Most Christians and Preachers don't seem to really know what to do with
THE LAW. The two main schools of thought are:
1. Jesus did away with it, therefore we are no longer under THE LAW.
2. Jesus fulfilled it, therefore we are no longer under THE LAW.
Yet, something within us just won't let us dismiss THE LAW, and its
relativity to us that easy. So we struggle with it to make it fit our
particular Statement Of Faith.
I think the dilemma can be resolved if we are willing to perceive THE
LAW the same way that Jesus did. Jesus said that the core of THE LAW is
the first two commandments: Love God with all your heart, mind, and
being, and love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments
are examples or amplifications of these two. So, with that in mind, I
believe it safe to define THE LAW as : Love God with all your heart,
mind, and being, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Now then, did Jesus do away with THE LAW? Or to put it another way,
did Jesus do away with Loving God with all your heart, mind, and being,
and loving your neighbor as yourself? Of course not.
Jesus said He came to fulfill THE LAW, and I believe that we too,
through Jesus, can and must fulfill THE LAW.
But in order to fulfill it, we must understand that THE LAW is a
double edged sword. I know at this point, many of you are saying,
"Hey wait a minute, THE WORD OF GOD is the double edged
sword!". Well, you are absolutely correct, but just read on for now
and I'm sure my statement will begin to become clear to you.
You see there are two ways to approach Loving God and our neighbor
(i.e. THE LAW). One way is through Legalism, the other way is through
Grace. Legalism is manifest through a system of Rewards and Punishments.
Grace is manifest through Relationships. Legalism says, "I will do
anything that is required to either receive a reward or escape a
punishment." Grace says," I will do what is reasonable because
I care for you and desire no compensation for the doing."
In the book of Romans, Paul writes about TWO LAWS. The Law of Sin And
Death, and The Law Of The Spirit Of Life. He is actually talking about
the same Law. There is only one Law, and that one Law brings Life or
Death, depending on how you approach it. If you respond to it through
Legalism, it brings death. If you respond to it through Grace, it brings
life.
The Kingdom Of Heaven (or God), is ruled by THE LAW. You are probably
saying, "The Kingdom is ruled by Jesus!". How right you are.
Moses, receiving THE LAW proclaimed it to be "THE WORD OF
GOD". In John's Gospel, he proclaims that Jesus is "THE WORD
OF GOD". Which one is right? They both are.
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