Page 6 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

Without going into great detail, requiring a thick book, some basic principles can be cited about the law
that point in a general direction to help us sort through these historical options as we begin our study of
the Pentateuch. Hopefully our discussion will help each reader begin forming a personal perspective on
the law that can be thoughtfully passed on to others.

First, the law is the expression of God’s will and character. On a human level a government or set of
parents might make a law that does not reflect their will. As sinners we might put a law in place just for
show. God is not like this. His expressions are true to his nature. Psalm 119 with great variety and
insistence expresses the connection between God and his law. Notice God’s characteristics tied to his
law. “At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws (v. 62).” “The earth is filled with your
love, O LORD; teach me your decrees (v. 64).” “You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your
decrees (v. 68).” “All your commands are trustworthy (v. 86).” “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands
firm in the heavens (v. 89).” “All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore, I love your
statutes. My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws (vv. 119, 120).”

Second, the law is the true guide for how to live. “Follow them so that you may live (Deut. 4:4).” This has
not changed. Jesus often affirmed the summary of the law only in a deeper fashion. “Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34; cf. 15:10-12; 1 John 2:3-6)).”

Third, due to our sinful nature, we cannot
follow the law. It is impossible. This is part
of God’s design in giving us his law. “I am
unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin (Rom.
7:14).” He wants to push instead to faith in
Christ. As we cannot earn salvation by
following the law, we do not grow by
following the law. The Galatians were
turning to the law for daily living when Paul
asked them, “After beginning with the
th
Fig. 4: Hebrew codex (book) 10 cent. Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal
by human effort (Gal. 3:3)?”

Fourth, the way we fulfill the law is by walking in the Spirit. He produces fruit in our lives that is far
deeper and more thorough than following a list of dos and don’ts. “Against such things there is no law
(Gal. 5:22-23).” We will not, for example, engage in sexual immorality, if we are practicing the self-
control taught by the Spirit (1 Thess. 4:3-8). Instead we will examine everything that touches our lives to
weaken self-control in any area. “To succeed in keeping the law one must aim at something other and
something more. One must aim to become the kind of person from whom the deeds of the law naturally
flow.”
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Fifth, the law properly lived is a witness to other people. They will say, “Surely this great nation is a wise
and understanding people… What other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as
this body of laws I am setting before your today (Deut. 4:6-8).” The light of Christ shines through
believers that people “may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16). The
character of God becomes the character of his people as the Spirit lives in them and transforms them

6 Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy (San Francisco, Harper: 1997), 142.

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