The Reformation

 

 

The Reformation

What exactly and truly is the reformation? Is it the major movement that took place within Western Christianity in early 16th-century, resulted in a religiously divided Europe, with most southern countries retaining Catholicism and many northern ones adopting Protestantism!

Is it a change of belief from salvation by works to salvation by grace! Or, is it a change from justification by the deeds of the law to justification by faith? And thereby, making void or ineffective the law through faith and works through grace? When, we have been duly admonished saying; “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” (Romans 3:31; 7:7; James 2:14).

So then, my humble question is, what sort of reformation was the apostle Paul referring to when he said that; “the Holy Spirit indicating this that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing: It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience ---concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:8-10).

Please, let us all bear in mind the fact that, reformation in the true sense of the word is a change intended to be an improvement, but in order to effectively bring about this change, one should be aware of the rationale and objective of the reformation.

What then is the reformation we are to be concerned about and what is the objective and rationale for this reformation? The reformation that we should be greatly concern about is the one that has to do with the doing away of the copies and shadows of things and reforming them with the reality, and the rationale and objective is to have a new and better way by which we can draw near to God.

 Please bear in mind that the New Covenant which brought about the reformation became effective after the death of Jesus Christ, for where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

The transition or reformation from the old covenant to the new is not the abolishing of the old covenant per say, but rather the doing away of what is becoming obsolete and growing old, and ready to varnish away. This reformation is the doing away of the shadow and copies of the heavenly things, which were imperfect and replacing them with the reality.

For if the first covenant had been faultless then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, the LORD says, behold the days are coming, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Therefore, it is not the covenant that is was at fault, but the shadow and copies of the heavenly things that were faulty.

The faulty shadows and copies of the heavenly things which were replaced by the reality and they are as follows:

1.      The Tabernacle

When Moses was divinely instructed to construct the tabernacle he was told; “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain”. The earthy tabernacle was a copy and shadow of the tabernacle in heaven. The Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest whilst the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience” (Hebrews 8:5; 9:8-9).

It is now done away with, and replaced by the true tabernacle. For, “This is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.” Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation:” He has not entered the holy place made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 8:2; 9:8-11, 24).

2.      Animal/Food Sacrifices

The priests entered the earthly tabernacle which was a copy and shadow of the heavenly tabernacle with both gifts and sacrifices. The objective of these sacrifices was to make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience, but because these gifts and sacrifices were a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality, could never with these same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach, or drew near to God perfect.

The earthly service had its limitations: The priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services, but into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance. The blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer were a shadow and copy of the reality. They were used to sprinkle the unclean, and sanctify them for the purification of the flesh.

This copy and shadow has now been replaced with the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, to purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:6-7, 9-14).

The ceremonial law is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. He takes away the first that He may establish the second, by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 7:18-19;10: 9-10).

3.      The Priesthood

It is stated that, “If perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? The former priests were a shadow and copy of the reality: they were imperfect, not without sin, and being mortal men, were prevented by death from continuing in office.

On the other hand, the reality, Jesus Christ, “since He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood, and therefore, He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, un-defiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices first for His own sins and then for the people’s for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” And instituted the Cup of the new covenant for the remission of our sins, which became effective after His death (Hebrews 7:23-27; Luke 22:20; Matthew 26:28).

Inasmuch as Jesus Christ was made priest with an oath by Him who said, “The Lord has sworn and will not relent: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, He has become by so much more a guarantee of a better covenant, He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Hebrews 7:20-22; 8:6).

Our main concern and duty therefore as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God´s own special people, is to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service, so as to be worthy to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings at the appointed times.

For thus spoke the Lord to Moses saying; "Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time” (Numbers 28:2).

This I am afraid is the main cause of disunity in the religious circle and in addition, not practicing the protocol that is associated with the presentation of the food for the Lord´s offering. But theses times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men every where to repent.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph