(Deuteronomy 5:32)
“So you shall observe to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.”
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Picture this: Within the confines of a zoo, there is a man walking on one of the many designated walking paths. As the man is walking throughout the set boundaries of the zoo, he sees an inconspicuous path which leads to an intriguing and inconspicuous door. Allowing his curiosity to get the better of him, he changes his direction, ventures off the designated walking path, and travels on the inconspicuous path toward the door. While on the path, the man sees a posted sign that says, “STAFF ONLY Beyond This Point.” Determined to satisfy his desire to see what’s on the other side of the door, the man ignores the posted sign and advances to the door. On the door is posted another sign: “RESTRICTED AREA: Authorized Personnel Only.” The man, angered by the sign, says to himself, “It’s just a bunch of rules to try to control me! I belong in this zoo! I paid my dues to be here! I should be able to go where I want to go, see what I want to see, and do what I want to do!”
Undeterred by the warning signs, the man enters through the door only to find himself within the lion’s exhibit. Looking around, unaware that he’s in the lion’s exhibit, the man doesn’t see anything yet senses he is in danger. At a distance, yet close enough to cause concern, a twig or branch cracks under the weight of a lion’s paw. The man doesn’t know what caused the sound or what is approaching him, but again he senses he is in danger. This might be the man’s last opportunity to change his mind, turn around, and travel in the right direction away from death. Coming to his senses, he immediately recognizes that he is beyond the boundary of security. Acting upon his conviction, the man swiftly exits through the same door he entered, closing the door behind him. As soon as he closes the door, the door shakes with a loud thud due to the impact of a lion that collided into the door. At first, the man is only startled by the noise of the impact, but then the man becomes frightened when he hears the growl of a ferocious lion behind the door. Realizing that the door is a boundary between him and the lion, gratitude fills the man’s racing heart. Humbled by his near-death experience, the man returns to the designated path with a newfound appreciation for life and a respect for rules. As the man continues walking on the designated paths throughout the zoo, he determines in his heart to never again venture off the designated path which was created for him. Moreover, the man now feels compelled to share his story with others, pleading with them not to deviate from the designated path. The man, who once opposed rules, now abides by the written rules and proclaims their goodness.
———
Throughout my many years of following Christ, one of the most common objections I hear to Christianity is this: “The Bible is just a bunch of manmade rules in order to control people!”
Not only have I heard this from many critics, but I used to say the same thing when I had been an atheist. But is it true? Is the Bible a mere collection of manmade rules that were written so as to control people? Is the Bible a weapon of human warfare?
The Bible contains many rules. In fact, an ancient source claims there are 613 commandments in the Old Testament Law. The Talmud points to Rabbi Simlai in the 3rd century AD as the originator. However, there is no record of Rabbi Simlai listing all 613 commandments. The most commonly accepted breakdown was done by Maimonides in the 12th century AD. Maimonides further divided the 613 commandments into positive, “do this” commandments, numbering 248, and negative, “do not do this” commandments, numbering 365.
Are the “rules” of the Bible manmade? No. Logically, there exists an absolute moral standard beyond our own individual and societal standards of acceptable behavior. One obvious example of this absolute moral standard is that every sane, rational, and moral person innately knows that murder is wrong. Do the “rules” help people to have self-control? Yes. Is self-control good? Yes. Do people need to be controlled? Yes and no. People are not controlled the way robots are controlled because robots are programmed and only do as they are programed to do; robots do not possess free will. However, GOD gave human beings the great gift of free will; consequently, GOD does not control everything we do. However, GOD does possess ultimate control and has set in place specific “rules” in order to govern His created world and universe. These “rules” GOD created for life (which He created) serve at least four specific purposes:
- GOD’s Law creates necessary boundaries for healthy and right living;
- GOD’s Law reveals the existence of sin and thus makes us accountable for the choices we make;
- GOD’s Law showcases our inability to live holy lives;
- therefore, GOD’s Law reveals our inability to save ourselves and showcases our need for a Savior.
