God's Law: Can Humans Ever Be Perfect?

The law of God is the standard of moral perfection that God demands of humans. God created humans with the capacity to keep his law perfectly, but that was lost when Adam, the first human and representative of the human race, chose to rebel and disobey God. As a result of the fall, humans are not just spiritually impaired but incapacitated. No human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed. However, Jesus, who is both truly human and truly God, kept the law perfectly for us. Through faith in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice, the sole path to salvation is provided.

The fall of man

According to the biblical narrative, God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden. God gave them everything in the garden to enjoy except for the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which he forbade them to eat. Despite God's warning, the serpent, influenced by Satan, tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, which she then shared with Adam.

As a result of their disobedience, Adam and Eve immediately became ashamed of their nakedness. God expelled them from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating the fruit of the tree of life and gaining immortality. God also cursed the earth and humanity, condemning Adam to work for his survival and Eve to give birth in pain. This act of disobedience brought sin into the world, corrupting human nature and causing all humans to be born into original sin.

Jesus as the saviour

Since the fall of man, no human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly. The Bible describes this condition as spiritual rebellion, blindness, illness, bondage, and death. As a result, we are estranged from our Creator, from one another, and from the rest of creation.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the only one who has kept the law perfectly. He is the saviour who has fulfilled the law and the prophets, not abolished them. Jesus said, "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" (Matthew 5:17). By living a perfect life and dying sacrificially, Jesus fulfilled the moral and ceremonial laws.

Jesus taught people to obey the law and obeyed the law Himself. He delighted in obeying God and frequently said to His disciples, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me" (John 4:34). Jesus took the law to a higher level, focusing on the spirit of the law rather than just the letter of the law. He taught that the greatest commandments were to love God and love your neighbour (Matthew 22:37-40).

Through His sacrificial death, Jesus became the final and perfect sacrifice for all time. He fulfilled the law and obtained our eternal salvation. By grace through faith, we are made right with God and set free from the guilt, power, and bondage of sin (John 8:36). Jesus is the saviour who has fulfilled the law perfectly, and through Him, we can be covered by His righteousness and enter into the presence of God.

The Ten Commandments

• "You shall have no other gods before Me."
• "You shall not make idols."
• "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain."
• "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
• "Honour your father and your mother."
• "You shall not murder."
• "You shall not commit adultery."
• "You shall not steal."
• "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour."
• "You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbour."

While God created humans with the capacity to keep His law perfectly, the fall of the first human, Adam, who chose to rebel and disobey God, resulted in the loss of this ability. Since then, no human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, consistently breaking it in thought, word, and deed.

God's grace

The typical definition of grace is often associated with God's kindness and forgiveness. However, forgiveness is more accurately described as mercy, which is when God withholds the judgment we deserve. Grace, on the other hand, is when God bestows upon us blessings that we don't deserve. Grace is an elevation, a gift from God that enriches us and brings us to a new status where we are justified and reconciled with Him.

Through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we are converted from enemies of God to friends and heirs with His Son. This new status is a gift from God, and it is ours to keep forever. Grace is not just about forgiveness, but also about the power God gives us to lead a new life, to be a blessing to others, and to do good deeds.

The power of prayer

Since the fall of man, no human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly. The Bible describes humanity's condition as spiritual rebellion, blindness, illness, bondage, and death. We are estranged from our Creator, from one another, and from the rest of creation.

However, this is not the end of the story. The gospel brings life and hope. Though we’re unable to keep the law of God perfectly, Jesus kept the law perfectly for us. Through his death on the cross, those who trust in him are set free from the guilt, power, and bondage of sin.

Prayer is an integral part of the Christian life. It is a way to communicate with God, deepen our relationship with Him, and bring us closer to Him. The Bible encourages praying for our needs, for others, and for God's will to be done. We can pray for anything, from daily concerns to bigger worries, and God will answer in His own way.

Through prayer, we can call upon God for help and forgiveness, and He promises to hear and answer us. For example, in Matthew 7:7, Jesus says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." Additionally, in Mark 11:24, we are told, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Prayer is a powerful tool that God has given us to deepen our relationship with Him and bring us comfort and guidance in our lives.

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