If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you
likely heard that the purpose of the law was to show us how sinful we are. Once
this realization sets in, we accept Christ as Savior and are good to go. But what does God say the purpose of His law
is?
Deut 4:6-7 says (regarding God’s laws and rulings), “Therefore, observe them; and follow them; for then all peoples will
see you as having wisdom and understanding. When they hear of all these laws,
they will say, ‘This great nation is surely a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has God as close to them as Adonai our God is, whenever we call on him?”
When I read this, I hear God saying that
the purpose of His law, His Torah, is:
- to
fill His people with wisdom and understanding, righteousness and justice
- to cause the nations to look on, be amazed, and want in on this relationship.
Jesus tells us the same thing in Matthew 5
– that we are the salt of the land and the light for the world. He calls us to
be perfect like Him so that the world may see our good works and praise God in
heaven.
Moses, in Deut 4:5, says that he taught the
laws and rulings just as God ordered, so the people of God will know
how to behave.
God, through Moses, asks, “What great nation is there that has statutes
and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you
today?”
For instance, did you know that the law instructs
us not to go along with the crowd, not to judge unfairly in favor of the
wealthy, nor should we go to the other extreme and judge in favor of the poor out
of pity? I believe James had these
portions of the law in mind when he wrote, “if you show partiality, you are
committing sin.”
Those of us who were not raised in Judaism have
long misunderstood the purpose of Torah (the law). Torah is God’s laws and rulings that - as we live in obedience - set us
apart from the world, attract people to their Creator and testify to the
righteousness, justice, wisdom and understanding of our God and King.
A law is given to a people to whom nothing but sin is expected and that is the Isreal that was, the Isreal of Moses. Nevertheless, freedom is given to a people to whom nothing but righteousness is expected, this is the Isreal that Is, the Isreal of Christ.Have you not heard that the law was made for sin but grace was made for righteousness??? Those under sin live by the law but those under righteousness live by grace, grace in which there is no law. Have you not heard that all those who preached grace where killed and stoned by the keepers of the law of Moses? Have you not heard that Christ abolished the law of commandments by which you were condemned so that you will be free and forever justified? You go ahead and love the letter of the law by which you perish. I love the grace of Christ through which I am cherished. I magnify Christ but you magnify Moses. You follow Moses, I follow Christ. Have you not heard that when the law came 3000 died on a single day but when grave came 3000 where saved on a single day??? By the law you will fall and will never rise, by grace you will rise and never fall.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteI can see that you are passionate about what you believe. First, I would ask that you re-post your link. I tried to follow it but it did not bring me to a blog post.
ReplyDeletePlease remember that the 3000 died because of lack of faith. They needed to see a visible god, so made the golden calf. And the 3000 that were saved were all Jewish believers who had been expecting Messiah to come.
As you study the Feasts of the Lord, God's appointed times that are found within His Torah, you see that everything He does sticks with His timetable. He never changes His mind like man. He is also not a liar. Promises He made to Abraham and His descendants will come to fruition.
In Acts 25:8 Paul himself testifies that he has not done anything against the Torah. Paul was Torah observant his whole life, including continuing to sacrifice in the Temple at the appointed times.
Following the Torah of God causes us to live differently than the world. Having looked into the perfect law, I see the love of God teaching us how to live with each other and how to relate to Him, through Messiah.
I pray that you will find the same thing as you press into Him.
Shalom.