The limitations of law keeping

The evidence of civilised behaviours is law abiding citizens. The problem with the goal of becoming law abiding is that no one keeps all of the laws all of the time. At best people don't get caught breaking laws and perhaps pride themselves because they have avoided detection. Extreme groups such as the Pharisees of Jesus' day tried to keep the laws in their totality but they too failed. The reason for failure is simple - "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom.3:23). It is embedded in the heart of humanity to break laws not to obey laws.


There was only ever one man who obeyed laws, that is the Ten Commandments. Jesus Christ was the perfect law keeper. He never deviated from truth because He was and is the embodiment of truth. The law however, always measures deviation from truth. Yet Jesus was able to measure even further than what the Ten Commandments measured. The Commandments measured outward behaviours but Jesus was able to measure deviations that were rooted in heart motivations. He lifted the high jump bar. For example, He said "...whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28)


Keeping the law on its own would never make a way for sinners to become righteous because the law is only ever able to measure shortfall. The law was never designed to change people. That's why believing that people somehow will 'change their spots' because of law making and law enforcement, is at very least vain hope and at very worst entirely damaging.


Laws don't empower change. Only grace empowers change for the better. Grace is designed to change people from the inside out. "The law was given to Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ". (John 1:17) The law was entrusted to an imperfect man but grace and truth were entrusted to the perfect man, Jesus Christ.






Adapted from Ross Smith's book, "It Is Finished". To purchase "It Is Finished" go to www.thevine.org.au/resources.html  Ross Smith is Senior Pastor of The Vine Church, Logan City, Queensland, Australia.