Obey God Rather Than Men
PART ONE
Your Bible has two major sections called ‘old’ and ‘new’. Right? These two words are true and accurate because there was something ‘new’, and the new thing caused the previous thing to become ‘old’. The next word ‘testament’ is the problem because it is inaccurate and misleading. It is not the God-inspired word of the Scriptures. The true and accurate word is ‘covenant’. It is the new covenant that made the former one old.
Initially, God made a covenant (or solemn promise) with His people, which was ratified by the blood of a sacrificed animal. That first covenant was later replaced by a much better one, ratified by the blood of Jesus Christ, the only-begotten son of God.
…but now once, in the end of the world [ages], hath he [Jesus Christ] appeared [been shown forth] to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. HEBREWS 9:26B
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who (through the eternal Spirit) offered himself without spot [blemish] to God, purge your conscience from dead works. HEBREWS 9:14A
Jesus Christ offered himself as the sacrifice of the new covenant. His blood, which ratified this new covenant, was much more precious than the blood of the sacrifice of the first covenant. The solemn promises which God made in this new covenant were also much better than those of the first.
I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. JEREMIAH 31:34B
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that He saith, A new covenant, He hath made the first old. HEBREWS 8:12-13A
The offering of the precious blood of the lamb of God was once and for all. In other words, his sacrifice was perfect and complete requiring absolutely nothing additional. Also, the benefits accomplished are available to and for all. Whoever believes receives forgiveness, and God remembers their sin no more! What a God. Man may forgive at times, but he still remembers the wrongdoing. God promises to both forgive and remember no more. What deliverance! What freedom! What a new covenant.
The fullness of this new covenant came into effect on the Feast Day of Pentecost, ten days after the ascension of Jesus Christ. Peter and the other apostles began teaching people the great things available now according to the new covenant from God. Some who heard remained adamantly committed to traditions rooted in the old covenant and law of Moses. They vehemently opposed this new teaching and those teaching it.
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. ACTS 5:17-20
The religious leadership tried to stop the teaching by the apostles of the tremendous truths of the new covenant, but they were fighting against the Word of God. God sent His angel to open the prison doors and get the apostles right back to speaking for God. They were told to go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life! God was right there with them to help the them get His message of truth spoken to people. God needs men and women to be rightly instructed and to make known the message of His new covenant. These are the words of life and deliverance, not the bondage of men’s traditions.
Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. ACTS 5: 25, 27-29
Look how Peter boldly stood for the truth of God, even when confronted by the top religious leadership of his day and time. He knew that the authority which he served and revered was the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the God of the new covenant. He confidently declared his allegiance and obligation to obey God rather than men.
Similarly, the apostle Paul also believed and obeyed God rather than men. In his first Epistle to the saints at Thessalonica he clearly declared where his commitment and dedication of heart were firmly rooted.
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth [proves] our hearts. I THESSALONIANS 2:4
Paul felt honored and privileged that God had entrusted him with the gospel. The gospel is God’s full message of His plan to redeem man. The message includes the great truths of the new covenant. By the blood of Christ we are forgiven, justified, made holy and blameless before God. Paul stood and spoke these things not to please men, but God.
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. I THESSALONIANS 2:13
