You
might wonder why I would write about the Law. After all, didn't
Jesus fulfill it, and so we are no longer under the Law of Moses?
Well,
Jesus fulfilling the Law is true, but Gentile (non-Jewish) believers
were never under the Law, so they were never obligated to keep it.
However,
we can all still learn from the Law if we understand what is in it,
and what it truly is.
The
Law Is God's Word
We
call it the Law of Moses, but Moses is not its author. He was only
the messenger who delivered it to the Israelites.
God
is the author of the Law. It is His Word. It is also His will.
The
Law is spiritual. Rom. 7: 14.
The
Law is perfect. Psalm 19: 7.
The
Law is useful. 1 Tim. 1: 8 – 11.
The
only problem with the Law is not within the Law itself. Heb. 8: 8.
The
Law points to Christ. Gal. 3: 24.
The
Law was added to the Abrahamic covenant, but did not replace it.
Gal. 3: 15 – 19.
The
Law was the core of the Mosaic covenant. Heb. 9: 19
As
God's Word, the Law has not, and it will never pass away. Matt. 5:
18.
Jesus
fulfilled the Law to establish a better covenant that brings
salvation and righteousness through the New Birth. Matt. 5: 17.
Heb. 8: 6.
What
Is In The Law?
We
can better understand the Law's nature by understanding what is in
it.
The
law of Moses contains three kinds of law: moral, ceremonial, and
governmental.
The
moral law, as expressed by the Ten Commandments and other
commandments, describes personal righteous behavior.
Because
people have problems keeping the moral law, God included the
ceremonial and governmental laws.
The
ceremonial laws allowed the people to have an ongoing relationship
with God through the Old Covenant. These laws covered the sanctuary
(tabernacle/temple), the priesthood, the sacrifices, the feasts, the
kosher diet, and requirements for ceremonial cleanness. Heb. 9: 1.
The
governmental law protected society from man's moral shortcomings. It
covered the investigation of crimes, punishments for violations,
quarantines, settlement of civil disputes, and government structure.
The
Law Is About Love
You
probably didn't expect that, did you? Just bear with me and I'll
explain.
Owe
nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his
neighbor has fulfilled the
law.
For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,
YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any
other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Love does no wrong to a
neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the
law.
(Rom.
13: 8-10 NAS)
For
you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom
into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one
another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the
statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
(Gal
5:13-14 NAS)
If,
however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture,
"YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing
well.
(James
2:8 NAS)
If
love is the fulfillment of the Law, then the Law just might have
something to do with love. That looks more likely when you consider
that the two greatest commandments are to love God and your neighbor.
Matt. 22: 35 – 40.
Now,
consider that the Hebrew word for law, “Torah,” also means
“instruction.”
Conclusion:
The Law is not just a moral code of behavior, it is God's
instruction to spiritually dead people on how to walk in love. God
does have a nature of love, and He expressed that nature through the
Law.
Jesus
fulfilled both the moral and ceremonial laws to qualify Himself as
the only perfect sacrifice for us. The moral law did not pass away;
it remains as an indicator of man's need for redemption. The
ceremonial law is no longer needed, but it can still teach us things
about our relationship with God. The governmental law remains as the
best example for human government.
Through
the New Birth, we receive God's love nature, and the moral law is now
written on our hearts.
