The Light From The Gospel

THE LIGHT FROM THE GOSPEL

Exodus 34:27-35

27 Then the LORD said to Moses, " Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." 28 So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. Moses’ Face Shines 29 It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. 30 So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, 35 the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.

First of all we should notice that the commandments are written by God’s own finger, which means that they are unchangeable and unshakable, - they are solid here on earth at all times, and it does not help how “modern” we have become, - it should not put these aside.

They stand just the same as solid in this moment, as when He wrote them down on the tablets – just as unchangeable and unshakable for Jews as for Norwegians and for all mankind.

When you see the peoples life on this background, you will also notice the seriousness. It says about king Josiah in the Scripture; - the book of laws had been lying around making dust for many years, - when the state scribe Safan came to the king and read from the book of laws to him, and it says: “When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.” (2 Kings 22:11).

This was a sign for sorrow and terror with the Jews, - now that he heard the word, he realized his own and his peoples true condition. If the word is apart from us, we cannot see where we are going, or how our condition really is.

And how is it really with us, a people who find more joy to get one more entertainment channel on the TV! – Just to push the limit a little. Just imagine that one day our people are going to be judged by God’s holiness requirements. How will that be? – Is there any doubt about that?

Then you have to ask this question: How will I be? Because this is something unchangeable and totally unshakable we have ahead of us. There will be no “good natured,”- there will be no sound of: “- you are after all not a bad fellow, in spite; I guess we will adapt it in your case. No, God’s word stands firm. It will be a disaster for some, as it was for king Josiah, but thank goodness for others, as the apostle in the book of Hebrews: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8).

You see, all of God’s word stands firm. If that was not the case, who could then own their certainty of salvation? In the Catholic church or doctrine there is no certainty of salvation, you cannot know for certain, and therefore people are not set free, but is being bound by the church and the priesthood. This can happen with organizations and preachers too, so that you own your certainty of salvation through them, - if you are approved and your Christianity is recognized by them, - but true certainty of salvation has its foundation in the revelation of the Word. “Your word says so, that I will have mercy, and my sin will no longer be remembered!”

You see, the word of the gospel is no lesser firm than the word of the law. But not more either! – All of God’s word stands firm! But, - follow me now, - the word of the law is God’s unshakable demand to you as a human being, while the word of the gospel is a word about the completely fulfilled law, yes, it is the fulfilled law.