In the Bible, which comes first: the Law or the Gospel?
The answer will surprise you.
The first five books of the Bible are known as the Law of Moses, and rightfully so. They contain laws—613 of them to be exact.
But why did God establish these laws? Who did God give them to?
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| Commandments by James Perkins on flickr. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 |
There were no Commandments when God chose to make of Sarah and Abraham a great nation—nor were there Commandments when God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. In fact, when God’s people were slaves in Egypt, there was one law, and his name was Pharoah. He exercised complete control over their minds, bodies, and souls. If it weren’t for the grace of the God whom they barely knew and were couldn’t worship, they would’ve perished.
But God took the initiative. With a mighty hand, God liberated his people from the bonds of slavery so that they would become “his treasured possession out of all peoples” (v.5): “a priestly kingdom and a holy nation” (v. 6).
That isn’t Law, folks. That’s Gospel in its purest form. That’s why the Ten Commandments begin with the words “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Ex 20:2). That’s also why nearly all 613 laws are proceeded by the words “I am the Lord.” God established the relationship first—but that doesn’t lessen the importance of the Law.
The Commandments are all about relationships: between God, God’s people, and God’s creation. Think of the Commandments as God’s love letter to his people: God gives the law so that all may flourish as one beloved community.
But you still have freewill. You still have choices. God has initiated the relationship, God gives the Law, but you can take it or leave it. Is the Lord your God, or is someone else? Or something else?
I can honestly say that I don’t worship any pagan gods. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t have other gods, because you can make gods out of anything. Your social media postings or internet browsing histories may bear some insight into this. So too may your credit card, bank statements, or appointment books.
Crisis has a way of revealing who or what you rely on most. What about all the stressors in your life for which you fuss and worry but have no control over? Is there something you fear losing? Is there a Pharaoh who won’t let you go?
Our world is full of gods, more so than any other time in history, and they’re all in competition with the one true God. Martin Luther famously said, “Anything on which your heart relies and depends, that is really your god.” You need God’s mighty hand to free you from these Pharaohs before you can live as God intends.
In the end, you become what you worship. Far too many people in this world want to be Pharaoh. Worship Jesus Christ, and you will become like Jesus Christ, and all the people God puts into your life shall be blessed. Obedience to the Law isn’t just for your own good, but for your neighbor’s good as well.
After all, God didn’t choose his people just to spoil them with blessing. God chose them to be a light to all the nations of the world. Yes, God performs miraculous signs and wonders that no human being could ever bring about, but most of God’s workings in the world are carried out through people living out the obedience of holiness.
This is why, in the Old Testament, the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments were carried in the Ark of the Covenant wherever God led his people. We bear the righteousness of God for the blessing of the world.
Don’t forget: the Law alone cannot save. You are saved through the righteousness of Jesus Christ: his death on the cross and his resurrection on the third day. The Ten Commandments answer the question how now shall we live now that we’re saved? Jesus said it himself: “if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:5).
I want to challenge you to make the Ten Commandments a regular part of your devotional life. The Commandments are the basis of God’s will for your life, and our window into God’s promised future. Keep them as close to your heart as the Lord’s Prayer and all your favorite scripture passage. God never fails to answer the prayers of Christ who lives in you by your faith and obedience.
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