From Curse to Blessing

"If there be ground for you to trust in your own righteousness, then, all that Christ did to purchase salvation and all that God did to prepare the way for it is in vain."  - Jonathan Edwards

Laws are a necessity of any civilized society. Without them, it wouldn't be civilized. We, who live under laws understand this. However, laws are not perfect. Some complain that there are too many laws; others that there are not enough of them. Most simply tolerate them and carry on with their lives.

Laws can grow in number, have new pieces added on or removed, and may even overlap one another. Before you know it, they may grow too numerous, and too difficult or confusing for the average person to understand and obey. Their original purpose becomes blurred and impractical.

Such was the case with "the law" referred to in the Old Testament (Mosaic Law). These were God's instructions regarding the behaviors (moral, social, spiritual) of His people. They are contained in the first five books of the Bible. The laws basically consisted of the 10 commandments, rules for social life, and the worship of God (Exodus 20, 21, 23, 25-31).

They formed a covenant, or a promise between God and man that if we abide by His Laws then we will enjoy a right relationship with Him. Of course this is a quick and easy explanation, but the fundamental idea is there.

The law carried an incredible obligation with it. In order to earn God's favor and blessing it required complete obedience by God's special people, Israel. It also required perfection. For this reason, following the law was impossible. No matter how hard we would try, we could never live up to it.

Following the law was not enough to deliver us into eternal fellowship with Him. As a result of our failure to abide by the law, even by one infraction, we were condemned to death, or cursed (James 2:10). The only remedy for violation of the law in the O.T. was through God prescribed sacrificial ceremonies by which the guilty party was cleansed.

Whenever the law was broken, which was quite often, so was our relationship with God. It wasn't until God, in his mercy and grace, sent His Only Son to save us, was this all nullified. Only by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the curse of the law removed once and for all.

We were redeemed, or saved from the curse of the law by Jesus taking on the curse in our place. Christ became the ultimate sacrifice on the cross for us. Were were deserving of it? Not at all, But because He loves us so much he died in order that you and I may live (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Can we live lawless, and reckless lives now? We still are under the law. However, instead of the Old Testament law which required perfection, and repeated sacrifice for sinful behavior, we are now under the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). In place of a long list of behaviors, violations, and ways to address any wrong-doing, there are now two essential commands (Matthew 22:37-39).

Yes, laws are necessary. Without them social order would be a roulette wheel at best. The law of Christ spells out what He desires from us. Our love for Him should always be the driving force of anything we do or say. By obeying the indwelling Holy Spirit, we who believe in Christ have the very righteousness of the Law fulfilled in them (Romans 8:4).

Scripture: Hebrews 8:13; Galatians 5:1; 1 John 5:2; Philippians 3:9;Romans 8:1

Prayer: Holy Father, I ask You for the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of guidance and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord; that I may follow Your path always. Amen

May God bless you!

Andrea