The Righteous Requirements of the Law

.... In our previous posting we described how the law of Moses could be broken down into three distinct categories: the sacrificial (or ceremonial) law, the civil law, and the righteous requirements of the law. We discussed the first two categories in that posting, but now let’s discuss the third, for this is the one that is reflected in us now, as a new creation in Christ:

.... "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

(Romans 8:4)

.... Throughout the Old Testament, the ‘righteous requirements of the law’ usually appeared in the form of commandments or exhortations, but they did not mention penalties. They were more like a father instructing his children as an ornament of grace, to show them the ways of life (Proverbs 22:6). So their intended application is life-long:

.... "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

(Proverbs 22:6)

.... In giving this sort of instruction, God often declared the reasoning behind it by saying: "I am the Lord." In other words, He was telling us how He would have behaved under these circumstances, if He was in our place. So these lessons contain a direct glimpse of His character that He wishes to pass along to us, and this is the truest sense in which the law is our schoolmaster to show us Christ (Galatians 3:24). Let’s look at some specific examples:

.... "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God. You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD. You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD."

(Leviticus 19:9-18)

.... In each of these examples (and in so many more), we find a considerate attitude toward others that stems from a sterling, underlying character: "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:10). God is love, and these laws give an expression to His inward nature so that we may respect Him, imitate Him, and learn to glory in Him for the way that He is (1 John 4:8; 1 Corinthians 1:31; Proverbs 17:6).

.... "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

(Ephesians 5:1-2)

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Daily Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 6