LAW: DEAD OR ALIVE?

Gilgal Ansah
Sep 5, 2018 · 17 min read

Foreword.

The question of the state of the law has been a great issue in recent times. Should the law be observed? Has the law served its purpose? Is the law meant for a peculiar group of people? Etc. I hope after reading this text, the issue of the law will have been properly understood by all.

I write, not as a religious person nor as a biased person, but as a person interested in the lives of the different people on earth and it just happens that I have to write about the lives of Christians first as I was introduced first to the religion.

Chapter One.

If horses could draw, they would draw their gods as horses. -Xenophanes® (570–475 BC)

Ever wondered why Jesus came as human? Simple, His audience was human so He had to take a form which would be easily identifiable and acceptable. Similarly, considering the particular society he found himself in, he had to make reference to items they were familiar with so as they could, again, easily grasp his message. I mean, should he have made reference to AI’s, guns and nukes, his audience would not have comprehended his teachings. Ergo, although the underlying principles are equal, the means to explain them may differ depending on the particular audience.

What am I driving at? The words a speaker will use to address his audience should be words the audience is familiar with. The speaker takes the understanding of his audience and uses that to make his claim known. E.g. Being an IT student, I’ll call the socket a female and the plug put into the socket, I’ll call that the male so the layman will understand which goes into which.

So the word ‘law’ is used because of how or what we understand it to be and then from that understanding, we are given a clearer picture of what is should represent.

Let us continue then, to define what a law is.

  1. Google: 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.
  2. 2. Wikitionary: an understood rule that concerns behaviors and consequences.
  3. The Hebrew origin of the word: YARAH is translated to mean direct & root. Other old forms of the word either imply something that is set or fixed (rooted; planted) or something that is right.
  4. Let’s not bore ourselves with etymology. I urge you to cultivate a research habit and look up what certain things mean.
  5. Let us analyse the various definitions.
  6. 1. Google.
  7. A community is formed from different members that have come together to make a unit. It may be a community of people or a community of things. (We cannot go into the etymology of community.J).
  8. Per the given description it is right to say that the individual is a community of several members and as such will need rules (law) to regulate the actions of the various members. One such law is the law of conservation (this is made up; roll with it). To conserve the right arm, the left arm will obey the law of conservation and not cut if off.
  9. Buildings may be considered as a community as it is comprised of many parts. In its simplest form, it’s made up of different atoms. An atom has laws that govern it. From gravitational to electrostatic. These help to maintain its integrity.
  10. The earth is one such community. Nature is another.
  11. Try and think of others.
  12. All these communities have laws that regulate the actions of their members.
  13. A penalty which may arise from not abiding by the laws, in the examples I have given is that the various communities will lose their integrity and come tumbling down.
  14. 2. Wikitionary.
  15. Simply put, a law concerns how one (where one is not limited to homosapiens only) should behave and the consequences which may arise if such behavior is not achieved.
  16. 3. The Hebrew (and other) origin(s) of the word imply that a law is fixed and directs correct actions.
  17. Hence, anything that exists has fixed instructions that direct its actions in order to ensure continuity. Simply put, laws tell them what to do so as to survive.

Chapter Two.

Why should I fear death? If I am, then death is not. If death is, then I am not. Why should I fear that which can exist when I do not? –Epicurus® (341–270BC)

The above quote speaks of hope, but I’ll use the text to make my point. Allow me to paraphrase: “for one to die, it must have lived.”

So, for the question of the law being dead to have arisen, then certainly the law must have lived. So when do laws come into existence?

The makers of a car don’t tell you how to operate it only after it has been damaged. The give you a fixed set of directions concerning the behavior of the car right after its making, even before it’s taken for a test run.

What is my point?

If the universe has laws to regulate its actions then these laws came as the universe was made. The four fundamental forces (ask Google) started operating as soon as the first atom came into existence. The laws of nature rooted themselves just when the universe began to form. Ergo, laws that regulate the universe and the actions of its constituents (including homosapiens) have always existed.

Let us now look into the bible.

2 Timothy 3:16 – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…”

​So whatever that has been written in scripture, God knew it.