Necessary Boundaries:
Can life be lived rightly without boundaries? Can life be lived lovingly without boundaries? No and no. Everything in human existence calls attention to the fact that boundaries are necessary to live rightly and lovingly. Even the planets of the solar system have boundaries and stay within their boundaries. The very planet of earth we dwell within adheres to rules and boundaries and this is why land, sea, and sky are separated. In fact, Genesis 1 describes how GOD created, separated, and designated [boundaries]. Further, the very human body the critic uses (which GOD gave to him/her to use) adheres to rules and boundaries. In order to live consistently, the critic must also disdain his/her own body due to the rules and boundaries of the body; however, the critic should actually be grateful that the body adheres to rules and boundaries. The human body is extremely intricate, intelligently designed, and each vital part adheres to rules in order to remain healthy and function rightly. When boundaries do not exist, such problems as internal bleeding or tumors can occur. The only reason why we know when something is wrong is because we know what is right.
Moreover, if the critic’s argument is that manmade rules are bad and exist only to control people, then they must also hold such disdain toward society and reject all of life in order to live consistently with his/her worldview. Every employer creates rules for the employee in order to essentially control what the employee does and does not do. Every job creates boundaries via rules. Consequently, if an employee goes beyond the set boundaries by violating the established rules, then the employer will enact judgment upon the employee. Further, traffic signs and lights create boundaries via application of specific rules and regulations. If all cars had a green light at an intersection, they would collide. If all cars had a red light at an intersection, no one would advance forward. Chaos exists as a privation of order just as evil exists as a privation of good. Complete disorder brings about destruction and death. Even sporting events demand boundaries via rules. If a basketball player travels too far in either direction of left or right, the person will eventually go out of bounds. Only while staying within the set boundaries and progressing forward can an American football player achieve a first down or score a touchdown. Even common sense informs us that boundaries via rules are healthy and right. Consider this: if one were to put his/her hand in fire, the pain would help that person to realize his/her limitations and to stay within boundaries that are beneficial to health and prosperity. All “rules” GOD decreed have been established in order to keep humans within the boundaries of the “game” of life. Humans possess the free will to “play” the “game” of life, but they are expected to remain within the set boundaries and abide by the established rules. The established rules do not exist to restrict humans from reaching their full potential; rather, they exist to guide humans and help them reach their full potential. Boundaries exist to prevent destruction and death and provide humans with the opportunity for blessing and life. Anyone who chooses to violate the rules and venture beyond the set boundaries will suffer the consequences of his/her choice.
GOD’s Law, Sin, Faith, and Salvation:
(Galatians 3:21-26)
“For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Legalism:
The most common objection to GOD’s “rules” comes from the misuse and abuse of GOD’s Law. The term “legalism” is used to describe a doctrinal position emphasizing a system of rules and regulations for achieving both salvation and spiritual growth. Legalists believe in and demand a strict literal adherence to rules and regulations— even if they are only their own perceived interpretations. Doctrinally, it is a position essentially opposed to salvation by grace alone (Sola Gratia) through faith alone (Sola Fide). Those who hold a legalistic position often fail to see the real purpose for the Law. Like the Pharisees, legalists may appear to be righteous and spiritual, but legalism ultimately fails to accomplish GOD’s purposes because it is an outward pious performance relied upon works instead of an inward change by faith. Paul warned us of legalism:
(Colossians 2:20-23):
“If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, ‘Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!’ (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”
We are saved by GOD’s grace through our faith in Christ’s finished work, not by our own works.
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
(Galatians 3:10-14)
“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.’ Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, ‘The righteous man shall live by faith.’ However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, ‘He who practices them shall live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
(Romans 3:19-20)
“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”
(Romans 7:12-14)
“So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.”
