a (NIV)

[3] Romans 3:9, 19-20 (NIV)

[4] Romans 3:21-22 (NIV)

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