Chapter 79 - Law and Life

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The sovereign God created the eternal New Testament church as an organic entity before the foundation of the world. In the fullness of time, He established it on earth in perfect accord with His eternal plan.

Before it was subjected to the influence of fallen mankind, the eternal New Testament church formed on earth was exemplary. It presented the desire of God for church function, form, purpose, mission, governance, works, leadership, manifestation, and practice on earth. Thus, the New Testament church provided the archetype to which all subsequent church reformation should aspire.

Eternal Church

The distinctly eternal, organic church of the New Testament did not change when God originated it on earth. It retained its eternal function and form. The function of the New Testament church was to facilitate intimate, shared life fellowship between God and mankind. Corresponding with its eternal function, it was created in the form of a spiritual body. As a result, the eternal church of the New Testament could accommodate the living (zoe) presence of God on earth.

Temporal Church

Unfortunately, the church on earth has not always shared the distinctiveness of the church of the New Testament. It is often characterized by a very different function, form, purpose, mission, governance, works, leadership, manifestation, and practice.

The temporal, inorganic, religious church is unaware of the unparalleled value of intimate, shared life fellowship with God. Ignorant of its privileged opportunity to enjoy life (zoe) in fullness, it has developed its own lifeless (zoe) function and form.

The function of the temporal, inorganic church is to perform religious activity for God. Its corresponding form is a physical congregation.

As indicated by its organizational attributes, it is clear that the temporal, religious church is nothing more than a simulation of the eternal, organic church of the New Testament. It is merely a shadow of the true substance. (cf. Colossians 2:17)

Inorganic, the simulated religious church cannot support eternal life (zoe). Therefore, rather than animated by the indwelling life (zoe) of God, it must be propped up by the rule of law.

The reformation of the church cannot be accomplished for God by the works of law. It is a gracious act of God. He alone is capable of reforming it from temporal to eternal, from inorganic to organic, and from law to life (zoe). Mankind is privileged to cooperate with God by faith alone.

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Law

In the world, law and order are commonly associated with one another. It is understood that with the observance of law comes order.

Law and order were made for the unrighteous. They provide limiting boundaries for the practice of unrighteousness. The Apostle Paul clarified, “…. law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane.” (1 Timothy 1:9)

The rule of law has an essential purpose for the unrighteous. It produces accountability to God by the revelation of its transgression (sin). The accountability established through the rule of law acts as a “tutor” or “schoolmaster” to lead the transgressor of law (sinner) to the Savior by faith alone. (Galatians 3:23-25)

Life

Contrary to the unrighteous, the righteous are not subject to the commandments, statutes, and ordinances of the rule of law. Instead, they are intimately governed according to the gracious rule of indwelling life (zoe).

The righteous New Testament church is a dwelling of God on earth. (Ephesians 2:19-22) His living (zoe), indwelling presence lovingly and graciously provides the order for its intimate, life-based (zoe) practice.

The rule of life (zoe) is described as follows in the New Testament: the “law of the Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus,” the “law of faith,” the “law of Christ,” the “perfect law,” and the “law of liberty.” (Romans 3:27; 1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2; James 1:25; 2:12) In this book it is typically referred to as the “rule of life.”

As previously indicated, governance by divine life (zoe) occurs by the gracious influence of the indwelling “Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus.” By His will, work and indwelling presence, the New Testament church was made “alive (zoe) to God.” (Romans 6:11) Said to “live by the Spirit,” its members exist in a union of shared life with God in Christ.

Joined to God by the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the New Testament church is described as “according to the Spirit” and “in the Spirit.” (Romans 8:4, 5, 9, 14; Galatians 5:18, 25) They are technical phrases that indicate the redeemed of the organic New Testament church exist in the realm or sphere of the Spirit, the kingdom of God.1 It is characterized by grace, love, and fruitfulness beyond measure (zoe). (cf. Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 5:3)

In the realm or sphere of the “Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus,” the New Testament church is privileged to have a new source of life by which to live. The apostle proclaimed his recognition of this new, spiritual life source by stating, “… Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20); “… to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21); and “Christ… is our life (zoe)…” (Colossians 3:4).

In the realm or sphere of the Spirit, the New Testament church is subject to governance by the gracious, controlling influence of the Spirit. Concordant with its new source of living (zoe) governance, it can “serve in newness of the Spirit” and “bear fruit for God.” (Romans 7:4-6)

According to apostolic tradition, the practice of the New Testament church is a Spirit directed celebration of life shared with God. It occurs through the life-based (zoe) practices such as purposeful prayer; intentional community interaction; the Lord’s Supper as a full, celebratory meal; participatory praise and worship in song; joyful giving; corrective spiritual discipline; cooperative discipleship; and team-oriented outreach (zoe).

Incompatibility

Recognizing the incompatibility of law and life (zoe) in the New Testament church, the Apostle Paul rebuked the legalistic Galatians by stating, “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law (the rule of law), or by hearing with faith (rule of life (zoe))? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit (rule of life (zoe)), are you now being perfected by the flesh (the rule of law)? Did you suffer so many things in vain — if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the law (the rule of law), or by hearing with faith (rule of life (zoe))?” (Galatians 3:1-5)

In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul further confirmed that endeavoring to join law and life (zoe) is spiritually unfruitful. (Romans 7:4-6) The outcome of the union is wretchedness or misery. (Romans 7:24)

The New Testament clarifies that the rule of law is incompatible with the practice of the church. Inconsistent with the essential church doctrine of grace through faith alone, it cannot allow for true intimacy of fellowship with God or the ministry of His eternal life (zoe).

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Rejection of Life

God provided the Old Covenant and its rule of law (Mosaic) for the nation of Israel, not the New Testament church. The Mosaic law prescribed the nature, function, and limitations of the religious and governmental practice of ancient Israel’s earthly kingdom. By the first century, however, the religious leadership of Israel had allowed the rule of covenantal law to devolve to an unscriptural standard. As a result, it had little resemblance to the original Mosaic law.

The legalistic leadership of first-century Israel had elevated the rule of law beyond its scriptural intent. Failing to comprehend its righteous requirement of perfect obedience, the leadership of first-century Israel did not recognize the impossibility of satisfying it.

Consistent with their extreme legalism, the representative leadership of first-century Israel also failed to recognize the Messiah and His gracious message and ministry of life (zoe). As a result, they declined His invitation to set up His kingdom on earth. Thus, Jesus proclaimed to them, “…the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.” (Matthew 21:43)

Rejected by the Israelites, Jesus proceeded toward the next phase of His plan to vindicate His nature and repopulate His kingdom with willing citizens. He satisfied His role in the fulfillment of the redemptive Eternal Covenant, not only for the benefit of the nation of Israel but all mankind.

Covenant Life

Congruent with the divine fulfillment of the redemptive Eternal Covenant, the impending Church Age would be characterized by the availability of new life for the elect, predominantly from among the Gentile nations. The new life (zoe) was the very life (zoe) of Jesus Christ, the mediator of the covenant.

Gloriously blessed by the unconditional covenantal benefit of new life (zoe), the New Testament church was made “alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:5, 8, 11) Joined to Him through an intimate union of shared life, it was no longer obligated to God by the rule of law (law of sin and of death) but the rule of indwelling life (zoe).

© 2023 James Hiatt

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