In the New Covenant Paul gives his summation of what the law’s purpose was in Gal.3:19 saying, “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”
But, God tells Aaron in Lev.10 “9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.”
So what we have here is an explanation from Paul for God’s giving of the law as it pertains to its being used by God to preserve a purely human bloodline through which the messiah would come. And we also see its purpose being revealed through Israel coming to understand what clean and unclean, and holy and unholy was for.
These compliment each other by giving purpose and instruction toward these ends. A means by which the end purpose of the law was to bring about the plan of God without the “princes of this world” knowing. Because in 1Cor.2:8 Paul says had they known “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
So the explanation we have from Paul about this plan that was kept hid by the law of clean and unclean and holy and unholy is one of those secret mysteries Paul told us about in Eph.3 that were hidden from all ages past. But, is now revealed to us for whom the plan was designed. So that we who are saved, we who are born of God, are the culmination of God’s plan.
Things for which Paul says, “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.”
The mysterious to them things that were written of that Paul also tells us, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
This is why these things couldn’t be revealed to men before Jesus came. Because 1 it was hidden so the princes of this world would not know. And 2 because the way it was hidden was that men were not equipped with a spirit that could understand spiritual things. So they couldn’t have understood them to be told by them it if they wanted to.
Man is natural from the time God made the first man Adam. And has remained that way until now. And only after Jesus came is spiritual life now able to be given to “whosoever will believe in Him.” This is the foundation of dispensationalism as it is taught in the scriptures.
The dividing of times in which God deals with people according to how they could be equipped. A dividing that in the need requires us to have the 3 necessary things by which men are made accountable for their choice. 1, free will with which to make the ultimate choice to trust in God or not. 2, the knowledge of good and evil without which such a choice would be impossible. And 3, the Holy Spirit’s reproof of the sin of unbelief.
And in the application of these things we must learn to rightly divide the word of truth in such a way that we understand what God has been doing prior to Jesus coming. And in contrast what He is doing today.
This is why God used the concept of clean and unclean and holy and unholy when dealing with Israel under the law. It was done to ensure a purely human bloodline through which messiah could come. By keeping Israel from the pagan practices of her pagan neighbors.
And to prepare the Jews for the time when God would make His salvation known and available to all men. As Peter was shown in the vision of the unclean things God told Him to eat. Because what God has made clean, the rest of the nations, gentiles, Jews were no longer to consider unclean.
Many Israelites mistook clean and unclean and holy and unholy for their being a superior people above all others. When the truth is it was the weaknesses in their character that made God want to use them for His purposes. Because Paul tells us it was by this weakness God showed that “after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
So Israel was not chosen because of their superiority. They were chosen to show that God’s weakness is stronger than men and that His foolishness is wiser than men. So that “no flesh should glory in His presence.” No matter how hard Israel tried to attain righteousness in that way.
As I referenced before the reason God trained into Israel the concept of clean and unclean was revealed to Peter in a vision where “a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.”
Here Peter would learn that everything he thought he knew about clean and unclean and holy and unholy was an incomplete. He learned that this had to do with keeping the bloodline pure until messiah should come.
And that now in this dispensation God would reveal Himself to all men to be saved. And that being saved is what it means to be clean and holy. And being unsaved is to be unclean and unholy.
Because to be clean and holy is to be separate from the sin of unbelief. To be a believer in Jesus that has become a “new creature in Christ.” One for whom “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ…”
And we must understand that this reconciliation is not a restoration of what Adam had when he was living in the garden. Because in the garden when he was made Adam was not spiritual, but natural. And because he was only natural he was unequipped to relate to the spiritual things of God.
So being reconciled to God is to be made the spiritual being that Adam never was. To be made “perfect even as I am perfect” as God said. To be made a being who “searches the deep things of God.” Who can “rightly divide the word of truth.” Who “judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord,” Paul asks, “that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” “By the spirit that searches all things, yea even the deep things of God.”
God did this for Israel by giving them the concept of clean and unclean and holy and unholy through their commandments, rituals, and sacrificial practices. Those things that were a constant reminder of sin that made them slaves to it.
Not realizing that these things were only to be temporary. Because as Gal.3:19 says they were only meant for Israel until the time Jesus came. Because when He came He would set them free from their slavery to sin by setting them free from the law of continual sacrifices for sins under the law.
Free from sin to a personal relationship with Him that makes all men, Jew and gentile, holy and clean when they will trust in Him. Israel knowing what Paul came to understand. That clean and unclean and holy and unholy have nothing to do with genealogy. Or the strength or will power of man. As we find in John1:12,13.
But, only with our God given free will choice to accept God’s gift of eternal life that God has offered to all men through faith in His Son Jesus. So that God’s work of deliverance can be made complete in us.
Because through faith in Jesus the Jew is set free from the law. And through faith in Jesus the gentile, that is all men from other nations, can be set free from idols and their unbelief. Only then is God’s promise made complete when He makes men clean and holy.
This is why God gave Israel clean and unclean and holy and unholy. And this is why Jesus gives rest to all men whether Jew or gentile, whether male or female, and whether bond or free. Because faith in Him makes all men one people. “One new man” as Paul said in Eph.2:13-15. Only through faith in Jesus are all men made clean and holy.
If you will trust in Jesus you will be born again. Having been born once of the flesh. And now of His Spirit. No longer only natural, but spiritual. For the Jew set free from the law, and for the gentile set free from idols.
If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. And will believe in your heart that He has raised from the dead. You shall be saved. If you will do this then you will be made a child of God by a spirit He creates in you at the moment you trust in Him. If you will do this you will be made an heir to His kingdom. If you will do this then you will have eternal life now. And immortality at the resurrection.
Don’t miss it. Because if you will do this… I will see you there or in the air!
