THE LAW

The Law

Recently I have been quite facinated with this topic. Through study and much contemplation I have come to the conclusion that there is a great need in modern Christianity for the law to be preached. If you have read my previous notes, you might be a little shocked. Have I changed my theology? Not in the least.

When we think of biblical law, we think of the Mosaic Law. You know, ten commandments. But the Mosaic law was not given to us gentiles. It was given only to a certain race of people, the Jews. So what is the law to us gentiles? What sayeth the scriptures...

Ro 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Ro 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

The bible says that the knowledge that is present in every human, which is written in our hearts, is the law to us. For example, we know that we shouldn't murder, rape or steal from our fellow man. We know we ought to do right, and when we do wrong our conscience accuses us and we have then broken the law. This knowledge of right and wrong, that we hold inside, grows throughout our life and we use this knowledge or standard to judge other people, consciously or not. And this standard that we use to judge others, is the standard that we ourselves will one day be judged with, by God. That way nobody can say, "It's not fair, I was a victim", or "It wasn't a fair playing field". It doesn't matter. You will be judged by your own measuring stick. Just think... On that day there will be billions of people watching as every vile disgusting thought and deed that you ever did, is played out for everyone to see. You think that you will have an excuse then? Are you going to say, "It's not fair, compared to everyone else I was pretty good"? Or maybe, "But Lord, don't just look at the sin, what about all my goodness?" Or will you just stand there with your mouth shut with the rest of the world, knowing you are guilty and have no excuse? When a criminal stands trial for murder infront of a judge, all the good that he did in his life is not brought into the equation. It just doesn't matter. What matters is that all your life you lived with your back to God. What matters is that all your life you did not like to retain God in your knowledge. What matters is your whole life was spent disobeying your own standard of right doing, all the while knowing the judgement of God and neither glorified Him or were thankful. What matters is that you are breathing God's good clean air with utter disdain for Him, while out of His goodness and forbearance He is not crushing you like you deserve, waiting for you to repent. You think that God wants a person like you in His Heaven? You really think that if you just say sorry, he will let you in? Would a judge let a murderer go if he just said sorry? That would not be just on God's part. And if God were unjust, how could he then judge the world? God requires perfection from us and a payment for our sin. Jesus said, "Be ye perfect." But herein lies the problem, all we sinners can give is an effort, a try, and still end in failure.

Most religions keep going here, and say, "Do the right thing and live." The old testament also taught that. Just keep trying to please God, grasp for one commandment to another, trying to reach God. But the bible says that the whole world has been pronounced GUILTY, everybody's mouth will be shut, with no excuse. It is too late to try to work your way in.

Ro 3:19 ¶ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: THAT EVERY MOUTH MAY BE STOPPED AND ALL THE WORLD MAY BECOME GUILTY BEFORE GOD.

The law says, "IT IS TOO LATE TO MAKE IT RIGHT, THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO, YOU HAVE BROKEN THE LAW AND NOW YOU DESERVE TO BURN!"

This is the law's purpose. The bible says...

Ga 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The law was brought in to bring us to a point where we give up and say to God, "God, I got all this sin, I am a total failure, all my righteousness is dung. What have you got?" And God says, "Here put this on." And he clothes us in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That's our only hope. There is no hope anymore that the good we have done is enough to get us into heaven. You see, God treated His Son as a sinner (not only one sinner, all the sinners of the world) so that He could see us as righteous. You can't offer anything, and nothing is required, just a simple faith. This works out in such a way, that now being free from the condemnation of the law and under grace, with the Spirit of God inside us, we now have all the motivation we need to overcome anything, the world, the flesh, or the devil can throw our way. We are back in fellowship with God in this relationship of faith with all the righteousness needed to get to heaven, freely without any effort on our part. Just living in peace, love and joy for the rest of our days here on earth, believing God and basking in His grace and mercy. It's a beautiful thing.