Earlier I mentioned that the first reformation happened after Christ resurrected and ascended to heaven. Christ came for His church’s separation from the Jewish system. Hebrew 9 describes this in detail. I advise you to read the whole chapter. The greatest error of the Pharisees (and the Scribes) is not knowing the difference between a shadow and the reality. Without knowing the reality, they made a shadow their own kingdom without the King.

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. (Galatians 3:23-25)

Here, Paul does not talk about the Law as love but the Law as the written code. What the Law truly indicates is love for God and His people. Thus, we promote keeping of the Law but we do not say that a mere external keeping of the Law can achieve anything. Through the Law, we know what God wants is love (agape). And we also know that we are not born with love for God or His people. We confess that we are all breakers of the Law unless God gives His Spirit to us. It is because only God can love. God is love. If we love God and His people, God says that we are keeping the Law and make much fruit.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:8-10)

However, the Pharisees see the Law from a moral and federal point of view. This was also the mistake of the Reformers in the 16th and the 17th century. Earlier I talked much about the errors of the Covenant Theology (CT) and the active obedience of Christ (AOC).

While many theologians and ministers who follow the CT and the AOC say that Christ’s death is only the payment for our sins (and that we need the perfect keeping of the written code for eternal life), all the Apostles think the cross signifies more than that. By His death on the cross, Christ fulfilled the Law and the prophecies. He moved His people from the land of the dead to that of the living. He also removed the ability to fall from God’s mercy by making us the sons of the living God by sending us His Spirit. However, it is not the works of Christ we should focus on, it is His person that saves us. Our salvation is not merit-based but person-based. By uniting with Christ by the Holy Spirit, we are God’s adopted children. Because Christ is the Son of Man and the Son of God, He has accomplished and still accomplishes everything according to the Father’s plan. Without understanding His person, there is no understanding of His works.

The same logic applies to the Pharisees. Christ mentions their works first. But it is their person that causes their works.

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? (Matt 23:33)

Those who are one with the satan produce bad fruit or no fruit. God judges them according to their works. Some of these people are in churches and promote false teachings. They lead people to work-based salvation. They promote breaking of the Law by abandoning Sola Gratia. They say it is to keep the system going. They say they are trying to make others keep the Law. They are loved by many people. They are in high positions in churches. They are often the leaders in their churches. We must not forget an earthly system is only a shadow.

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matt 23:8-12)

Christ says that Jerusalem on the earth is only a shadow. The real Jerusalem will come.

 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matt 23:37-39)

If a system fails to be a shadow of the reality and tries to be something different, it loses its value. It must fall. It must and will be removed, not by our will and efforts but by God.

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19)

The deacon Stephen understood this very well. But people did not understand. They accused him saying, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” (Acts 6:13-14)

Acts 7 tells us what a saint understands regarding the coming Kingdom.