Jesus did not die for naught. He expected something. A leading Christian preacher said that God's love is loving us, and expecting nothing in return, That is a Big Lie, but was wrought innocently it seems by such a godly man. God does expect something from us! His grace did not come cheaply but at great cost. Christians think of the person of God dying on the Cross in our stead, but it was God in three substances who suffered death. Should God not get something in return? Just what is it He expects. Surely not faith from the charity of men, but to respect the sacrifice of Himself.
What is our own quid pro quo? It is not something for something, but something for nothing (quid pro nihilo). Now on with God's quid pro quo:
KEY VERSE: … 13
they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him
in his words… 18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say
there is no resurrection… 28 And one of the scribes came, and
having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them
well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 34b And
no man after that durst ask him any question. (Mark 12)
Today, I will continue from yesterday about the snares that the officials set to trap Jesus. If one snide question did not entrap Him, they merely turned to another. All the His adversaries knew the Law, but the scribe (lawyer) knew it thoroughly and knew its intent. When Jesus stated the Law, the scribe reinforced what Jesus was saying with what Christians call the “Old Testament.” I submit that Jesus equated His Commands to the Law when He quoted Psalm 110:1 and Leviticus 19:18. With that reference, Jesus dismissed the idea of two different “testaments” or covenants. There never was a “Covenant of Law” and a “Covenant of Grace” but it was always by grace. Paul, in his writings, referenced the “mystery of Christ:”
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 25 Now to
him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching
of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept
secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by
the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Rom 16:24-26)
First off, Paul spoke of the “grace” of the Lord. As is written about David who said, “the Lord said unto my Lord” (Psalm 110:1). Jesus as the “son of David” was David’s “Lord.” The first “Lord,” Jesus, was speaking. When God manifests Himself visibly, audibly, or in text; that is pre-incarnate Jesus speaking because David’s Lord before was the Spirit of Jesus. When Jesus speaks the concept is grace. The Old Testament was always about grace, and not the Law. Jesus said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Mat 22:40). Thus, the Law was always about loving God and loving others, and that is what grace entails.
The legalists were confused both in Jesus time, and in the Old Testament. The “lawyer” speaking to Jesus understood that the Law and the Grace of God is one Covenant! The Pharisees were still confused about the Law, but Jesus and the lawyer understood; Jesus because He is Lord, and the scribe because He knew the intent of the Law.
In ancient times, The Lord confused the language of the people and scattered them throughout the world when they built a tower at Babel to make a name for themselves (Gen 11:4). They sought “Heaven” without God’s direction. By that, they diminished God. Those early skeptics failed to understand that God is not up there, but with them. Emanuel was Jesus and He was always with them and “full of grace” (John 1:14).
The lawyer understood that. Although the Lord died because He was full of grace, there was a quid pro quo: I am full of grace to save you; now you love me in return. That something for something is, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). God’s love is the quid and the redeemed person’s the quo. John 14:15 is essentially the quid pro quo of the Abrahamic Covenant to which the Law is the conditions to that Covenant. The Abrahamic Covenant was the Covenant of Grace, and The Ten Commandments were the itemized conditions. Essentially, that is I will give you an eternal home as My heir, and you will love Me by doing those things that I Will for you. What is God’s Will for His heirs? That they continue doing His Will, and Ten of them are listed. They are not really “Commandments” but a list of God’s Will for His people. It is the legacy for His heirs — those who He adopts as His.
The legalists missed the point in the Law. It was not performing the Law perfectly, but the willingness to do God’s Will even when failure is certain. The faith of Abraham was due, not to obeying God’s Command, but that he was willing to. The scribe understood that, and Jesus commended him for it. The scribe was not trying to entrap Jesus but his “client” was misunderstood. He helped the confused legalists understand the quid pro quo. Ironically, Calvinists to this day fail to understand that grace alone (sola gratia) is redemption but the Greatest and Second Commandments are gratitude for it.
What should the redeemed do? Show gratitude to the Redeemer. How is that done? Loving God by doing what the Lord desires them to do; and that is loving Him and others that God values. The Ten Commandments are the metrics of love: the first four are ways to love God and the latter six are ways to love those who God desires not to perish (John 3:16). How do you love them? By showing them the same grace that the Lord shows to them.
The mystery of Christ is that redemption was always by grace, and it was always for everyone — Jew and Gentile (the whosoever in John 3:16) — and redemption was always through the Messiah, called the Christ. What was that mystery?
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That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of
his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a
minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the
effectual working of his power. (Ephes 3:6-7)
“Fellow heirs” says much. The Abrahamic Covenant was for Abraham’s heirs. Gentiles’ redemption was by grace. The mystery is that the Jews’ redemptions was always by grace as well. God does not have one Plan for Jews and another for Gentiles; it was always by grace. The scribe understood that “mystery” and Jesus commended him for it. The teachers of the Law failed to understand the Law but the scribe knew it thoroughly and understood it. All the others were confused, and tried to diminish Jesus, and that would elevate themselves; to make a name for themselves if they tripped up Jesus!
I hate to teach against the doctrine of others. It is scripture as they understand it. However, just as God is not God as we understand Him, but God as He IS, the Doctrine of God is not as we understand it, but how it is written and intended. The teachers failed to understand the Law, and Calvinist-minded Christians are as confused as the teachers of the Law. They, however, should be commended for their right teaching of by grace alone, but should emphasize works as a way to demonstrate gratitude for redemption. The Law of God was written on stone for perpetuity by the finger of God, or Jesus. The scribe surely knew that he was reasoning with God Himself!
The Sadducees reasoned as well, but theirs was not about the mystery. For them, it seemed silly that people could die and live again. It was not scientific and was unreasonable. Mysteries are beyond reason but look at science; they cannot believe in the resurrection because they fail to believe in the erection of existence. Teachers of evolution — something from nothing (aliquid ex nihilo) — are as confused as the Sadducees and alchemists of the Dark Ages.
The Lord Created and the Lord can Re-Create and the Way to be Resurrected is by God’s Grace, and furthermore, it has always been. Thank Him for it, for doing what He Wills for you to do.
And lastly, skeptics quit trying to trip-up Jesus. Being born again is when we come to realize that Jesus can save us but we, not really gods, cannot. We are not to diminish Jesus as the teachers of the Law tried, but to magnify Jesus by understanding the truth; that it was His blood all the time that redeemed mankind!
And when Jesus explained the mystery, the discussion ended as He answered their cunning traps so wisely.
(picture credit: Message Magazine)
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