The Way and The Truth
Is it a responsibility that the Church must restore God’s law to a position where people may see its relevance?
God’s law has been maligned almost from the time it was given at Mt. Sinai. Israel as a nation was much more inclined to follow pagan religions which surrounded them than doing what the law required.
By the time of Christ, the remnant of Judah was not even keeping the law as God had given it (John 7:19), yet they claimed to be upholders of the law. In fact, they had substantially distorted the law by adding their interpretations so that it became almost unrecognizable.
The Prophet Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would come and “exalt the law and make it honorable” (Isaiah 42:21). That is, to make it large, to magnify it. Christ Himself said that He did not come to destroy the law or the Prophets, but that He came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17). As we know, He did not come to invalidate or nullify the law. The Greek word also indicates fulfilling a promise foretold and the arrival of an appointed time.
A brief review of the character of Christ will provide strong implications for the Church that He built. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His approach to the law is consistent. He exemplified the law by living it. His teachings were based on the law. He came to restore the law to its original intent. As one commentator paraphrased it, “I have not come to abolish what the entire Old Testament testifies to, but to do it”.
Christ is the foundation upon which the NewTestament Church is built – the chief corner stone. We are called to be living stones built upon that foundation – a spiritual house. We were once not a people, but are now the people of God (1 Peter 2:5-10).
Does it not stand that as the Church of God we have the obligation, and are required to proclaim the praises of Him who called us by being witnesses of how God’s law is to benefit mankind? It is the heart and core of the gospel message.
Like ancient Israel, the Church today is to be a living example of the law (Deuteronomy 7:6). He wanted His people to develop a heart like His – a people who reflect His own values and standards. His heart, which is reflected in the points of the law.
Deuteronomy 12:32 is a command for the Church today. “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it”. And in Romans we are told, “for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified” (Romans 2:13).
It is not an easy task. His law is obscured by man deciding what is applicable today and what is not (Titus 1:13-14). Judah was assigned the task of keeping the oracles of God, but instead they complicated and made the law burdensome.
Has the Church lived up to its task in the last 30 or 40 years? We are survivors of an attempt by Church leaders to do away with the law – but at what cost? The Church still carries collateral damage from that time.
Christ’s first coming focused on the establishment of the Church (Hebrews 12:22-24).
He is the way and the truth.
We are called to be witnesses of the way and the truth.
Brian Orchard
