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The Law

The purpose of the Law was to bring us to the Messiah. It is essential to start here. Once I understand the purpose of the law, I can move on.

What would I move on to? How about grace? That would be a good start.

So then, the law was our guardian until the Messiah [Christ] came, in order that we might be justified by faith.[1]

(Galatians 3:24)

Once I am saved and become a follower of Jesus, God desires to glorify Himself through My good works. Jesus is clear on this. Following Jesus means I will do good deeds.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. [2]

(Matthew 5:16)

Paul explains it this way.

For we are his workmanship, created in the Messiah [Christ] Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [3]

(Ephesians 2:10)

Therefore, good works follow the decision to follow Jesus; they do not precede it.

Conflict between “grace” and the “Law” can arise when someone:

  • Misunderstands the purpose of the Law.
  • Redefines grace as something other than “God’s benevolence on the undeserving”
    • Paul makes this clear (a Pharisee himself). “But if it is by grace God’s unmerited favor, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace it would not be a gift but a reward for works.” (Romans 11:6)
  • Tries to earn his own salvation or “supplement” the Messiah’s sacrifice.
  • Follows the error of the Pharisees in tacking manmade rituals and traditions onto his doctrine.
  • Fails to focus on the “whole counsel of God”.
    • “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan of God.” ~Paul (Acts 20:27).

When the Holy Spirit guides our search of Scripture, we can “study to show ourselves approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15) and discover the beauty of a grace that produces good works.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law accuse Jesus the Messiah’s disciples of not following tradition

  • Mark 7:5  — The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?”

Jesus the Messiah accuses the Pharisees and teachers of the law of hypocrisy

  • Mark 7:6–8  — And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
  • Isaiah 29:13  — Then the Master said, “Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.”

In place of the Old Testament law, disciples of Jesus are under the law of the Messiah (Galatians 6:2), which is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

If we obey those two commands, we will be fulfilling all that the Messiah Jesus requires of us: “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40). Now, this does not mean the Old Testament law is irrelevant today. Many of the commands in the Old Testament law fall into the categories of “loving God” and “loving your neighbor.”

The Old Testament law can be a good guidepost for knowing how to love God and knowing what goes into loving your neighbor. At the same time, to say that the Old Testament law applies to Christians today is incorrect. The Old Testament law is a unit (James 2:10). Either all of it applies, or none of it applies. If Jesus fulfilled some of it, such as the sacrificial system, He fulfilled all of it.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ga 3:24). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 5:16). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 2:10). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.