Law … What Is It Good For?
Deuteronomy 12-26
A question for Christians and non-Christians alike… what is the law for?
– Do we just pick the ones that we like?
– Has Jesus fulfilled / done away with it?
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” – Matt 5:17
So what’s the law for?
Reading Tool #1 – God’s Grace
– Deuteronomy as a picture of salvation
”For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
– The year for cancelling debts (Deut 15)
Reading Tool #2 – Love God
“The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws – that you will listen to him. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.” – Deuteronomy 26:16-19
– Law is about a growing relationship between God and his people
Reading Tool #3 – Love Each Other
Reading Tool #4 – The Law Is To Lead Us To Christ
“Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” – Galatians 3:23-25