Switching From the Law

Jesus switched the focus from sin to the righteousness of God. Jesus pointed out that while it was impossible for anyone to live righteously by the law, he would do so and thus fulfill that requirement. He switched belief from self doing to be righteous to his doing and now it is called faith in his work on our behalf. The writer of Hebrews wrote concerning the once for all sacrifice in 9:26: For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. The phrase put away means there is no more sin in the world; he cast it aside.  As John the Baptist said in John 1:29: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Jesus took away sin.

Since Jesus took away sin, the only thing left is unbelief in Jesus Christ. The focus isn’t on sin as it was under the law. It is on Jesus Christ and those who don’t obey are guilty of unbelief. Hebrews says in 3:12: Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Here evil is called unbelief. Then we find in Hebrews  4:11: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  The verses refer to those who before Jesus came into the world didn’t believe God’s promise of a new land.

Paul wrote in I Corinthians 6:9-11: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. These are but some of the sins that Jesus took away on the cross. There are more such as greed, avarice, gossip, backbiting, love of money, theses for starters, listed in the other books. Those are the signs of unbelief when people refuse to obey the gospel and continue in those ways of ungodly behavior.

When Paul was confronted with the truth, he was told after coming to the realization of his sinfulness: Acts 22:16: And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Paul’s sin of unbelief was more than likely the persecution of Christians since he was devout keeper of the law, but he was blameless before God as far as keeping the law was concerned. The lesson from Paul is that though he kept the law he still needed the blood of Christ to take away his sin.

Unbelief remains in the world and it is seen in all the sinful behavior that takes place each day. There is no need for anyone to be lost since sin can be washed away by obedience to Jesus Christ. When the gospel is obeyed, unbelief is washed away in the waters of baptism. The law focused on sin. Unbelief focuses on Jesus Christ who will take it (unbelief) away upon obedience. That is the only sin he couldn’t remove on the cross. Only obedience through faith will do it and in that respect, Jesus removes unbelief too.

© 02-13-2003 DEC

  Revised 04-12-2008

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