Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall In no wise pan from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:17-19).

One of the charges hurled against Jesus was that he did not obey the commandments of the law of Moses (Matt. 15:2), because he rejected the traditions of the fathers. The charge of disregarding the Mosaical law was also leveled against Jesus’ disciples (Acts 6:11,13). They resemble the charges presently hurled against his disciples today: “You don’t believe the Old Testament.” Jesus’ teaching regarding the Old Testament law is fundamental to understanding the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.

Jesus Believed The Old Testament Was From God

Jesus accepted the belief that the Old Testament was a divine revelation from God (cf. Matt. 15:3-6; Jn. 7:23; Acts 7:53). He recognized its permanence (Matt. 5:18; Psa. 119:144,152,160; 111:7-8). Every jot and tittle of that law were important (Matt. 5:18).

The reference to every “jot” and “tittle” shows that even the least commandments of that law had binding force upon men. Jesus rejected the modern concept that emphasizes the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law. The concept that unimportant things of the law can be disobeyed with impunity is contrary to his express teachings. He said, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19). He recognized that violation of the law in one point, even a small point, was a rejection of the divine lawgiver (Jas. 2:10) and brought one under the guilt of the law (Gal. 3:10). Hence, Jesus would have been labeled a “legalist” by modern grace-unity advocates and modernists.

The Law Lasted Until All Things Were Fulfilled

The New Testament writers realized the limitations of the law of Moses. Man could not be justified by obedience to the law of Moses (Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:20) or by any legal system which conditioned salvation upon perfect obedience. However, the law did serve its purpose. It brought a knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20; 7:7). It pointed mankind to the coming Messiah (Gal. 3:24; Rom. 10:3).

Jesus came, not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Most denominational folks cannot harmonize this statement with the statements in Ephesians 2:14-17, 2 Corinthians; 3:11-16, and Hebrews 8:8-13 which discuss the abrogation of the Mosaical law. They resort to such non-biblical ideas as this: “Jesus abolished the ceremonial law but not the moral law.” There is no such distinction between moral and ceremonial law recognized in the Old Testament. Those who resort to such ideas misunderstand Jesus’ teaching regarding the Old Law.

Jesus recognized that the Old Testament would have binding force “till all be fulfilled” (Matt. 5:18). When all things were fulfilled, then the Old Testament would no longer have binding authority over the Jews.

Jesus Fulfilled The Law

Jesus came to fulfill the law. Several times the inspired writers designate something having happened to Jesus in order that the law may be fulfilled (Matt. 26:56; cf. Lk. 24:44; Acts 13:29; Rom. 10:4). Here are some of the ways Jesus fulfilled the law:

1. He fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament (Lk. 24:44). He was born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14) in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2); he was God with us (Isa. 9:6). He performed miracles (Isa. 35). He suffered vicariously that we might be forgiven of sins (Isa. 53). He established his kingdom in the days of the Roman kings (Dan. 2:44). Indeed, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament, so that when he died on the cross he could say, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:28-30).

2. He fulfilled all that was typified by the Old Testament sacrifices. The sacrifices of the Old Testament foreshadowed the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross. (For a more extended development of this theme, see “Our One Sacrifice” on p. 3 by Jerry Fite.) See chart below:

Old Testament Sacrifices BURNT OFFERINGS	New Testament Sacrifice   JESUS OUR ATONEMENT
a. Male, without blemish (Lev. 1:3).	a. Without blemish (Heb. 4:15).
b. Offered continually (Ex. 29:38-39).	b. Offered once for all (Heb. 9:28; 10:9-11).
c. To make atonement (Lev. 1:4).	c. To make atonement (Heb. 9:12).
MEAL OFFERING	JESUS OUR BREAD OF LIFE
a. Lev. 2: a gift to God in grateful acknowledgment that the offer owed everything to God.	a. Jesus our bread of life (Jn. 6:35).
PEACE OFFERINGS	JESUS IS OUR PEACE
a. Purpose: indicates a right relationship with God; expresses fellowship and thanksgiving (Lev. 7:12).	a. Jesus is our peace (Eph. 2:14).   b. We enter fellowship with God through him (1 Jn. 1:3).

Indeed, Jesus did fulfill all that was foreshadowed by the sacrifices of the Old Testament.

