UNDERSTANDING THE LAW(a reminder)

Exodus 21:1

“These are the regulations you must present to Israel.

Exodus 21:24-25

an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,

a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.

That seemed to be it, nothing goes unpunished, however Jesus said:

Matthew 5:38-42

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

The laws as it looked of old seemed to imbibe fear and hate, with the nature of no mercy, however the new covenant had with it one major characteristic - LOVE.

For the first is of flesh (to school the flesh to resist sin) the other is of the Spirit.

Romans 3:19-20

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

Now the misconception of some is that grace is a licence to SIN. However they forget that grace is a product of love.

John 3:16

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

So the salvation of man is not in keeping with laws but by God's grace which is birthed from love, thus when you carry this nature you can then please Him.

Jesus said again:

Matthew 5:18-20

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.

“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

As we said yesterday, it is humans who are moved by the outside show of man, the Heavenly Father goes beyond to see the intent of the heart, you cannot deceive God.

The intent of the heart must be of God and God is love.

1 John 4:7-8

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

As we remember the sacrifice of Christ let us remember that it is birthed in the display of love:

1 John 4:9-11

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

It is love that is the summary of the law.

Galatians 5:14

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 Corinthians 13:13

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

May the good Lord give us more understanding. 

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher