Feb
20
Written by:
Spence Hackney
2/20/2006 6:32 AM
The purpose of the "Law," or Old Testament rules and regulations, has always been a bit difficult for me to sort out. I think that it did have a valid point in keeping the Jews from the negative consequences of "sinful" behaviors such as promiscuity. However, Romans 3:20 gives us the most concise explanation of the purpose of the Law that I have seen:
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law he will become conscious of sin. (NIV)
I think that this is the purpose of the Law even today. Gauging ourselves against the gold standard of the Law points out the areas in which we are deficient. If you are going to make a couple pieces that need to be identical, stair balusters for example, you first create a template. Then as you are creating the pieces that need to match you will constantly compare the piece you are working on to the template piece. By comparing the two you will see where to take off material so that the two pieces are as nearly identical as possible.
In my mind this is very close to the function of the Law. We should constantly compare ourselves to the template set forth in scripture. By making this comparison we will see what we need to remove and add from our life in order to become as close to the model Christian as possible.
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