3. Jesus fulfilled all that was typified by the tabernacle worship. The Old Testament worship in the Tabernacle was divinely revealed by God to foreshadow the true tabernacle of which it was a type (Heb. 8:2). The tabernacle was divided into two partitions: a holy place and a most holy place. (See chart below).

Most Ark Holy of Place Covenant

Lampstand   Altar of Holy Place Incense Table of Shewbread

Golden Laver

Burnt Offering Altar

The people could not enter into either place; they could only approach the altar of burnt offering. The priest entered the holy place every day to keep the altar of incense burning. Once a year, the high priest entered into the most holy place to make atonement for sin.

Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people. The Holy Ghost, this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while was the first tablernacle was yet standing: which was a figure of the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;. . . . It was therefore necessary that the pattern of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:6-9,23-24).

Indeed, Christ fulfilled that which was typified by the tabernacle worship.

3. Christ fulfilled the Precepts of t;e Old Testament by his own perfect obedience. The Scriptures teach the sinlessness of Jesus (Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:20-22). He demonstrated in his life the righteousness which the law required.

Consequently, we can see that Jesus did not come to destroy the law at all. He came to fulfill it and, by so doing, he established the law as being from God (Rom. 3:31). Jesus was to the law what a marriage is to an engagement, a flower is to a bud, and a completed picture is to a silhouette. When an engagement ends in marriage, a bud produces a flower, and a silhouette is finished in a picture, the engagement, bud, and silhouette are not destroyed; they accomplish their intended purpose and are left behind that the completed form might exist. In a similar way, Christ “is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Rom. 10:4).

The Fulfilled Law Was Abrogated

Once the law was fulfilled, it was replaced by the law of Christ. The Old Testament law given by Moses is “done away” (2 Cor. 3:11). Jesus “abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances” (Eph. 2:15). He “blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col. 2:14), thus freeing us from the obligation to observe the Sabbath or other Old Testament holy days and to recognize the distinction between clean and unclean foods (Col. 2:17). In fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah (31:31-34), Jesus took the old covenant out of the way that he might establish the new covenant (Heb. 8:8-13). Because the old covenant has been removed, we see these ‘ children? If we dress like and act like children we certainly things have changed:

1. Priesthood: from Levitical priesthood to the priesthood of Christ.

2. Sacrifice: from animal sacrifices to the body of Christ.

3. Day of worship: from the Sabbath day to the first day of the week.

4. Place of worship: from the Temple to any place.

5. Items of worship: from items of Temple worship to those of N.T. (Acts 2:42).

6. Ordinances: from O.T. ordinances to N.T. ordinances (Acts 2:42 – apostolic doctrine; Acts 15:23-29).

Because of this change of law, what was binding in the Old Testament is no longer binding upon Christians today. What is taught and practiced must be authorized by the New Testament. Those who seek authority for a separate priesthood, burning of candies and incense, choral groups, mechanical instruments of music, etc. from the Old Testament err from the Scriptures and are fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4).

Conclusion

Indeed, Jesus did fulfill the law. Having fulfilled it, he made justification possible for us, not through the blood of bulls and goats, but through his own blood. We stand before God in awe of his marvelous work of redemption, conceived in the mind of God, prefigured in the Old Testament, and accomplished in Jesus Christ. Glory to God in the highest!

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 610, 629-630
October 20, 1988

By Fred A. Shewmaker

Many members of the church seem to accept, without question, the claims often made that prohibition was unenforceable, spawned crime and was a failure. Gospel preachers, who have some knowledge of the d evidence, have labeled the propaganda against prohibition “The Big Lie.” However, there has been a hesitancy to press the point. This is mainly due to unavailability of a ready reference source. Why should a gospel preacher subject his credibility to questioning by pressing the point, when the statistical evidence is contained in documents which are not readily available to the public? After all, much of a preacher’s effectiveness depends upon a general acceptance of his credibility.

Possibly this lack of a readily available reference will soon be a thing of the past. In the August 15, 1988 Times Reporter, local newspaper for the Dover-New Philadelphia, Ohio area, there appeared an article entitled: “Researcher challenges Prohibition critics.” The article reports that “after more than 20 years of research on Prohibition, (John C.) Burnham is about to finish a book about the period’s effect on alcohol use.”

