Christians and the Law
Its funny. Christians that really don’t understand Old Testament Judaism always slam on the law. But, the core of the Jewish faith is the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” The Jews very foundation was love for God.
So, when Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment he quoted that. I’m pretty sure the Jews did a much better job of loving God (during the good times that is), within the law, than we can guess. Probably better than many Christians today in my estimation.
The Old Testament Law served a purpose and should never be undervalued, as is often the case. A study of the Law will not place a believer in bondage, but increase our devotion as we recognize that Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of a very complex law. He is the perfection of it. The Law in the past was to point out sin and to bring a deeper devotion to God. The Law today should still do that for us, though we are not bound to it in the same way.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I’ve been laughed at by Christians because of my believes that the law is still valid. A lot of Christians seem to believe that because grace exists the law is no longer valid. (Sidenote, grace is shown all throughout the Old Testiment, but some think that grace only came when Yeshua appeared). They think that the opposite of grace is law. That is not the case, the opposite of law is legalism. As long as you do not believe that the works you do will get you to heaven, there is nothing wrong with following the law.
“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.” – Yeshua (Jesus)
How can Christians have problems with the law when He says that the law is still valid?