Psalm 90:2 – “…from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.”

​God has always existed so he has always known what the scripture will say.

Ecclesiastes 11:3 –“…and if a tree falls to the south or the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.”

​God has always known this even before time existed.

​How different is this from Newton’s Law of Inertia?

Job 26:7 –“…He hangs the earth on nothing”

​God knew, the bible knew, even before general relativity and Galileo that the earth suspended in space.

Job 28:25 –“to establish a weight for the wind…”

​Long before Archimedes and density and matter, the bible knew that the air has mass and volume.

The above texts, show that indeed laws of the universe have always been in existence right from the universe’s inception.

In that respect, laws to govern human actions were given immediately after man was made. (Keep in mind that laws in this context are fixed directions that ensure continuity of life on earth. The earth was made so that man may live in it. That was God’s intention. I mean, why will he make something with the intent of destroying it eventually? The plan of destruction was as a result of sin. Gen 6:5–7).

At creation what actions, stated above, were required of man?

To live. Man was created (brought into existence; brought to life; given the gift of life; graced with the power to live) with the power of choice: either to choose good or evil. If he choose what was good, he lived if he choose evil, he died. Simple. Laws were given to him to help him know what was good and what wasn’t. Laws were given to direct him to choose right. One simple rule; direction to choose right (law) was given to him. And I’ll like to paraphrase it: “EAT THE GOOD FRUIT THAT WILL HELP YOU LIVE LONG AND STRONG, DON’T EAT THE ONE THAT WILL CAUSE YOU TO FALL SICK AND EVENTUALLY LEAD TO YOUR DEMISE.”

I reiterate, THE LAW IS TO DIRECT OUR LIFESTYLE ON EARTH.

Chapter Three.

This brings me to the topic of the Decalogue and that it was existent even before Exodus. Again, it was given to man who was made at the start of time, ergo it was at the start of time to direct man rightly in his steps on earth.

I’ll take you through each law of the Decalogue, its existence before Exodus 20 and how it is meant to ensure our continuity.

1. YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.

This simply implies not to but anything else before God. You are advised to put God first in anything you do. To seek His directions before you act.

How does it ensure continuity?

Because by doing so we are certain of victory in all endeavors.

Having other gods before God lands you in destruction.

Existence before Exodus 20.

Gen 3 describes how man heeded to the counsel of the serpent and the result. The made the serpent their god (i.e. they put the serpent and its beauty and radiance and words and marvel before God)

Gen 31:19 describes how Jacob’s beloved wife stole her father’s idols. She revered them so much that she had to take them away. In verse 32 of the same chapter, her action could have resulted in death.

Chip in.

Luke 18:18; 22 the story of the rich man who wouldn’t give up his possessions. His wealth was a god to him and having that was more important to him than having God.

2. YOU SHALL NOT MAKE ANY CARVED IMAGE FOR YOURSELF-ANY LIKENESS OF ANYTHING THAT IS IN HEAVEN ABOVE OR THAT IS IN THE EARTH BENEATH OR THAT IS IN THE WATER UNDER THE EARTH; YOU SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO SERVE THEM. FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD AM A JEALOUS GOD, VISITING THE INIQUITY OF THE FATHERS UPON THE CHILDREN TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO HATE ME, BUT SHOWING MERCY TO THSE WHO LOVE ME AND KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.

A parallel is made here. God first starts by saying not to make carved images and not to worship them. He goes on to say he visits the iniquity of the fathers upon those who hate Him. Implying that making such images of things and worshiping them is a sign of hate of God.

Also this command links to the first, in that serving carved images make them a replacement for you. Hence you tend to rely on them and not on God.

How is survival ensured?

I like to see God as all loving so He doesn’t actually visit iniquity on you, but you do it yourself because you decide to choose and rely on something that can’t help you. As such when you are in need no one comes to your aid and you suffer because God won’t force His way into your matters if you don’t want Him in them. By making and serving images of people and animals and things, you choose to take God out of your list of people who will help you.

Existence before Exodus 20.

Gen 11 the story of the tower of babel represents a time when the people of earth decided to make an object for themselves. The object will help them reach heavens and help them make a name for themselves. We know what happened.

