Why was the law given?

Hello fellow human! How go your travels on this good Earth?

Soooo...

This is how Mr. Google defines the law…

“the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.”

I believe that the law is a manifestation of our inner child or purest form. For example, if serial killers could be taken back in time to see themselves as children, they would probably break down in tears. That’s what the law does. It shows us what we could be but we usually can’t handle it so we quiver back in feelings of condemnation. It's like that inner child is always talking to us. Some people may choose to shut it up and hide it away. I believe that our conscience is our inner child and the law is that child brought outside as a witness to what the inner one is saying.

Romans 2:14-16 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.

That law in our hearts is manifested in the Bible. That law in our hearts is manifested in the constitutions of our various countries. Though some countries have some unrighteous laws because they were made by imperfect people like you and I. Israel’s law was given by Moses (who was prepared for years to receive it) to be an example to the nations of what their purest form was saying but their hearts were too hard to hear that purest form. That law given to Moses became the basis of European and American law which became an example to much of the world in the 16th century and onwards. This scripture was fulfilled...

Deuteronomy 4:6-8 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him? And what nation is great enough to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

That's the law in a community setting but it also works on a personal level as something that we can compare ourselves to as we progress in our individual spiritual journeys. Like a tutor. It can’t help us other than giving us knowledge of what we could be.

Matthew 5:19-20 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

I think that what Jesus was saying in that last bit is that there is a level of righteousness or level in a spiritual walk that can be a trap. Where hypocrisy or play-acting comes in possibly for money or status (being known as righteous). In other words, what was righteousness becomes self-righteousness. Getting beyond that is very key to getting into Heaven.

Luke 12:1-2 Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

Leaven is another word for yeast. In those days, it was sometimes used as a symbol for sin. Yeast causes bread to rise up. So it was sometimes used as a symbol for sin or pride. Like pride in sinful nature, yeast puffs up (See 1 Corinthians 5:6-8).

So back to that warning of falling into hypocrisy. That was one of the few warnings Jesus gave to the disciples. Why? All pharisees (except the Judases) were once true disciples. People put them on pedestals they began to love. So to maintain those pedestals, they focused on image more than their original principles. Reputation and money became their god.

We love putting people on super high pedestals like they're God, not just His creation. I haven't figured out why yet. Are we afraid of God's light? Is it too bright?

1 Samuel 8:6-9 But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

That portion of scripture makes a hard thug like me shed half a tear. God is talking like He has been through it over and over and over again. In Deuteronomy 17:14-20 God gave laws for kings. That means He already knew that they would reject Him. The law is really really toned down to our level of light. Deuteronomy 15:12-17 has laws concerning slaves. Does God want people to suffer as slaves? No, but that's where we were so He gave those generous laws to us.

Funnily enough, when we realise that the people we've put on pedestals are human, we stone them.

I believe that the purpose of the spirit of Elijah is to humble those that exalt themselves and exalt those who humble themselves. To prepare a bride for God. To bring Jezebel down and to raise Elisha (who was Elijah's servant) up. Elisha in Hebrew is broken down to Eli shua just like Jesus' Jah shua or Yeshua. Elisha is a foreshadow of Jesus. So the spirit of Elijah only testifies of God, His Spirit and His Son. Jesus' disciples have a measure of Him in them, so they are lifted up with Him, being fully submitted to God's vision as a bride is submitted to her bridegroom's vision. Meanwhile, Jezebel is a representative of all that have decided to be dethrone God. "Jezebel" which is also a Hebrew name most likely means 'not exalted' according to many scholars on the internets. She exalted herself. Like Lucifer...

Isaiah 14:13-14 You said in your heart:

“I will ascend to the heavens;

I will raise my throne

above the stars of God.

I will sit on the mount of assembly,

in the far reaches of the north.

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.”

Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

God lets people choose their way for some time. He doesn't infringe on anyone's free will so He can seem quite passive or absent for years and years as the wicked prosper. Then the time of judgement comes...

Isaiah 40:3-5 A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” John 3:27-30 John [the Baptist] replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must increase; I must decrease. Luke 1:17 And he [John the Baptist] will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

The Jezebels and Lucifers of John's day were the Pharisees and Herod's squad who eventually beheaded him.

Let's get back to putting people on too high pedestals for a second.

I think that Paul said this in response to people's tendency to idolise…

2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Rejoice in weaknesses not sins. Eradicate sins with the help of God. Paul’s main weakness was being stoned by the Jews over and over again. It made him look defeated.

The Pharisees did everything to make sure they looked holy but they didn't lift a finger to develop the fruit of the spirit in themselves. Jesus called the Pharisees and the Jews that crucified Him sons of Satan.

John 8:43-45 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Jesus' inner court was holier than His outer court. He was seen as an agitator, law-breaker and friend of sinners (Jesus would hang out with thieves and murderers after they had repented). He was greater than His reputation. That's what we should aspire to.

1 Kings 10:7 However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.

Let the jewels, rubies and silver of your heart shine more than the outer garments. Though it's better not to think it through a lot and strive. It's better to just be a child that vibes around, only caring about God's opinion of you while still being respectful to others.

This guy looks like he's having so much fun...

John after like 80 years of walking with God talked freely like a child about his strengths and weaknesses...

Revelation 22:8-9 And I am John, who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

That verse is also a bit discouraging because if John, Jesus’ beloved of beloveds at 99 years old is still making errors, does perfection exist? Ok, let’s for the final time decide that perfection is love, growth, humility etc.

John was such a child at heart that people would just come in and take over his churches...

3 John 1:9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

Paul, Peter, Jude, James, Moses etc. were all the same. God uses the weak things of the Earth to confound the wise. God wants to show Himself strong to draw all to Him. The strong and mighty Samson was probably a really skinny guy.

So when representing God in any way, you don't have to be perfect and all-knowing, just trying your best. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know." "I fell short in that area." "I'm sorry, I almost started an angel worship doctrine." Lol just be true to yourself.

Anyway…

As mentioned, looking at our purest form makes us quiver back in condemnation.

The law is to a spiritual walk what pictures of fit people are to a gym. We could enter the gym, see pictures of those fit people, get enraged, tear down every picture and create our own ideas of what fitness means or we could simply walk out in condemnation or we could aspire to be like them and pick up a dumbbell. Few choose the latter option. Some may choose to worship the pictures which is also wrong.

Physical exercise is actually very similar to spiritual exercise. I believe that this is why a lot of bodybuilders are humble. The metal breaks them!!! Bruce Lee probably started his spiritual walk from martial arts.

1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

One is lesser than the other but they work by the same principles. Show up daily. Don't be too hard on yourself if you don't show up one day, just get back to it. 30 consecutive days of a few reps on different body parts each day is more effective than 1 day a month of a million reps. If you stop at any time, you can become unfit again. We're all born with different metabolisms and body types so it's important not to compare a lot. All those apply to spiritual exercise.

Spiritual exercises include prayer/meditation (sitting quietly to get in tune with the still, small voice of God) and reading the teachings or stories of people that have gone before us i.e. the Bible with the intention of practicing what is read.

So back to the law.

One law that makes me quiver back in condemnation is this…

Matthew 19:3-10 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

We all know that loyal love is the highest goal in life. But it takes more than our own effort.

Jesus said in that previous scripture that even Moses’ law wasn’t the real expression of our purest form. It was toned down. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law but brought a higher law or expounded on the law. Paul called it the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:27 to those who are without the Law, I became as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ…

Our purest form loves till the end, but the darkness in this world taints our souls.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to all people [no one being able to stop it or escape its power], because they all sinned.

The book of Hosea is a perfect image of love in its purest form as Jesus was talking about before…

Hosea 3:1-3 The Lord said to me [Hosea], “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.”

Hosea must be one of the most loving people in the Bible. What is he doing??? Such passionate obedience to God. His wife went back to prostitution and God told him to go back for her and he went back. That happened multiple times. Hosea [shua], Jesus [Yeshua or Yahshua] and Joshua are basically the same name. So he was a foreshadow of Jesus.

Hosea was like Jesus in his submission to God. It’s possible to become like Jesus. Jesus is God’s obsession and God is Jesus’ obsession and the Holy Spirit is like the fire between them. They invite us to join this communion. Jesus always obeyed without explanation because He loved His Father. It’s impossible to please God without faith/trust (after testing that the voice heard is really God’s).

John 5:19 So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

So in Hosea, we see pure love. God keeps calling to Israel despite their constant turning away.

Hosea 11:8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!

To this day, God hasn't given up on Israel.

A person whose heart is not hard does not need the law. Love will guide them.

Matthew 19:8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

Mark 16:14 Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

I believe that a lot of the law can be put in the "because of the hardness of your hearts" category.

