Why isn't this clearer in scripture?
If we are changed spiritually as we connect with God’s love and care, why do we
need the old covenant? Why do we need its laws and demands acting like a moral policeman? Isn’t God’s love the answer? Why is so much of the Bible expressed in such an authoritarian fashion? Why doesn’t God simply tell us He loves us and ask us to follow Him? Why all the laws, commands, judgment and condemnation?
The answer involves the need for: 1) authority, 2) restraint, 3) insight, and 4) guidance.
Authority
At times God creates an authoritarian persona to give authority to the law. Without that authority we would fail to take truth seriously. We would resist accepting the responsibility it places on us. Wouldn’t you feel differently about the police if they dressed in Santa suits? The 10 Commandments are not 10 suggestions. One of the
reasons for the moralistic tone in the old covenant is to bring us to where we accept the authority of God’s word and thus our moral responsibilities.
Only those who have accepted their moral responsibility can experience grace. If we don't see our failures, as measured by God’s law, we’ll have no need for grace.
Grace is mercy, compassion and understanding for those who need it. It is the debtor (Lk 7:36-47), not the self-satisfied or complacent (Rev 3:17), that appreciates grace.
Restraint
In the old covenant God establishes the authority of the law so that it might act as a restraining force through the conscience. The old covenant functions as a moral policeman, enforcing proper behavior for the sake of society and to protect us from ourselves. Commands, judgment and condemnation all fit into that package. However, the Bible is clear that our hearts are not changed by rules and laws (Gal 3:21). The law, AS RESTRAINT, is no longer necessary when we accept God’s grace (Gal 3:23, I Tim 1:9).
Restraint is one of the reasons God uses the term obedience. However, the use of this term can be problematic and deserves clarification. In most healthy relationships the parties involved would not characterize their cooperation in that way. Obedience is generally used to describe some form of parent child or master slave relationship. Is this the type of relationship God wants with us?
We must look at the broad picture here. The Bible addresses everyone. That’s a tall order, for everyone is different. There is also a broad continuum of moral and spiritual maturity. Some have a limited moral compass; others struggle with their faith, others have a hard time grasping the nature of God’s unconditional love.
A more authoritarian form of guidance is therefore necessary for some. The term obedience addresses that need. The Bible facilitates our growth from a parent child relationship into one that is more mature. As we progress, following God would more typically be characterized as cooperation.
Following God is not, "do your own thing." Those who connect with God have seen themselves enough to know they need God's guidance. They seek His leading in their lives. However, it is problematic if we seek to follow God in an authoritarian context. That atmosphere, the old covenant, destroys freedom and smothers spiritual growth.
Insight - the law as a pedagogue
Man, being disconnected from God and egocentric, is driven to some form of self-justification. We blind ourselves to our selfishness (Rev 3:17) and seek to present a more acceptable image of ourselves to others. We find some sort of equilibrium with our conscience through rationalization, dumbing down the standards, and denial. However, this self-justification creates a barrier, a resistance to seeing ourselves as we really are; sinners in need of grace. Something must bring us insight into our need.
We also have the tendency to do things the way we have always been doing them. When there is something we need to do, we put forth effort and do it. We adopt this same methodology regarding spiritual growth. Sure, we put some religious spin on it, but it's the same old thing. We need to see that this is not how we grow spiritually.
Many think that the law in scripture is simply meant to tell us what we should do. However, the law is much more. The law is used as much as a tool for insight as it is for guidance (Gal 2:19, Rm 7). If the standard is raised, as Jesus did on the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5), our attempts to obey should lead to the failure and frustration of Romans 7. This struggle should motivate us to see our need for forgiveness and a more effective means for change than simply trying to do what's right.
Thus the pedagogue, as Paul refers to the law in Galatians, was not a teacher, as is often thought, but a servant who had the responsibility of taking the children placed in his care to school and making sure they learned their lessons (that only grace changes the heart). The analogy being, that the law, unable to fix us, simply creates the frustration of Romans 7. That motivates us to seek the counter-intuitive spiritual approach to change presented in Romans 8, abiding in God's grace (love and care). We will not seek the love of someone we can't experience with our senses unless we really need to. Our self justification and complacency prevent us from moving to a spiritual solution. We simply don't find it necessary.
