Breakfast with a dash of Greek.

A friend and I were discussing over breakfast how some of our acquaintances practice Christianity. In particular, how some on the one extreme institute a stringent, externally-visible moral code and how some at the other extreme run as far from "law" as possible - amplifying their freedom in Christ.

Of course, we weren't able to completely wrap the issue up at breakfast (Fruity Pebbles get really soggy if you let them sit too long!) but we did unpack one particular passage that might be of interest to readers on a quest to find The More Excellent Way.

In Romans chapter 10, Paul laments Israel's rejection of Messiah and expresses his strong desire for them to accept Messiah to effect reunion with God and His purpose.

He says they "have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge." (vs. 2) since they did not understand God's righteousness (His faithfulness to the covenant He made with them). As a result, Israel tried to establish her own basis for righteousness.

Paul then invokes Deuteronomy 30:1-14, the promise of Israel' restoration from exile, in this context. This tells me that even keeping the law was always to be an act of faith - it was never meant to be actions separate from faith! Verse 4 was the focal point, though, for our discussion.
"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
-Romans 10:4
That word "end" is the kicker. It's telos in Greek - more fully translated "the end goal of a thing - that point at which a thing ceases to be what it was." So I'd sum up this up like this:
"Jesus is the end goal of the law for righteousness, he is that point at which the law ceased to be what it was for righteousness."
So the Mosaic law ran smack into Jesus - and in Him found its "end". Jesus engulfed, fulfilled, subsumed and encompassed the Mosaic law, taking over where it left off.

What are the implications? To be continued!

1 comment:

Michael Davies a.k.a. mikeatron said...

Hey Mike its Michael Davies aka Mikeatron this makes total sense. Our country needs to lean more toward a theonomic government.