The law was without power because it was made weak by our sinful selves. But God did what the law could not do: He sent his own Son to earth with the same human life that everyone else uses for sin. God sent him to be an offering to pay for sin. So God used a human life to destroy sin. Romans 8:3
While it is true, children do find security when rules form a parameter around them, rules can become so monumental that they can become idols. Let me explain.
I was under a pastor many years ago, who preached every message on rules. Don’t do this, and don’t do that, don’t wear this, and don’t go there. It took awhile for my eyes to be opened, that something was very wrong with his message. He loved regulations, but he forgot to preach grace.
Some people thrive with a list do and don’t list; this gives them a specific set of boundaries that they can control. Grasping grace is difficult because it has obscure lines. It bends, and stretched to reach the most despicable person, all the way to best person you know. Its boundaries are limitless. It is difficult to understand something this good, could really be free. Rules, on the other hand are easy to define; a seeable catalog you can use to delineate good and bad behavior. It’s something you can dig your teeth into. A self-motivated goal of perfection.
The Old Testament was full of rules and laws. There were so many in fact, that they were in place for one main purpose, to show us that we could never live totally within its confines. We are fallible. Who could honestly say that they follow every single law, every single day of their entire life? The Old Testament laws became the hope of salvation to the point that when Jesus came, some were blinded by it. Their idol had become the law. They could not see Jesus for who He really was. Sadly some today still put too much worth on following rules instead of following the Ruler, Jesus Christ.
Jesus gave His life, not to abolish law, but to fulfill the law. He is the victor for all our failures. We weakened the law with our sinful nature, but Christ in His righteousness became our strength. We stand condemned in the law, but because He bore our condemnation on the cross we are pardoned. The law was only a set of standards; Christ is the paradigm, the model of all that is pure, perfect, and holy. The law was written down on tablets, but Jesus was the word. The law illuminated our sinfulness, but the true light was Jesus Christ. The law was incapable of love, yet Jesus was love.
God is offering to us, free of charge, this wonderful gift of grace on His silver platter called love. It is free to us, but it definitely came at a high price, the life and death of Jesus Christ. The sin of pride may be the only thing keeping us from reaching out and grasping hold to this gift of grace. We have two choices, we can choose self-control, or Christ control. When we choose to follow Him, He will not beat us into submission, but His Spirit will gently lead us into His paths of righteousness.
Thank you Father of grace and mercy, for your sacrifice. I accept your gift of pardon, by your love for me. Amen
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