There are Christians who think they need to live under the Law of Moses, or under the rules and regulations of religion.
Some proclaim how Christians must worship on Saturday, not Sunday, and if we don’t then what? Others believe they are to work their way to heaven, doing good deeds. Others who believe in Jesus Christ dying on the Cross for them, can still live worldly lives without any consequences.
“We are NOT like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing THE END OF WHAT WAS PASSING AWAY. But their minds were made dull, for to this day (of Christ’s Church) the same veil remains when the Old Covenant is read. It has NOT been removed, because only IN CHRIST is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read (the old order), a veil covers their HEARTS. But whenever anyone turns to the LORD JESUS CHRIST (for what He has done to redeem us and help us live the life that is truly life), the veil is taken away. Now the LORD is the SPIRIT, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, THERE IS FREEDOM.” (2 Corinthians 3:12-17)
What “freedom” do you think God’s servant, Paul, is referring to? Freedom from the desire to live sinfully (according to what Jesus calls sin). Freedom to worship our Savior EVERY day of the week, and not just on one day of the week. Freedom from trying to please people. Freedom from doing what our government forces us to do against our will. Freedom from the lies of Satan which go against God’s good will for us.
We each must stand before Jesus Christ one day to give an account of how we served Him ONLY. Jesus acknowledged that HE IS THE FULFILLMENT of all that pertains to the old order of sacrifices and celebrations and detailed ways to worship GOD. Jesus did not give His apostles any rules and regulations for the “new order” of worshipping and serving the LORD GOD, except that we worship and serve out of love for the LORD.
We are free to live for the LORD as the indwelling Holy Spirit convicts each of us and guides each of us. Gathering together to fellowship in Christ is a blessing to all who do it, no matter when and how. We use our God-given gifts from the Holy Spirit to the glory of Christ as we bless each other with our gifts from God.
The New Testament teaches that all we do – be done out of our love for the LORD; that His truth and love motivate us with its power to get the wonderful results that God is after and that God will reward. Living under the power of Christ’s love and word to us – will never fail us. But trying to abide under man’s “law,” even the “Law of Moses” will fail us because we will always be guilty of breaking those law in one way or another.
The Bible refers to how some see one day more important than the other 6 days, but that others see every day the same in importance, as to holy worship. Both are free in Christ! We are not to judge the ‘conscience’ of others. God will have a final day for all things to be judged. We will be judged as to how we used our freedom and faith in Christ Jesus.
I had a Catholic neighbor friend speak to me recently in such a way, concerning the religious season of “lent,” that caused me to see how she is living under the rules and regulations of Catholicism. In a conversation we had the first time we went to lunch to get to know each other, I was talking to her about heaven, and she stated that she hopes she’ll go to heaven. Well, I asked her if the Holy Spirit lived in her. She just looked at me. Then I shared with her that because the LORD’s Spirit lives in me, I KNOW and I’M CONVINCED that when I die I will rise to be with the LORD forever. Nothing can separate me from Him! NOTHING!
Apostle John teaches us that we are to “know” and live convinced.
Religion will always leave you doubting and feeling the need to work your way to heaven by being good, or by following the rules and regulations of the kind of religion in this world that you choose to follow. Jesus came to give us a true and blessed relationship with Himself, and not to put us in prisons of religion. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the KEY that unlocks and frees!
James 1:22-25 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the PERFECT law that gives FREEDOM, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
The law of Moses was not perfect. Jesus is the “perfect” law for our life. I love reading His words (printed in red) in the Holy Bible! Every Word that God Himself has spoken that we read in the Bible – will be fulfilled by God’s Son “who was, and is and IS TO COME.” HALLELUJAH!
To be “in Christ” is to live freely for the One who has given Himself FREELY to redeem us, so we can live as children of the LIVING GOD with great joy and longing for His Kingdom of everlasting life. OH HAPPY DAY – THE DAY HE WASHED MY SINS AWAY!!!