Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Truth"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 6: Thursday, March 18, 2010

 

Here, we return to the issue of truth as a fruit of the Spirit. The lesson states, “Truth, as a fruit of the Spirit, isn’t just what we know – it’s what we do.” Although I feel like I’m beating a dead horse, it must once again be stated that truth is not a fruit of the Spirit, nor does how we live indicate that truth has a subjective element.

The lesson continues and brings us full-circle to the ultimate expressions of faith in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The following is on p. 146 of the Teacher’s Quarterly:

Thus, walking in the light, walking in the truth, is more than just keeping the Ten Commandments, at least according to the letter of the law.

The lesson continues with:

… if we are trampling upon others in an attempt to advance ourselves, then we are walking in darkness, no matter how strictly we keep the Sabbath, no matter how faithfully we profess faith in Jesus, pay tithe, and go to church. In one sense, it’s often a lot easier to learn correct doctrine and theology than it is to be kind, selfless, and giving to others, is it not?

Abuse of others is a good indicator of whether we are walking in darkness or light. However, since that is not the issue when it comes to truth, we must look at what else is contained here.

This is a telling example of the doctrine and theology presented here. Although faith in Jesus is listed, it is one of several things. When Jesus came the first time, he proclaimed that he was the summation and fulfillment of all that to which the law and prophets (all the Old Testament) had pointed. Sabbath, tithe and other doctrines were laws that were to lead Israel to their Messiah.

In the Teacher’s Comments, on p. 147, we find a great example of the kind of thinking that allows mixing the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. Here, the lesson author provides an example using GPS (global positioning system) technology. He then asks:

If the Bible is our atlas to heaven, what would be on the “map” that gets us there? If you were to give someone directions to get there or draw a map to heaven, what turns, road signs, and spiritual landmarks would those directions include?

These are good questions, and provide an opportunity to see exactly what these “signs” or “spiritual landmarks” are and what purpose they serve.

To begin, many Evangelicals understand that the Old Testament Law was put in place to lead unbelieving Israel to their Messiah. Once Messiah had come, these signs were no longer needed. We refer to the text from Colossians. Col. 2:13-14 tells us:

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

We know that these “legal demands” are the Old Covenant laws because of the statements in following verses referring to food and drink, festivals, new moons and a Sabbath day. Verse 17 tells us, “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”

If these things are signs, and we are constructing a map telling us how to get to heaven, how are Christians to relate to these things?

Perhaps the best analogy is one of actually traveling to a destination. If I am driving along a freeway and a sign indicates that Los Angeles is 57 miles away, what am I to do?

Do I pull my car over to the side of the road, climb up the poly and embrace the sign, or do I continue driving along the road to my destination? It’s almost a silly question, but actually a very important one. Many want us to embrace the sign. The very act of embracing the sign, may keep us from reaching our destination.

However, if I want to honor the sign, and the sign-maker, I would be best to observe exactly what the sign is telling me. In this case, the sign is telling me that my destination is 57 miles away and I would do best to stay on the road until that destination is reached.

The same is true of the Sabbath, food laws, etc. Colossians 2:17 tells us that these things are “shadows”. Shadows are temporary things, just as a sign on a freeway is, for those of us traveling on the freeway, a temporary thing. Once I have accepted the sign for what it is and passed it, I can continue on my journey. I may now be 56 miles from Los Angeles. I honor the sign and the sign-maker by staying on the road that has been prepared for me. I must leave the sign to reach my final destination.

All these are analogies for the fact that the Old Testament laws were for preparing a people for the Messiah. It is Messiah who will deliver us into the Promised Land, heaven. We do our savior a disservice when we cling to the signs that were to lead us to him.

We cannot mix the Old Covenant with the New. We must choose.

A common phrase is “My way or the highway!” In this case, it’s “The sign-way, or the highway!” We would do well to stay on the highway. Christ is the highway. All other ways are not ways at all, but dead-ends.

Now that Christ has come, we need to turn from shadows and allow him to rise in our hearts eliminating shadows and casting out darkness. Second Peter 1:19 tells us:

And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

We can be found walking in truth if we have come to him to whom all the signs and shadows pointed.

 

Summary

1. Walking in truth is not only “more than” the keeping of the Ten Commandments, it is completely other than the keeping of the Ten Commandments.
2. The commandments, as with all the Old Covenant, were signs and shadows pointing to the coming of Messiah.
3. If we use the analogy the lesson author provides in the Teacher’s Comments, we find that a road with signs is a great analogy. Using this analogy shows us that we can either embrace the signs that point to Christ, or we can continue on the highway that is Christ.
4. We cannot mix the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The Old Covenant has been nailed to the cross. This covenant, as explained in Colossians 2 includes things such as food and drink restrictions and a Sabbath day.
5. When Jesus comes into your heart, all the shadows must flee. Peter states that we must, “pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Pet. 1:19)

 

GO TO DAY 7

 

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