“What sort of church are you?”
I wasn’t certain find out how to reply the query. The girl who had rung my workplace was pondering of attending certainly one of our Sunday providers, however she needed to know extra about us. Have been we evangelical, charismatic, Baptist, Lutheran or what?
It was a tough query as a result of we have been all the above. Our church in Hong Kong attracted folks of each stripe from Catholics to Mennonites and full-on Pentecostals. We didn’t match any explicit field.
Then I had a brainwave. “We’re a red-letter church,” I stated. “We emphasize the teachings of Jesus.”
I assumed it was a superb reply to her query, however now I’m not so certain. I’ve since come to understand that telling folks you’re a red-letter church means you’re preaching combination.
Maybe you might have heard folks say, “Don’t stray too removed from the pink letters.” It means, keep near the teachings of Jesus and you may’t go unsuitable.
It sounds good, nevertheless it’s unhealthy recommendation. All the things Jesus stated was good, however not the whole lot he stated is sweet for you.
Learn the pink letters of your Bible and you’ll discover tales of radical grace in addition to cruel declarations of regulation.
Combine these messages and you’ll find yourself confused and lukewarm. The answer is to not steadiness regulation with grace however to filter all you learn via the lens of the brand new covenant.
In different phrases, we have to interpret the phrases of Jesus via his mission and ministry.
Jesus lived below regulation
Jesus lived on the crossroads of two covenants. As humanity’s consultant he got here to meet the outdated law-keeping covenant so that we would relate to God via a brand new and higher covenant cast in his blood.
For the reason that new covenant couldn’t start earlier than he died, Jesus lived all of his pre-cross life below the outdated covenant of the regulation:
However when the time had absolutely come, God despatched his Son, born of a girl, born below regulation, to redeem these below regulation, that we would obtain the total rights of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)
Jesus was born below regulation, circumcised by regulation, and introduced within the temple in response to the regulation. Each Jewish person who Jesus met was additionally born below regulation. We have to preserve this in thoughts when studying the pink letters of Jesus.
What regulation did Jesus preach?
To these below the regulation, Jesus preached the pure and unadulterated Legislation of Moses. When the spiritual leaders got here to entice him with questions, Jesus would reply with, “What did Moses command you?” (Mark 10:3). His law-keeping ministry honored the Legislation of Moses:
The lecturers of the regulation and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you should obey them and do the whole lot they let you know. (Matthew 23:2–3)
Why did Jesus preach the regulation?
Like each grace preacher, Jesus esteemed the regulation and the aim for which it was given. The regulation was given to silence each mouth and maintain the entire world accountable (Rom. 3:19).
The aim of the regulation is to make us aware of sin and reveal our want for a Savior. However the law-teachers and Pharisees had ring-fenced the regulation with their traditions and interpretations. By honoring their traditions forward of the regulation, they diluted the regulation emptying it of its energy.
If the regulation had been allowed to do its correct work, the Jews would have been prepared for a Savior. If the law-teachers and prophets had carried out their job, the nation of Israel would have rejoiced on the arrival of the Messiah.
Sadly, it didn’t occur. For the reason that law-teachers had been negligent, Jesus needed to do their job earlier than he may do his personal. Earlier than he may save the world from sin, he needed to preach the regulation that made sin completely sinful.
So Jesus turned the best regulation preacher of all time.
Because the prophet Isaiah had foretold, Jesus made the regulation magnificent (Is. 42:21). He lifted up what others had knocked down and raised the usual to wonderful ranges of perfection (Matt. 5:48).
How did Jesus preach the regulation?
Preaching the pink letters of Jesus is a bit like consuming no matter you discover within the laundry. Fail to differentiate his life-giving phrases of grace from his death-dealing phrases of regulation and you can do some harm. Contemplate these pink letters:
When you forgive males once they sin towards you, your heavenly Father can even forgive you. But when you don’t forgive males their sins, your Father is not going to forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14–15)
That is classic regulation and a killer scripture. It isn’t excellent news. This verse ought to make us shudder for it says that our forgiveness hinges on our potential to forgive others and we’re poor forgivers certainly.
Individuals sin towards us on a regular basis. Have we actually forgiven all of them? What if we miss one?
And what do we are saying to those that have been raped and abused? What do you say to a younger youngster who has been molested?
“Sweetie, that you must forgive that evil man in any other case God won’t ever forgive you.”
How do you forgive the unforgiveable? You possibly can’t! You then’re in hassle. The regulation condemns you as an unforgiver. Now you’re starting to acknowledge your want for grace.
Any time you learn a conditional assertion from Jesus, you must interpret it as regulation.
“Don’t choose and you’ll not be judged” (Luke 6:37). That’s good recommendation nevertheless it’s additionally regulation. To keep away from one thing (judgment) you need to do one thing (don’t choose). It’s a blessing you need to pay for.
And anytime Jesus makes a menace, you must interpret that as regulation as effectively. “Anybody who’s offended together with his brother might be topic to judgment” (Matt. 5:22). That’s unhealthy information for anybody with a brother.
The regulation isn’t for you
Jesus got here to disclose grace, however those that are assured of their very own righteousness gained’t obtain it. They don’t see their want. What they want is the regulation and Jesus gave it to them in spades.
However Jesus’ final function was to offer us his life and his righteousness. So he additionally instructed tales about God justifying sinners and shepherds discovering misplaced sheep. Then he went to the cross to meet the regulation on our behalf in order that he may be the top of the regulation for all who consider (Rom. 10:4).
Why are we not a red-letter church? As a result of those that stay by the pink letters reside between two covenants. They’re mixing regulation with grace and ending up lukewarm.
So does this imply we are able to disregard the phrases of Jesus? Completely not.
Allow us to learn the entire Bible via the lens of Christ. Allow us to honor the regulation Jesus taught whereas acknowledging that the regulation is sweet if used correctly (1 Tim. 1:8). However allow us to additionally acknowledge there is just one drugs that saves – the grace of God that Jesus revealed.
If I used to be main a church right now and a customer requested “What kind of church are you?” I’d reply with one thing like this: “We’re a gaggle of pals who’re studying to stroll within the unforced rhythms of God’s grace. We’re right here to assist others uncover how a lot their heavenly Father loves them.”
Or one thing like that.
What would you inform a possible customer? Let me know within the feedback.
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