We are continuing our discussion from last week, where we concluded by stating the following:
“… a person that chooses to remain in sin, to them the law can be described as being a burden, for the law which a sinner fails to keep is a reminder that their lifestyle leads to death. This burden will rest upon the conscience of the law breaker always. The law is a burden to the law breaker, but it is to be a JOY to the law-keeper.”
The law can be seen as a burden only for those that break it because such a lifestyle has only one reward –> death.
Therefore, it is easy to understand the meaning of the following texts as it pertains to the Christian striving to live a righteous life:
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. – Romans – 6:11-15
Many practicing Christians believe that verse fourteen suggests that once a person accepts Christ, therefore becoming a Christian, that the law of God no longer applies to them. They believe that they are living under a new dispensation, a dispensation of grace. Yet, such a belief is very destructive and incorrect for several reasons:
- Immediately in verse 15 Paul asks if because a Christian is under Christ (thus grace) if they should continue sinning and he answers and stated emphatically: “No!”. This suggests that it is still possible for the Christian to sin. If it is still possible to sin, then the law still applies to the Christian, for to know sin, one must know the law, and live according to the principles that the law espouses/ promotes.
- Additionally, to suggest that living under grace releases a Christian from the guiding hand of the law is to suggest that a Christian is released from the guiding hand of God. Remember, it was stated earlier that the law of God is the will of God, His Character.
To say that a Christian is no longer bound to the law, means that a Christian is no longer bound to God’s character, that a Christian is not expected to live in accordance to God’s will and this is in fact contrary to what a Christian lifestyle is about. Certainly, it therefore means that under grace does not mean that the law no longer applies to the Christian, the law is still needed.
Ultimately, what this text truly conveys, is that a Christian that accepts the gift of salvation provided by Jesus Christ, and who maintains that gift by adhering to God’s law and remaining sinless, to them the law no longer is a burden that causes distress and fear. Such a faithful Christian need not worry about eternal death.
Jesus Christ expects Christians to live worry free as their reward is not death. The law creates NO burden of worry or stress, anxiety or fear upon the Christian. Jesus himself said:
“28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30
Note well: According to the Strong’s Concordance the word burden (φορτίον) that Jesus Christ uses when he refers to His yoke, it means task or service. So we are being told that the tasks that Jesus is inviting us to partake in will not be hard, we can be victorious in Christ if we simply choose to follow Him.
Now the texts above implies that apart from the yoke Jesus is inviting us to wear, before we accept Christ, we as human beings already have a yoke upon our necks, but that yoke is not of God.
3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. 5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy 8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself. 14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up. – Lamentations 1:3-14
As sinners we already wear a yoke, a burden (tasks that we engage in) that leads to death. That yoke is sin, sin is an oppressive yoke (obligation), an oppressive burden (task/service) that leads to our misery and destruction. We see the proof of this in the above texts taken from Lamentations. When you investigate the meaning of the word “yoke” used in the above texts it refers to our obligation or servitude to someone (ζυγός zugos dzoo-gos’ From the root of ζεύγνυμι zeugnumi (figuratively) servitude (a law or obligation)
– taken from Strong’s Bible Concordance )
As such, when we were sinners, we were obligated to or in servitude to sin (satan) and the reward it brought – death (Roman 6:23).
However, Jesus encourages us to leave behind us the yoke and burden that sin has placed upon us when we did not know God. Yet, even after we throw away the “yoke” of the world, Jesus invites us to accept a NEW yoke. WHY?
Why would Jesus replace one burden with another; simply because, as stated before the word yoke refers to whom we are obligated to, to whom we give our service. Jesus is therefore asking for us to give to Him our lives, for us to choose to be obligated to him, to give him our servitude (accept his yoke) and when we do that we shall receive a different reward: death is no longer going to be permanent, but a sleep from which the righteous shall awake unto everlasting life.
Isn’t that a worthwhile gift? Isn’t the burden (task or service) associated with this gift easy to undertake given the high stakes, the grand reward to be received? Such a burden (task) rests light upon your mind and revitalizes your hope; it will not cast you down low.
Jesus brings salvation, but salvation also requires us to be responsible and to play an active role. Our role is to remain sin-free after Jesus redeems us, this is done by making daily choices that honor God. Our choices ought not to lead us into sin. How can we know whether or not our choices will lead us into sin? What are our guidelines; where is the caution tape stating “BEWARE, DANGER AHEAD”? My friends, the guidelines of the Christian are embedded in the Law of God, the 10 Commandments.
Are you beginning to understand how important God’s law is? We are easily defeated, if we accept Jesus’ yoke (obligation) and are unable to carry it because we refuse to adhere to the guidelines God has provided. Friends, we NEED the law. It is not a burden (task) of destruction, Jesus said it is light. The burden (task) of serving Jesus is light (easy). We must simply choose to accept Him and request His help daily to live according to His will expressed in His commandments.
Friends, the Christian can live a life of peace knowing that a life with Christ translates into eternal life, this fact is a joy, NOT a burden to cast you down low. So we need not be overwhelmed by the law, but rejoice knowing that keeping God’s law (a journey of sanctification) ensures we are sinless after having been made clean through Jesus’ death on the cross (justification) and thus securing our place in God’s heavenly kingdom.
Conclusion:
- Sin has placed a yoke (obligation/servitude) upon us all that leads to eternal death
- Jesus invites us to take off the yoke of transgression and to accept His yoke (servitude) that leads to eternal life
- When we wear Jesus’ yoke, we can only remain successful in carrying it by following His guidelines and instructions
- God’s instructions to mankind are embedded in His Law (Ten Commandments)
- God’s law is NEEDED for us to get our choices right DAILY
May God richly bless us all we seek to draw closer and closer to Him.