The Hammer of the Law Flying Overhead.

A Vision of a Flying Scroll

This vision is found in Zechariah 5:1-4.  After reading the first visions that seemed inspiring and hopeful, we come to a vision that seems different.  A totally rectangular scroll flies through the air and settles in peoples homes with a curse.  The scroll features are unique in relation to its size and the fact there is writing on both sides.

It is presumed that the violations of the Law are representative. “And he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished.” (Zechariah 5:3, NIV). "This call to purity highlights two fundamental aspects of loyalty in the covenant tradition of Israel: the command to love the Lord with all one’s heart, soul, and mind , represented by the first set of commandments ( Ex. 20: 1– 11; Deut. 5: 6– 15), and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, represented by the second set of commandments (Ex . 20: 8– 17; Deut. 5: 12– 21). 2 In the visions of Zechariah 5, these two foundational relationships are covered in reverse order." [1]

Another note is that this curse goes out over the whole land, and its purpose to purge the land or consume the lawbreakers. "The significance of the vision of the flying roll for the Israel of Zechariah’s day is to show that those who sin openly will not hinder God’s work; for God’s judgment is upon them, and they will not escape." [2]

The application of the vision is made very clear: “The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.’ ”” (Zechariah 5:4, NIV).   "It reminds those within the covenant community that they cannot ignore or abuse God’s covenant law and expect to escape discipline. Although granted a new start by Yahweh in this new phase of redemptive history, he continues to take sin seriously and demands covenant loyalty with one’s neighbor." 

Internal evidence of redemptive hope is absent from this passage. Indeed, in the Law alone, there is no hope.  The Law and it's power to condemn is understood by the New Testament.  “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,” (Romans 8:3, NIV).  Galatians 3:12–14 (NIV) affirms:

¹² The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The seriousness by which God takes sin is seen clearly in how He condemned sin in the flesh of His own Son, who became sin for us.  Sin will not impede the progress of God's kingdom.  Sin will either be purged from the land or punished in Christ Jesus.  Either way, the work of God will continue.

Father, Your Law flies over our communities today. It is a hammer.  It is condemning and consuming.  We suppress the knowledge of it because it carries with it fearful obligations. “Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.” (Proverbs 19:16, NIV).  Your demands are high.  You do not mark on the curve. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (James 2:10, NIV).  Father, grace is amazing and grace is immeasurable, but may we never take for granted the incredible standard of holiness that You set before Your people.  It is because of Christ, His death-defying sacrifice, that enables us to live for righteousness.  It is only cancelled sin that has its power broken.  It is only the Gospel that empowers us to live in pursuit of holiness.  Grant grace this day to live a life reflecting Your glory and purity.  Amen.

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1. Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 5654-5657). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1810). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 5756-5758). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

 

 

Faith Receives Due To The Promise.

Paul has just reminded the reader that to fail to obey the Law is to stand cursed before God.  "He therefore that will avoid the curse, must lay hold upon the promise of blessing, or upon the faith of Abraham, or else he shall remain under the curse." [1]

Galatians 3:11–14 (NIV),

¹¹ Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” ¹² The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Paul now appeals to another prophet, Habakkuk. If one is called to live by faith, then obviously it cannot be that we are live by the Law.  The two things are different.  "It is impossible therefore that faith should be of the law. For faith only resteth in the promise, it only apprehendeth and knoweth God, and standeth only in receiving good things of God. Contrariwise the law and works consist in doing, and in giving unto God . . . But faith requireth no works of us, or that we should give anything unto God, but that we believing the promise of God, should receive of him. Therefore the office of the law is to work, as the office of faith is to assent unto the promises. For faith is the faith of the promise, and the work is the work of the law." [1]

To seek to follow the Law, one must follow it fully.  "This expresses the principle of the law. Men are not commanded to believe the Old Testament law, but to do it. Failure to render absolute obedience is fatal."[2]  And now the Apostle reminds us that Christ took that curse of disobedience for us.  "For he saith not that Christ was made a curse for Himself, but for us. Therefore all the weight of the matter standeth in this word 'for us' . . . But Christ took our sins upon Him, and for them died upon the Cross; therefore it behoveth that He should become a transgressor, and (as Isaiah saith, chapter liii.) “be reckoned among the transgressors.” [3]

We note that all the blessings of the Gospel, the substitutionary life and death of Christ Jesus, come to us through Christ -- not Abraham, not of ethnic origin -- but Christ.  And this is so  “we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith . . . and this liberty and gift of the Spirit we receive not by any other merit than by faith alone. [3] "Paul began his argument in this section (vv. 2–3) by asking the Galatians how they received the Spirit. It was through faith. Given this, the Galatians have already experienced the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham." [4]

This promise of the Spirit (Acts 2:33; [Isa. 32:15; 44:3; Joel 2:28; John 7:39; Eph. 1:13]) is that work of the Spirit baptizing believers into Christ.

