Let's Make the Law Simple

Let's Make the Law Simple
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The Law Can Be Confusing

Wouldn’t it be nice if the section of the Bible known as the Law could be made simple? For centuries, many individual Christians as well as churches and denominations have been wrestling with this section of the Bible, which was given by God to the Jews in the wilderness. It wouldn't be as complicated if the Law just contained the Ten Commandments, but in addition to the moral laws found in the Ten Commandments, the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy also give descriptions of sacrifices, dietary laws, and sanitary laws.

Unsettled Arguments

Because of confusion over this section of the Word of God, Christians have never been able to settle their arguments over issues such as: Should we worship on Sunday or Saturday? Is circumcision a natural or a spiritual issue? Was tithing only a command under the dispensation of the Law? Should we eat pork,lobster,and shrimp today? Should our church worship order be setup as in the books of Chronicles? The list of disputes could go on and on!

The Enigma of Abraham and David

It is also hard to explain how two of the most important men in the Old Testament, Abraham and David, relate to the Law. Abraham was called a friend of God and the father of our faith. But how could he be a model for our spirituality? He never kept the Law. In fact, he never even knew the Law. He lived and died before the Law was ever given.

David also presents a problem. Although he lived during the dispensation of the Law and knew the Law, he committed many acts of sin which were punishable by death under the Law. Yet David was never sentenced to death for his sins. Instead, he went on to be a better king than ever. In fact, God made a covenant with David and told him the Messiah would come from his line. The Bible tells us Jesus came to the earth to sit "on the throne of David." This "lawbreaker" received high praise from God, who called him a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22). How could David break so many commandments during the dispensation of the Law yet still be honored for his spirituality?

A Major Issue for the Early Church

Not only is the Law confusing today, it was confusing in New Testament times. It was a major issue for the early Jewish believers and even became a problem for the Gentile churches. Understanding a believer's freedom from the Law became the subject of many of the writings of Paul, Peter, and John.

We have studied these writings. They are a part of our lives. About the time we think we have victory over the Law’s hold on us, some well-meaning believer tells us we should observe a certain law to be healthy or spiritually pleasing to God. “After all,” they say, “it's in the Bible.” It's true that large sections of the Old Testament go into great detail concerning these things. Since the New Testament teaches we are no longer under the Law, why did God place so many scriptures in the Bible explaining these rules?

The intent of this teaching is not to explain every area of the Law, but to reveal the Law’s purpose in the Old Testament and today. As we see God's purpose for the Law, it will greatly simplify our response to the Law. Let’s begin by answering a few easy questions.

Who Received the Law?

The answer to this question alone should clear up much of the confusion surrounding our obligation to the Law today.

1. The Law was given to Israel only (Exodus 19:3, Romans 9:4).

For example, we are told concerning tithing under the priesthood of Aaron, “[The priests] have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the Law, that is, of their brethren.” Some use this to teach that New Testament believers do not need to tithe. In fact, tithing does still exist today, but we do not go to the Law to understand it. We predate the Law and go to our spiritual father, Abraham. His tithe to Melchizedec represents our tithe to our High Priest, Jesus (Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7:1-8).

2. The Law was never given to Gentiles (Deuteronomy 4:8, Romans 2:14).

Gentile nations did not travel to Israel to observe the feast days, fasts, or Sabbaths. Nor did they observe these rituals in their own nations. Neither was Israel to take the Law to the Gentile nations. They were to take the message of salvation by faith. There were many Gentile nations which experienced revival in the Old Testament, but God did not impose the Law upon them once they believed in Him.

3. The Law was never given to the Church (Acts 15:24, Romans 6:14).

This is the argument Paul tried to settle in almost every book he wrote. When Jewish believers were having trouble with the Law, Paul answered their questions in the books of Romans and Hebrews. He answered the questions of Gentile believers who put themselves under the Law in the book of Galatians. Despite Paul's writings, many of these same questions still exist among Gentile believers today.

What Were the Limitations of the Law?

One of my favorite questions to Bible school students is “How were people saved in the Old Testament?” I get a variety of answers, most revolving around the Law. The two most popular answers are 1) by keeping the Law and 2) by animal sacrifices. The New Testament teaches emphatically that no one could keep the Law (Acts 15:10). It also teaches that animal sacrifices could not remove sins (Hebrews 10:4). The Law was not as powerful as people many think.

1. The Law cannot justify.

This is covered in a multitude of scriptures in the New Testament. Galatians 2:16 tells us, "for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." A similar passage is found in Romans 3:20-22,28.

2. The Law cannot provide the Holy Spirit.

“Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:2) The obvious answer is by faith and not by the Law.

3. The Law cannot provide spiritual growth.

“Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect (mature) by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) The same Holy Spirit who gave us the new birth will also bring us into spiritual maturity.

4. The Law cannot produce miracles.

“He that worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5) Only God’s power and grace can produce miracles through our simple faith.

What Is the Purpose of the Law?

What good is the Law if it cannot justify, give the Holy Spirit, bring us into maturity, or perform miracles? The Law was designed to do two things. First, the Law revealed man's problem: sin. Second, the Law revealed the answer to man’s problem: faith in the Savior. The Law could reveal sin, but could not remove or prevent it.

The Law revealed the Savior but could not save. The Law was an instructor, a teacher who revealed the problem and the answer to the problem. Once a person received salvation by faith, the Law was no longer necessary. (Galatians 3:25) “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:4) If the Law applies at all today, it applies not to the Christian but to the sinner. (1 Timothy 1:9)

The Written Law and the Sacrifices

The Law of Moses has two divisions: the written Law and the sacrifices. The written Law reveals the root of all our problems: the sin nature, the flesh. The Bible says, “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20, also Romans 5:20)

The sacrifices taught the answer to man’s problem: faith in Jehovah, Jesus Christ. Every sacrifice taught a different characteristic of Jesus, whether the sacrifice was an oxen, turtle dove, sheep, or ram, a side of Jesus was seen in each one. Yet, every sacrifice taught a single message -- each animal taught the need for the shedding of blood. Every bird and animal had to be slain, for “without shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22) Other areas of the sacrifice also spoke of Jesus. For example, the incense taught of His resurrection. Just as the incense could be smelled throughout the camp, Jesus' resurrection was a “sweet smelling savor” to the Father and all the hosts of heaven.

Are We Lawless?

Christians today are not under the Law of Moses, but we are not lawless. We are under a higher law -- the law of the indwelling Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4, Galatians 5:1624) Stealing and murder are as much sin today as they were in Moses’ day. Bearing false witness and coveting your neighbor's possessions are hated by God today as much as they were when the Ten Commandments were given. However, today we do not keep the law by keeping the Law. We keep the law by walking under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.

The highest kind of love is agape love. When this love is in operation in our lives we will not break any commandment. It is not even necessary to memorize the Ten Commandments because even though we may not know all ten, we will still keep them. Love will not put another god in front of our God. Love will not cause us to steal or covet the possessions of others. This love is the fulfilling of all the Law. (Romans 13:10) And this love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5)

Instead of being buried under a burden of laws no one has ever been able to keep, we find the requirement of the law is fulfilled in us as we choose to walk according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:4) What the Law asked for but we couldn't deliver is accomplished in us, not by redoubling our own efforts but by obeying the Holy Spirit and embracing His work in us.

In short, being released from the Law is not a license to sin, but the freedom to serve.

Bob Yandian

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