Law FOLLOWS grace
"I Am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."
-Deuteronomy 5:6
We often read past this verse, whether we're reading about the Ten Commandments being given in Exodus or here in Deuteronomy where they are reiterated in the hearing of all the Israelites. We tend to think that God was all about LAW LAW LAW - OBEY OBEY OBEY (or else!) in the Old Testament and then grace somehow comes later in the New Testament when Jesus shows up. But, is that really what occurred?
The following is an excerpt of commentary from the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible:
"Deuteronomy 5-26 contains the laws that Israel was to keep in the land they were about to enter. The 10 Commandments stand at the beginning of all other laws, and at the beginning of the 10 Commandments we read, 'I Am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.'
Law follows grace.
God saved Israel before He gave them His law to follow. God rescued Israel not because of their obedience to the law but because of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exo. 3:15-16). Israel's deliverance was therefore not because of their obedience to the law but because God saw their affliction and cared enough to deliver them from their suffering to an abundant life (Exo. 3:7-8). This truth provides the context in which to read the whole of Deuteronomy 5-26. Indeed, this gospel rhythm provides the context in which we carry out our obedience to God. Law follows grace. We obey from, not for, God's favor."
Have you ever noticed that before? Its further proof that God is in fact "the same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb. 13:8) Before Law, God provided a gracious escape. Therefore, today, we are obedient to Christ, we repent and believe, and we live for Him, not because He commanded us to, but because He graciously chose to save us first. Its an obedience derived out of God's love for us and our reciprocal love for Him and what He did. Law FOLLOWS grace.
-Deuteronomy 5:6
We often read past this verse, whether we're reading about the Ten Commandments being given in Exodus or here in Deuteronomy where they are reiterated in the hearing of all the Israelites. We tend to think that God was all about LAW LAW LAW - OBEY OBEY OBEY (or else!) in the Old Testament and then grace somehow comes later in the New Testament when Jesus shows up. But, is that really what occurred?
The following is an excerpt of commentary from the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible:
"Deuteronomy 5-26 contains the laws that Israel was to keep in the land they were about to enter. The 10 Commandments stand at the beginning of all other laws, and at the beginning of the 10 Commandments we read, 'I Am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.'
Law follows grace.
God saved Israel before He gave them His law to follow. God rescued Israel not because of their obedience to the law but because of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exo. 3:15-16). Israel's deliverance was therefore not because of their obedience to the law but because God saw their affliction and cared enough to deliver them from their suffering to an abundant life (Exo. 3:7-8). This truth provides the context in which to read the whole of Deuteronomy 5-26. Indeed, this gospel rhythm provides the context in which we carry out our obedience to God. Law follows grace. We obey from, not for, God's favor."
Have you ever noticed that before? Its further proof that God is in fact "the same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb. 13:8) Before Law, God provided a gracious escape. Therefore, today, we are obedient to Christ, we repent and believe, and we live for Him, not because He commanded us to, but because He graciously chose to save us first. Its an obedience derived out of God's love for us and our reciprocal love for Him and what He did. Law FOLLOWS grace.
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