On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. They remained standing in place for three hours while the Book of the Law of the LORD their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the stairway of the Levites and cried out to the LORD their God with loud voices. Then the leaders of the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—called out to the people: “Stand up and praise the LORD your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!” Then they prayed: “May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise! [Nehemiah 9.1-5]
Again today (following Old Testament? New Testament? from yesterday), if what Jesus said in John 5 means anything, there should be more understanding of Nehemiah's record above than just history. Jesus said:
You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]
Jesus is the Word of God. In the presence and presentation of the Word as recorded in Nehemiah, the people repented. In perfect continuity with this, Jesus' ministry started off (after being tempted in the wilderness by Satan) like this:
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” [Matthew 4.17]
And then, this is what Jesus instructed His followers as He was leaving them to return to heaven (note His association with the law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms - the Old Testament):
Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ [Luke 24.44-47]
There again is the word "repent" in the presence and presentation of Jesus the Word. Repentance is just as critical and necessary "in Christ" the Word today as it was in Nehemiah's day and during Jesus' time on earth. Any "Jesus" teaching without repentance is in gross error and is pure fallacy!
Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ [Matthew 7.20-23]
Let it be repeated here: when Ezra read from the Book of the Law (the Word - Jesus) the people wept and repented - "...they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads, and ...they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors"
Having established repentance (and it must be established first), then, naturally, comes the worship of God for His Word - our Salvation - Jesus. To bypass repentance to get to Jesus yields only His eternally devastating response: I never knew you.
Don't ever be fooled by any idea or teaching that makes the statement, "well, that was Old Testament..." Jesus, the Old Testament AND New Testament "Word," is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13.8). The fact that, according to Matthew 7, I never knew you is what Jesus will say, On judgment day regarding you who break God’s laws debunks any notion that anything changed from Old Testament to New Testament regarding repentance in the presence and presentation of God's Word!
Jesus (God's Word in ENTIRETY - The Law of Moses, the prophets, the Psalms and His own words while on earth) is not a buffet for us to choose what we want or don't want! We must strive to understand ALL God's Word as it is revealed to us and thankfully, knowing we would need help to do so, Jesus sent His Holy Spirit. God spoke "Jesus" in the Law and the Prophets. God sent "Jesus" in His ministry on earth. And God confirms "Jesus" through the Holy Spirit.
Yes, the New Testament ushered in the Age of Grace, but there is no grace for the unrepentant. God's Word stands eternal and in it's presence we do not measure up. So, we must repent, remain repentant (humble), and trust in Christ's body and blood sacrifice to cover us in our humility to boldly come in submission to the throne of our Father God TO DO HIS WILL. We have a commission to fulfill.
Father, I feel like I have been duped by the incorrect distinctions made between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Thank You for revealing that Your Word is not divided and that Your Word, Your Son, Jesus Christ is indeed the same yesterday, today, and forever!
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