My, Devotion to Him #288
Verse Passage: John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” – NIV
God gave the Law to Moses and the Israelites for many reasons. The law provided health, hygiene safety measures, set up a fair and just judicial system, provided a code of ethics and moral standards, provided boundaries (both tangible and intangible), and to prove that without a Savior Redeemer, we cannot possibly enter into the presence of God. Our sin is too high and too impossible on our own.
However, people choose to acknowledge only that last reason, our need for a Savior. Now while I would certainly argue that this is the most important reason, it isn’t the only reason. And since God saw fit to include these other elements, we need to give them the attention and obedience they deserve.
Jesus was adamant in saying He didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Meaning He was and is the Redeemer Savior; taking away the need for sacrifices. But the health/hygiene, judicial, moral and ethical aspects of the law remained in place. Murder, incest, greed, adultery, stealing, and cheating all were still wrong.
We are still bound to the obedience of God’s Word and Law. But praise God we have been given the gift of eternal life with God through Jesus because of God’s grace. He removed the barriers between Him and us that were impossible for us to break through on our own. So don’t discount the law as nothing. Know that much of it carries forward into the New Testament and the doctrine of the Church.
Be prayerfully wise; being careful to know that you are saved because of God’s grace through faithful obedience and worship. Salvation does not provide a blanket for a lifestyle of sin. We must look past salvation and that is where we find that it’s more than just being saved. It’s following after Him. We are now in the family and we should act accordingly by bringing ourselves above the fray. Not in a smug attempt of being better than people but committing to a lifestyle that is acceptable and holy to God.
God bless,
Copyright © 2022 by Jacob Olinger
Spirit Warrior Ministry 