Summary:
The Law clearly demonstrates that no human being is able to purify him/herself enough to please GOD. In other words, the Law revealed our need for a Savior. The Lord’s grace was demonstrated through the Law by providing the sacrificial system to cover sin. Jesus was born “under the law” (Galatians 4:4) and became the final sacrifice to bring the Law to fulfillment and establish the New Covenant (Luke 22:20). Now, everyone who comes to GOD through Christ is declared righteous (2Corinthians 5:21; 1Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:15). However, GOD’s grace is never an excuse to willfully live a disobedient and sinful lifestyle (Romans 6).
The Law and the sacrificial system made us aware that we fall short of GOD’s glory (Romans 3:23). Animal sacrifices were commanded by GOD so that the individual could experience forgiveness of sin. The animal served as a substitute—that is, the animal died in place of the sinner, but only temporarily, which is why the sacrifices needed to be offered over and over again. Animal sacrifices ceased because of Jesus’s supremely perfect sacrifice on the cross. Christ was the ultimate sacrificial substitute once for all time (Hebrews 7:27; 9:12) and is now the only mediator between GOD and humanity (1Timothy 2:5). Animal sacrifices merely foreshadowed Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. The only basis on which an animal sacrifice could provide forgiveness of sins is Christ who would sacrifice Himself for our sins, providing the forgiveness that animal sacrifices could only illustrate and foreshadow. The entire sacrificial system was to show us that we are completely incapable of living completely holy lives and thus cannot save ourselves. It is written in James 2:10: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” Our sacrifices were never enough; in fact, it is written in 1Samuel 15:22 that obedience is better than sacrifice. Therefore, if we had only been obedient, sacrifices wouldn’t have been necessary. However, we are all sinners and fall short of the GOD’s glory and thus needed sacrifices to cover our sins. And because the Law brings us death (Romans 6:23), it forces us to look to the Lord as our Savior. And because GOD is love (1John 4:8,16), Christ Jesus paid our debt in full (Romans 5:8; 1Peter 2:24) by living in complete obedience while willingly sacrificing Himself on our behalf (Matthew 26:39; John 5:19; 10:18). Therefore, everyone who humbles him/herself and seeks to find refuge in the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9). And because we have been set free (John 8:31-32,36; Romans 8:2), we can now live in true freedom. But true freedom is not a life of sin (John 8:34; Romans 6:15-18).
(Galatians 5:13-14)
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
Conclusion:
The story of the man in the zoo is the story of humans in the world. The designated path is GOD’s Word. When the man left the designated path, he did so in order to satisfy his own desires. Likewise, humans deviate from right living when they become prideful and no longer stay within the boundaries of right living via the established rules of GOD’s Word. The man ignored posted warning signs; likewise, humans disregard GOD’s Word which warns us against falling away into Satan’s snare. The man came to his senses, repented, fled, and lived; likewise, humans who obey the Holy Spirit’s conviction and flee from temptation will live. No one is exempt from temptations, but GOD will always provide an escape; however, we must choose to do so (1Corinthians 10:12-13). The man almost got devoured by a lion; likewise, it is written in 1Peter 5:8 that we must be of sober spirit and be on the alert because our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. The man was saved from the lion because he changed his mind, turned around, and went back to the designated path; likewise, humans are saved when they repent, turn away from evil ways, and seek the Lord. The man discovered that the rules were for his good, not to restrict him from experiencing good; likewise, GOD’s Word sets boundaries via rules and the rules are for our benefit. The man determined within his heart never to deviate from the designated path and felt compelled to tell everyone he encountered of his story, pleading with them to stay on the right path. Likewise, I did the same when I repented from going my own way as an atheist. Once I realized that the Bible is rules for our good, I felt compelled to share with everyone of GOD’s goodness.
