Why did the LORD give His people the law? Was His intention to restrict us from enjoying life? Was His intention to bring us to some sort of slavery? Was God selfish? Let us take a closer look at this topic.

Let us consider our own world today or our own country where you dwell to find the answer to this very important question. Every kingdom operates based on a set of laws. Every country operates on a set of laws. For example, most countries have constitutions by which it is governed. A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a country is governed. It serves as the supreme law of the land, providing the framework for the structure of government, the distribution of powers, and the rights and duties of the citizens. They typically outline the political, legal, and social structures of the entity they govern. When an individual violates a constitution, the consequences can vary depending on the severity of the violation.

The same is applied to God’s kingdom. God has established a set of laws by which it operates. The violation of those laws is called “Lawlessness”.  Unfortunately, many Christians today are of the view that there are no laws that we must follow. They are very quick to condemn the laws of God as invalid and not applicable to us today. But it will do us a lot of good if we understand the purpose of the Law and how it operates before we condemn the law and consider it invalid and not applicable. Here are some verses outlining the purpose of the law:

1. Deuteronomy 4:5-6 Look! I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the LORD my God told me to do, so that you might carry them out in the land you are about to enter and possess. So be sure to do them, because this will testify of your wise understanding to the people who will learn of all these statutes and say, “Indeed, this great nation is a very wise people.”
2. Deuteronomy 4:9-10 Again, however, pay very careful attention, lest you forget the things you have seen and disregard them for the rest of your life; instead teach them to your children and grandchildren. You stood before the LORD your God at Horeb and he said to me, “Assemble the people before me so that I can tell them my commands. Then they will learn to revere me all the days they live in the land, and they will instruct their children.”
3. Matthew 5:17-21: Jesus states that the Torah (Scripture) functions as the guideline for the lifestyle of His disciples, to which obedience and/or disobedience will determine our future status in the Kingdom. Torah (Scripture) demonstrates lifestyle for disciples of Jesus.
4. Romans 7:7: Paul states that the Torah (Scripture) teaches us what sin is. Torah (Scripture) instructs us on what is clean and unclean, right and wrong, good and evil, what causes death and what brings life.
5. Luke 24:44 & John 5:39, 46: Jesus stated explicitly that Torah (Scripture) taught about Him. Torah (Scripture) teaches us about the Messiah and His role in redemption.
6. Romans 5:20: Paul states that the Torah (Scripture) was given to cause offenses (sin) to increase. Torah (Scripture) has the ability to cause sinfulness to increase in certain people.

Remember God saved Israel FIRST by His Grace and then AFTERWARDS gave those His Teachings or His Torah (Scripture), not vice versa. He NEVER gave them the Law first and then said “Obey this to be saved”. The Torah (Scripture) is not efficacious for atonement, because that wasn’t the purpose of the Torah (Scripture). So while the Christians may be right in criticizing the idea that TORAH (SCRIPTURE) observance cannot save, where they are DEAD WRONG is in thinking that the Old Testament actually really taught that TORAH (SCRIPTURE) observance was a means of salvation. The purpose of the law is to teach us the difference between good and evil from God’s perspective. It teaches us how to live a life that results in peace with God. The Law is a guide that puts us on the path to righteous living.

Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

We must ask ourselves a question! Should there be a difference between the lifestyle you led before and after being born again? Of course, there should be a huge difference in how you live your life after being born again, right? That is where the law comes into the picture.

Salvation is by God’s Grace to be completed by Messiah and Torah (Scripture) observance is how we live our lives AFTER we are saved.

We have to remember; that during the end of the age, only those who obeyed the commandments of God will go into the kingdom. The judgements are carried out based on these laws.

Revelation 2:26 And to the one who conquers and who continues in my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations –

Revelation 12:17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went off to wage war on the rest of her children (seed), those who keep and obey the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus [holding firmly to it and bearing witness to Him].

Revelation 14:12 This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints – those who obey God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus.