MEMORIAL DAY---REMEMBERING

I, and I'm sure you are with me on this, hate war. There are those who cause it, debate it, declare it, and struggle with making sure we are as a nation are in just wars. But the fact is, it is the heroes of the Armed services who have to fight it. They ultimately pay the price for our freedom as a nation.

As an American citizen I have my personal opinion about the wars we fight and whether they are being fought for the right reasons or not and even whether they are being fought in the right way. But those who are responsible for doing the fighting are to be appreciated and honored, in my humble opinion, by all of us who stay behind and argue the justice or the rightness of war. 

I want to use one such warrior as a point of reference for this particular Memorial Day. I do not know him, nor do I know the older veteran who embraced him that day in Dallas when this picture was taken, but it is now one of my favorite pictures of all time.  

Marine Staff Sargent Mark Graunke Jr. was a member of an EOD team  [ Explosive Ordinance Disposal]  in the summer of 2003 in Karbala. He, another Marine, and an Iraqi EOD team member were piling up some mines for disposal. It was later recorded that as the EOD team was prepping the pile one of the mines detonated. It killed the Iraqi and the other Marine and severely wounded Staff sargent Graunke.  He lost a hand, a leg and an eye. Graunke later said after arriving to a hero's welcome at home,  “Although my Marine Corps career as an EOD technician is over, I am ready and willing to confront the challenges that civilian life has to offer.  We say in the Marine Corps, ‘Improvise, Adapt and Overcome,’ and that is what I will do."  

As I said, this picture is one of my very favorites. The older man is Houston James, a Pearl Harbor Survivor from Dallas, who spontaneously embraced Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. during a past Veterans Day commemoration in Dallas. This picture was taken by the Dallas Morning News and shows the span of time and conflicts that as a Nation we have had to endure. These two men, and those who DID NOT come home, show us freedom is not free. It has a price someone pays. Let's remember them on this Memorial Day 2011.

FIFTY-TWO YEARS AND COUNTING

It was on May 28th  in 1959, fifty-two years ago this coming Saturday, that Mary Cherry was willing to become my wife. We have spent the years learning to be what we had been declared to be on that day. it has been quite a journey. The learning isn't over yet because the journey isn't. I wouldn't trade these years or the learning for anything in this world. I thought I'd share some of my favorite pictures of the two of us together in celebration..

This first picture is when it all started. The second one just below is one of the resulting four kids and their spouses at our 50th anniversary which they put together for us. Left to right you can see Wade & Rachelle, Cherri & Mike, M&P, Melody & Tony,and Brett & Kelly.

The final picture below is simply my favorite picture taken in my favorite place with my favorite person showing us as our older, casual, temerarious, fun-loving selves in the present day.

So I will simply wish another "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY" to my wife, Mary. [AKA 'beautiful.]

What follows is a poem I wrote a while back celebrating our years together. I tried to be real, truthful, and celebratory of all the good and the bad because I wouldn't have missed either. Mary and I recognize both are part of any relationship and we've learned from both together. But that's just us, isn't it beautiful!!

       But that's just us isn't it!!

We've had so many times that were good

And some that we'd have to call bad.

Sometimes we've been very happy

And sometimes we've been somewhat sad.

But that's just us isn't it!!

We've shared life's deeper joys

Mixing love and care in special ways.

At times we saw our world fall apart

then find each other anew in those painful days.

But that's just us isn't it!!

We learned some new ways to care

Such as hearing each other's deepest dreams.

And hearing the sad, tearful crying of one of us

When no one else was listening it seems.

But that's just us isn't it!!

There were shadows as black as night

That sometimes blocked my view.

But a gentle light would often disperse them

And that light seemed to come from inside you

But that's just us isn't it!!

Strength we'd find and we'd give to each other

When we knew that brave we'd have to be.

It took it all plus the Grace of God

To face some moments that came to you and me.

But that's just us isn't!!

So joys and struggles were friends it seems

As we've lived out our years of marriage.

It was always the two of them

And neither would we dare disparage.

But that's just us isn't it!!

Now we see it was a truly precious gift 

When He merged our roads making one from two.

So these words are a way of my saying to Him

A sincere, heartfelt and simple, "thank You."

But that's just us isn't it!!