So, is Christianity all about rules? Yes and no. Living “the way” of GOD is likened to a straight path; therefore, we are instructed to stay on the straight path, never deviating from the path (Deuteronomy 5:32; 8:6; 10:12; 11:22; 17:11,20; 19:9; 26:17; 28:9,14; 30:16). But if our focus is on that which we should be doing, we will not need to concern ourselves with what we should not be doing because by doing what we should be doing we will naturally stay away from what we should not be doing. The greatest commandment (which is twofold) will ultimately control everything we think, say, and do:
(Matthew 22: 36-40)
“ ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’ ”
(Proverbs 4:25-27)
“Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.”
The Artist J:
From a very young age we are taught to follow specific rules from our parents, teachers, etc., and from our very birth our first inclination is to break them. Breaking rules is a part of the human nature. The definition of sin in its most basic form is simply “Lawlessness.” Therefore since after the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, humans are born with this inherent desire to break rules. So why did God give rules knowing that we will ultimately break them? Why does God care about giving rules at all?
Well, if sin is lawlessness, and sin opposes the things of God, then that means that God is a God of order and structure. Laws help create structure. Rules in and of itself can be good or bad, they can bring order out of chaos, or bring harm to something that didn’t need to be fixed. Whether a law is good or bad can be very much dependent on the one whom is giving it and how it affects everyone who is supposed to obey it. Yet God is perfect: perfect in goodness, perfect in justice and perfect in mercy. God is the only one who is perfect, so if God is the only one who’s perfect then He is literally the only one who is equipped to give a moral standard to live by, and tell us how we ought to conduct ourselves. And that’s what God does in His law, or rules in the Bible.
Since God is completely Holy and good then God’s rules can be completely trusted to be as well. God knows what’s best for us. God created all life, so who would know better than God what is the best way to live it? So if God — the author of life — gives specific parameters for His people to follow, then you can be guaranteed that abiding by His rules is the best way to live, not only for our own benefit but also the benefit of those around us, and for God’s own glory.
Joshua 1:6-9 says, ”Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left [the rules], that you may have good success wherever you go [the benefit]. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it [the rules]. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success [the benefit]. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
So you can see from these verses that it’s to our own benefit to follow God’s commandments. The only problem is that since our very nature is lawlessness we will never be able to completely follow these commandments, and neither could the Israelites in this passage. Imperfect people can never obey perfect rules. Also once God had established and commanded a perfect law to be followed, then disobedience to that law makes you guilty as an offender against the God who created you, and that requires punishment. Eternal punishment in hell.
Think about it this way, imagine a person holding up a store clerk at gunpoint, the police arrest the man and he is now charged with a punishment, now think about if that same person instead of a store clerk now held the president at gunpoint. His punishment would be much more severe. Who you sin against matters, and everyone has sinned against the holy and eternal God who created everything. Sinning against an eternal God requires an eternal punishment.
Who then can be saved? If everyone is guilty and no one can abide by the rules, then why did God give them knowing this? The law was used as a mirror to show us just how wicked and sinful we really are. When we look to the law of God it reflects how imperfect we are by comparison. Sometimes you might not know just how dirty something is until you place it next to something that’s clean. That’s what God’s rules do for us. They show us how wicked and guilty before God that we are, and how much we need a savior. If everyone is guilty then only someone who is innocent and who has never broken the law can bail us out.
Galatians 3:24 says, “The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
So the law was also given to instruct us and correct us until Christ was revealed. The law was good, because it was from God, but it was always temporary. Uncompleted if you will, because the ultimate fulfillment of the law was always going to be Jesus Christ Himself. Faith has always been the deciding factor in justification (being declared righteous by God), never the law. “Because the just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). Though the law was good, it was only a curse to those who could never fulfill it.