The whole story of the Israelite’s slavery. The Egyptians had made lots of images which they bowed to. They relied on these gods to give them life. We know what happened to them.

The two examples above also serve an examples for this part.

3. YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF YOUR LORD IN VAIN, FOR THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILTLESS WHO TAKES HIS NAME IN VAIN.

To take in vain? What does it imply? Simply put, do not misuse the name of God because His name commands authority. So it could also mean not to misuse, or make useless, or degrade the authority of God.

How this ensures survival?

To misuse God’s name and authority implies disrespect for Him. You tend to overlook His authority and we well know what happens to us when we disrespect authority. I for one have an opening in my head for disrespecting my mother’s authority. You may have worse.

Ergo, respecting God’s authority ensures that He continues to care for us. And if God be for us… (You know the rest).

Existence before Exodus 20.

We well know that the fall of Lucifer was before creation of man.

Why did he fall? Isaiah 14:12–15.

He challenged God’s authority. He sought to exalt himself above God; to make the name of God second to his thereby overlooking the name.

4. REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY. SIX DAYS SHAKK YOU LABOR AND DO ALL YOUR WORK, BUT THE SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD YOUR GOD. IN IT YOU SHALL DO N WORK: YOU, NOR YOUR SON, NOR YOUR DAUGHTER, NOR YOUR MALE SERVANT, NOR YOUR FEMALE SERVANT, NOR YOUR CATTE, NOR YOUR STRANGER WHO IS WITHIN YOUR GATES. FOR IN SIX DAYS THE LORD MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, AND RESTED THE SEVENTH DAY. THEREFORE THE LORD BLESSED THE SABBATH DAY AND HALLOWED IT.

The seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God. Sabbath means rest. So the seventh day is a day of rest for God. Where do we find this? Yes, the creation story. Gen 2:2–3.

The Sabbath point to the rest of God which came about only because He worked to create the universe. So in effect, the Sabbath points to God as being creator.

How is survival ensured?

Remembering to keep the Sabbath holy shows one’s acknowledgement of God as creator of universe and your whole being as the Sabbath in itself points to God as creator. This implies reverence to God and accepting Him as almighty. Knowing that God made you helps you to serve him even more and in that regard he continues to shield and protect you.

Also resting on the Sabbath is a means to physically rejuvenate yourself as you might have been exhausted over the week. Sabbath rest refreshes your being and we all know the benefits of rest.

Existence before Exodus 20.

Exodus 16:22–27 the Lord did not provide any manna for the Israelites on the Sabbath because He expected them to rest and not to labor, not even come out to bend and gather food.

5. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER, THAT YOUR DAYS MAY BE LONG UPON THE LAND WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD US GIVING YOU.

Giving honor here implies adhering to their words and giving them due respect.

How is survival ensured?

We are familiar with the wise saying, “do no bite the hand that feeds you.” Our parents (and anyone in their age bracket) not only feed us but also have a wide range of experience. Heeding to their counsel will help us avoid certain mistakes they may have made that has caused them greatly. Giving them the due respect also helps you find favor in their eyes.

Existence before Exodus 20.

Gen 9:20–27 after the flood, Ham dishonored his father and the consequences were severe. Canaan and Egypt and their brothers continued to suffer the consequences of the actions of their ancestor throughout bible times.

Gen 19:31–38 the daughters of Lot dishonored their father and their children (Moabites and Ammonites) remained enemies of Israel and consistently suffered under their hands.

6. YOU SHALL NOT MURDER.

Do not take a life; not yours, not anyone’s.

How is survival ensured?

Well, if you don’t murder the person lives and has life and continues to survive. J

Existence before Exodus 20.

Gen 4:8–16 Cain killing Abel was considered wrong, by Cain, by God and by Lamech later on. (vs. 23&24)

7. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.

Do not sleep with someone else who is not your spouse when you are married. You realize fornication is not mentioned here? It is hidden behind the text. Let’s unveil it. Suppose a married person has intercourse with an unmarried person. The wedded person flouts the law in that he/she commits adultery. What of the unmarried person? He/she surely has flouted the law. Yes. That person fornicates.