The article also reported that Burnham, an Ohio State University professor, “says there’s no truth to the claim that it was ineffective in curbing alcohol use.” Some of us have been saying the same thing for a long time. Hopefully, professor Burnham’s book will furnish us with live ammunition so that we can reload our guns and quit shooting blanks.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, p. 618
October 20, 1988

By Larry R. DeVore

Hospital! It is a word that brings apprehension even to the most macho individual. Until the late 19th century, those seriously ill were treated at home. It was considered a one-way trip to go to the hospital. Only the indigent and terminally ill went there. With the advent of modem drugs, surgery and aseptic techniques, hospitals became a place where you would go and recover from even critical, life-threatening illnesses.

From September 1986 to February 1987, I spent 58 days in the hospital. Being in the hospital gives a person a lot of time to think, to pray, to meditate. For a Christian, this can be time well spent, profitable from a spiritual standpoint. It is no fun to be sick. You know that and I know that. It is no fun to be hospitalized! But it can be profitable. I (re)learned some things I already knew while in the hospital. It is not my intention to recite my symptoms or show you my scars. Suffice it to say I had three major surgeries; the final one was a six and one-half hour operation to remove my stomach on February 2, 1987, at University Hospitals, in Cleveland, Ohio.

God Answers Prayers

The first lesson I (re)learned is that God does indeed answer the prayers of Christians. With some people, if God doesn’t answer their prayers immediately, and in just the way they demand it be answered, then they say, “There is no God,” or “God doesn’t love me,” or “God doesn’t care about us or answer prayer.” That is just as wrong as it can be! God does care! God does answer prayer (1 Pet. 5:6-7; Jas 5:16b).

With regard to our prayers, God may react in one of three ways. He may say “yes” (Mk. 11:24; 1 Jn. 5:14-15); he may say “no” (2 Cor. 12:7-9, Paul; Matt. 26:39, Jesus). If the apostle Paul didn’t get his prayers answered “yes,” and if the Son of God didn’t get his prayers answered “yes,” then who am I to pout or rage against God?

But God may say “wait” (Isa. 40:31; Mic. 7:7). Perhaps that is the hardest of all; we don’t like to wait for anything. We are used to instant gratification! Instant meals (McDonalds or the microwave). Instant news: radio, TV, CNN. Instant travel: just hop a jet to somewhere far away. Instant good weather: Head that jet toward Florida or California. We live in a “I want it now” society. Get your new car now! Pay later! We need to learn or relearn the lesson that the godly must wait in faith. We walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7); we live by faith (Rom. 1:17). How do we get this faith? See Romans 10:17.

Fervent Prayers of Brethren Accomplish Much

James 5:16b says, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ” God answers prayer and he hears the prayers of righteous brethren when they pray for others (1 Tim. 2:1). We can (and should) intercede before God on behalf of others. The apostle Paul always desired the prayers of brethren (see Rom. 15:30; 2 Cor. 1:11).

Brethren, pray for yourself (Jas. 5:13) and pray for others. “Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thess. 5:25). I thank God for dear brethren who prayed for me when I desperately needed their prayers! Prayer is powerful (Jas. 5:17-18)! Elijah set aside the laws of nature for three and one-half years by prayer. Our prayers can be answered by God manipulating the laws of nature to heal us of our infirmities. When you pray, pray with: (a) a pure heart (Psa. 66:18-19); (b) faith (Matt. 21:22); (c) in Jesus’ name (John 14:13); (d) according to God’s will (1 Jn. 5:14).

The Human Body Is A Marvel Of God’s Design

The Psalmist said in Psalm 139:14 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” The human body with its many systems of nerves, veins, arteries, organs, etc. is a marvel of design that should leave us in awe at the wisdom and foreknowledge of God. There were days when I laid in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at $1,400 a day hooked up to monitors and machines which were designed to return me to normal, back to the way God made me originally at no charge! Medical science has spent millions of dollars on research to develop artificial hearts, kidneys, etc., that at best work only imperfectly and temporarily. We must marvel and praise God for the beauty of function and design of the human body that he created (Gen. 1:26).

