Commentary on "The Election of Grace"

MARK MARTIN

 

Day 7: Friday, September 17, 2010 -Further Study

 

Observations

It’s significant that the “Bible Study” ends with Ellen White quotations. The student is encouraged to read five passages in White’s books for further study.

Again, as always, Ellen White has the final word, and her presumed authority as a latter-day prophetess is invoked.

Ellen White says: “The words, ‘A new heart also will I give you,’ mean, ‘A new mind will I give you.’ A change of heart is always attended by a clear conviction of Christian duty, and understanding of truth.”  She continues, “He who gives the Scriptures close, prayerful attention will gain clear comprehension and sound judgment, as if in turning to God he had reached a higher plane of intelligence.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 253

This higher plane of intelligence would lead one to a careful, prayerful reading of the passage in Jeremiah 31:31-34 that states it is the New Covenant that gives us a new heart. 

“Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the Lord. 33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the Lord, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the Lord, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." NASB

Notice that the New Covenant is not the Old Covenant of the Law; it is a covenant of grace. The Holy Spirit interprets this text this way in Hebrews 8:

6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. 8 For he finds fault with them when he says: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord, 'for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:6-13 ESV

The NLT translates verse 13:

“When God speaks of a "new" covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.”

The NIV just as clearly as the other translations says:

“By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.” NIV

If we give the Scriptures close, prayerful attention we will gain a new understanding of truth.  What is needed is a clear comprehension of the New Covenant and a turning from the Old Covenant of the Law.  When a person does this he has indeed, “…reached a higher plane of intelligence.”

For further study read the following passages.

• 2 Corinthians 3:1-4:5:

“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

• 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” ESV

The final discussion lesson shows the misunderstanding of the use of the Law. “What do you think is harder to do; to keep strict adherence to the letter of the law or to love God and love others unconditionally?” 

Adventists must understand that you cannot keep the law cafeteria style. The Law demands that you keep it strictly or you die. The Old Covenant Law demands perfect obedience and strict adherence is a necessity.

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it” (James 2:10 ESV). 

Then the nation of Israel was warned to keep the Law meticulously.  Joshua reminds the people that Moses “…read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.”(Joshua 8:34b NASB).

As Daniel the prophet interceded for Israel he said,

"Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him” (Daniel 9:11 NASU).

God requires those who are under the Law to keep it meticulously and to strictly adhere to it.  The apostle Paul states that this is impossible and that is why Christ came.  He rebukes those who were attempting to place believers under the law:

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4  Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?

Significantly, Ellen White states that the Law in Galatians is the Ten Commandments. “I am asked concerning the law in Galatians. What law is the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ? I answer: Both the ceremonial and the moral code of ten commandments.” {1SM 233.1}

With this in mind, read on:

“10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."  12 But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:1-6, 10-14 ESV

Paul goes on to say,

“What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added (notice it had not always been in existence) because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.” Galatians 3:19 NIV

He continues in verses 21-25:

“Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” ESV

Ellen White says that the law spoken of here is both the ceremonial and moral law.  At this point, we suggest that you go back and read the Galatians 3-4.  May the Lord give you “clear comprehension and sound judgment.”

 

Summary

1. Instead of reading Ellen White as the last word, study the Scriptures regarding the law and the new covenant.
2. Paul tells us the law holds us under a curse; all who adhere to the law are guilty of breaking it and doomed to eternal death.
3. Galatians reminds us that we did not receive salvation by the law but by the Holy Spirit. We must not return to the law once we have been counted righteous by our faith in the Lord Jesus.
4. Holding onto the old covenant keeps us blinded by a veil covering our hearts and spiritual understanding.
5. Turning to the Lord Jesus Christ removes the veil; the new covenant is far more glorious than the old which is fading away. The new covenant only grows eternally from glory to glory, and when we enter it, we grow in glory as well.
6. Ellen White even said the law in Galatians includes the Ten Commandments.
7. Go back and read Galatians 3 and 4. May the Lord give you “clear comprehension and sound judgment”.

 

 

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