THE NEW COVENANT

We have had a lot of discussion about the law in our last post. I thought I would give you an outline of a message I brought to Wade's fellowship over four years ago in a series of messages he asked me to do in conference style entitled..."What I wish I'd known forty years ago." This particular message was entitled, "The New Covenant." It is ONLY an outline but presents my thinking on the subject. Enjoy it, use it, reject it, whatever you choose. It's my studied opinion only.

WHAT I WISH I’D KNOWN FORTY YEARS AGO

“I Believe in the New Covenant”

Texts:“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.” Hebrews 9:15
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14

I. The Covenant of “the Law”

Exodus 34:27-28 -  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.” 

The Covenant of “the Law” . . . 

1. Was made with Israel specifically, and 

2. It was based on law or performance

What does the Covenant of 'the Law' say? “If you” keep the Law, “then I, the Lord, will bless you.”
“If you don’t” keep the Law, “then I, the Lord, won’t or can’t bless you.”

Israel failed to keep the law. The sacrificial system was established, including the Temple and the sacrifices and the priesthood to point Israel, in picture form, to a coming Messiah/Redeemer.

This first covenant, or Covenant of 'the Law' has been viewed.....

1. By Dispensationalists: As set aside for the church age, but there is coming for Israel in the future a new land, and a new Temple, and a new peacel.
2. By Reformed Covenant Theologians: As part of the one Covenant of Grace -- the only eternal covenant. The covenant of 'law,' and all other covenants, are simply different administrations of this one, eternal Covenant of Grace.

I disagree with both Dispensationists and Reformed Covenant Theologians. Here's why.....


II. The New Covenant

2 Corinthians 3:6 -  “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” 
2 Corinthians 3:14-16 - “But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.”
Hebrews 10:9 - “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” 

The Old Covenant  had a Mediator - Moses.
The New Covenant has a NEW Mediator - Christ.

The Old Covenant had a High Priest -Aaron.
The New Covenent has a NEW High Priest - Christ

The Old Covenant had a sacrifice of goats & calves.
The New Covenant has a NEW sacrifice - Christ

The Old Covenant had a Temple - in Jerusalem.
The New Covenant has a NEW Temple - Christ in me.

The Old Covenant had a Law Giver - Moses. "If you obey..then I am free to bless.."
The New Covenant has a NEW Law Giver - Christ: “Hear ye Him” "I have..you're free to obey.."


The New Covenant is Christocentric:

“Love”- “as I have loved you” and “Forgive”- “as you have been forgiven”

1 Corinthians 9:20-21  -“And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.” 

I do not hold to a Reformed Covental Theology because: 

1. There is no mention of a covenant as pre-existing; covenants relate to time only, and 

2. Covenants are also plural in Scripture, not singular.

Romans 9:4 -  “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the COVENANTS, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.” 
Ephesians 2:12 - “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the COVENANTS of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” 

"Why is this so important that I wish I had known it 40 years ago?

1. It completely changes my view of the cross

The cross did…redeem me
The cross did…sanctify me
The cross did…glorify me

All the lambs of the Old Covenant were a picture leading to the final Lamb of God.
There are no lists needed to perform in order to get His blessings... 

"We have already been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus."


2. It completely changes my view of the law

The Law [Ten Commandments] was a “school teacher” to bring Israel to the need of a Messiah. 

When the Messiah came He fulfilled the law of Moses which had brought condemnation not life.

We, the church, have a new Law-giver -- Christ Himself." Hear ye Him."  

He has established His own Law which is the expression of new life in Him.

We would no more go back to living by the 10 commandments than we would go back to offering lambs once a year. 

Their purpose and need have been fulfilled "in Christ." 

 3. It completely changes my view of living

All of life is … now a gift … and is sacred … and is to be lived ... as a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving … because of His grace given in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Every day is truly a Sabbath day as we rest in His grace and live by His law written in our

 hearts FROM a place of acceptance rather than FOR a place of acceptance.

Paul B.

AM I ANTINOMIAN?

I'm sometimes accused of being antinomian. 

The word antinomian is not generally used outside theological circles and would not find much interest in theological circles were it not for some, myself included, who do not believe that the law of Moses found in the Old Testament does NOT retain any definitive purpose or delivering power in the life of a New Covenant believer. 

In simple language, the Law of Moses is not the tool used by the Holy Spirit to bring about practical sanctification in the life of a Christian. At least so believes those who are often, as I said, labeled antinomian. [Meaning no law or against the law.]

