The Promise of Law

In our journey of faith, we often grapple with the tension between God's law and His grace. How do we reconcile the stringent demands of the Old Testament with the liberating message of the New? This question lies at the heart of understanding our relationship with God and our path to righteousness.

The story of Exodus provides a powerful backdrop for this discussion. After the miraculous deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites found themselves at the foot of Mount Sinai. There, amidst smoke, fire, and earthquakes, God's presence descended, instilling awe and fear in the people. This scene vividly illustrates the holiness of God and the gulf that exists between Him and sinful humanity.

It was at Sinai that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, along with over 600 additional laws. These weren't arbitrary rules, but a reflection of God's character and a guide for living in harmony with Him and others. The law serves multiple purposes: it shows us what is good, how to live our best lives, and crucially, it reveals our inability to meet God's perfect standard.

Consider the commandment "Thou shalt not lie." We all understand the destructive power of dishonesty in relationships. When someone lies, trust erodes, and the foundation of the relationship crumbles. God, whose very nature is truth, cannot lie. By calling us to truthfulness, He invites us to reflect His character and experience the blessings of integrity.

Similarly, the prohibition against adultery speaks to the importance of faithfulness – a core attribute of God Himself. When we remain faithful in our relationships, we mirror God's unwavering commitment to His people.

However, Jesus takes these commandments even further in His Sermon on the Mount. He internalizes the law, showing that it's not just about outward actions, but the condition of our hearts. Anger becomes equated with murder, lust with adultery. Suddenly, we realize that none of us can claim to have kept the law perfectly.

This realization should lead us to a place of humility and holy reverence before God. We are not worthy to enter His presence on our own merits. The law confines us, forcing us to confront our sinfulness and inability to save ourselves.

But here's where the beauty of God's plan unfolds. The law, as the Apostle Paul explains, was our tutor, designed to bring us to Christ. It shows us our desperate need for a Savior. In Galatians, Paul writes, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us."

Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly where we could not. He lived a sinless life and then took upon Himself the penalty for our sin. On the cross, He became the curse, so that we might receive the blessing promised to Abraham – justification by faith.

This is the essence of the gospel – not that we can earn our way to God through good works, but that Christ has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. As Paul emphasizes, it's not by works, lest anyone should boast. Our salvation rests entirely on the all-sufficient merit of Christ.

But the story doesn't end with forgiveness. God promises something even more transformative in the new covenant. Through the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, He speaks of a day when He will write His law on our hearts and give us a new spirit. This is the miracle of regeneration – God replacing our heart of stone with a heart of flesh, enabling us to walk in His ways.

This promise finds its fulfillment in the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples it was to their benefit that He would go away, for then the Spirit would come to dwell within them. This indwelling presence of God transforms us from the inside out, empowering us to live in a way that pleases Him.

As we reflect on these truths, we're invited to embrace a posture of gratitude and wonder. The law, rather than being a burden, becomes a beautiful testimony to God's holiness and His desire for our wellbeing. It drives us to Christ, where we find not only forgiveness but also the power for genuine change.

We no longer strive to keep the law in our own strength, but we allow the Spirit of God to work within us, conforming us to the image of Christ. This is true freedom – not the absence of standards, but the inward desire and ability to live as God intended.

In light of this, how should we respond? First, with humility. We recognize our complete dependence on God's grace. None of us can stand before Him based on our own righteousness. Second, with gratitude. The price for our redemption was the life of God's own Son. How can we not be overwhelmed by such love? Finally, with openness to the Spirit's work in our lives. We invite Him to continue transforming us, writing God's law on our hearts, and empowering us to live for His glory.

As we go forward, may we rest in the sufficiency of Christ's work on our behalf. May we rejoice in the forgiveness we've received and the new heart we've been given. And may we live in the power of the Spirit, allowing God's law to guide us into the fullness of life He intends for His children.

In the words of the hymn:

"Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow."

Let this be our testimony and our song as we walk in the freedom and power of the new covenant.