The Law and Jesus

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. [Matthew 5.17-19]

Here is a tough one for sure. Many stumble over their understanding of the Law and Jesus' work on the Cross. I don't know that I fully understand it either.

One thing is certain, Jesus did not negate the importance of the Law of Moses. In fact, in the passage above, Jesus makes it very clear that the Law of Moses remains in effect. The Law of Moses is not 'passed away' as some erroneously believe. It applies to us as much as it did to the people in Moses' day. If we sin (measured by the Law) we are subject to punishment here on earth and death in the hereafter. The difference today however is that we have Jesus' Advent, life, death, and resurrection to factor in. We have faith at play.

The call to obedience for mankind has, and never will change. As the people were called to obedience in Moses' day, so we are called to obedience in our day. There is only one difference in our obedience today - we are called to the obedience of faith! If we do not obey in faith in Christ (that He paid the full penalty for our sin as the Lamb of God), then we are left to obey every detail of the Law of Moses (which, mankind has quite effectively proven itself incapable of doing).

So we are to believe in Jesus. We are to believe that He IS the fulfillment of the Law for us. Faith makes all the difference. Without faith in Jesus as our substitute, it is impossible to fulfill, by ourselves, the Law's requirements upon us.

Oh, how precious is the blood of Jesus! Oh, how important it is to believe in Him!

How do we KNOW our faith has actually worked and that we are redeemed by Jesus? Our lives will be changed - we will look and act like Jesus. It's a big deal really. Grace is indeed free, but it is not cheap. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light, but it remains a yoke and burden! Faith in Jesus is a lifelong journey. 

As long as the heavens and earth remain, mankind is subject to the Law. He will either fulfill the Law in obedience to it or obedience to Jesus. Jesus is the easier way, but the believer in Him is not free to do just anything! The believer in Jesus is free to live by the Spirit of God as did Jesus - doing and saying those things that obviously only God can do and say. We must remember though, that Jesus only did and said the things He saw and heard the Father do. He did that as an example to us. In fact, everything Jesus did was an example to us. John the Baptist said it perfectly: "He must increase but I must decrease."

Father, I feel like I have rambled on here with all kinds of thoughts. But this I know, I must believe in (be a slave to) Jesus if I am to be free from the Law of sin and death.