The law

I have been learning/thinking about the Law. Much of this comes from my discussions with Josh P, with whom I am going through the Life Builders Curriculum. It also has some parts thrown in from BSF, Acts of the Apostles, and Hebrews.

First, for purpose of this monologue, let's make a distinction between two different kinds of law.

The Law is the ten commandments. These laws where given to the Israelites by God to make them (and us) aware of sin (Romans 7:7). This was, essentially, a standard of behavior that one could never measure up to.

The law, small case, is a standard of behavior imposed on us from all kinds of different sources; our parents, the church, school, friends, government, and ourselves.

Prior to Jesus's birth, death, burial, and resurrection, all men lived by the standards of the Law (Romans 1:18 - 3:31). If one did not meet the standards set forth in the law (sin), one (a Jew) had to offer a sacrifice to cover their sin before God. These sacrifices, by the way, did not clear one's conscience (Hebrews 9:9).

Having said that, all the following things tie together, at least in my mind:

I was reading in Hebrews (part of my BSF study) and reading the book, 'The Weeping Chamber,' and doing a Life Builders study all at the same time (you know what I mean...).

In Hebrews, I was reading about how the old sacrifice didn't cleanse the conscience of the person the sacrifice was being made for. In other words, one's sin would be covered, but one would still feel guilty. Be design. God meant it that way. Jesus's sacrifice, once for all, cleanses our conscience (Hebrews 10:22). Is that cool or what? That means that, if we feel guilty after accepting God's forgiveness for whatever we've done, it's because we want to feel bad. But we don't have to!!

In the 'Weeping Chamber,' Peter was taking a lamb to the temple for the Passover sacrifice and, for the first time in his life, made the connection between his sin and what he was about to do to this innocent lamb - kill it to cover his sin!

In my Life Builders thing (you know, the thing), we were talking about how we are dead to the law of sin and made alive to the new law of the Spirit (Romans 7:6). This is, of course, something I have heard many times before. Yes, I know I'm a new creation. Yes, I know I'm dead to sin. Yes, I know that I am free from the clutches of sin. Yada, yada, yada. (this actually started a few months ago when I was asked, 'What would it look like if you lived a life without condemnation (Romans 8:1)?' My answer to this was, 'I have no idea.')

For some reason, it all came together. I asked Josh 'So, when I was seven, I died, was buried, and then resurrected as a new creation?'

He said 'Yes.'

Then, I said 'So, prior to this, I lived according to the law (note the small case)? In other words, a pattern of behavior that was imposed on me by my parents, church, school, whatever?'

He said 'Right.'

Me again, 'When I died, was buried, and resurrected, I was a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17) but immediately started to live by the old law - don't lie, cheat, steal, chew or hang around with girls that do?'

He said, 'Right. How does that make you feel?'

I said, after some thought, that it made me feel deceived.

All this time, I have been a new creation, but have been living by the old law. Rather than letting the Spirit guide me and give strength to my mortal body (Romans 8:11). I have been focused on what I shouldn't do, instead of going to the cross and wanting only to please my God and Father.

This may be all old news to you, but it's radical to me.

There is more, but that's enough for now. What are your thoughts on all this?