Someone will perhaps ask.."Brother Paul, are you saying that you believe the ten commandments are no longer binding on Christians today?" 

My answer to that question is yes. That's exactly what I believe. I hold to the view that a Christians sanctification or growth in grace is brought about by the direct work of the Holy Spirit and His tool is simply the Gospel of Justification by Grace through faith in Christ and an ever increasing knowledge of Christ as our life. ["You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free."] 

My word that this is so will not be, nor should it be, sufficient for anyone. That will take your own study. So the point of this post is a simple statement as to what I believe about the Law of Moses and its' relationship to the present day believer with a small amount of why this is so. The full why I believe this would take many words and will have to come later.

I believe the ten commandments are not binding on believers today because...

One...The law of Moses is unique to the covenant God established with Israel. That law cannot legitimately be divided biblically into three parts, Civil, ceremonial and moral, which has to be done if you try to make the ten commandments continue to have authority. You can't pick and choose which parts of the law continue. It's all the law or none of the law.

Two...I don't hold to a one covenant of Grace concept with two administrations made up of the Old Testament and the New Testament which most Reformed theologians try to do. My personal understanding of the covenant concept is, since Romans 9:4 speaks of several covenants that pertain to Israel and, since I believe all the covenants are fulfilled in Christ, I hold to a New Covenant that has been established based on who Christ is as the new Prophet, Priest, King, Covenant ratifier and Law giver. 

So, in my view, there was never just two covenants nor was there ever just one covenant with two administrations. [The Old and the New] There were, in fact, many covenants made with Israel with all of them being fulfilled through the establishment of the New Covenant made by Christ and ratified by His blood. This is the clear message of the book of Hebrews. 

Three...There are familiar ideas, concepts and even words used in the New Covenant that sound something like what can be found in the other covenants but their value is not because they were in the Old and carry over, but because they are, in fact, part of the New covenant given by the New covenant maker and law giver, Christ Jesus. ["This is my beloved Son..hear ye Him."]

It would be a lot like a Church developing a new constitution and by-laws. Some of the language of the old constitution and it's by-laws might re-appear in the new but it is valid because it is in the new, not because it's in the old, since the old constitution no longer applies.  [I read that illustration somewhere and really liked it.]

But does this mean there is no law in the New Covenant?  Hardly! As I said, He is the new Law-giver and whatever He says goes. I'll close with a quote from Wade Burleson in a thing he said about this subject which makes it quite clear...


"The Apostle Paul was often accused of being antinomian. Some in Rome called him this. A few in Galatia did also. In Acts 21:21 James tells Paul that the Jerusalem church leaders "have been told that you teach all the Jews living among the Gentiles to forsake the law of Moses, and that you tell them to not circumcise their children or observe other laws." Then, some leaders in Corinth were alarmed by Paul's teaching that led people away from observing rituals [feasts, new moon celebrations, Sabbath observance, etc...] and other Mosaic laws."


"In response to their charge of antinomianism Paul writes, "To those not having the law [Gentiles] I became like one not having the law [though I am not free from God's law but under Christ's law], so as to win those not having the law."  The expression translated "I am not free from god's law but am under Christ's law" is a peculiar phrase in the original Greek and can be literally rendered, "I am not lawless toward God, but I am inlawed to Christ."


"Inlawed to Christ." Wow. That is a powerful phrase. It means you [as a christian] are wed to Christ and all the benefits and protection of perfect obedience and righteousness are yours because of Christ's obedience. You reap what you have not sown; you reap what HE has sown. You are a co-heir with Christ, a child of God, and forever blessed because you are 'inlawed to Him' "


Hear what Wade is saying. Whatever we have, it is His that becomes ours. He is our righteousness, our sanctification, our life. Nothing pertaining to Moses is our standard for performance. Not the feast days, the offerings, or even the law. We have a new relationship. We have a new Prophet, Priest and King, and even a new law-giver. In Christ the Old IS gone and the NEW has arrived. Our law is given by Him, written on our hearts by the Holy Spirit and the New Testament is the record of what He has said.


We are NOT under the Law of Moses in ANY fashion. We truly are under grace.


Am I antinomian? By no means. By His Grace, I have a new law-giver and a new law.


Paul B.