Dear Friends,
Can you say, as David says in the Bible, “how I love your law?”
As a believer in Christ, should you say that?
We spent some time last summer looking briefly at Psalm 119, the longest of the Psalms and the longest chapter in the Bible. And as we saw, Psalm 119 is a hymn of praise to God for the blessing and value of His word. Specifically, the psalm praises God for His law, His word, His testimony, His rules, His commandments, His statutes, His precepts and His promises.
Psalm 119 is not the only place where David exults over God’s law. In Psalm 1, he talks about delighting in the law and meditating on it day and night. In Psalm 19, David says the law of God is perfect, His precepts are right and His commandments are pure.
It’s easy for us to read these passages and simply say to ourselves “this is how I feel about God’s Word. I love His Word.” And that’s right and true. We should love His Word.
But should we feel that way specifically about His law? After all, in the New Testament we read verses like this:
“The law brings wrath” (Romans 4:15)
“We are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:15)
“You have died to the law through the body of Christ” (Romans 7:4)
“Now we are released from the law” (Romans 7:6)
“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4)
“Love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10)
That’s just a few verses in Romans! I could go on, but you get the picture. And it brings me back to the question I asked when I began. Should I, as a follower of Christ, love God’s law? His commands? His rules?
For centuries, Bible scholars have divided the Old Testament law into three parts.
Some of what we read in the Old Testament are laws describing how God’s people were to worship Him. These laws are primarily ceremonial. It was this aspect of God’s law that the Samaritan woman in John 4 had in mind when she asked Jesus about whether God’s people were to worship Him in the temple on Mount Gerizim or the one on Mount Zion. Jesus told her a time was coming when the worship of God would no longer be about a geographic location, but would be about coming to Him in Spirit and in truth.
Some of the Old Testament laws addressed civil matters. They prescribed for God’s people what justice should look like when people sin against one another, bringing harm or injury to another person. These laws were specifically for the people of Israel when they existed as a theocracy with God as their King.
Most of the time, when we talk about God’s law today, what we have in mind are His moral requirements. Think of the second half of the Ten Commandments – the laws regarding adultery, murder, lying, stealing and coveting. It was this part of God’s law that Jesus addressed in the Sermon on the Mount, when He extended the jurisdiction for these laws beyond our behavior to the thoughts and intentions of our heart.
If a Christian today is supposed to love God’s law, does that mean he should seek to follow the Old Testament requirements governing the ceremonial life of God’s people in the Old Testament? Are we to love the civil laws of Israel (which includes things like capital punishment for a child rebelling against a parent)? Or should our love for God’s law be limited to His commandments regarding morality?
I believe that as a follower of Jesus, I should love all of God’s law – the ceremonial, the civil and the moral. I should be able to say, along with David, “how I love your law.” But I am able to say it with a perspective on the law that David saw dimly.
Let me suggest four reasons why I think a follower of Jesus should love God’s law today in a way that goes beyond how David loved the law.
One reasons I love God’s law – all of it – is because it comes from Him. It’s all part of His revelation of Himself and His plan. When I read God’s law today, I am gaining insight and understanding of who God is. And I love anything that helps me know Him better.
I love God’s law – all of it – because it also reveals things about me. Pastor David Murray says “God’s law is a complete mirror. Most mirrors only show us parts of our bodies. Even full-length mirrors cannot show us our entire backparts… But God’s law can show us everything — inside and outside. It provides an x-ray into our hearts, motives, and aims.”
God knows me better than I know myself. And His law reveals things about what’s going on inside me that I wouldn’t be able to see clearly otherwise.
I love God’s law – all of it – because it points me to Jesus. The ceremonial laws in the Old Testament were types and shadows of the good things to come. I can see that from my twenty first century vantage point in a way King David was not able to see it. And God’s moral law reveals my need for salvation. It exposes my sin. The Bible describes it as a school teacher, helping me learn what is true and then driving me to Jesus for the help I so desperately need.
I love God’s law because it shows me how to live a life that is pleasing to God. Not so I can try to earn my salvation, but in response to God’s grace and mercy that He poured out on me when He sent His Son to die in my place.
We have to be on guard when it comes to loving God’s law. If we misunderstand or misapply God’s law, we can easily become modern day Pharisees. If we ignore God’s law, we quickly become seduced by sin.
God’s law is a gift from Him to us. It helps us know Him better. It helps us know ourselves better. It points us gloriously to Christ and His perfect work. And it shows us how we can live lives that honor and please Him.
Oh, how I love God’s law.
SPRING FORWARD
Grab a sticky note. Or tell Alexa to remind you on Saturday. It’s almost time to set your clock forward one hour.
LEADERSHIP IN THE LOCAL CHURCHOur next men’s Leadership in the Local Church gathering happens tomorrow (THURSDAY) night. And whether you’ve attended any of the previous classes or not, you’re welcome to join us as we talk about why the gospel matters and what it means to be a gospel centered church.
SPRING MEN'S RETREATPlease be praying for our men as we head to the Cross Heirs Retreat Center on Friday for our annual men’s retreat. If you’re going, you should be hearing from Pastor Matt with all the details. See you Friday at 6:00 pm.
DATE NIGHT IS ALMOST HERE!
You’re planning to come. It’s going to be fun. But you’ve put off registering.
Well, it’s time to click the link (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=7c4eceba81&e=60ed8f7d93) and sign up for our special couples Date Night event. A fun night with your spouse. And free babysitting!
We’re bringing in some special guests – Jim and Carol Shores.
We’re focusing on our marriages.
And this is the perfect opportunity for you to invite another couple to join you. Maybe go out to dinner together first. Then head to church for dessert and the program.
The cost for us is $25 per couple. But any couple you bring from outside the church can come for just $10 (have them use the promo code friend when they register to get the discount).
Here’s the registration link (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=bb5524aa7f&e=60ed8f7d93).
I promise, this will be a night that you will enjoy. And a night that will make a difference for your marriage.
Let’s fill the church that night!
ANNUAL CHURCH BUSINESS MEETINGSunday, March 22, all church members are invited to attend our annual Church Business Meeting. We’ll update you on ministry plans and objectives for 2026, review our finances and budget for this year, answer any questions you might have – and enjoy a slice of cheesecake together for old time’s sake!
ROOTS HANGOUTStudents – get ready for a Saturday night hang out with Pastor Cole and Hannah at their house!
PARENTING PARTNERSHIPSIf your oldest child is 10 or younger, you can expect to hear something from Carlos Santiago soon. He’ll have details for you about the upcoming Parenting Partnership get together coming up at the end of the month. For now, here’s a “save the date.”
READY FOR SUNDAYHere is the preview (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=a7071a8b00&e=60ed8f7d93) of the songs we’ll be singing together this weekend.
And remember – our Gospel Way Catechism class will happen Sunday at 8:30 am. Everyone is welcome as we preview this week’s catechism questions and answers.
We’ve heard for years that oil and water don’t mix. And the same was true centuries ago about Jews and Gentiles. Until…
Join us Sunday as we learn how God took two groups who hated each other and made them into one body – a body we are still a part of today.
See you in church!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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