Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
A message to Believers…
The Law in the Old Testament, often referred to as the Mosaic Law or Torah, comprises the commandments, statutes, and ordinances given by God to the people of Israel through Moses. It is found primarily in the first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
The Law served several significant purposes:
The Law provided the Israelites with practical guidelines for their daily lives, covering aspects such as morality, worship, civil and criminal justice, and dietary practices.
Covenant Relationship: The Law established and maintained the covenant relationship between God and the Israelites, defining their obligations and responsibilities as God’s chosen people.
Moral and Ethical Standards: The Law set high moral and ethical standards, aiming to distinguish the Israelites from other nations and promote justice, holiness, and righteousness.
Foreshadowing of Christ: Many Christians believe that the Law foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ, who would fulfill and surpass the requirements of the Law through his life, death, and resurrection.
Timeline of the Law:
The Law was given to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai, shortly after their exodus from Egypt, around the 13th century BCE.
Significance in Jewish Tradition: The Law remains central to Jewish religious life and practice, and its principles continue to be observed and studied by Jewish communities to this day.
Fulfillment in Christianity: In the New Testament, Jesus is portrayed as the fulfillment of the Law. Christians believe that through Jesus’ teachings, sacrificial death, and resurrection, the requirements of the Law were fulfilled, and a new covenant was established (Romans 10:4, Matthew 5:17). Therefore, while the Law itself did not “end,” its role and significance were transformed with the advent of Christianity.
Who was the law for?
The laws given in the Old Testament, including the Ten Commandments and the broader Mosaic Law, were SPECIFICALLY delivered to the 12 tribes of Israel. They were provided as part of the covenant between God and the Israelites, primarily through Moses. The laws served as guidance for their spiritual, moral, and societal conduct, setting them apart as God’s chosen people.
Why was it given?
The law, often referred to as the Mosaic Law, was introduced to the Israelites at Mount Sinai after their exodus from Egypt. This event is detailed in the Book of Exodus, where Moses receives the Ten Commandments and other laws from God. The introduction of the law marked a pivotal moment in the relationship between God and the Israelites, as it established a covenant that defined their identity as a nation and their obligations to God
Before the Mosaic Law, the Israelites were indeed under the covenant of Abraham. The Abrahamic Covenant, as described in Genesis, was a promise from God to Abraham and his descendants. It included blessings, the promise of numerous descendants, and the land of Canaan as their inheritance. This covenant was unconditional and based on God’s faithfulness, symbolized by the act of circumcision. Abraham was considered righteous through faith by God. His belief accounted him righteous in the eyes of God. Similar to the Grace covenant that we are under now in present times. When the Israelites left Egypt, they were still under the Abrahamic Covenant. They were still under Grace. Then something changed. God’s tone changed.
Many theologians suggest that the shift in God’s tone could be tied to the Israelites’ overconfidence and lack of understanding of the seriousness of entering a covenant with Him. When the Israelites declared, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:8), it demonstrated a bold commitment. However, their response might have lacked full comprehension of the weight of what they were agreeing to. The law wasn’t merely about external obedience; it reflected God’s holy character and required a deep, heartfelt commitment.
After this declaration, God’s revelation of His holiness became increasingly evident, including through the dramatic events at Mount Sinai—the thunder, lightning, smoke, and the sound of the trumpet (Exodus 19:16-19). This overwhelming display highlighted the awe-inspiring nature of God and the serious responsibility the Israelites were taking on. In a sense, God’s tone became more somber and majestic to emphasize the magnitude of this covenant and the Israelites’ need for humility and dependence on Him.
This moment also foreshadowed their human frailty. Despite their promise, they quickly fell into sin with the golden calf incident while Moses was on the mountain. This showed their struggle to uphold their end of the covenant without constant guidance. It also ended up in 3,000 of them being swallowed up by the Earth.
Are we under the law?
It is profoundly important to realize that the law was a covenant between God and the 12 tribes of Israel only. It never did, does, or will have anything to do with the gentiles or the rest of the world for that matter. It was a covenant between God and his people until that covenant was fulfilled when Jesus Christ came upon the scene and fulfilled the law. We have never been under the law. Therefore, we do not live by it. Not a single law of the law, none of them, was meant for us under the grace covenant of Jesus Christ.
Understanding that believers today live under the covenant of grace rather than the law is central to the message of Christianity. The covenant of grace, inaugurated through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, emphasizes salvation as a gift from God, not something earned through adherence to a set of rules. Here is why it matters…..
Freedom from the Burden of the Law:
The law was given to highlight the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity. However, it was impossible for anyone to keep it perfectly. Living under the covenant of grace liberates believers from the weight of trying to achieve righteousness through their own works. Instead, righteousness comes through faith in Jesus.
Relationship Over Regulation:
Grace invites believers into a personal relationship with God, rather than a performance-based system. This relationship is marked by love, forgiveness, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
Fulfillment of the Law in Christ:
Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law on behalf of humanity. His sacrifice made it unnecessary to follow the old covenant because it was completed in Him. Believers now follow Christ, not as a checklist of rules, but as a way of living out love and faith.
Trying to live under the law during today’s covenant can lead to several consequences:
Legalism: It can foster a mindset of striving to earn God’s favor, which contradicts the message of grace. This often results in guilt, shame, or pride, depending on how one perceives their ability to meet the law’s demands.
Missing the Gift of Grace: Focusing on the law can obscure the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice and the gift of unmerited grace, which offers true freedom and joy.
Division in Faith Communities: Legalistic approaches can create barriers between believers, emphasizing rules over love and unity, which are central to the gospel message.
Understanding and embracing grace is transformative—it allows believers to live in the assurance of God’s love and forgiveness, not bound by fear or failure to meet impossible standards. It’s a beautiful reminder that faith is about trust and relationship, not perfection.
