"Law"? Who Needs It?

Without “law” in our lives we are quite naturally “lawless”.  “Lawlessness” can also characterize a town.  Historically, certain western Kansas towns (in which state I dwell) had this dubious distinction.  Stability and lasting growth could not come to these towns until functioning law was in place.  As with a town, so with an individual, for growth and stability to take place, “Law” must come.

In what does this “Law” consist?  Spiritually speaking, actually the most fundamental issue, “Law” brings the “knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).  “The Law” in this case is the “Ten Commandments”; “sin” is a breaking or transgression of “The Law”.  Contained within this “Law” are things like prohibitions against “lying” (even a little, “white” lie); “stealing” (even of a very small thing); or, “adultery” (even doing it within one’s own heart—as Jesus updated “The Law”) and other items.  It’s critical we understand, according to the Bible, that to transgress (break) one law is to be guilty of breaking all of them.

The Bible goes on to teach that “the Law” is of God and that when we “break the Law” we put ourselves in line for God’s wrath.  God is the “sheriff”, as it were, and He will apprehend and punish all law-breakers. 

What’s one to do?  Be sorry for your sins, turn away from them and seek the Savior, Jesus, because He paid the price for our sins.  What is that price?  Death (Hebrews 9:22).  Not just death of any animal or human being, but the death of a “sinless” human being which sacrifice a Holy and righteous God accepts.  When this sacrifice is applied to our sin debt it is marked “paid”.  Jesus’ sacrifice, His laying down of His life for us, is the only sacrifice the Heavenly Father will and does accept.  The demonstration of the Father’s acceptance of this sacrifice is the fact He raised Jesus from the dead.

Acknowledging your sin, accepting Jesus as your Savior from sin, enables you then to become a “law-abiding” citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.