Moral Code of Conduct: The new Law

Does the Law still apply only to the Jew? What is the purpose of the law? Does the Law still apply to Christians today? Does Grace abolish the Law

Often there is a misconception by twenty first century Christianity that the law was made for the Jews only and has nothing to do with believers today. There is this believes that, Christ death on the cross has abolished the law and that Christian only live in Grace, Free from the law and its dictates to live as they like so long they believe in the death of Christ.

What is moral code of conduct: The law is referred as God's moral code of conduct, it refers to the detailed standard God gave to Moses, beginning in Exodus 20 with the Ten Commandments. God’s Law explained His requirements for a holy people and included three categories: civil, ceremonial, and moral laws. The law was given to reveals people sin to them, because where there is no law, sin is not inputted on any man. Paul wrote, “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Roman 7:12). The Apostle John wrote, “For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments and His commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3). And Christ summed up the matter, saying, “…if you will enter into life, keep the commandments” (Mathew 5:17). In Matt. 7:21, He also said, “Not everyone that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven."

The law provides the objective standard by which the violations are measured. In order for sinners to know how sinful they really are, how far they deviate from God's standards, God gave the law. Before the law was given, there was sin (see Rom 5:13). But after the law was given, sin could be clearly specified and measured (see Rom 3:20; 4:15; 7:7). The moral code of conduct of all Christian was given by God to his people to reveal to them what sin is all about, and their inability to live up to God standard. Yes, there has been sin ongoing before the law was given but it was not counted for the people because, there was no law.

 In the old testament the moral code of conduct was written on tablet, and it reveals the ground God judges his people, if they are obedient or not; serving a basis for strengthening God's relationship with man often time. Obedience to this law was the awesome obligation of God's people as they attempted to merit His favor and blessing. After all, Israel was His special people, and they were bound together in a solemn covenant with Him.

In order to restore the broken relationship when the Israelites' sin , sacrifices were required. Yet all these sacrifices were really inadequate. They tried to lay the culprit's guilt on a sheep or goat which was then killed - as though that scapegoat could really take away the guilt. True, God prescribed all this, but could such pitiful attempts at making amends ever really be adequate? In the Bible God is portrayed as so holy and just, that sin cannot be brushed aside. Actually the Bible presents sin as so horrendous that it merits death. This is the basic human predicament. The law now become a big issue, because the people often lack the ability to keep the standard of God thereby landing them into so many punishment raging from death, taking all the inhabitant to exile in foreign lands. 

The question now is does the Law still apply to Christians today? Yes, the law is still applicable to the Christian today. Jesus when speaking on the mountain said, you have been told not to commit adultery; but, I say unto you, whosoever looketh at a woman to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart {Mathew 5: 20-48}. Jesus says, think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophet: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Christ fulfilled the Law on our behalf and offers the power of the Holy Spirit, who motivates a regenerated heart to live in obedience to Him {Mathew 3:8, Acts 1:8}. James 2:26 says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

Christ coming and death bring in a new covenant/ law that assume more greater responsibility. Hebrew 10: 16, 8:10 and Jeremiah 31:31, talks about new covenant through Christ, where God will no longer write his covenant or law in tablets or stone but rather will write his law in our heart and mind so that we will not say we are ignorant of it. Not only will he write his law in our heart, he will also give us power to the keep the law. All of us receive the gift of the holy spirit, when we genuinely repent of our sin, which teach us the will of the father and help us to live for him. 

It is wrong teaching to say, that we no longer have anything to do with the law, though we are not under the law, but we cannot the discard the precept of the law. For it is the law that reveal sin to us. Imagine someone telling the congregation, live the way you like your sins are forgiven before you commit them, so the fellow is encouraging fornication, adultery, envy etc. The question is where is the love of Christ in us? Bible says, if you love me keep my commandment, oh! maybe that man who see sin as normal thing will be happy if another man carries his wife and sleep with her, or a guy to take his fourteen year old daughter, and have sexual assault with her, yes because Christ has paid for the sin, so let go on insulting the body of Christ. The bible says, whatsoever a man sow, that he shall reap.

Grace does not abolish the law: Grace through faith in Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, We are only sure of our salvation when we start manifesting God's grace in our life. This is explained further in Roman 6:14-15: “For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the law, but under grace. We demonstrate God grace in our life only when we walk not after the flesh but after the spirit of God. Roman 8:1: There is therefore now, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the dictates of the flesh but after the dictates of the spirit. But a person led by God’s Spirit will strive to follow that law, as instructed by the holy ghost. When he occasionally sins, he repents and is forgiven (1 john 1: 8-10, 2: 1-2).

Apostle Paul after preaching the gospel of grace, was quick to point out that, grace does not nullify the law. He said, We would not even know the difference between good and evil, he says, without the law telling us what to do and what not to do. But above all, Paul wants to make clear the God's love fulfills the law. The law tells us the kind of life that our love for God and our neighbor would require.

So there's no way we should want to continue to sin and flaunt the law, just so we can be the recipients of more grace! So are we still supposed to keep "the law" today? Obviously all those laws about sacrifices are finished in the one and complete sacrifice of Christ. All the dozens of Laws about the land, foods, and rituals of Israel don't pertain to us either. Nor can the keeping of any set of laws give us eternal life. For it is only confidence in Christ righteousness can grace come to live a holy and acceptable life for God.

So God's law has been written in our mind and heart, we all have something that tells you that what you do is wrong, stop looking for excuse to live a wayward life, rather seek to do God's will always. The bible should be the basis you judge everything in Life not based on what one preacher told you. The bible says, for you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free; ignorance of the law is not an excuse in the court of law. Always see yourself as a new person in Christ. A new creature in Christ has the nature of Christ which is Love, if you have love inside you, to keep the law will not be a problem for you. To be like Christ is to love like Christ, and loving like Christ entails keeping God's command, making him your number one priority in life, loving your neighbor like yourself will be the second aspect you show the love of Christ inside you.