Musing – Does God expect us to follow His Laws?

Hebraic Musing – Does God expect us to follow His Laws?
Or, is it true that God’s people, Christians, no longer need to follow His law?

Romans 3:22-26 triggers many arguments as to whether Christians are expected to follow, respect and/or obey God’s laws. I have heard v.22 used as justification for ignoring God’s law, or that His law no longer applies to us.  Let’s look at that verse in context:   22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. NIV   Note that vs.25 & 26 uses forms of the word ‘justice’ five times. Doesn’t that imply some laws or rules of behaviors are still in play? 

May I start with three quick questions?

·      Are we required to follow Father God’s ‘laws’?  Or do we get to, learn to and are better off if we do?

·      Suppose a child decides to disobey his/her parent(s) and does what he/she pleases, sometimes even openly defying the household guidelines or instructions?  Does the child no longer become a child of the parent, entitled to ……(entitlements)?  

·      What would have happened to the Prodigal Son if he had not decided to repent and come home?

The use of the word ‘Law’ is a poorly translated word, frequently miss-used and miss-translated in our bibles, both OT & NT.  Torah, the first five books of the bible, is most often referred to and translated as ‘Law’.  I prefer to think of those books and references to them as ‘guidelines for righteous living’.  The word ‘Law’ or ‘Commands’ or ‘Commandments’ should sometimes be translated, based on the underlying Hebrew, as Mitzvot (Good Deeds), or Encouragements by God, or Connections to God.  In fact, in the original Hebrew the ‘Ten Commandments’ are actually ‘Words’ from our loving Father God. 

Consider how Moses explained the importance of the ‘Ten Commandments’ in Dt. 6:1-2   These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,(WHY?) so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.  NIV    I wonder what God meant by ‘enjoy’ and ‘a long life’?

Some theologians, preachers and Christians claim the OT is about Law and the NT is about Grace.  And they typically support their opinion by referencing the ‘613 Mitzvot’ that the Sages identified in the OT.  Meanwhile, others have come up with 1,050 commands in the NT!  Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount expounded on the life applications of the Ten Commandments, or Father God’s Words to us.   I researched the content and categories of the 613 Mitzvot in my book, Hebraic Insights – Messages Exploring the Hebrew Roots of Christian Faith. Insight #22 is entitled What are the 613 Mitzvot?   For a meaningful categorization of those 613 Mitzvot, the entire Hebraic Insight #22 is copied below (if interested). 

In my opinion, anyone who claims to have accepted the atoning sacrifice of Yeshua HaMashiach for his/her salvation and does not respect the laws, decrees, good deeds, words, advice, guidance set forth in the Torah and the NT is skating on thin ice.  I am glad I am not the judge.

Points to Ponder

Do we have salvific faith if we willfully ignore what our Triune God told us to do?

Is the adopted child expected to live according to the House rules?

As for myself, I don’t have to follow His laws; I simply want to.
Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             January 14, 2014

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”

And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com