It's the Law...Or is It?

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."  - James 2:10

Laws are created for many reasons. They serve to keep us honest, safe, and morally right by enacting fixed limits that establish or limit how something can, or must, be performed or occur.

On any given day we will somewhere, somehow, or in someway encounter a law, or laws. We can't avoid them. Do we agree with them? No doubt this is one question that is always up for debate.

Mixed feelings aside, laws are necessary because of who we are: imperfect humans. And nowhere is this shown more plainly than in the Bible; more specifically in the Old Testament.

It's there we read that God gave Moses a sweeping set of rules, or instructions, to see to it that the conduct of the Israelites expresses their prominence as His chosen people.

These included different types of things, such as: moral behavior, their situation as a pious, devoted example to other nations, and practices and procedures for recognizing God's holiness and humanity's sinfulness.

Of these, the moral law seems to cause the most frustration; as in The Ten Commandments. Perhaps it's because it doesn't really take into account the fact that we are basically weak in substance. 

Nor does it take into account our deficiencies or sinful traits. It lays on us the impossible task of being perfectly moral. The moral law is immutable; it never changes. It applies to one and all across the board irregardless. No exceptions!

This fact that it is eternally absolute makes it totally impractical for you or I to abide by. We can try to live by it for a time, but eventually we will relapse into our old, sinful ways again. Then the process would start over again. 

Eventually, we would either cut corners, or simply quit trying. The late C. S. Lewis, once said that, "People make excuses for not keeping the law of God, which is proof how deeply they believe in the law."

Knowing this, we can greatly appreciate what Jesus Christ did for us. He saved us from the "running wheel" of trying to follow laws that we could never fully comply with, or assent to. 

The laws are still there and in effect, but not as an inaccessible way to God except for a few holy men. Instead, we can use these as guidelines whereby to live our most holy and productive lives in conjunction with Jesus Christ. (1 John 5:3)

We must free ourselves of thinking that the only way to get right with God is exclusively through obedience. Guilty sinners like us cannot hold to the law on our own. We can only approach God by the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

Scripture: Romans 7:7; Romans 10:4; Matthew 5:17; Acts 13:39; Galatians 3:19

Prayer: "Dear LORD, I thank You who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of Your own purpose and grace, which You gave us in Jesus Christ. Amen" 

May God bless you!

Brandi