DO CHRISTIANS FOLLOW THE LAW? (Torah)

One day, while watching a movie, a certain line stood out to me: "The law doesn't want you to fight, it wants you dead." This got me thinking about the common debate among believers regarding our relationship with the law. Many times, you hear some believers say that we are not free from the law because Jesus Christ said He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. As it is written in Matthew 5:17-18:

“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. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

Some interpret this to mean that we are meant to conform to a direct way of living as the law demands. However, I want to shed light on this matter without disapproving the texts.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Law as He is the Word that became flesh. As John 1:14 states:

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

When Jesus talked about all being fulfilled, He was referring to all that was written concerning Him. He mentioned that the prophets wrote about Him, as seen in Luke 24:44:

"He said to them, 'This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.'"

Long ago, our forefathers worshiped God by following a law that is perfect. The law of God is perfect because it can find no fault, yet it is able to judge and find fault in us. As Psalm 19:7 says:

"The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple."

Despite the law being perfect, nobody was found worthy to keep it fully. Romans 3:10 confirms this:

"As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one.'"

Rather than bringing salvation, the law often aroused the flesh to act out of obligation rather than love for God. Even today, religions that are adamant about upholding the law frequently fall short because, as James 2:10 states:

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."

Sin, as the Bible defines it, is the transgression of the law. So, do Christians follow the law? In fact, they do, but not through the written law. Instead, they follow the law of Grace through Faith, as Abraham did. Before the Ten Commandments were given, Abraham followed and feared God through faith, and God was with him. Genesis 12:3 says:

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

The law came with an obligation, but faith comes from a place of sacrifice and love. Jesus came to accomplish this sacrifice, not to remove the law but to remove dead works and enable us to follow God through faith. Absolute faith in God changes our nature. If I have faith, I trust Him, follow Him, love Him, and commit to serving Him. God said He has put His laws in the hearts of men, and it is through faith that we are able to exercise these laws. We are not saved through the laws but by the grace of God through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 states:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

When we have faith in God, He stands with us, and His word remains in us. The word being Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of the Law, makes our salvation perfect in Him and not through our works. Do Christians follow the law? Christians follow God through faith, and by faith, we are all delivered. Romans 3:28 says:

"For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."

Paul also mentioned another law waging war against his members in Romans 7:23:

"But I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me."

This highlights the spiritual law brought about by faith in God. It is faith itself that gives birth to works, not works that bring faith in God. Salvation is free, and it comes from trusting Jesus Christ and following Him. Following Christ means dying to self and taking on the new man, who brings life to what was dead. Grace is about God's love coming together with the human race (GRACE).

Shalom.

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@Talitha Cumi

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