This has been a learning curve for me. I notice that the Worldwide Church of God, the Seventh Day Adventists and World’s Last Chance folks all focus on adhering to the Law of Moses. I have to admit more than a passing flirtation with that doctrine myself. What can I say structure appeals to me.
Christians in general though, tend to lean toward the idea that the work of Jesus of Nazareth on the cross finally set us free from the law. This happened through his fulfillment of the requirements of the law as the sinless only begotten Son of God. His shed blood paid the price of our sin debt and his righteousness is imputed to us. There is nothing we need to do in this equation except to have faith on Jesus Christ. That he was crucified, buried and raised on the third day that we might be raised with him on the last day.
So where does the law fit into this scenario if it has a place at all. Well what did Jesus say about the law?
Matthew 5:17-19
17 “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. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven
So according to the Savior nothing about the Law changes until everything is accomplished. But for the Christian though the Law is fulfilled in what Jesus did on the cross and through believing on Jesus Christ and that he bore the burden of our sin on the cross. Everything has changed. We now have the indwelling Holy Spirit revealing the nature of the Savior in our hearts. 1Corinthians 2:16. We are hidden in Christ. Colossians 3:3 We have God within us and overcome sin in his righteousness as we have none of our own.
So then, what relationship do we have to the Law in our new status as believers in Jesus Christ. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within and we are hidden in Christ so that when the father looks at us he sees the Savior. We have a new nature and the mind of Christ. When Jesus was asked which was the great commandment he gave and answer that I believe illuminated the Christian perspective on the Law from God’s point of view.
Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
So we are set free from the law in Christ in that with both the mind of Christ and his imputed righteousness we can overcome it. There is no further need for sacrifice because Christ was the final sacrifice for the sins of mankind. So, the content of the law is now able to be overcome in Christ. The foundation of the Law, to the believer, is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and with all of your mind.” AND ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Which fits in with the teachings of Paul in the New Testament.
Do then we have to obey the law as believers. In Christ we are not bound by the law. However, if you read a paraphrase of the Ten Commandments there is not a single law of the ten that any Christian would in all conscience disobey. Rather they are the corner stones of the Christian Faith.
I have no concluding statement. I leave you to your own conclusions on the matter.
The Ten Commandments
1. I am the LORD your God. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not worship idols, for I am the LORD your God.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your Father and Mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's possessions
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