In Exodus 25:40, God instructed Moses with reference to building the tabernacle; “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.” The Hebrew writer makes reference to that warning: “...when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount”(Heb.8:5).
The pattern nature of the New Testament is inherent in the very fact that it is the Lord’s New Testament. “For this is the blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt:26:28). Paul declares: “Though it be a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto”(Gal. 3:15). A testament (or will) is something which is to be taken seriously. It is not to be changed or disregarded. Its conditions are to be met.
God expects us to walk according to his divine pattern. The Lord instructed: “...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you...:(Matt. 28:18). Paul says in II Cor. 5:7: "For we walk by faith and not by sight." This faith by which we are to walk, comes by "hearing the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Without this faith, which comes from the word of God, "it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6). It is impossible to have biblical faith where there is no word of God.
There is that which we are not to go beyond. To the Corinthians Paul stated: "Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written..." (I Cor. 4:6 ASV). It is clear from this verse, that whatever it is that "is written," that is the thing that we must learn "not to go beyond." We read in Revelation 22:18-19: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
We know "the dead" will be judged "by what is written". “...and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the book, according to their works.” (Rev. 20:11-15), and Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).
"Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: He that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son," then he must "abide in the teaching." To the Galatians Paul said, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another gospel; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:6-8).
The New Testament is the pattern. We must be diligent in walking in the footsteps of the Lord, "because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (I Peter 2:21). If we do not emulate the New Testament pattern, we will be just like those we read about in Judges 17:6 “...but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” We too, can just "do that which is right in our own eyes." Solomon said: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12)
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11)
Don H. Noblin
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