Is there a difference between the law and now? I am talking about the mosaic law. This is the law that God gave to Moses for the Israelites after they where lead out of Egypt. This is the law that God wanted them to live by.
I want to look at what some of the requirements where under the law and see if there is a difference between then and now.
If you where to read Exodus chapters 19 to 40 this is what you would find:
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. These commandments they where instructed to keep. Then God gave them instructions on how to build a tabernacle, in other words a church.
They received instructions on how to build the actual church, at this time a tent. How to furnish the tent. How to use the church. How to exactly worship God.
There was a lot to it. We could spent a lot of time on just this part of what God asked the Israelites to do. The thing that should stick out to us should be the detail that God put into all the things he asked for.
Lets keep this in mind, as we continue. If possible, please read the chapters mentioned.
Then we go to the book of Leviticus
It is a book about holiness. This is how you are to stay holy.
Sacrifices where a big part of worshipping God. You had:
The Burnt offering (You burnt an animal)
This was to signify that before worshipping they had to be cleansed from sin and to show they needed the forgiveness of sin.
The Grain offering
It was a gift as an act of worship, symbolizing dedication to God.
The Fellowship offering
Like it says: to have fellowship with God and express thanksgiving
The Sin offering
This was to receive forgiveness for unintentional sin.
The Guilt offering
This was for when a person violated any of the Lord's holy things unintentionally. It was also for when you disregarded the property rights of others.
Then it goes on and starts talking about all kinds of regulations.
Examples:
Clean and unclean food - Purification about childbirth
Regulations about infectious skin diseases
Regulations about mildew
Lev. has 27 chapters, full of all kinds of rules and regulations.
Do you think you could have lived following all the rules and regulations that where called the law? I am glad that I don't have to, because I know I couldn't do it.
Let's see what it says in Matthews:
MT 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
That sounds scary doesn't it. So why don't we to do this? Did God change his mind on all this?
NO, I don't think so. Jesus came and became the ultimate sacrifice, to cover all things. It took care of of the law. See what it says in Galatians:
GAL 2:16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
Why? Because no one can keep the law. No matter how hard we try, we will never be able to keep the law. We also won't be able to make enough sacrifices to cover for sins committed. That is why God sent Jesus to pay the price. Does that mean the law no longer exists? No. It just means that God won't judge us by the law.
So how are we supposed to live? What is our law?
MT 22:37 Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
