Phone Line Transcript 2001
66 Books You Should NOT Read If You Want To Remain a Jehovah's Witness No. 5 Leviticus: You Cannot Serve Jehovah, for He is a Holy God (Phone Series)
When Yahweh first called Moses in Exodus 3, the first instruction Moses received was do not come near. Draw your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. Yahweh made the rules. Even Moses could only approach God in the way God dictated.Yahweh had approached men -- Adam, Cain, Abraham, Jacob -- in many ways that Yahweh Himself chose. But men can only approach God in the way He approves. Israel learned this through much tribulation. First, when Yahweh came down in fire on Sinai, Israel chose not to meet Him at all. They sent Moses into the fire to mediate for them. Thus, unwittingly, Israel acknowledged the need of a mediator, a go-between who would speak for them to God, and who would speak to them for God.But within weeks of saying before the smoking Sinai, all that Jehovah has spoken we are willing to do, they are returning in their hearts, if not their bodies, to Egypt. Thus, again unwittingly, Israel demonstrates for eternity that God can save a people who not only don't serve Him, but can't serve Him.
For the power to obey the commandments of God is not something we can summon through our own efforts, no matter how "willing", we, like Israel, are when faced with the reality of Jehovah the devouring fire. Why did Israel fall into idolatry again as soon as their mediator Moses was out of sight? Unlike Christians in the new covenant, those under the old covenant had no power to obey. The Law of Moses, wonderful lamp to their feet as it was, gave them no ability to walk. While they walked by its light, they did not stumble. But the commandment written on tablets of stone only had the power of fear to enforce it. Unlike the new covenant, which is written on the hearts of those enjoying it, it has no life-giving power. The new covenant, according to Paul, gives us not only light, but the Lord Himself. God is working in us BOTH TO WILL and TO WORK (Phil.2:13). But Israel was not offered the Lord Himself, working within, but God on a mountain burning with fire. And they rejected him, choosing a man like themselves as mediator. Jehovah's Witnesses, have you been told you must accept the mediation of an earthly organization if you want to approach God? Have you been told that only 144,000 have the privilege of a personalrelationship to God? Have you been told that those who live on the 'new earth' need not enter into the new covenant, God working within them, writing His laws on their hearts? If so,do not be surprised when you , like Israel, fall into sin when your 'mediator' the organization isn't watching. Don't be deceived. He who has the Son has life; he that does not have the Son does not have this life (I John 5:12). In God's kingdom, as Israel found out, there is no hope outside the covenant. The terms of the Law were uncompromising. You MUST prove yourselves holy, for I Jehovah your God am holy (Lev.19:2). But how holy must we prove ourselves to be? If we're going to live by the law, make no mistake, God will hold us to our offer. As Israel saw from day one at Sinai, God won't be satisfied with half-measures, or semi-obedience: ALL that Jehovah has spoken we are willing to do .... But after God had finished dictating the terms of THIS covenant, a contract with terms, in contrast to the unconditional covenant with the patriarchs, Israel fell yet again. In fact, every Israelite who lived under the law died a sinner, offering sacrifices day after day, year after year without being able to save himself from death.
Jehovah's Witnesses, do not live under the delusion that God plays percentages, that a passing grade will do. When God says You must be holy there are no hostages -- if you choose to approach God through law, through obedience, through YOUR faithfulness, there can be only one outcome, death ... whoever observes all the law but makes a false step in one point, he has become an offender against them all (James 2:10). JW, don't let the Watchtower lay the weight of obedience on your shoulders. They say (on the last page of your Live Forever book)"you must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing his will". If "doing his will" is the test, we're all doomed. We are not invited to climb a shaking mountain, or to dive into a devouring fire. Instead the Lord invites, Come unto me, you who are heavy-burdened, and I will refresh you.
Next week: Wandering in the Wilderness
