The Law

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matthew 5:17&18 (KJV)

Mark got up at 7:00 that morning and immediately realize that he was running late. He vaulted out of bed and ran into the bathroom to shower and shave, not necessarily in that order. Then quickly running out of the bathroom he got dressed, ate some dry cornflakes and then sprinted into the garage, started his car and headed down the street. 

The Speed Limit sign read 25 mph, but Mark was running late, so he gased the car to 45 and sped down the road. He went screeching around the corner when he saw the old lady crossing the street at the pedestrian crossing. It was too late.

Later in court he begged the judge for mercy, citing his lateness for work and his clean driving record. The judge just looked at him for a minute then said loudly that the whole courtroom could hear, "it was a posted 25 mph zone, it's the law and NOT a suggestion!"

So many times mankind, in various froms of self importance and aggrandizement, has proclaimed that the Law of God was no longer in affect. That we live in a new dispensation of Grace, that negates the rule of law for Christians that walk in faith.

Only one problem, it's not true.

"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Romans 7:7 (KJV)

Again in the Amplified:

"What then do we conclude? Is the Law identical with sin? Certainly not! Nevertheless, if it had not been for the Law, I should not have recognized sin or have known its meaning. [For instance] I would not have known about covetousness [would have had no consciousness of sin or sense of guilt] if the Law had not [repeatedly] said, You shall not covet and have an evil desire [for one thing and another]." Romans 7:7 (Amplified)

So we see that the Law does one thing well, judges sin. So the question that needs to be asked, though silly, is this: is there sin in the world today? Of course we know that there is, therefore we must conclude that the Law is still in effect. This is the mechanism that God uses to make man aware of his sins.

And we just concluded, rightly so, that man still sins.

So no matter the desire to grab any excuse available, the Law is still in effect. Much like Mark desiring to be on time for work, he still broke the Law. In doing so there is a consequence, namely judgement. This Mark received because he had broken the Law.

The Bible does tell us that we are under Grace, and not under the Law. Much like Mark, when in compliance to the Law he would not have been judged by the breaking of it. That is the meaning of what Christ is saying:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matthew 5:17 (KJV).

You are not living under the Law IF you don't break it. Much like you don't go to jail if you are an upstanding citizen. But if you break the Law, you receive the punishment that is part of the breaking of that particular Law. Just like you are sentenced when you break an earthly law.

So we see that God's ordinances are just and true. Be obedient and you have nothing to fear concerning the Law and you will live under the blessings of Grace. But be disobedient and you will reap the consequences and will be living under the Law and not Grace.

It is always our choice.

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May the light of God's glory and presence fire the brilliance of your souls. You are greatly loved.