When you really understand what Paul
describes about the Law in the book of Romans, the
beauty and wonder of God become more inviting. The
law is given, not only to show us how to love and serve
God and each other, but also to prepare us for our
need for Jesus.
There was a time before the law was given (Romans 5:14). Death reigned from the
time of Adam to the time of Moses even though there was no law. Breaking the
Mosaic or Levitical laws of God is not what brought death to humans. We were
doomed to the sentence of death long before those were given—after Adam
broke the only law God gave so he could enjoy paradise: do not eat from the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil. After Adam’s sin, God’s presence
was felt on the earth by certain people; but by the time of Noah, sin had so
corrupted the world that God saved the world by flooding it. From the time of
Noah to the time of Abraham, once again individuals would sense His presence
and try to live their lives to please Him. Finally, the Law was given to Moses
to reveal how to know God and how to have the best relationships here on earth.
The Law was a gift.
The Law was never meant to make us righteous. I’m sure God had a little
smile on His face after He heard the response of the people Moses led out of
Israel about the Law He was about to give. In Exodus 19:8, they promised, We
will do everything the Lord has said. A little ironic since these are the same
people that traveled 40 years in the wilderness because of their disobedience.
Nevertheless, God gave them the Law. The purpose of the Law was not to make them
righteous, but to put them in a position of blessing and to show the world who
God is so they could believe too. Romans 5:20 reveals, The law was added
so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased
all the more…
The Law reveals the need for grace. All those silly Pharisees who thought they
had obeyed the Law so perfectly missed the reality. They set up human standards
for righteousness, which required great self-discipline but kept them in a prison
of sin and death. It is not the Law but grace that will set us free. God sent
the Law to show us that we are desperate in our trespasses of it.
Even though the grace that is poured over us and our sin by the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ is greater than the Law, loving the Law of God should be our
response to this grace. Psalm 119: 61-62 explains this passion: Though the
wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. At midnight I rise to
give you thanks for your righteous laws. Through every generation since
creation, God has been faithfully and lovingly revealing Himself to the people
whom He loves. The Law was one more step in that revelation of love. Sending
Jesus, His only Son, was the climax of God’s love.
Once we understand that the Law is given to reveal how to love God and others,
and not to make us righteous, we are ready to embrace the revelation of the Law.
We can receive it in the Spirit it was given, out of love and direction. With
the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, we can finally fulfill the Law to
the glory of God our Father. I hope you will embrace the Law of God as the Psalmist
exclaims.