There Is Much Suffering In The World

I don’t mean to imply that I am the only one who has ever suffered or had to spend extended time in a hospital. Just look around at the hospitals and nursing care facilities! I have known many faithful children of God who have suffered pain and infirmities for years on end. Many people are suffering physically, mentally, and emotionally. I don’t understand all I know about human suffering, except it is common to man, the human family. The book of Job suggests the devil is the author of sickness, disease, suffering, etc. Sickness can be caused by many factors, such as: (a) approaching death (Gen. 48: 1); (b) accident (2 Kgs. 1:2); (c) sin (Hos. 7:5; Mic. 6:13); (d) natural laws, or the consequences of them. But we know that Jesus has power over disease (Lk. 4:38-39) and sin (Matt. 9:2-6).

Jesus Died On Calvary So That We Need Not Suffer (Die) For Sin

As a child of God, I was able to face serious illness, major surgery, anything with a peace of mind that only comes from being “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3,7). Even in the face of the valley of the shadow of death (Psa. 23), I can “walk through” the valley, with Jesus. I know he will pull me through! And if he wills that I should not “pull through,” then it will still be all right (Phil. 1:21). The promises of God are great and wonderful and true. I would not want to face major surgery being outside of Christ. If you are “out” of Christ, then get “in” Christ now (Gal. 3:26-27).

We Must Have The Courage To Win!

We must have faith! We must persevere (Psa. 27:14). “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart.” You can’t do it alone. When we are laid low, weak and ill, our courage falters. That happened to Elijah when’ he was under the juniper tree (1 Kgs. 19:4). He was tired and depressed. When we are ill, we need God’s help. We need our family, and our brethren. When I was hospitalized, my wife was a great source of courage (and encouragement) to me. It lifted my spirits to see her coming to visit me. It changed the bleak atmosphere of a hospital room to a little bit of “home.” My wife became a courageous woman by my suffering. Her faith in God sustained her (and by her, me) when all seemed helpless and hopeless. It is so encouraging to have faithful family members concerned for you and praying for you. There will be no tears in heaven. The pains, suffering, diseases, accidents, etc., that cause us such great hardships here will be absent from heaven. That is one more reason why I want to go there (Rev. 21:2-4). Don’t you want to go? God will take you home, away from all pain and suffering, if you do his will (Heb. 5:8-9). Do it today!

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 621, 623
October 20, 1988

By William C. Sexton

I have lived nearly 60 years, and in the last 24 hours I have learned a lesson that I never did grasp before: sick people cause others to worry, be anxious, be troubled more than the sick.

Yesterday I was told that I have a tumor on my intestine, and tomorrow I shall enter the hospital for exploratory surgery. Later, according to present plans, I shall have 4 or 5 weeks of radiation treatments with the aim of decreasing the size of the tumor, and then the removal of it.

I am not all that anxious – believing that we have good doctors, equipment, a lot of knowledge relative to the body, etc. and a wonderful God in heaven watching over us. I recognize that one day, too, either shortly or in some years, I shall pass from this life – into eternity! I feel that I am ready to go, if this is the time; if it is not, I’ll gladly try to live the rest of the years, days, months, etc. which the Lord allows me. Certainly, I don’t mean to demean fife and suggest in anyway that I do not enjoy life.

Yet, it has been impressed on my mind that my loved ones – wife, son, daughters, mother, sisters, brothers, etc. are having a lot of mental anguish. Each is taking time, making effort, and spending his resources to act in the way that seems appropriate. I can and certainly do appreciate their concern. Yet, it has just dawned on me, that this is the way it is: sick people, even those dying and knowing it, if they are faithful Christians don’t suffer as the surviving!

This is a lesson that I have failed to grasp, as I now do, all the thirty plus years that I’ve been working with people.

Possibly, you, brothers and sisters – seeking to help others, may consider this point: The surviving, well people, possibly need more help than the sick, even the terminally ill . . . if they are Christians!

Is this in line with what Paul said, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith” (Phil. 1:23-25).

I have read, meditated on this passage, and quoted it many times, but I believe that I have a greater understanding and appreciation for what it is saying, now – as I experience this present situation in my life.

May God bless us with the state of mind to learn from all our circumstances in life! He is truly great and good! Life is short, death is sure, and eternity is long! Let us remember what John was caused to write:

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them” (Rev. 14:13).

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 19, p. 582
October 6, 1988