The GOLDEN RULE - J. C. O'Hair

 
"THE GOLDEN RULE”

Pastor J. C. O'Hair

This is a study of “The Golden Rule” and “The Golden Mercy-Seat.” “And thou shalt make a mercy-seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold.” (Exodus 25:17). “And thou shalt put the mercy-seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.” (Exodus 26:34). “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercyseat, and before the mercy-seat.” (Leviticus 16:15). “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.” Exodus 22:25. The mercy-seat was not under the law, but the law was under it. God is both just and the Justifier. (Romans 3:24 to 26).
We know that Matthew 7:12 has been called “The Golden Rule.” Concerning the Golden Rule, note the statement “This is the law.”
With this let us read Galatians 3:10; the curse of God upon those under the law. Referring to the law, note what Peter said to his fellow-disciples in Acts 15:10: “Why tempt ye God to put a yoke on the necks of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”‘ Now James 2:10; “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Then concerning the law note what Paul said in the Seventh chapter of Romans: “for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do.” (Romans 7:15). “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” (Romans 7:19 and 20). Because of inherent, indwelling sin the natural man is not subject to the law of God. The spiritual man, by the law of the Spirit of life, can walk in the Spirit and fulfill the righteousness of the law. (Romans 8:4).
We read in Exodus 26:34 that the mercyseat of pure gold was placed on top of the ark. The Ten Commandments, the law, was placed in the ark. The ark and the mercy-seat were behind the veil, in the most holy place in the tabernacle. Note Hebrews 9:7: “But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.” Christ entered within the veil (heaven) by His blood. (Hebrews 9:12).
God is just and the Justifier of every one who trusts in the blood propitiation of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24 to 27). The law is just. (Romans 7:12). True justice knows no mercy. But because of Christ and Calvary God can be just and merciful and do what He could not do by the deeds of the law; justify the believing law-breaker. (Romans 3:19 and 20 - Romans 8:3 - Acts 13:39).
Remember the law was under the golden mercy-seat. The law worketh wrath. (Romans 4:15). The Golden Rule is the law. Christ made peace through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:20). Read Galatians 2:21 and 3:21.
The law condemned the Pharisee. The bloodsprinkled mercy-seat justified the publican, who went down justified. (Luke 18:10 to 14). The law is the ministration of condemnation (II Corinthians 3:9). Believers are justified by the blood of Christ (Romans 5:7 to 10). In Christ Jesus there is no condemnation. (Romans 8:1 - 32 to 35 - John 3:18).
The place of safety is not under the law, but under the blood and under grace, (Romans 6:14), “in Christ.” Think of the foolish, religious person who prefers “under the law” to “in Christ.”
Then those who have been to the blood sprinkled mercy-seat (Calvary) and there received the Divine Nature want to keep the Golden Rule by yielding to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and obeying Romans 8:4.
Sinners, though moral, religious, conscientious and sincere, cannot get near to salvation and heaven by struggling with the golden rule. The blood sprinkled mercy-seat first.

Posted By – Cecil Spivey

Cspivey1953@gmail.com

 

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