How does this ensure survival?

In modern times, being adulterous leads to contraction of several diseases, which tend to terminate life. So does fornication. There also is the issue of conflict because someone couldn’t control their libido.

Existence before Exodus 20.

Gen 20 Abimelech did not even engage in the action with Sarah before he was cautioned that he was treading the wrong path.

Gen 26:16 Abimelech realized the danger of adultery (on the part of Rebekah) and fornication (on the part of his people).

Gen 21 when Sarah allowed Abraham to be adulterous, Ishmael and Hagar didn’t give her ears of peace in her own home.

Gen 35:22; 49:4 Reuben lay with his father’s wife and because of that, he would not excel.

8. YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.

You should not claim ownership of that which is not yours. This even extends to modern day where people claim ownership of songs ad books and movies. Etc.

How is survival ensured?

Suppose you take the last meal of a person, how then will the person continue to exist? The issue of copyright laws also help avoid conflict and promote peaceful coexistence.

Existence before Exodus 20.

Gen 25:31–34 Jacob “stole” his brother’s birthright and eventually “stole” his blessing. Jacob knew no peace for a long time. He had to consistently flee from Esau. (Jacob “stealing” the blessing resulted in the making of one of the greatest nations. I’m not saying that is bad. By grace Jacob was made great. Left to his adherence to rule he’d have died even before birth. He liked fighting.)

Gen 31:19; 32 Rachel stole from her father and her punishment was to be death. Another indication that stealing was not the right way.

Gen 44 even though the Benjamin didn’t really steal the cup, Joseph new that stealing was not the right way and so did the brothers.

9. YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR.

It goes beyond telling lies on someone. Covering up for someone also counts. Trying to do necessary good for someone’s sake also falls under this law. This is a call to be truthful in all our deeds.

How will survival be ensured?

The thing about lying is that, it is like an endless chain reaction. When started, it is almost impossible to stop. And all of its consequences are negative. Each lie gets somewhat bigger than the previous and so does each negative repercussion. You get sunk so much into a lie that it becomes truth and you begin to live by it. Suppose you are told that weed is good and you accept it. You take it in so much that it gets to a point you can’t do without it.

Also, bearing false witness against your neighbor may land him/her in situations that he/she does not deserve. You’d have disturbed the smooth running continuity of the living and survival state.

Existence before Exodus 20.

Gen 3 the serpent bore false witness against God saying that God did not speak truth. We know where that ended.

10. YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE; YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S WIFE, NOR HIS MALE SERVANT, NOR HIS FEMALE SERVANT, NOR HIS OX, NOR HIS DONKEY, NOR ANYTHING THAT IS YOUR NEIGHBOR’S.

You shall not yearn to possess that which is not yours. You shall not envy. However, we must strike a difference between “wanting to be like”, and “wanting to be.”

There is no harm in wanting to build your house like a beautiful house you saw in your neighborhood. You have the money, why not? But the harm arises when you want to, at all cost, evict the owner of that house and take that particular house.

There is no harm in putting in much effort in studies so that you can make good grades like students at the top of your class. The harm arises when you envy the one on top so much that you plan her downfall so you can become first.

Do not push Usain Bolt so he falls and you win. Rather, train hard so you can cross the finish line first without hurting anyone.

How is survival ensured?

Avoiding covetousness fosters a hard working habit. You don’t seek the downfall of others but rather their and your welfare. You strive to achieve your wants and in effect someone may look up to you and also strive. Hard working people help build society.

Existence before Exodus 20.

Isaiah 14:12–15 Lucifer coveted God’s position. We know where that landed him.

Gen 4 Cain’s envy of Abel led him to murder his younger brother.

The effects of envy are well known as such covetousness has always been abhorred in nature.

Chapter Four.

When asked which was greatest of the commands, Jesus said the greatest is the one that requires us to love the Lord our God with all our heart. (Matt 22:36–38) The four commandments discussed clearly show one’s love for God.

The last six, show love for our neighbors as ourselves: the second greatest commandment. (Matt 22:39–40).

