Which are the laws for Christians to obey?
A stricter version of the Mosaic Code?
Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfil them.” (Matthew 5:17). Why might they have thought Jesus was intending to abolish the Mosaic Law? Clearly, he suggested a change was coming when the Law and Prophets would be fulfilled.
Christians readily agree that the Messianic prophecies have been fulfilled in Jesus. “Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.” (John 12:16). Has the Mosaic Law also been fulfilled? Yes, indeed. Paul wrote: “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4).
“A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23).
Any reading of the gospels shows that Jesus did not come to provide an addition to, a re-working of, or an upgrade in the Mosaic Law. He didn’t send his disciples into the world to convert it to Judaism. “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23).
Paul explained why. The law didn’t complete its intended purpose because of our sinful nature which works against law-keeping. He writes: “So, I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death,” (Romans 7:10). “But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:6).
As stated earlier, the gospel of Jesus is that we can be transformed into people who truly live in love; bearing the fruit of a godly character “against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:23).
But what did Jesus mean when he said, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love” (John 15:10)? Where is the list of commands of Jesus, and what commands of the Father did Jesus keep?
Here is a clear hint he gave in this verse: “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19).
This means that Jesus lived in relationship with the Father, and did what the Father led him to do, moment by moment. But Jesus is the door through we which we enter this same type of relationship! As Paul explains: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14).
And Paul makes it clear that we must obey the Spirit “in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). In other words, “whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8), or as James wrote: “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” you are doing right.” (James 2:8).
Thus, we can conclude we that “since we live by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25) we are led by the Spirit which fulfils the law to love one another. That’s what Jesus meant when he said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
Jesus has only one command. And as we obey that command we abide in the Father and the Son, just as Jesus remained in the Father. But it remains for us to understand how to consistently obey the Spirit of Truth that results in a life that fulfils the royal law of loving one another. That post is coming next.
Reflect: When have I experienced being led by the Holy Spirit? How well have I experienced becoming a loving person through obedience to the Holy Spirit?
Prayer: Jesus, your Word promises I can fulfil the law through as I am led by the Holy Spirit. In moments of quietness with you, and in the busyness of my life, assist me to hear what the Spirit is saying.
Journal: When you think you’ve heard a word from God, write it down at your earliest opportunity. Take some time to spend alone with God and write what you sense He is saying, even as you write.