The giving of the law at Sinai marks a tremendous advance for Israel. The preface to the ten commandments marks the context in which the law is to be understood. Exodus 20:2 introduces the ten commandments with these words, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Contrary to their earlier complaint, God did not bring them out of Egypt to kill them in the wilderness and He did not bring them out in order to enslave them. Instead, he released them from the tyrannical law of a sinful man and gave them the liberating law of a loving God.
The law of God is given so that man might escape the enslaving effects of sin. The worship of false gods, rebellion against parents, neglecting to rest and worship God, stealing, murder and lying are ultimately destructive to personal and societal liberty. Obedience to God’s law liberates. Sin enslaves.
It is true that law itself cannot save sinful men. It doesn’t have redemptive qualities. Salvation from sin is found exclusively in the gospel. Only Christ crucified can free us from the guilt of sin. This does not alter the fact that law is itself graciously given to us from God as guide to teach us how free people are to live in relation to God and each other. So, a heart that receives God’s law in the context of grace will see God’s goodness and love in the law. He will see it as a practical guide to liberty. To use scriptural imagery, he will see the 10 commandments under the mercy seat i.e. law in the context of grace. Others will see the law as a way to earn God’s approval and in the end find it a hangman’s noose.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment