It's a New day Part 2
It's a New Day • Sermon • Submitted
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To This Day
To This Day
Our society is evidence that when men make laws in order to remove restraints they make laws to practice evil. They then use those laws to exercise their own power to restrain others. The power of law in the hands of men with wicked hearts and narcissistic motives become tyrants and dictators, master manipulators of the intent and rule of law.
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
The Law of God in the hands of a righteous man brings glory to God.
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, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
The Apostle Paul refers to the Torah as the “ministry of death”. Unfortunately, most Christians take this same concept completely out of context. They say that God did away with the Law of God thus removing all ethical restraint that we might live a complete immoral life and yet be covered under the righteous sacrificial work of Christ.
The truth is that the Law of God exposes you. Kevin Leal says, “What offends you reveals you.” David Guzik states, “It slays us as guilty sinners before God so that we can be resurrected by the new covenant. It isn’t that the problem was with the law, but with us:
For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
Folks, the Law of God is not the problem. The problem is the hearts of men. The real problem is not judgmental-ism or condemnation. Claiming someone is judgmental is not an excuse to live a sinful and rebellious life against God Almighty. The problem is a lack of conviction and desire for the redeeming work of the Savior. The problem is a selfish rebellion to live lawless after your own fleshly appetites. The problem is being blind to the love and grace of a Holy God.
For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.
For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,
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. 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.
Friday evening, John and some electricians were working in the building. they had left the front door unlocked. Just as Angie and I pulled into the parking lot we saw a homeless man with his dog and buggy parked in the lot. As we pulled in we watched him make his way into our building. As I entered I greeted him with a smile and kindness. I immediately tried to extend to him the same warm welcome I would to any visitor who walks in the door.
His name was Mike. I offered Mike food and water. Mike wanted and was in need of nothing. All Mike wanted was to know how to get to Little Rock on Highway 365. He asked if there were any shelters he might make it to. So, I asked Mike if he could just sit a while and visit with me in the rockers out front. So he did. We talked about his life, his military service, where he had been and so on. Then I asked Mike with I could pray for him. As we prayed the Holy Spirit invaded our space. Mike began to weep and weep. He became to speak to me of knowing the one who was the Word that had become flesh to heal his soul as he wept. As Mike went to leave, I reached out to shake his hand. He looked down at how filthy it was as I gripped it firmly and drew him in and wrapped my arms around him and showed him the love of Christ.
Church, to this day, the Law of God still judges men. It does not judge their outward appearance, their skin color, their economic status or social standing. It judges the hearts of men. And the redeeming work of Christ has come by the love of the Father. And those found void of this love will be found guilty and will indeed know eternal death.
Church, the love of Christ shown to Mike is what removes the veils from the hardened hearts of those who do not know, have forgotten, or lost sight of the truth of the love of Christ.
Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
The veil in the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple, was 60 feet long, 30 feet tall, 2 inches thick and 30 feet wide – its length, width and height were all equally as long as its height. Unholy man in the presence of a Holy God would surely die. And even this veil was not enough were it not for the mercy of the Lord.
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
To Moses, the Holy presence of God was glorious. but to those who looked upon the glory of God from Moses’ face, it was judgment and condemnation. The veil Moses wore was a prophetic foreshadow of what God would do through Christ. The veil in the Tabernacle, and the Temple, divided men from the presence of a Holy God. But when Christ said, “It is Finished” and released His spirit into the hands of the Father, the veil dividing us from God’s presence was torn apart.
The word for “veil” used here is the Hebrew word masveh מַסְוֶה meaning a covering. But it is a derivative of the word sakak סָכַךְ meaning to cover but also to overshadow and weave together. We also find this concept in the word masak מָסָךְ referring to a covering for protection. What we see happening with Moses, and the glory of God in the Law, was that the Law of God was a protective shield for Moses. The glory of God overshadowed Moses revealing the plan of God. A plan to not just give one covenant, leaving man judged and hopeless, but to weave it together with another covenant that would redeem man from the ministry of death and sanctify him in righteousness. A plan where the glory of God would once again dwell within man and not behind a veil.
I was in Home Depot the other night. It was late and I needed some loading ramps. I could not find them where the tools or truck accessories were. As I looked throughout the store I heard the manager come over the loud speak and call everyone to the attention of an employee who had done a great job. I then asked a young man where I might find what I was looking for. He looked it up on his electronic device. He proceeded to lead me to the far back corner of the store only to discover that the device information was incorrect. He asked other employees who had no idea and little interest in assisting. So he said, “Let’s look outside.” As we looked around outside we found them on a cart awaiting to be put on the shelves. He was persistent in getting me the price. As we walked back to the front I suggested that they needed to recognize him for his great customer service. He said I would have to tell them. As we walked by the front desk I asked with the gentleman at the front desk was the manager. Upon a positive reply I commenced to shouting throughout the store, “Hey attention everyone, we need to give a shout out to Ace for amazing customer service. He is the man. He is helping customers all over the store and even in other departments are not his responsibility. Please give a shout out to Ace for the great job he is doing!”
Man, I tell you, this kid was beaming. His face was lite up with a smile that was glowing. Folks, if we do not do things like this for the next generation, there will be no such thing, not even a trace of what we call customer service.
The point is this, we need the same approach to taking the Word of Truth, the Gospel covenant Christ to a world whose minds are hardened and veiled to the saving goodness of Jesus Christ. An ‘arrangement’ made by one party with plenary (complete in every way; sovereign) power, which the other party may accept or reject, but cannot alter. That which Christ offers is not an agreement of equal parties (Moulton and Milligan). The problem is not the Law of God but the sin of mankind. The Law still ministers death but Christ, “To This Day”, offers redemption, salvation and eternal life free from the enslavement of sin.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.
