"The Inner Throne"
God gave the law of Moses to Israel not as a means of salvation, but rather as the revelation of need for salvation.
"The law made nothing perfect… By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Hebrews 7:19; Romans 3:20).
We must remember this truth when reading the Old Testament. It accounts for many of the dire warnings and consequences we see regarding the Lord's dealings with His chosen earthly people, the Jews. In its pride, Israel boasted upon receiving the law, "All that the Lord hath spoken, we will do!" (Exodus 19:8). Within days, the people constructed an idol of gold to worship, in direct disobedience to God's first command (Exodus 32). The sinful pride of the Jews' hearts stood forth in bold relief, as well as their complete inability to obey a law that commands human attainment to Divine standards. The same is true of all humanity. We cannot independently be or do that which the Lord requires. The law and the Old Testament tell us this, thus educating our hearts and directing us to "a new and living way" (Hebrews 10:20).
"What the law could no do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:3-4).
The law of Moses revealed our need for the life of Christ, as provided by His grace and truth. Humanity suffers from a heart problem. Until we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, our spirits are "alienated from the life of God" (Ephesians 4:18). Sin occupied our inner throne before the new birth rather "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:2). Thus, we worshipped the makings of our own hands rather than the mercy of God's working on our behalf. Salvation in the Lord Jesus changes this sad condition of spiritual death. Christ occupies the inner throne by bestowing the indwelling Holy Spirit to all who believe. Our spirits spring to life in His life, and our rightful King begins the process of transforming every aspect of our life and being into His image. All proceeds from grace received, and truth believed. We work, but as those who bear fruit rather than attempting to plant our own root. Dependence replaces pride, and progressively reveals the power of God as opposed to the delusion of human ability. "Let us have grace, that we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear" (Hebrews 12:28).
There was nothing wrong with God's law. The Apostle Paul affirmed it to be "holy and just and good" (Romans 7:12). There was rather something wrong with us, namely, a heart unoccupied by the living Lord Jesus. This is no longer true in all who believe. "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6). Thus, believers seek to "have grace" for the living of our Christian lives no less than we sought grace in responding to God's truth when we first believed. Only thereby can we consistently trust and obey our Lord as we humbly rely upon His enabling rather than our own efforts. The law of Moses and Israel's experience therein revealed our need for such grace, and paved the way for the Lord Jesus to occupy His rightful inner throne in the hearts of all educated by the commandments that point us to the Savior.
"The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
(Galatians 3:24)
Weekly Memory Verse
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
(Philippians 4:8)
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