Jesus didn’t tell the self-justified young ruler, who said he had kept the law, that he was fine (Mt 19:20). He raised the moral bar by telling him he needed to sell all he had. The point was to bring him insight into his selfishness and materialism, that he might feel his need for grace.
If we fail to have a confrontation with a law (standards) beyond our supposed abilities to perform, then there is no basis or need for the attitudes of grace. Grace is pointless. I believe that we must experience the frustration of failed attempts at trying to do right before we gain insight into the fact that this direct approach is counter-productive (Gal 2:19).
The world has also found the law (right and wrong) to be troublesome. Its solution is to dumb it down to the point of absurdity. They are afraid to call anything wrong for fear of creating the grounds for judgment or guilt. However, in so doing, they have destroyed the pedagogue and thus the means to bring insight into their need for grace.
Guidance
Our choices result from our motivation (Mt 12:34). If that motivation is self-centered, our fruit will be withered (Rm 8:7). Yet, if we abide in God’s love and care, love will motivate us. However, guidance is still needed. The motivation of love does not imply perfect understanding. We need to learn and respect God’s truth. His laws are tools for making good decisions (Ps 119). If His truth is in our hearts, we will use it as needed without being preoccupied with doing right. Just as you are not preoccupied with math until you need it, God's right is stored in our minds to be accessed when necessary. The spiritual mind is to be preoccupied with the wonders of God's love and mercy.
This summary of the various relationships of law (truth) and grace may help clarify the importance of law as it relates to grace. “Grace,” without law, is simply permissiveness. Grace isn't appreciated. "Grace" without law leads to irresponsibility and a sense of entitlement. Law, without grace, leads to legalism, and for those who suppose they are cutting it, pride. Law in the context of grace results in healthy growth. It causes us to appreciate grace (Lk 7:36-47), while valuing law. Law now provides guidance for the healthy motives kindled by grace.
Copyright, Patrick Fagenstrom, 6/2012, edited 5/2014
If we are changed spiritually as we connect with God’s love and care, why do we
need the old covenant? Why do we need its laws and demands acting like a moral policeman? Isn’t God’s love the answer? Why is so much of the Bible expressed in such an authoritarian fashion? Why doesn’t God simply tell us He loves us and ask us to follow Him? Why all the laws, commands, judgment and condemnation?
The answer involves the need for: 1) authority, 2) restraint, 3) insight, and 4) guidance.
Authority
At times God creates an authoritarian persona to give authority to the law. Without that authority we would fail to take truth seriously. We would resist accepting the responsibility it places on us. Wouldn’t you feel differently about the police if they dressed in Santa suits? The 10 Commandments are not 10 suggestions. One of the
reasons for the moralistic tone in the old covenant is to bring us to where we accept the authority of God’s word and thus our moral responsibilities.
Only those who have accepted their moral responsibility can experience grace. If we don't see our failures, as measured by God’s law, we’ll have no need for grace.
Grace is mercy, compassion and understanding for those who need it. It is the debtor (Lk 7:36-47), not the self-satisfied or complacent (Rev 3:17), that appreciates grace.
Restraint
In the old covenant God establishes the authority of the law so that it might act as a restraining force through the conscience. The old covenant functions as a moral policeman, enforcing proper behavior for the sake of society and to protect us from ourselves. Commands, judgment and condemnation all fit into that package. However, the Bible is clear that our hearts are not changed by rules and laws (Gal 3:21). The law, AS RESTRAINT, is no longer necessary when we accept God’s grace (Gal 3:23, I Tim 1:9).
Restraint is one of the reasons God uses the term obedience. However, the use of this term can be problematic and deserves clarification. In most healthy relationships the parties involved would not characterize their cooperation in that way. Obedience is generally used to describe some form of parent child or master slave relationship. Is this the type of relationship God wants with us?
We must look at the broad picture here. The Bible addresses everyone. That’s a tall order, for everyone is different. There is also a broad continuum of moral and spiritual maturity. Some have a limited moral compass; others struggle with their faith, others have a hard time grasping the nature of God’s unconditional love.
A more authoritarian form of guidance is therefore necessary for some. The term obedience addresses that need. The Bible facilitates our growth from a parent child relationship into one that is more mature. As we progress, following God would more typically be characterized as cooperation.
Following God is not, "do your own thing." Those who connect with God have seen themselves enough to know they need God's guidance. They seek His leading in their lives. However, it is problematic if we seek to follow God in an authoritarian context. That atmosphere, the old covenant, destroys freedom and smothers spiritual growth.
Insight - the law as a pedagogue
Man, being disconnected from God and egocentric, is driven to some form of self-justification. We blind ourselves to our selfishness (Rev 3:17) and seek to present a more acceptable image of ourselves to others. We find some sort of equilibrium with our conscience through rationalization, dumbing down the standards, and denial. However, this self-justification creates a barrier, a resistance to seeing ourselves as we really are; sinners in need of grace. Something must bring us insight into our need.
We also have the tendency to do things the way we have always been doing them. When there is something we need to do, we put forth effort and do it. We adopt this same methodology regarding spiritual growth. Sure, we put some religious spin on it, but it's the same old thing. We need to see that this is not how we grow spiritually.
Many think that the law in scripture is simply meant to tell us what we should do. However, the law is much more. The law is used as much as a tool for insight as it is for guidance (Gal 2:19, Rm 7). If the standard is raised, as Jesus did on the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5), our attempts to obey should lead to the failure and frustration of Romans 7. This struggle should motivate us to see our need for forgiveness and a more effective means for change than simply trying to do what's right.
Thus the pedagogue, as Paul refers to the law in Galatians, was not a teacher, as is often thought, but a servant who had the responsibility of taking the children placed in his care to school and making sure they learned their lessons (that only grace changes the heart). The analogy being, that the law, unable to fix us, simply creates the frustration of Romans 7. That motivates us to seek the counter-intuitive spiritual approach to change presented in Romans 8, abiding in God's grace (love and care). We will not seek the love of someone we can't experience with our senses unless we really need to. Our self justification and complacency prevent us from moving to a spiritual solution. We simply don't find it necessary.
Jesus didn’t tell the self-justified young ruler, who said he had kept the law, that he was fine (Mt 19:20). He raised the moral bar by telling him he needed to sell all he had. The point was to bring him insight into his selfishness and materialism, that he might feel his need for grace.
If we fail to have a confrontation with a law (standards) beyond our supposed abilities to perform, then there is no basis or need for the attitudes of grace. Grace is pointless. I believe that we must experience the frustration of failed attempts at trying to do right before we gain insight into the fact that this direct approach is counter-productive (Gal 2:19).
The world has also found the law (right and wrong) to be troublesome. Its solution is to dumb it down to the point of absurdity. They are afraid to call anything wrong for fear of creating the grounds for judgment or guilt. However, in so doing, they have destroyed the pedagogue and thus the means to bring insight into their need for grace.
Guidance
Our choices result from our motivation (Mt 12:34). If that motivation is self-centered, our fruit will be withered (Rm 8:7). Yet, if we abide in God’s love and care, love will motivate us. However, guidance is still needed. The motivation of love does not imply perfect understanding. We need to learn and respect God’s truth. His laws are tools for making good decisions (Ps 119). If His truth is in our hearts, we will use it as needed without being preoccupied with doing right. Just as you are not preoccupied with math until you need it, God's right is stored in our minds to be accessed when necessary. The spiritual mind is to be preoccupied with the wonders of God's love and mercy.
This summary of the various relationships of law (truth) and grace may help clarify the importance of law as it relates to grace. “Grace,” without law, is simply permissiveness. Grace isn't appreciated. "Grace" without law leads to irresponsibility and a sense of entitlement. Law, without grace, leads to legalism, and for those who suppose they are cutting it, pride. Law in the context of grace results in healthy growth. It causes us to appreciate grace (Lk 7:36-47), while valuing law. Law now provides guidance for the healthy motives kindled by grace.
Copyright, Patrick Fagenstrom, 6/2012, edited 5/2014