Galatians 3:10-13 says, “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ But the law is not of faith, rather ‘The one who does them shall live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us–for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’ ”
An that is referring to Deuteronomy 21:23 which talks about how God has accursed the man who hangs on a tree. Back in ancient Israel if a criminal did a certain thing that was punished by death they would stone that person and hang that body on a tree to remind the people this man was judged by God. Another curse is in Deuteronomy 27:26 where it says “cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the law and do them.” And as we’ve learned, this narrows it down to… everyone. Everyone is cursed of God. The scripture says that the law has confined all under sin. All are accursed. But the Good News is that Jesus Christ has fulfilled that law we couldn’t and then became that curse on our behalf. God hung Jesus Christ on a tree, just like in Deuteronomy to remind us that God had judged this man in our place. He had been punished for us, so that we might be freed from the curse of law, and then Jesus rose again and imputed us with His righteousness. No longer cursed by our own sin using the law to put us a debt of guilt. Now those who believe on Christ have been redeemed, having what they owed paid in full!
If following the law was our means of Salvation it would have been impossible for us to be saved from hell. Yet with God all things are possible (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17,27; Zechariah 8:6; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37; 18:27). God so loved us, that even while were yet guilty enemies of God, He sent Jesus Christ to live the life we were bound to fall short of. He never broke even one of God’s commandments, making Him the only innocent person who was able to pay for our disobedience. Jesus abided by the rules, paid the wages of our sin, and rose again, giving us His righteousness to be seen as innocent before God.
The law, which was the the Old Covenant were always a foreshadowing of a better covenant. The covenant of grace. Real power to live Holy by becoming a new creation in Christ who now has the Holy Spirit sealed inside you (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30)! Power to actually live holy as God is holy, by abiding in Christ.
So if we are not saved by rules, but are instead saved by Christ sealing us with His righteousness, then why should Christians continue to follow command that Jesus says to do? It says in 1John 5:3-5, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments ARE NOT BURDENSOME. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
A Christian follows Christ’s commands out of love. Simply because it’s what God wills and it pleases Him for us to do so. It’s God’s goodness and kindness that leads us to do what He says. As an example, say you had a huge debt that you couldn’t pay off, the debt was so big that you would die before you would ever be able to pay it. Then a man walks up to you and pays the whole price, but the man then asked that you would follow his example and treat others with love like he has treated you. Would you be grateful for everything this man has done for you and do as he says out of gratitude towards him, or would you ignore him and say “I appreciate what you did for me but I’ma do my own thing now that this debt’s gone.”?
I think most people in that situation would show the utmost respect and appreciation for a man who just paid everything that they owned, and do what the man asked of them. That’s why Christians choose to obey what Christ says to do.
By faith we follow Jesus’s lead and what He has commanded because His commandments are good and are for our own benefit because God knows the best way to live. So we follow not to be saved, but to do it out of love that Jesus has already saved for us, and because it pleases God! The law is no longer needed, because we now we have the fulfillment of the law and follow His example by faith.
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I try to follow the laws of God with my very best,
But the harder I try the more it seems I’m meant with less success.
How can I bridge a chasm between myself and God with no foundation from which to build?
How can following a law bring anyone to God, when it seems the whole world has guilt?
Can a guilty man ever innocent be?
Would a righteous judge ever pardon the crime of a guilty plea?
Absolute perfection would be needed to walk unscathed in a world of depravity,
And to remain righteous to the law would be like one trying to walk atop the sea.
Yet if one could fulfill this law in which has never been yet seen to be, then perhaps this one could pay the debt of sin that’s in me.
It would take a death to satisfy this curse you see, but would someone perfect be willing to pay the fee?
And just when I thought the chasm would forever be fixed,
A man passed by with good news on his lips.
“A SAVIOR! A SAVIOR! ONE HAS DONE IT AT LAST!
HE WASHED AWAY MY SINS, THE FUTURE, PRESENT, AND PAST!”
A fullfiller of the law, are you sure? because as of now death is my lot?
“IT’S TRUE, GOD HAS NOT LEFT US IN OUR SINS TO ROT!”
A perfect one has come, this must be dream, please news bearer, you must tell me his name!
“IT’S JESUS CHRIST, JUST TRUST HIM AND BE FREE, FOR FAITH NOW REIGNS WHERE THE LAW USED TO BE!
Quest For Truth 