Useless?

Useless and Obsolete

These are two words used in Hebrews to describe the old covenant. Find them in Hebrews 7: 18 and 8:13. These are very strong words to describe part of God’s Word. Many of the people to whom he is writing are very emotionally tied to the Hebrew Bible. They might even say, “I was born a Jew, and I will die a Jew.” Why does the author risk hurting the feelings of his audience? There is much as stake!

One of the biggest threats to the good news of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ was the imposition of legalism. The earliest Christians were aggressively pursued by those who taught them to go back to keeping various aspects of the Law of Moses. Many of the epistles are written to combat this threat. What could possible be so dangerous about observing a feast or keeping a Sabbath? The false teaching is based on a basic idea that mankind is capable of working just a little harder, and in a more organized fashion, in order to please God. They indirectly teach that man still has a basically good nature, and the false teachers claim that they can train people to please God. Since we all have some level of guilt they also teach that we may need to practice some asceticism or severity to the body in order to find purity. The problem with this is that it distracts from the truth. It can very quickly divert one away from faith in Jesus Christ alone. Note the stern warning of Paul in Galatians 5: 2-4. Paul states that if they accept circumcision they are severed from Christ. Do our religious practices matter? Why not just let people enjoy their cultural heritage? Well, it is because these religious and cultural rituals can prevent an individual from saving faith. People do trust in the ritual and their own goodness, without even understanding why Christ had to die for their sins.

Some from the evangelical church are converting to high ritual churches. They act like they see no harm in the strictly formalized rituals. Sadly, true believers can understand the rituals in light of true faith, but millions of others in those religions do not know how to be saved. By testimony they trust themselves. Ask them. “Do you think you will go to heaven?” They will say something like, “I hope so, I am not sure I have done enough. “ This is not the new covenant faith.

Every time I baptize a believer I emphasize that baptism does not save them. I shudder to think of the untold millions who have been deceived by “Christian” baptism. Literally many are condemned because they have faith in a ritual, rather than Christ. God help us!

So the writer of Hebrews wants his Jewish audience to know that the old covenant, the law, was weak and useless because it made nothing perfect. Using the same word “perfect” he says that the appointed Son has been made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7:28) This perfected son has accomplished the purpose of his incarnation and is now able to “save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him…” (Hebrews 7:25) Keeping various legalistic regulations will not bring you to God because you are still sinful.

Only Jesus can save to the uttermost! Trust him and him alone! Every other religion teaches some form of legalism. Every other religion is weak and useless.