Biblical Worldview - Part 8 - The Weakness of God’s Law
By Ben Quine
****The way we act is shaped by the way we look at the world. Our lives are shaped by our basic assumptions and convictions. These Worldview Articles will explore what a “worldview” is. Each person has a worldview, whether they know it or not, and it determines every decision and choice a person makes. Do you have a Biblical Worldview or are factors other than the Bible informing your choices and decisions. In this series of articles, we will take an in-depth look at 7 Vital Worldview Questions, as the starting place for building a Biblical Worldview. (These articles are adapted from David Quine’s Answers for Difficult Days “Seven Vital Worldview Questions.” David is Ben’s father and the founder of Cornerstone Curriculum a Biblically based Homeschool Curriculum.)
How can something that’s perfect have a weakness?
We live in a universe created by a moral God. He has expressed Himself through the laws and moral principles found in Scripture, with which we can know right from wrong. The commands of the LORD reflect the very nature and character of God. Collectively they instruct us on which choices are right, and they protect and warn us from making choices that are wrong. Therefore, the basis of ethics and morality rests not on the personal preferences of culture, but rather upon the very nature and character of God Himself. We call this unchanging morality Absolute Truth; it applies to everyone through all time, and it is the basis for God-honoring relationships.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; (Psalm 19:7)
Although the law of God is perfect because God Himself is perfect, there is an inherent weakness within it.
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:18-19)
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:19)
God tells us the main purpose of the law: to pronounce all of humanity guilty before a holy God. But doesn’t the law help us to do what is right? If people are doing terrible things, perhaps what we really need is more laws?
Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. (Galatians 3:21)
Paul taught the early Church that, though the law is good (it is a perfect reflection of the perfect character of God), and though it shows us the right way to live, and though it does the job of convicting humanity of sin, stopping our mouths, and pronouncing us guilty,
the weakness of the law is that it can never make a person holy or perfect or give them the power to do what is right.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. (Romans 8:3-7)
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. (Hebrews 10:1)
Because we are sinful (weakened by the flesh) and continually fail to live up to the standards of right and wrong found within it,
the law actually proves our guilt before God and thereby becomes an instrument that brings condemnation, instead of bringing life (Romans 3:19-20).
When we are guilty, we must make payment for the guilt — in the case of sin, the sentence is death. (Romans 6:23)
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4)
In the Old Testament, if a person was guilty of sin they had to bring a spotless lamb to the high priest in the Temple to sacrifice, in order to provide temporary coverage and forgiveness of their sin. This sacrifice had to be continually and indefinitely repeated because the lamb’s blood was not actually sufficient to remove human sin or fulfill the punishment for it. Sinners need a solution superior to the sacrificial system offered in the law.
[A]nd since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:21)
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. (Hebrews 9:24)
Christ Jesus filled the role of our great high priest. He entered into heaven itself to present the perfect and final offering for sin. He offered a spotless sacrifice (himself), which fully satisfied God’s justice. He was able to pay the penalty we owed but could not pay.
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
Since Jesus paid the price to remove our sins from us, we have been declared righteous and freed from all condemnation. Jesus also promised to send us a Helper, the Holy Spirit, who would empower us to live in righteousness, bringing us life, and teaching us to walk in his ways (John 14:16-17, Philippians 2:13).
The beauty of Christianity is that is it not just characterized by a set of rules for life. We are able to express the character of God in our own lives, not by our own grim determination, but because the Spirit of God indwells us.
As we live moment-by-moment in surrender to Him, He produces His life in and through us, resulting in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), which we could never truly produce on our own.
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
The commands of the LORD are the reflection of the very nature and character of God. The law of the Lord is perfect, but it cannot make us perfect. Only God Himself, through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, can make you “perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” This one-heart-at-a-time transformation is also the only way to rescue a society torn apart by sin, oppression, and death.
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Ben Quine is Vice President of Christians Engaged and is the Director of Curriculum Development and Strategic Ministry Partnerships.
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