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Whenever we read scripture, we always find this word. It is found in the Old Testament writings and the New Testament as well but served different meanings in both eras. This word appeared in the Old Testament 464 times and 194 times in the New testament. Hence, it must have been of much importance; it is the word "Law." Ever come to wonder what it is all about in the Master's plan? Well, let’s get to the scripture and find out what it is all about.
In the Old Testament times, at the time of Exodus about 1491 B.C. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments carved by His own hands in stone tablets, which Moses received at Mt. Sinai. The People of Israel were sworn to uphold it through a covenant the first-ever consummated with animal blood sprinkled on the altar made of stone and on the people of Israel. This became known as The Law and was expanded to other commands and ordinances for the people to fully fulfill upon reaching the Promised Land. But that generation from Egypt never reached the land due to their unbelief and disobedience; they all died in the desert. Except for Caleb and Joshua from that generation, only their children and those two were able to enter. (Deut. Ch.1 – 2:18 cf. Num. Ch.13, 14)
Having the succeeding generation to deal with, necessitated for the 1st covenant to be renewed (renewed) to include all their future generations to come that they shall do the works of the Law; whereby obedience would bring blessings while disobedience would mean curses and death. (Deut. Ch.28)
Looking back, in the beginning, we find that there was no law from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. Nevertheless, since sin was introduced through Adam, death due to sin came to all men. Thus even in the absence of the law, death reigned in the world, even for those who did not break any of the commandments and ordinances because there was no law.
In the Talmud (body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law) is noted that the Hebrew numerical value (gematria) of the word "Torah" (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, which means "law") is 611, and combining Moses' 611 commandments with the first two of the Ten Commandments which were the only ones heard directly from God, adds up to 613. The Hebrew word ‘Torah” translated into Greek as "nomos" refers to the same five books termed in English "Pentateuch" (from Latinised Greek "five books," implying the five books of Moses). All the works of the Law (codes & ordinances) are embodied in the same; initiates to the law are required to undergo physical circumcision.
The Purpose of the Law
What was the purpose of the Law? It was to be the preform of what is to come, what was termed as the foreshadow of the real one. Its primary purpose is to take into consideration the sin of the world; showing men how sinful he is, that he may be led to the one who can save him from sin. It provides man as well a transitory atonement for sin until he can be permanently cleansed from it; through the works of the redeemer.
Let's turn back in time to find the rationale; God created man in His image in the beginning, but due to what satan had done the destroyer, men were transformed into a fallen state, a weakened state if you will. This is because of a glitch that Satan brought to his nature. This then is the character carried over imputed from Adam to his sons.
Paul calls the glitch the “flesh” (the word “Sarx” in Greek) or sinful nature in other translations. Consequently, the Law, holy though and good, caused men to sin more because of the flesh.
From Paul's testimony as to the person (personality) named Saul that he was, we find in Romans 7 how the damaging effect of the work of Satan has turned him unspiritual, unrighteous… sold as a slave to sin. (Romans 7:7-11; 14-23)
Apparently, this showed that the Law is not intended as the means to end sin, but the awareness of doom. For in the flesh, there is nothing in man's power to make the flesh follow its divine rule, hence instead of thwarting evil, it even arouses the desire to do the very opposite of what the law connotes, thus death comes to those under the law thru it.
Relatively, we say there is nothing good that can be found in the body (flesh/Sarx); preventing anything good that man may want to do, so what is done instead is evil. We find this law at work in our members, waging war against the law of the mind, making us the prisoner of the Law of sin and death.
The Grace that brought Salvation
At the time of Jesus, New Testament times, about 32 AD, a new agreement New Covenant was established that gives or imparts life. Hence, thereon no longer should His people be under the Law; but under the new one, founded by Jesus’ blood thru his death on the cross that rendered the First Covenant… obsolete
Hence, Paul was called as an apostle of Christ to preach grace that saves man to the gentiles. Paul tells us:
EPHESIANS 2:8-9
“…For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”
What is that grace that gift that saves wherein we do not have any part, role, or anything to do except to accept it by faith? Looking at particular words leads one to his letter to the Romans, whereby, Paul referred to that grace as the GOSPEL.
Looking at the gospel that Paul preached, it can't be denied, surely it is the grace that Paul refers to in Ephesians 2:8, 9 passage. We find the same alluded to as the very means that gave us a New Life, our death and resurrection {through faith} with Jesus on that black Friday that happened about 2,000 years ago. Wherefrom, the old self had been rendered powerless; it made us a new creation, not under the law that brings death but under grace that gives life. The same grace that is alluded to where the sinful nature was put off, called circumcision. done by Christ.
How and why were His people set free from the Law?
Just as a married woman is no longer bounded by her marriage under the law to her husband when he dies, in the same way, the adulterous is released from guilt even if she marries another man under the circumstances. So too, those under the Law also had died to it through the death of Christ, that they might belong to Him that redeemed them and be brought back to life, a new life if you will. (Rom. 7:1-3)
For when the people were controlled by the sinful nature (or the flesh), the sinful passions aroused by the Law were at work in their bodies, so they live in sin. But now by dying to what once bounded them, they have been released from the law that each one may live in the true righteousness of God.
Hence, all men serve God in the new way of the Spirit, not by the Law. (Rom. 7:5-6, cf. Gal. 5:16-18) For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God sends his Son to destroy satan's work in Adam from the beginning, delivering man from sin so that the righteous requirements of the Law may be fully met by him. (Rom. 8:3-4 cf. 1 John 3:8b)
How does one receive the Holy Spirit? We relate that to how the Holy Spirit was given at the beginning of the church. They all received it by their belief or acceptance of the Gospel, granted there is REPENTANCE… which is the manifestation of the grace that saves. (Acts 2:38, 39 cf. Ephesians 4:22-32; 5:1-7)
Consequently, men then are transformed conformed to the likeness of Christ since he no longer lives according to the flesh (sinful nature) but according to the Spirit. As those who have been set free from the control of his sinful nature that is… if the spirit of God is in him, then he belongs to Christ. This now is the responsibility of everyone who has been set free: to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh. Thus, all those who belong to Christ Jesus are free from condemnation; because through the Law of the Spirit of Life, they were freed from the Law of Sin and death. (Rom. 8:1-12)
Recommended resource: CLICK-->
How Christ Fulfilled and Ended the Old Testament Regime by John Piper; Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org
Surrender All by Frank D. Germano; member Daily Spurgeon Group, facebook.com
How to Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit by Lesli White; Editor, Beliefnet.com
For further reading, choose A Little Yeast Leavens the whole Batch from the posts on display below. (Tap... See All)
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