Referring to Christ Paul wrote, “For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ‘See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’” (Hebrews 8:4-5). Again he wrote, “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:13-17).

Paul also wrote in this manner concerning the things of the law, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:5-8). Paul also reminds us, “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense” (Romans 14:20). If you are convinced and convicted to observe a day, do so to the Lord and not the law. What is the work of God that we do not want to destroy? Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment (1 John 3:23). Let us not be convinced by our own works and destroy the faith in Christ.

It is evident that we are not to destroy our faith in Jesus (believe in Him who He sent) by doing those things which we believe to be right even in the law. If food offends you, do not eat of it. If not observing the Sabbath offends you, then observe the Sabbath to the Lord. If it offends you to not give according to the law, then give to the Lord according to the law a tenth. Indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham (Hebrews 7:5). If you give to the gift of faith, give so to the Lord. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Romans 12:6-8). He who is of offense gives to the Lord so as not to be offended. He who is at liberty gives to the Lord with liberty.

But what should we teach, as a Church, about giving? “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting” (Numbers 18:21). Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? (Hebrews 7:11). Melchizedek is not of the children of Levi. Our ministry is under the Christ called according to the order of Melchizedek. The tithe was not given to us by God and we have no right to demand a tenth. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). Christ did not remove the blessings, but redeemed us from the curse. While the Church has no right to demand a tenth, we can give and receive according to the gifts God has given to us. The Church can and should teach the blessings of giving and that the gift of giving is from God.

If I wish to do no work from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset and dedicate that time to the study of the things of God, it is good for me to do so and cannot be a sin. In doing so, I am not justified by the works (the act). My righteousness is still of Christ and not myself. What I am observing are the things of God and not a day. Do I observe the Sabbath? With my eyes I see the seventh day (both the evening and the morning) and with my spiritual eyes I see the things of God everyday. But, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20b-21). In my giving I owe no one. “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). In owing nothing, I have nothing to pay; but in receiving blessings I have things to give. In receiving I am blessed and in giving I am blessed. Our Priest is not of this earth and neither is our priesthood. If we seek first the kingdom of Heaven, the things of this earth will be provided.

© 2007, Tim D. Coulter Sr.