Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Law

I was listening to an old Piper archive- that audio, and my own cross referencing thoughts to Galatians has me appreciating the process in which God used the holy law to point us to himself. In fact, I see now how, it is completely in line with how he has created humanity.

We do not come out of the womb knowing gospel. We don't understand propitiation and atonement and sinful nature. But slowly, we learn truth that points us to the ultimate truth. No, the 2 year old does not get Jesus as Savior, but he can understand that when he does something wrong, he is pinched, or his toy is taken a way.  And in that, mom has subconsciously taught that in this household, there is standard. It is preparation for understanding that our faults have consequences.  It is preparation for Romans 3:23 and how we do wrong when we know right. When he is 3, he cannot understand atonement, but he knows that when he doesn't treat his sister correctly, against the household standard, he must ask her for forgiveness. It is preparation for the idea of atonement. You get the idea...

What does this have to do with the Holy law? All of mom's rules, all her "do this" and "don't do that" it is ultimately (at least for the Christian mom) to teach us to follow Jesus. To trust him and to obey his word. The rules were a pointer. In the same way, God gave his chosen people law. Ridiculously meticulous laws, that seemed impossible and unnecessary so many times, but the law was just a tutor...just a pointer to the Christ to come.  Every detail, from the veil, to the inner courts, to the sacrificial lamb, to the manna that fell teaching daily dependence.

The law of the Jews is necessary, not to justify us, but to point us to the legitimacy of Jesus. (Gal 3:24) The law reveals how every thing about our nature screams for Jesus. The law is a means to an end, nothing more. And that is why Jesus could so simply say, that he didn't come to condemn it, just fulfill it. (Matt 5:17) And with that, we honor it- the commandments of Jesus. Like we honor the speed limit after a policeman has graciously let us go without a ticket, or our parole when the judge should have given us 10. We obey out of duty AND of thankfulness. It is the difference between hypocrisy and Christianity.

1 comment:

  1. I don't understand why no one has commented on this post. This really spoke to me and honestly gave me a tangible understanding. I have been reading through the old testament and am currently in Exodus. I have been praying the Lord would reveal to me deeper understanding into the passages I have read up until now. I think your short blog is a small answer to this prayer. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Ajoy. Love you

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