Part 2

We are not bound by the Old Testament today... but consider what the apostle Paul wrote...

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Paul was referring to the Old Testament Scriptures because the New Testament had not been finished at the time of his writings. Paul wrote that these Old Testament writings were "written for our instruction". No, we are not bound by the Old Testament but we should always consider it in our learning. Paul further tells us that "all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching"...

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

Obviously we do not worship in the exact same way as the people of the Old Testament did because the sacrifice of Jesus replaced the sacrifice of animals. The blood of Jesus Christ is now the satisfaction and atonement for our sins while the blood of animals is no longer needed to cleanse us.

Hebrew 9:6-16 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 as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for 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; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Hebrews 7:11-12 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

We are no longer under the Levitical priesthood... we are no longer under the old covenant; we are under the new covenant.


Romans 7:4-6 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

To worship in truth we must worship in Christ and according to His word and His covenant, which is the New Testament. We cannot worship today according to any other covenant. All other covenants have died. We are not authorized to bind a commandment, use an example, or make an inference for worship outside of the covenant we have with Christ. We cannot tamper with the authority Christ has over the body...

Ephesians 5:23b-24a even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ,

While we may not worship in the same way people worshipped in the Old Testament, what we can learn from the Old Testament writings is that God has always provided specific instructions on how we should worship Him. God expects us to understand what He desires in worship to Him... He expects us to have the right attitude, and to be obedient in reference to His way of worshipping. God, through Jesus and the apostles, gave us authority and instructions on how we are to worship under the new covenant. Consider a warning from Jesus on improper religion which can be tied back to worship...

Matthew 6:1 "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people in order to be noticed by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."

Obviously Jesus is not telling us to not practice righteousness in front of other people because what did He say in…

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Actually, righteousness is not the proper translation from the Greek. Righteousness is poorly translated from the Greek word… eleēmosunē

el-eh-ay-mos-oo'-nay

“deeds of mercy” compassionateness, that is, (as exercised towards the poor) beneficence, or (concretely) a benefaction: - alms (-deeds).

Righteousness is from the Greek word dikaios dik'-ah-yos and means doing what the Lord requires… walking in His commandments.

But we should not do our deeds in order (or intentionally) to be noticed. We cannot be flamboyant with our deeds. Jesus continues after this verse and gives us several examples of what He means...

Matthew 6:2-7 "So whenever you give to the poor, don't blow a trumpet before you like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they will be praised by people. Truly I tell you, they have their full reward! But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be done in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their full reward! But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you are praying, don't say meaningless words like the gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their wordiness."

Again “give to the poor” is not the proper translation … nor is “alms”. It’s really “deeds or acts of mercy”.

I believe it is self explanatory what Jesus is referring to in the above passages, but we can summarize it by understanding that we must have the right attitude when we worship and we must be worshipping for the right purposes. We cannot simply give Jesus lip service, we must worship with all of our hearts and in loving kindness.

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Jesus wants to practice “pure religion”… what is meant by pure religion?

Galatians 6:10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Pure religion and undefiled… Combining pure hearts and pure outward lives. This genuine or “pure” religion has two elements: (1) Kind and loving deeds, exemplified especially in helping the helpless, such as widows and orphans, and (2) living pure, unsullied lives, unstained by the sins prevalent in this sinful world.

Furthermore we must teach the truth in worship and not man-made rules and man-made doctrines.
Matthew 15:8-9 "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is empty, because they teach human rules as doctrines."

What is Jesus saying here? Let’s look at Hebrews 13:15-16

Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

What Jesus wants is for us to draw near to God with our mouth and then show we mean it by practicing it in our good works. If we follow the doctrines of men as the denominational world does then it renders worship in vain… the worship is fruitless, useless, without profit.

Keep in mind what John said about the doctrine of Christ...

2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

__________________
In Christ,
brother Sonnie

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'