Without faith, Father, it is impossible to please You.  Faith is required from beginning to end. Faith is that which receives with an open hand from You.  Faith never gives. You give. I will forever be the beneficiary of Your grace.  Faith loves the words "for us."  Christ came for us.  Christ lived for us. Christ died for us.  Christ ever lives for us.  Apart from the "for us" there is nothing for us.  The promise of the Spirit is the promise of sovereign and free grace.  It is the promise of the New Covenant bought for and paid for by the Lamb of God and applied by the Spirit of God.  It's a promise of security and a promise of assurance.  This is my rock today, Father.  There is no other word that brings hope and security.  Thanks be unto God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:10). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2385). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
3. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:13). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
4. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 3:14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Who Gets The Glory?

Galatians 1:9 (NIV)

"⁹ As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!"

"Here Paul casteth out very flames of fire, and his zeal is so fervent that he beginneth also almost to curse the angels. . . The Greek word anathema, in Hebrew herem, signifieth a thing accursed, execrable, and detestable, which hath nothing to do, no participation or communion with God." [1] 

Having repeated this denunciation twice Paul is making it abundantly clear that there is only one Gospel and it is a damnable thing to pervert it and preach a different Gospel. Any accusation that Paul's Gospel is pampering mankind is silly.  Luther points out what the true Gospel affirms to show that Paul is certainly not preaching a Gospel to win the affections of man.  He writes,

Neither do we seek the favour of men by our doctrine; for we teach that all men are ungodly by nature, and the children of wrath (Eph. ii. 3). We condemn man’s free-will, his strength, wisdom, and righteousness, and all religion of man’s own devising: and to be short, we say that there is nothing in us that is able to deserve grace and the forgiveness of sins; but we preach that we obtain this grace by the free mercy of God only, for Christ’s sake: for so the heavens shew forth the glory of God and his works, condemning all men generally with their works (Ps. xix. 1 f.). [1]

Paul clearly teaches a Gospel come from God, not man, because he teaches "the things which are of God, saith the Apostle, hereby it may sufficiently appear, that I preach the only grace, the mercy, the goodness and the glory of God." [1]  Paul's desire is to only preach a message that pleases God.  “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, NIV).

If a Gospel proclamation is man-pleasing then the messenger is discounted as not a servant of Christ. Paul makes this plain.  And "if I would preach the law and circumcision, and commend the strength, the power, and the will of men, I should not be so odious unto them, but should please them." [1]

So here we start to see insight into the essence of a Gospel that comes from God or man; a Gospel that pleases God or pleases man.  The bottom-line is "who gets the glory?"   Is your salvation because of a wise decision on your part; a fortuitous cooperation with the Spirit; and because of your diligence and attention to the things of God?  If so, it is a false Gospel worthy of damnation.

Father, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus that has been preserved and passed to us through men like Paul is a Gospel that flattens my pride.  It is indeed a message of good news that attributes to you all glory and honor.  It's a work that You started before time in the counsels of the Godhead.  It is a work that You Father initiated in Your sovereign and electing love.  It is a work that our Savior purchased on Calvary, by His own blood, for those given to Him by You.  It is a work that was made efficient and effective by the Holy Spirit as He quicken our dead souls.  It is a work that once begun by You, will be finished by You.  My pride and self-glorification is demolished. You get all the glory.

Father we learn in this passage that it is a dangerous thing to rob Your glory -- even a hint of it. It is the most damnable acts to steal Your rightful praise and honor. Wash my conscience and my ego with Your blood that You might not only increase, but hold the supreme place.  Cleanse every word or thought from my vocabulary that would attribute any credit to me.  Grant me the holy boldness to proclaim the true Gospel, the Gospel that please You, the Gospel that men hate.  The Gospel that saves. Amen.

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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 1:8). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.