Legalism, Lawlessness, and Picking Up Sticks on the Sabbath (4)

ENTERING GOD’S REST (4)

32 Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. 35 Then the LORD said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” 36 So, as the LORD commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died. (Numbers 15:32-36)

I remember a sermon I heard back in 1998 or 1999, just as God was delivering me from Churchianity. We were visiting our upteenth “charismatic” church after leaving the huge one I had been an elder at in 1993. The very popular pastor there chose the above passage to make the dubious statement that Moses “was legalistic.” By saying this he clearly implied that God himself was legalistic since he specifically told Moses to stone the law-breaker. And what was this pastor’s ultimate point? That Christians are not under the Law (which is true). But what was the result of his errant preaching? Lawlessness, because he broke down the necessity of obeying God. Christians who teach like this create a dichotomy between the “God of the Old Testament” and the “God of the New Testament.” The truth is that “The LORD our God, the LORD is ONE.” The God of the Old Testament, Yahweh, is the God of the New Testament, Yeshuah. John and Paul both make it clear that Jesus created all things, not some “legalistic” judgmental God of ancient times who differs from him.

Moses’ implementation of God’s command was not legalistic. It demonstrated direct obedience to God. But, why was the penalty so seemingly harsh? Like all historical accounts from the Bible this is a parable. Its main point lies in its prophetic significance. According to Hebrews 4 the Sabbath prophesies God’s Rest. And, like Israel’s promised land of Canaan, it symbolizes the perfect Kingdom of God. When we fully enter that Kingdom we will no longer have to war against our flesh. We will have entered a complete rest that encompasses our whole being. Hebrews 4:9-11 deals with coming into a spiritual Sabbath rest by faith. It is as important spiritually as coming into the natural Sabbath rest was for Israel. If one failed to obey the Sabbath rules in Israel, a natural death penalty awaited him. Likewise, if a Christian fails to enter the spiritual Sabbath rest, he must partake of the second death in the Lake of Fire.

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. (Revelation 2:11 KJ2000)

Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6 KJ2000)

And death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14 KJ2000)

Coming into the spiritual Sabbath rest means to come to the end of one’s carnal, fleshly works. Thus Hebrews says, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:10 KJ2000) On the positive side, though, coming to the end of one’s own works means coming into the living works of God. The works of our flesh constitute the “wood, hay, and stubble” that shall be burned from us in Christ’s judgment, whereas the works of the Spirit done through us after we enter his rest become the “gold, silver, and precious stones” that become an eternal part of our being, our spiritual temple. See 1 Corinthians 3:12.

Part 5

Part 1

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