Cross to Crown Blog

The Yoke of Moses

Acts 15 records a watershed event both in the book itself and in biblical hermeneutics. The question before the council was, "Are Christians under the Law of Moses?" From this chapter forward, the book is preoccupied with the Gentile mission of Paul. Peter, the apostles, Jerusalem, the Jews, they all fade away as the gospel moves inexorably toward the Roman capitol of Gentile paganism. From this point in redemptive history forward, the gospel is about Christ, not Moses. Certainly, the OT continues to supply the historical and theologal backdrop for the NT. But as Lorraine Boettner said, the OT is our history book, not our law book.

At the council, the apostle Peter made two important observations, then a bold declaration.

Observation 1—Requiring believers to submit to the Law of Moses was putting God to the test. Now that Messiah has come, now that atonement has been made, now that the kingdom has been inaugurated, now that everything foreshadowed and promised by Moses has been fulfilled in Christ, to point disciples back to the shadows is to provoke the anger of God.

Observation 2—Requiring believers to submit to the Law of Moses was placing a yoke upon their necks that neither the Pharisees, nor the apostles, nor the great Jews of old (e.g. David, Solomon) were able to support. The Law of Moses carried with it promises of curses and destruction for anyone who disobeyed it (cf. Deut. 28:15-29:1). Why would anyone want to place Christians under God's curse?

Bold declaration—Salvation for both Jews and Gentiles comes only by God's grace. Believing Jews and Gentiles have the same status, same opportunity, and same hope. There is no distinction. Only God's grace can bring rescue from His just wrath.

The Yoke of Christ

Scared people stop. Ashamed people hide. Despondent people run. These reactions are fitting for people who stand under the condemnation of a holy God. Sinners should stop in fear, they should try to hide from His gaze, they should run as far away from Him as possible. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of a righteous God.

But God.

But God has spent His wrath on another victim in your place. But God has forgiven you of every offense. But God has declared you altogether righteous in His sight. But God has adopted you into His family. But God has promised you a new life of sinless perfection.

Too often, my friends, we forget the gospel. When we forget the gospel, we stop in fear, hide in shame, and run in despair. The judgments of other humans weigh us down. The evaluations of parents, friends, co-workers, neighbors, even the guy behind us in the checkout line cause us to feel unworthy, unlovable, unacceptable. We don't measure up. We lack significance. We are unworthy of any approving sentiment. We are nothing.

Jesus said that if you come to Him, He will give you rest for your soul. His yoke is easy, His burden light. You can be free of fear, shame, and despair. But you must go to Him. Don't be quick to run to anyone or anything else—medical science, counselors, books, pastors, parents, friends—when your only guaranteed source of rest is Jesus Christ. Go to Him, take His yoke, and let your soul rest.

[WATCH: The Yoke of the Law and the Yoke of Christ]

Lionel Windsor has a fine series of articles on our need to express the gospel. If you struggle with evangelism, this will help. Here's an excerpt:

The gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t a law that helps us to be righteous before God by doing good works. The gospel is a message; a specific message about a specific person. It’s a message that Jesus is Lord, that God has raised him from the dead. It’s a message that God’s righteousness comes through this specific person, Jesus the risen Lord. If the gospel of Jesus Christ were a law, the appropriate response to it would be to act, to work, to do good things. But since the gospel of Jesus Christ is a message, we should respond to it first and foremost as a message: by having it in our heart and on our lips.

Read the entire post.