“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Hebrews 8:10 ESV
Reflection: what is the proof that someone has received Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior, and therefore has received the Holy Spirit as the “guarantee”?
I was listening to a round table discussion yesterday, where one guy brought up a very interesting point related to God’s law and Christian living. Basically asking, can you be a Christian and not follow the law? We know that Jesus fulfilled the law; he lived a perfect, sinless life, exactly as God had intended for all mankind. And, in addition, and because he was perfect, he also was “qualified” to become a perfect sacrifice, for the atonement for sin. And by his sacrifice, he established a new covenant in his blood, for the forgiveness of sins. So far, so good. But then he raised the question. Do we too as Christians also have to fulfill the law? Our “Christian” teachings would probably say “no”, since Jesus already did that. And, Hallelujah, that is true from the perspective of salvation. Of giving us a way to enter into the presence of God. But, then what? Can we live according to the flesh, and ignore the law?
Of course not. What then is the proof of any repentance and conversion? Jesus became the model for us to follow, the example. He showed us what we are to be like. A heart that has received Jesus, a mind that is focused on him, desire and try by definition to become more and more like him. The proof that someone has truly received Jesus, is therefore what their lives look like. It is not perfection of course, but it is about who and what they are trying to become. What they are striving towards. That is our spiritual worship. Let’s look at some scriptures.
In the book of Hebrews, we can better understand this from the perspective of what God had instructed to the Israelites, in terms of law and worship. Let’s read the focus verse again. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Hebrews 8:10 ESV. The writer here is referring to the receiving of the Holy Spirit. As a result of the new covenant established in the blood of Jesus, God put His laws into the minds, writing them on the hearts, of who? He says “my people”, the house of Israel. But who is that, in the new covenant?
“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” Romans 10:8-13 ESV. There is no distinction here, there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ, regardless.
“That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” Romans 4:16-17 ESV And, Paul continues “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.” Romans 9:6-8 ESV
In other words, all that have truly received Jesus Christ, and are following him, are children of the promise. Jesus is called “the firstfruit” of many, of those who are called to be conformed to his image. Paul writes “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30 ESV.
Ok, a lot here to think about and process. But where does this lead us? The proof of Jesus being present as Lord, is a changed heart and mind that desire to fulfill God’s will, to live according to His laws.