Anaya Nolan
Whether or not humans can keep God's law is a topic of much debate. Some believe that God created humans with the capacity to keep his law perfectly, but that this capacity was lost when Adam chose to rebel and disobey God. Since then, no human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed. However, others argue that Jesus Christ kept the law perfectly in our place, and that we obey God's law because we have been declared righteous in Christ alone. The Bible also suggests that God gave us the law to drive us to Christ, as humans are sinful and do not measure up to God's standards. While some Christians believe that the Ten Commandments do not apply to God's people after the Cross, others argue that Paul's affirmation that Christians have been released from the law does not mean that the law has no function in the lives of today's Christians.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To drive people to Christ |
| Obedience | It is impossible to attain wisdom without honouring God |
| Salvation | Comes from grace and faith, not obedience to the law |
| Jesus | He fulfilled every single point of the law and achieved perfect obedience |
| Christians | May not need to follow the Ten Commandments |
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The Ten Commandments
The first commandment instructs us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. This forms the foundation of our vertical relationship with God. The second commandment, also known as the "great commandment," is about honouring and respecting our parents. This command is unique in that it comes with a promise of long life in the land God gives us. It serves as a reminder of God's power and our liberation from slavery in Egypt.
The remaining commandments focus on our horizontal relationships with others. The sixth commandment, "You shall not murder," is emphasised by Jesus, who deepens our understanding by highlighting the importance of anger management. The inner person and their intentions are brought into sharper focus through this commandment.
Keeping the Ten Commandments is challenging due to our inherent sin and selfishness. However, through faith in Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, freeing us from sin and empowering us to obey God's law. Jesus's sacrifice fulfils the Law, and his teachings provide a summary of the Commandments, emphasising the importance of love and completion rather than mere continuity.
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The role of Jesus
Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah, as foretold in the Bible's Old Testament. Christians believe that Jesus was sent to Earth by God to teach people how to follow God, to perform miracles, and to die for mankind's sins.
Jesus is said to have been born of a virgin, and to have been fully human and fully divine. He taught other Jews how to follow God, sometimes using parables, and gathered disciples. He also performed miracles, such as feeding the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish.
Jesus always obeyed God the Father's will. He celebrated the Passover feast with his disciples in an event known as the Last Supper, where he explained the connection between his body and the bread, and his blood and the wine. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus took upon himself the sins and pains of mankind and paid the price to ransom mankind. He was then crucified and gave his perfect life willingly, enabling humans to repent of their sins and be forgiven.
Through Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection, Christians believe that God offers humans salvation and eternal life. Jesus's death atones for all sin, and after God raised him from the dead, Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, awaiting his return to Earth and God's Last Judgment.
Jesus also explained and demonstrated the characteristics of God so that humans could understand God's ways. He is described as a "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV).
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God's will
God's law, as outlined in the Bible, is a set of commandments that guide Christians on how to live their lives. The Bible teaches that God gave humans the law to show that they were not capable of keeping it and to drive them towards Christ. The law serves as a standard for moral conduct and a way to understand God's character and what He considers right and wrong.
The Ten Commandments, found in the Old Testament, are a fundamental part of God's law. Some Christians believe that these commandments do not apply after the Cross, while others argue that they are still relevant today. Paul's writings in the New Testament have been interpreted in different ways, with some saying that Christians are "not under law, but under grace" and have been "released from the law." However, others argue that Paul affirmed the law's function in the lives of today's Christians.
Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, came to fulfill the law and achieve perfect obedience to God's commandments. His focus was on doing the will of the Father, as expressed through His law. This is reflected in Psalm 119, where there is a constant interchange between the words "law" and "word." Christians are encouraged to seek God and follow His law, not out of fear but out of gratitude for His salvation.
Ultimately, it is acknowledged that humans cannot keep God's law perfectly due to their sinful nature, which was brought about by the fall of man. This is where the gospel comes in, bringing life and hope. While we cannot keep the law perfectly, Jesus Christ did so in our place, and through faith in Him, we are declared righteous.
In conclusion, God's will, as revealed through His law, is for humans to recognize their inability to keep the law perfectly and their need for a Savior. It is through faith in Jesus Christ and His perfect obedience that we are redeemed and brought into a right relationship with God.
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The Old and New Testaments
The Old Testament law was given to the nation of Israel, not to Christians. Some of the laws were to show the Israelites how to worship God and atone for sin, while some were intended to make the Israelites distinct from other nations. The purpose of the Old Testament law was to convict people of their inability to keep the law and point them to their need for Jesus Christ as Savior.
The New Testament reveals that we are sinners in need of a Savior, and salvation is found solely in the name of Jesus. Christians are not under the Mosaic Law but under the law of Christ, which is to love God with all their being and to love their neighbors as they love themselves. Christ freed us from the bondage of the hundreds of commands in the Old Testament Law and instead calls on us to love.
The apostle Paul clarifies in Romans that we should not continue sinning because we are under grace and not under the law. Grace gives us the desire and power to be holy. James 2:26 says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” Where there is no impulse to be godly, there is no saving faith. We are saved by grace, through faith.
Christians are simply to focus on loving God and loving others. If Christians would truly and wholeheartedly obey those two commands, they would be fulfilling everything that God requires of them.
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Wisdom
The Mosaic Law, given to Israel through Moses, is an example of God's wisdom. It was ahead of its time, with laws promoting hygiene and protecting the vulnerable. For instance, the law required the burying of human waste, the quarantining of the sick, and the washing of anyone who touched a dead body. These laws were not just practical but also moral, as they ensured the well-being of the community and demonstrated respect for God's temple.
God's laws also regulate matters of warfare. The Israelites were instructed to wage war only as God's agents and to offer terms of surrender first. This demonstrates God's concern for justice and his desire to minimize violence.
Additionally, God's laws provide guidance on personal conduct. For example, God's law forbids drunkenness, as it can lead to addiction, foolish behaviour, and health issues. Similarly, God warns against jealousy, uncontrolled anger, and other destructive attitudes, as these can harm our relationships and well-being.
By obeying God's laws, we can prove our love for him and benefit from the wisdom of his instructions. Even Jesus obeyed God and fulfilled the Law, paving the way for our salvation through his sacrifice. Therefore, we should strive to follow God's laws and allow them to train our conscience, so we can make wise decisions that honour God.
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Frequently asked questions
God's law is the entire revealed will of God. It is found in the books of the Old Testament, including the Law, the Prophets, and the Wisdom Literature. God's law is also reflected in the New Testament, which is filled with written moral guidance.
Humans were created with the capacity to keep God's law, but this ability was lost when Adam, the first human, chose to rebel and disobey God. As a result, humans are now estranged from their Creator and lack the innate power to obey God's law.
God's law serves as a moral guide for Christians, pointing out sin in their lives and leading them to Christ. It is through the law that Christians become conscious of sin and understand their need for a Savior.
