Have you ever heard of the old expression, “Putting the cart before the horse?” I know, it’s a lost euphemism these days, now that almost everyone drives a car. It refers to doing things out of order or out of sequence. Math teachers can appreciate the expression because solving math problems involves a systematic process where you get the wrong answer if you don’t follow the order of operations.
In Sunday’s lesson, we will take a look at ways Christians may ‘put the cart before the horse,’ spiritually speaking. I have heard many discussions, debates, and even arguments about whether a repentant heart comes before or after salvation and/or baptism. I suggest many such debates in theological circles are simply opportunities for the devil to divide the church, and therefore counter productive.
But there is one issue about which I am passionate. I firmly believe LOVE overcomes LAW. The purpose of the law is to convict us of our own sin, our own unworthiness to be with God. God is love, and love covers a multitude of sins, so love conquers law. But Jesus said he came not to abolish but to fulfill the law. The scribes and Pharisees understood the law, but still did not understand Jesus was the Messiah, the fulfillment of that law.
We are called by Jesus to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors. These two ideas encompass the old law. Love is a prerequisite to obedience. This does not mean we are free to sin all we want just because we love Jesus. On the contrary, it means because we love God, we choose to keep His commandments. Let those with ears to hear listen.
Grace & Peace, Charles.