What effect does the Old Testament Law have upon the people of God in the here and now? This is a much debated topic within the church. As one looks into the Old Testament Law, he can see various commands that were given for the purpose of making those who received the law (the Israelites) a people holy unto God.
It is important to recognize this factor when considering the Law as it pertains to the current time period. In the Old Testament, God’s chosen people were the Israelites. God entered into covenant with the Israelites. The promises that God gave for obedience to the Law were made to the Israelites. When one takes this literal approach to the Old Testament Law and recognizes to whom it was given, a passage such as Matthew 5:17-18 (which we will look at shortly) begins to make sense.
So where does the Gentile find his place in the Old Testament? Paul tells us, “For as many have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law… For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness…” (Rom. 2:12, 14-15). Paul here declares plainly that the Gentiles did not have the Law (the Law being the Old Testament Law handed down to Moses). In Ephesians chapter 2, Paul also declares plainly that the Gentiles were separated from the people of God and strangers to the covenants of promise.
It might be odd for some to think that the Law in the Old Testament did not directly apply to the Gentiles, but it is what is emphatically declared. When these Scriptures are read literally, this will be the conclusion from what is stated. But it is important to note that even though the Law was not given to the Gentiles, the Gentiles still could not escape God’s righteous requirements. Paul says in Romans 2:12 that the Gentiles still committed sin apart from the Law. A clear distinction is made in Romans 2:12 between the Jew and Gentile. The Gentile is said to be “without law,” while the Jew is said to be “in the law” or under the law.
At the outset, it is important to note what Paul speaks of in Romans 5:12-21. In this portion of Scripture, Paul says that man still died apart from the Law. He also says that where there is no Law, there is no sin. But the question arises, “Without the Law, how was man judged for his sin?” The reason that all people (with or without the Law) were judged for their sin is that all mankind was represented by Adam as their federal head/legal representative. This means that when Adam sinned, he represented all of humanity in his fall. Thus, when Adam fell, so did everyone else. Therefore, all the Gentiles can be lumped into the category of being under Adam and in sin.
But Romans 2:12, 14-15 seems to address more than receiving judgment because one is found to be in Adam. When Paul began his Gospel presentation in Romans 1:18-32, he was addressing the Gentile. He appealed to God’s revelation in creation as a reason for judgment. Then, in Romans 2:12, 14-15, Paul highlights the way in which all mankind has been born with an idea of what right and wrong are. Paul declares that the law of God is written on people’s hearts and that their consciences will also be their judge.
Now, with a better understanding of all of this, we are finally brought to Matthew 5:17-18. In these verses, Jesus tells His listeners that He has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. Rather, Jesus tells them that He has come to fulfill them. He even goes on to say that there will not be an iota or a dot that will pass from the Law until it is all accomplished.
Abolishment or fulfillment?
When Jesus said that He did not come to abolish but to fulfill, it is important to note what His fulfillment brought. Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law is why Jesus came to the earth. The righteous requirements of God had to be fulfilled for someone to enter into eternity with God.
When Jesus said that He did not come to abolish the Law, this was absolutely true – the Law has never been abolished. Rather, the Law has been fulfilled. The Old Testament Law could be broken down into three categories: moral, civil, and ceremonial. In the moral law, one finds the Ten Commandments and the moral code of God. Here we find both good behavior to implement and bad behavior to avoid. If these laws were broken, the people would have committed sin. Sin brought the judgment of God. Thus, when Jesus became sin, He received the judgment of God. But Jesus also fulfilled the Law perfectly, thus earning the righteousness that the Law demanded. Without perfect obedience, blessing would never have come (Deut. 28). The righteous requirement of the Law is credited to the Christian’s account through faith. Thus, Jesus fulfilled the moral law of God, and so does man through Jesus.
In the Old Testament, there were ways in which the people were to be punished for the sins that they committed. This is what was involved in the civil law, and it was directly connected to the moral law, which was already addressed in brief. The fact of the matter is, according the civil law in the Old Testament, man deserves to die. Scripture says, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom 6:23). However, when Jesus came, He took upon Himself the sins of His people and stepped into their place. Jesus became the curse. It is important to recognize that the Law of God has been fulfilled in all respects in Jesus Christ.
To approach God, one also needs to be cleansed. He needs to be pure. Who will ascend to the house of God? The one who has clean hands. Who will see God? The one with a pure heart. The ceremonial aspects of law encompassed the ways in which the people would need to be cleansed or how they could remain clean. When Jesus came to earth and died on the cross, His blood became the cleansing agent that the Law required. Thus, Jesus fulfilled the Law yet again, while not doing away with it.
Application
In Christ, the Law of God has been fulfilled. It was not abolished, but rather, the perfect fulfillment of the Law is both credited to the believer and satisfies God’s righteous demands. The Law must be upheld. If you have never trusted in Christ today for the forgiveness of sin, your guilt remains. However, you can turn to Jesus today if you believe that He has accomplished the righteousness that you so desperately need to be right with God and that He is willing to give it to you. He rose from the dead and defeated death, and He desires that everyone would turn from their sin and turn to Him in faith.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You that Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law perfectly. I recognize that I fall short and cannot meet Your righteous requirements. I pray that You would sanctify me each day and make me more like Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen