God Almighty governed the Nation of Israel in the Old Testament. According to a Scholar Ed, Hindson. “Israel in the Old Testament was not a Democracy; it was a Theocracy. A government of God, and the children of Israel must keep the law to succeed.” If anyone commits an offense or breaks the law, not only would he or she be punished, but the whole community as well.
God’s law served as a bedrock to guide the people of God (both then and now) to live in such a way as to love God and love neighbor. The law serves many purposes, for example, establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, and protecting liberties and rights.
The law also indicates the rule of life which God gave to the children of Israel, the way they should walk. As children of God, we must obey the law.
In the old Testament, when the children of Israel sins, God in most cases punishes them by death, for example, in the wilderness, “the ground opened to swallow those who talked against Moses.” (Numbers 16:32) “Serpents went through the people killing them instantly” (Numbers 21:4-9) and much more. (The government of God).
But Jesus came to calm God’s anger against mankind. Praise the Lord.
John 1:17 declares, Although “the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” God who gave us the law also gave us Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). His grace was demonstrated through the Law by providing the sacrificial Lamb for the sins of mankind. Galatians 4:4 tells us, Jesus was born “under the law” and became the final sacrifice to bring the Law to fulfillment and establish the New Covenant. It is written, “In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20) (NIV). So, we must go to God through Jesus Christ to obtain righteousness.
Scripture tells us, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18).
The life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ made salvation from sin possible, mankind is saved by God’s grace and love, but we must believe.
“No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” As children of God, we must become conscious of sin, we must reject sin. (Romans 3:20). Apostle Paul cried out. “What shall we say then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was, had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” (Romans 7:7).
Amba says, I would not have known that pride, disobedience, lies, fornication, and adultery is a sin, had it been for the Lord.
The law certainly guides us from sin, but love is the end of the law.
Where is the love, there will be no anger.
Where is love, there will be hate or murder, because love conquers evil.
Jesus came with something new, which is love.
The Book of Corinthians. 13:13 tells us “Abide in faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest is love.” “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Rom.13:9-10) “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2). Brothers and sisters do not only look out for yourselves, but others. The Lord’s commandment.