As children, we believed all things, hoped all things, endured all things. Looking at ourselves as children acts as a witness against us.

Deuteronomy 31:26 Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.

None of us can look at ourselves as a child and feel 100% comfortable because we live in a dark world that wars against our souls.

Heaven is a place for restoration to this purest form but no darkness is allowed there…

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

So do we adults just go to Hell while children go to Heaven?

This is why Jesus came. To reconcile us to God, whose presence is Heaven. Heaven would not be Heaven if God left.

So the first purpose of the law is to manifest our inner child i.e. to give us something to aspire to. The second purpose of the law was to set the stage for Jesus by showing us that we can't do it in our own strength. If the law didn't come, many of us wouldn't have knowledge of our need for a Saviour. Those pictures in the gym are also around to make you sign up for the premium subscription trainer programme. Jesus being the trainer.

Galatians 3:19-22 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one. Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

Romans 7:13 Did that which is good [the Law], then become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, in order that it might be revealed as sin, was producing death in me by [using] this good thing [as a weapon], so that through the commandment sin would become exceedingly sinful.

Belief in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins is the only way to God’s presence for us fallen ones.

John 5:39 [Jesus said] You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me;

Here's an interesting verse...

1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

I think that because of our deeper desperation for God’s presence after experiencing the darkness of independence from Him, that enables us to be judges of angels because they haven’t experienced it and so may not be as desperate. The more dependent a being is, the higher they go. The darkness of this world is a great opportunity! An opportunity to expand capacity to dive into the depths of the eternal Creator both in this age and in the ages to come.

So, the law has two purposes; (1) to show us our purest form or to show societies how to live and (2) to show us that we cannot attain that pure form without the help of God that can only be accessed through the cross.

Two opposing purposes; (1) "You can do it! Punish anyone that fails too much." (2) "Actually, uhmm, you can't do it. You need the Saviour who is coming to redeem you to God."

We're living in between this tension of dual purpose.

Its main purpose is the second one, in my opinion.

Galatians 3:23-25 Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Young princes of various kingdoms have tutors that prepare them to rule. The law is like that tutor.

After we’ve received the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins, we can access the presence of God to begin the healing process to move into our purest form. Before Jesus came, God had various signs and symbols foreshadowing the cross which people would believe in to access His presence.

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds…

Having received the empowerment of God’s presence through the cross, we should become like His Son, Jesus.

Romans 8:1-4 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Now through access to His presence, we can not only look at that pure child without condemnation but be them. There's no condemnation as well if we fail now and then as we try to become that purest form.

The love, joy and peace we experience in our existence increases to the extent that we allow His presence to permeate our beings and transform us.

Those that do not accept His sacrifice will forever be condemned by their inner child, unable to access God’s presence i.e. Hell. I believe that Hell is a place where humans and angels are allowed to be God. They didn’t submit to the Almighty so He gave them a place where they could rule. Selfish ambition, pride and lust slowly become a burning city of tormentors whose only food is themselves but they cannot die, so they live in perpetual suffering. Like Mao Zedong or Stalin’s rule of terror but 1,000,000 times worse and it goes on forever. Lucifer is there, all the fallen angels, every prideful heart in human history, everyone who wants to be their own God.

According to Abraham, even if they were given a second chance, they would not listen...

Luke 16:27-31 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

All we have is this life. Around 60 – 100 years to rise as high as we can through humility towards God or fall as low as we can through exalting ourselves as God. We have such a great opportunity on this Earth. It's a high risk, high reward game (If you win, you win high, if you lose, you lose really low). I think that spiritual development in Heaven will be very slow since there's no suffering and only suffering builds the character of Christ...

Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Hebrews 5:7-8 During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.

Revelation 21:4 ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

You don't need to suffer to become wealthy or gain anything good. However, character, according to the verses above, is only built through hardship. Moving further into God for love, joy and peace (divine fellowship that we were made for) naturally puts authority and power onto a person which can only be rightly used with the right character.

Loving in the midst of hate, turning the other cheek won’t be possible one day.

This life is so short. It’ll be over in the blink of an eye compared to eternity. Reverence in time of pressing won’t be possible one day.

I don't think that anything in this world is the destination. Not a business, job, marriage, car, school, family, calling/gifting etc. All these are part of life but are not life. The destination is Christ in you. With Him, all things are possible. It's a process that can't be rushed.

Let’s use this opportunity wisely. Let's fulfill potential.

Don’t be ordinary.

Be like Jesus.