Keeping The Law

My question comes from the latest article on tithing, but interestingly, doesn’t directly involve tithing. Jack, I’m struggling with the idea that Jesus came to fulfill the law. What does this really mean?

Q. Your articles on tithing have been great. they have helped me to pray and find out what God really wants.

My question comes from the latest article on tithing, but interestingly, doesn’t directly involve tithing. Jack, I’m struggling with the idea that Jesus came to fulfill the law. What does this really mean? In terms of the Levitical law, how do we know what to follow and not follow? From what I understand, the law wasn’t abolished. As i’ve attempted to make sense of Jesus fulfilling the law, it has occurred to me that perhaps the Holy Spirit guides us in what to do concerning the law? Finally, it seems that as a people, we have arbitrarily picked which areas of Levitical law to follow? Thanks for your answer.

A. Technically, the Levitical laws are still in place, with the exception of the dietary laws. We’re just not being held liable for breaking them because Jesus assumed that liability on our behalf.

Some teach that at the Council of Jerusalem gentiles were exempted from everything but eating food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality. (Acts 15:28-29) Others teach that every one in the world is accountable to the so-called Noachide laws. The Jews believed that these laws sprang from Genesis 9 and God’s covenant with Noah, predating the 10 commandments. According to this view they are the standard by which Gentiles should live just as the 10 Commandments are for the Jews.

Simply put, they say 1) Believe in the One God, 2) Respect and Praise Him, 3) Respect Human Life, 4) Respect the Family, 5) Respect Others’ Rights and Property, 6) Respect all Creatures, 7) Pursue Justice. These 7 laws expand into 66 Biblical imperatives for Gentiles, just as the 10 Commandments swell to 613 levitical laws for Jews.

We are saved by grace, but we are still called to obedience, although our salvation no longer depends upon it. Obedience to God’s Law is a way of honoring Him and expressing our gratitude to Him for saving us.

Human nature being what it is, many believers make up their own list of laws to keep as if doing so somehow makes them more holy. It’s bad enough that they do that, but then they often make it worse by trying to impose their list on others.