Of course we believe that since Jesus came and died for us, His righteousness was imputed to us. The Bible is so much more to us than a How-to manual - it is the story of redemption! We know that in Christ, nothing is neutral: everything matters. God should be involved in everything we do. We are no longer under Old Testament Law, but God still cares about the same things - even about the food we eat! He wants us to be people who show His character, His holiness. He wants us to stand out and to be noticeable. And now, we do this because we are thankful for what He has done for us. John Calvin said that the reason for the law is to show gratitude to God. Leviticus always reminds me how hard it would be to keep the law and because of this, how great Jesus' sacrifice was.
Still snowing...
4 comments:
Sounds like a good sermon. I just read an article from Modern Reformation magazine that talks about that very thing!
Annette,
I can still picture that book about Leviticus over on the end of the theology aisle (help me - was it pastoral helps?) and I often skimmed it on my breaks in the dreadful little cubby where the cold breezes would waft in on you...
I only notice your post title the second time round when I check your blog from home :) Cool ...
Must be a really interesting sermon. I don't think I have encountered any preacher who is daring enough to preach from Leviticus!
Lev 11 gives part of the ceremonial laws, which is not only in gifts and sacrifices but in meats, drinks and washings, all in order to have a living fellowship with God. Man's sin has pervaded the whole body and in order to have fellowship with the Holy God, it also covers eating and drinking, which I think is something quite significant in one's life. When we eat, there is a lot happening: people congregate, share, exchange, commune, take in, offer, etc. The sin of Adam is performed through eating in the first place.
But I think that as much as it is spiritual, it is physical as well, be clean to keep diseases away. Our life in Christ should involve all of us: spiritual, mental, physical -- not just the spiritual.
righteousness is like playing a piano. Even if you get all the notes right, you still may not get the music right.
How true. We have the score but we sometimes coulodn't interpret it or know the intention of the composer and most of the time we are not trained to even play it. Good analogy.
We know that in Christ, nothing is neutral: everything matters.
Exactly. This in relation with the food laws? I see it because as I said, our life in Christ is all of us, not just the spiritual.
Thanks for the thoughts!
Hi Pearlie-
Thanks for expounding on this. I like how you drew the analogy further with the music: composer, training, etc.
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