Freedom in Christ

 

 

READ Deuteronomy 21-24

Last night a person said that the day after Jesus became his Savior, he was deeply convicted of his language. He’d said curse words all his life and not been concerned, but as soon as he became a child of God, God made him aware of what needed to change. He soon stopped swearing.

In the OT, God chose Israel as His covenant people. He took them from slavery in Egypt to a new land where they could live life to the full, yet in that land they needed to live holy lives and deal with enemies. This would be evidence of God as their God, but change was not easy. God gave them laws to guide their behavior and enable them to live well, but their response revealed the power of sin and how badly they needed help. The Lord promised a Savior but in the meantime, set up a sacrificial system and gave them much guidance in how to live. Today’s reading is mostly a list of that guidance. It shows God’s love for them as well as His desire that they be godly and love each other. Here is a brief description of some of His laws:

God’s people were to make a sacrifice to atone for someone who committed murder but was not caught, purging the guilt of innocent blood from their midst. Their men could marry female captives. If they lost interest, they must release them, not sell them or treat them as slaves. The right of a firstborn must be respected, no matter what. But if a son is stubborn and rebellious, he should be stoned to death, purging evil from their midst. Anyone guilty of a crime punishable by death must be hanged and buried the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God.

Stray animals and lost property must be returned to their owner. Men should not dress in women’s clothes nor women in men’s (cross-dressing is not a new thing). Nesting birds are to be protected. A flat roof needs a parapet to prevent falls. Don’t mix seed in the field, or animals that pull a plow, or garments with mixed fibers. Put tassels on the corners of blankets.

Many laws regarded sexual morality (Deuteronomy 22:13–30) with death penalties yet not death for victims of rape. Many other laws forbid entrance to the assembly of the Lord and keeping the camp clean “Because the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you.” (Deuteronomy 23:14)

Many other laws protected slaves, forbid prostitution, forbid charging interest to God’s people, warned them to keep vows, and allowed eating from a neighbor’s crops when hungry, but forbid taking their food home. Divorce was permitted, but remarriage afterwards to the same person was not.

There were rules for newlyweds and war, for pledges, stealing, leprous diseases, loans and collecting loans, treatment of hired workers, taking consequences for your own sin rather than the sin of others. And rules about justice, and feeding strangers, the fatherless and widows. All this was given because, “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.” (Deuteronomy 24:22)

The NT has guidelines for life too, different from the OT because NT believers have changed hearts that are usually aware that what we do is either pleasing to God or sin. Yet Christians also know that Jesus has died for our sin, paid the penalty we deserve. He also lives in us that we might hear His voice, know His heart, and be enabled by his Holy Spirit to do His will. Instead of a burden and a sacrificial system, we have abundant life and the Gospel: Jesus died for our sin, was buried, and rose again to new life, offering all who believe new life, eternal life that includes forgiveness and changed hearts. With Jesus, sin begins to lose its appeal and God begins the work of transforming His people into the image of His Son. Not by rules but . . .

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8–10)

My spirit knows God’s character, and God’s Spirit urges me to put my focus on Him rather than on a list of rules. The OT saints could not keep them and the NT saints are assured that rules have no saving power. It is all by Jesus, by grace through faith — and it is good to be reminded today of the freedom I have in Jesus Christ and His transforming power, but also know that He enables me to live for Him!