Dr Paul Allen

We see that by the word picture that Paul employs. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” The Gospel is a treasure. The glorious Good News of the New Covenant is absolutely priceless. Whereas the Old Covenant brought only death and condemnation, the New Covenant brings spiritual life and saving righteousness ( 2 Cor 3:7–8). Whereas the Old Covenant provided only limited access to the concealed glory of God , the New Covenant provides continual access to open-faced admiration of the glory of God shining in the face of Christ (2 Cor  3:12 –18). Whereas the Law made nothing perfect (Heb  7:19 ) and only further aroused our sinful passions (Rom 7:7–11), the New Covenant brings inward transformation and conformity to the image of Christ (2 Cor  3:18 ). Whereas the Old Covenant was powerless to transform the heart of man, the Gospel of the glory of Christ shines into that dead heart, and the Holy Spirit Himself awakens the affections to hate sin and to...

oil on wood panel (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) If an angel comes in here and says, "Wait a minute. You can't get to heaven by trusting Christ and Christ alone, and having the imputation of His merit." And the angel came here and said, "For you to really be justified you have to have inherent righteousness. You have to add works to faith, merit to grace, you to Christ." If an angel from heaven came in here and said that this afternoon, I would take him by the seat of his celestial pants and kick him out of here! Paul said that if anybody teaches you any other gospel, even if it's an angel from heaven, let him be anathema. Let him be anathema; let him be damned. If the pope, the bishop, the priest, your preacher, teaches any other gospel than that which you have received, let him be anathema; because there is no other gospel. Here's where, when the gospel is at stake, as Luther said in His great hymn, "A Mighty Fortress," in the last...

Painting by Rembrandt of Paul, one of the most notable of early Christian missionaries, who called himself the "Apostle to the Gentiles." Paul, a Hellenistic Jew, was very influential on the shift of Christianity to Gentile dominated movement. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Are Gentiles under the law? Gentiles are to be distinguished from Jews in that they “do not have the law” (Rom. 2:14). Therefore, Gentiles are said to be “without the law” (Rom. 2:12). When Paul thinks of those who have the law (Jews) and those who do not have the law (Gentiles), he distinguishes between sin and transgression. Gentiles, even though they do not possess the law, still sin. “All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law” (Rom. 2:12).  Transgression can be distinguished from sin, for “where there is no law there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15). If we adopt this distinction, Gentiles did not transgress the law, for they did not have the written law . But even thou...

Moses with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, painting by Rembrandt (1659) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) If by the Old Testament law we mean the laws in the covenant established with Moses , then the answer is “yes,” since Paul clearly teaches that Christians are no longer under the law covenant instituted under Moses. For instance, in 2 Corinthians 3:14 the Mosaic covenant is identified as “the old covenant” in contrast with “the new covenant” (2 Cor. 3:6) of which Paul is a minister.  The phrase “old covenant” implies that that covenant enacted with Moses is no longer in force and that it has been replaced by the new covenant. The old covenant is clearly identified with the law, for the letters engraved on stone, which are clearly the Ten Commandments , reflect the content of the covenant (2 Cor. 3:6–7). The laws of the covenant are probably particularly in view in the phrases “when they read the old covenant” (2 Cor. 3:14) and “whenever Moses is read” (2 Cor. 3:15)....

“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city”  (Heb. 11:16). The examples of faith given to us in Hebrews 11 show us what persevering faith looks like. They also tell us of the inferiority of the old covenant promise compared to the present new covenant reality in Christ . This reality we enjoy even now and we will enjoy to the fullest once Jesus returns and brings all things to consummation. In Hebrews 11:13 we see the inferiority of the position of the old covenant saints . However, though we are in a better position than they were because we live under the new covenant, our present situation is not wholly dissimilar to theirs. Verse 13 tells us that the old covenant saints were “strangers and exiles on the earth,” and this is how our present status is explained elsewhere in the New Testament (1 Peter 2:11). The theme of exile appears throughout the Bib...

Stained glass window (early 17th century), Church Saint Etienne du Mont in Paris. Above: Rabbis washing their hands under a menorah and the Ark of the Covenant, and a plan of the Synagogue. Below: Christ washing the feet of the Apostles, and a plan of the Church (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “These all died in faith , not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Heb. 11:13). This passage makes it clear that the examples of faith from Hebrews 11 are not given only so that we will know what faith looks like. Rather, these examples show us the superiority of the new covenant and encourage us to be faithful to the witness of the old covenant saints through our faithfulness to the new covenant. You may remember that many in the original audience of Hebrews thought that they could abandon Christ without any dreadful consequences. They thought that they could be fait...

Moses with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, painting by Rembrandt (1659) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 8:1 –4 “ Jesus said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them’” (v. 4). The first evangelist has shown our Savior to be a new Moses in his gospel. Like Moses, Jesus was in mortal danger shortly after His birth ( Ex. 1:8–2:10; Matt. 2:16–18). Christ, the new covenant mediator, delivered God’s word on a mountain just as Moses received the Torah (the Law) on Sinai (Ex. 19:20–23:33; Matt. 5–7). However, Jesus comes not as Moses’ equal, but as his superior. Unlike Moses, our Lord explains the Law by His own authority (7:28–29). Moreover, Jesus comes down from the mountain to cleanse His people after declaring His Father’s will (8:1–4). Christ is better than Moses, who came down with commands that could only pronounce them “unclean” ...

Dispute of Jesus and the Pharisees over tribute money (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 5:17–20 “Truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (v. 18). We come to one of Jesus ’ most complex teachings as it discusses the life and role of the old covenant Law . This is a much-debated topic, and thus we will carefully draw conclusions that accord well with the entirety of Scripture.  Jesus discusses the Mosaic law at this point in the Sermon on the Mount to prevent His disciples from misunderstanding the teaching that follows.  Our Lord is about to correct the interpretations of the Pharisees ( Matt. 5:21–48), who are beloved by the common man. The people equate these traditions with the Law itself, and to correct them is to violate God’s Word in the eyes of the people unless Christ makes His intention clear beforehand.  Ver...