The majority of those who claim to be Christians today are traditional Christians. They assume that what they have believed and practiced for generations will qualify them as ‘Christians’ and ultimately lead them to heaven.
The truth is that tradition does not make anyone a follower of Christ. The ceremonies and festivals observed by the Jewish people will not become the Christian tradition. Neither are Christians obligated to imitate the Jewish priesthood, sacrifices, and temple practices. The way of Christ is not based on ceremonies, but rather, it must be born in faith and lived in faith.
Religion or Person
True Christians are followers of a person rather than followers of a religion. That unique person is the Lord Jesus Christ. True Christians are those who depend on Christ’s atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sins and are born again. They surrender their lives to Him and live according to the guidance of the Spirit of God. Christ makes this clear in the third chapter of the Gospel of John.
Man’s word or God’s Word
The basis of Christian faith is the Word of God.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Rom. 10:17 NKJV)
It is desirable to believe in what is written in the Word of God rather than to believe in what is merely heard. Because the Bible is infallible, unchangeable, and God-breathed.
But the word of the Lord remains forever.” (1Peter 1:25 NLT)
Verify everything you hear with the Word of God.
And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
(Acts 17:11 NLT)
It contains all the teachings needed for a Christ follower.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
(2Timothy 3:16-17 NLT)
God had given written laws and regulations to the Jewish people. They were obliged to strictly follow it. When they gather on the Sabbath, they read and listen to the Word of God and talk about it with each other at home, on the road, and at work. They used to write God’s commandments on the door posts of the house and in other prominent places so that they could always see them. Some even wrote them and put it in a small leather box (known as phylacteries) and tied it to their foreheads.
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
(Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NLT)
Temple Relocated
The people of Israel were chosen to love the one true God by keeping His laws and commandments. It was the blessing and privilege they received through Abraham. God said that all people would come to worship Him in Jerusalem. King Solomon built a temple there.
For the Lord has chosen Jerusalem; he has desired it for his home. “This is my resting place forever,” he said. “I will live here, for this is the home I desired.
(Psalms 132:13-14 NLT)
The Jews had only one temple. In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat on it. God had said that He would dwell there. But the New Testament teaches that all believers who have been regenerated by the Spirit of God are God’s temple. God the Holy Spirit dwells in them.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
(1Cor. 3:16 NKJV)
However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands.
(Acts 7:48 NLT)
Sacrifices for Sin
Under the Old Covenant, forgiveness of sins required continual sacrifices. All the details of the Jerusalem Temple were given by God Himself. All of them had spiritual meanings and they were foreshadows of things to come. Because God’s presence was in the Holy of Holies, it was separated from the rest by a curtain. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest alone would go there with the blood of animals that had been slaughtered for his sins and the sins of the people, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat. If there is some shortcoming, the high priest will fall dead there. Read Leviticus chapter 16 to understand this.
Apart from special occasions, sacrifices had to be offered daily in the morning and evening, to escape death, which is the punishment for sins. Hebrews chapter 10 makes this clear.
Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
(Hebrews 10:11-12 NLT)
Calvary the Turning point
The Jewish priesthood that began with Aaron ended with Calvary because the temple lost its importance when God, the Holy Spirit, took up residence in the believers. There was no need for a priestly system. They were all a shadow of Calvary. The curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom, and God gave the believers the right to approach the throne of grace, without the need of an intermediary, under the cover of His Son’s holy blood.
The New Testament doesn’t record that the apostles and disciples followed the Aaronic priestly tradition. But centuries later, those who claim to be the successors of the apostles have brought back the old covenant system, which is difficult to understand. The truth is that those who see the apostolic tradition in thrones do not see the sufferings and martyrdom the apostles endured for the sake of the gospel. The Lord had made the apostolic mission very clear to them.
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)
When we look at the history of the church, we will understand how much the church of Christ deviated from obeying this last commandment of the Lord. We can see fights and debates, tug of war for honors and positions, and rituals that take advantage of the ignorance of the believers. But because God preserved small groups of faithful followers in every era, the gospel was preached throughout the ages and it reached all over the world. Remember that this is not because of the faithfulness of the church leadership, but because of the power of the Word of God.
It is the same with my Word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
(Isaiah 55:11 NLT)
Everyone a Priest
All redeemed believers are royal priests called to serve the Lord.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
(1Peter 2:9 NKJV)
Believers are the body of Christ and Christ is the head. Just as the parts of the body have different functions, believers receive different gifts and carry out the mission of the church.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
(Eph. 4:11-13 NLT)
This is further clarified in 1Corinthians 12. All these gifts are given for the spiritual growth of the church. There is no small or big gift. There is no difference between shepherds and sheep. Everyone has a responsibility to edify one another according to the gift of grace each has received.
From early on, shepherds began to act as leaders. They claimed to be the successors of the apostolic tradition and placed themselves a level higher to assume authority over the sheep. Thus there came a distinction between the clergy and the laity. The believers were given to understand that they should approach God only through the clergy like in the Old Testament. Many rituals, practices and ceremonies became part of religious requirements, though the Word of God does not suggest them.
Only Mediator
There is no need for mediators to approach God. God’s Word says,
For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.
(1Timothy 2:5-6 NLT)
The shepherds frighten the sheep, who are burdened with their sins, pointing to God’s wrath and judgment, and prescribe various acts of penance, intercessory help, etc. The sheep do not understand the depth of God’s love and do not follow the true Shepherd.
The truth is that Jesus Christ, our heavenly High Priest and Mediator, who took our sins and offered Himself as a sacrifice on Calvary, sits at the right hand of the Father and intercedes for us.
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
(1John 1:9 NLT)
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
(Romans 8:34 NLT)
But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.
(Hebrews 7:24-25 NLT)
True Shepherd
The Lord may have to tell the clergy of today as he told the Pharisees of His day, “Woe to the shepherds who lead the people astray with ceremonies and rituals that do not agree with the word of God.” These leaders who aim for positions, thrones and honours, forget their responsibility towards the souls who are slipping away into hellfire.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me…”
(John 10:14 NLT)
Jesus, the good shepherd, knows his sheep. His sheep will hear his voice. He is coming again to gather unto Himself the sheep who hear His voice and follow Him. We are seeing the signs of His coming all around. Turn to the Word of God and listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd before it is too late. Invite Him to come in and be your Saviour and Master. Commit yourself to follow Him.
Agree with God that you are a sinner and in need of a Saviour. (Rom.3:23; 6:23)
Believe that Jesus took your punishment and died in your place. Ask Him to forgive you. (Rom.5:8; John 14:6)
Confess with your mouth that Jesus is your only Saviour and Master. Ask Him to come into your life. (Rom.10:9; Rev.3:20; Heb.13:5)