The Decalogue, whose contents have existed since man was made and not after the exodus, is sectioned into love for God and love for man which balls down to love. Ergo, the Decalogue is the law of love.

As explained, it was given to ensure the survival of man. Now with the car analogy, we realize that the directions for operation of the car become void when the car is no more. Similarly, the law becomes void (or ends its duty) when man is no more on earth. So long as man continue to exist, the law lives on.

Don’t rush me to Romans 10:4 without reading and understanding it totally. Notice I never stated that the law saves. Its duty has never been to save and it can never save. Romans 10:4 states that Christ is an end to “the law for righteousness” not an end to the law.

There arises then a need to understand what that means. Not to go far, the very next verse explains it. The law for righteousness. (English… the law giving righteousness). That is what Moses wrote about (Rom 10:5). But the law can’t make us righteous. Only the grace of God through the faith we have in Jesus can make us righteous. The law is, according to Galatians 3:24 a school teacher who teaches us how to live on earth is a good manner so as to ensure survival. It points out what I right and what isn’t and when we find ourselves doing what isn’t right, it tells us we have done wrong and the points us to Jesus to receive redemption through grace by faith.

To be under the law implies to see the law as being able to save but to be under grace means that we are saved by grace.

So Christ ended the notion of the law being able to save. That is what Romans 10: 4 tells us. Not that Christ abolished the law and its duty because its duty was never to take us to heaven nor to save us but to direct our lives on earth.

Now, we know that Christ has always existed and so has His duty. He has always shown us grace. Abraham was chosen because of grace. Noah as well (Gen 6:8). Adam was graced with the opportunity to exist even before he was made and given a law. Israel was dear to God not because she was the most law abiding but because God is graceful.

One thing that we realize is, after the grace falls on you and you are chosen, you are told how to live so that you can enjoy the fullness of that grace.

After Abraham was chosen, he was told to go out of his land. Why? God wanted to send him to a better place.

After Adam was made, God told him not to do certain things. Why? So that he’ll live forever.

After Noah was chosen, God told him to build an ark. Why? So he could survive the natural disaster.

After Israel was chosen, God sent her to Egypt. Why? So that He could cleanse the place and bring her back to a better living of milk and honey.

And all these people obeyed and their survival was ensured. (Adam, who didn’t obey could ensure his survival)

What is my point?

Obedience to law is not because we want to be saved but because we are already saved by grace through our faith in God. Obedience will ensure that we survive on earth and lead us to grace. Grace will save us.

The criminal on the cross is an example of the work of Grace.

But wait. First, he recognized Jesus’ authority and told the other person to refrain from taking the name of Christ in vain. He believed in the Godliness of Jesus and such made Jesus his God and at that moment cast away all his other Gods.

He not only showed a love for Jesus, but for the other criminal, in that he advised him to avoid continuing in evil doing. He wanted the other criminal to enjoy his new found love.

In this, he fulfilled the law of love and the Decalogue.

Conclusion.

There are laws that govern the actions of the very fabric of the universe and its constituents (including homosapiens).

And if the universe was created by some God, then that God gave the laws to govern the actions of every existent thing so as to ensure the survival of the universe and its constituents.

The law ends its duty when man ceases to exist.

The laws have always been laws of love. How to love God and to love one another. Other laws teach us how to love ourselves.

Deut 23:12, 13 teaches us how to deal with human waste. This will prevent diseases and all forms of bacterial infections.

Gen 17:10 God requested Abraham to circumcise all his male children as a covenant. Today it has been scientifically proven that circumcising helps to prevent accumulation of bacteria in the foreskin.

All the laws are given to ensure our continuous survival on earth. The Jews didn’t see it so. They saw it as a means to make it to heaven. Jesus had to open their eyes to what purpose the law truly served: a guide to Jesus to receive salvation through His grace.

John 13:34 Jesus gave a new commandment that requires them to love each other as he loved them. Earlier, He had said that the second greatest commandment (the last six of the Decalogue) was to love your neighbor as yourself.

Was it a new commandment or an eye opener?

May the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ, the LOVE of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always.

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