Once you see the regulation talked about within the Bible, what involves thoughts? Maybe you assume “the regulation” = the Legislation of Moses.
In that case, you could dismiss chunks of the New Testomony as “not for me.” You would possibly assume, “The regulation was given to the Jews. I’m not a Jew. This isn’t for me.”
And you’d be principally proper. The regulation will not be for you. We’re below grace, not regulation. We died to the regulation, in order that we’d stay for God.
However it might be a mistake to dismiss all these regulation passages as Jewish passages. Think about this verse:
However the Scripture has shut up everybody below sin, in order that the promise by religion in Jesus Christ could be given to those that imagine. However earlier than religion got here, we had been stored in custody below the regulation, being shut as much as the religion which was later to be revealed. (Galatians 3:22–23)
This passage will not be speaking about Jews however everybody. As soon as upon a time, the human race was captive to sin and stored in custody below the regulation. On this context “the regulation” refers back to the common regulation of proper and improper, a.okay.a. the information of fine and evil.
Legislation 1.0 – The Legislation of Proper and Unsuitable
After Adam ate from the forbidden tree, he knew he had performed improper as a result of he had acquired the information of fine and evil. He had a primary model of the regulation, as will we all. The regulation of proper and improper is hardwired into the guts of each human:
(The Gentiles) present the work of the regulation written of their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their ideas alternately accusing or else defending them. (Romans 2:15)
When Joseph’s brothers bought him into slavery, they described their actions utilizing phrases like evil, sin, and transgression (Gen. 50:15–17). It was not the Legislation of Moses that condemned them – that got here 400 years later – however the regulation of proper and improper.
The regulation written within the hearts of sinners provides the information of fine and evil. It silences each mouth and holds the entire world accountable to God (Rom. 3:19).
As a sinner, you knew if you had performed improper as a result of your conscience condemned you thru the regulation of proper and improper.
Legislation 2.0 – The Legislation of Moses
Then we come to the Legislation of Moses which refers back to the commandments, ordinances, and ceremonial observances given to the nation of Israel (Jos. 8:31, John 1:17, 7:19).
The Legislation of Moses is a souped-up model of the common regulation of proper and improper. It’s the Legislation 2.0 within the sense that it attracts strains and prescribes penalties for improper conduct.
Think about a jail with two jail guards. The primary guard is a timid fellow, however the second is a bully. Step out of line and the primary guard might need a quiet phrase in your ear, however the second guard will bash you along with his massive stick.
That is what Paul is describing in Galatians 3. All of us had been in a jail of sin and stored below the guardianship of the regulation. However the regulation guarding the Jews was a harder regulation. They obtained the bully. This bully was a boon to the Jews as a result of it made them lengthy for a Deliverer.
Legislation 3.0 – The Sermon on the Mount
The Ten Commandments had been ten blazing spotlights revealing the Jews’ captivity and highlighting their want for a Savior. However the spiritual leaders dimmed the lights by preaching a partial regulation. With out the cruel regulation continuously pounding them, the Jews started to get snug contained in the jail.
Enter Jesus.
Within the Sermon on the Mount the Lord elevated the regulation and made it magnificent.
You’ve heard that it was stated, “You shall not commit adultery”; however I say to you that everybody who appears to be like at a lady with lust for her has already dedicated adultery along with her in his coronary heart. (Matthew 5:27–28)
Jesus preached a regulation even stricter than the Legislation of Moses. He launched the meanest jail guard of all. If Guard #2 beat you for committing adultery, Guard #3 clobbered you for simply eager about it.
Jesus preached the Legislation 3.0 to individuals dwelling below Legislation 2.0 so that each one of us, even these dwelling below Legislation 1.0, would notice our want for salvation.
What’s the custody of the regulation?
The regulation – nonetheless you outline it – tells you that you’re a lawbreaker or sinner in want of salvation. The regulation will not be your pal; he’s your jailer. He berates and condemns you with out mercy, as a result of that’s his job.
Due to this fact the regulation has change into our guardian to guide us to Christ, in order that we could also be justified by religion. (Galatians 3:24)
Who is that this speaking about? Everybody. All of us. Earlier than religion got here, we had been all stored in custody below the regulation (see verse 22).
However that was then and that is now. Jesus has come and we don’t want any regulation any extra. We don’t want Jewish regulation or church regulation. We who’ve come to Christ are not below the custody of the regulation (see Rom. 10:4).
So what worth does the regulation have for the believer? It has no worth in any respect. The regulation is for captives and in Christ we’re free.
Thank God for the regulation that leads us to Christ, however thank him much more that in Christ we’re not below the custody of the regulation.
—
