8.45 Keeping the “works of the law” under the Old Covenant
Under the Old Covenant of law, man has to EARN his right standing with God, and all his blessings by keeping the law. This is called “works of the law”. There are over 600 laws that must be kept.
Attaining to righteousness and receiving the promises of God under the system of law are CONDITIONAL. These were like their dream that they dreamt of attaining. There was a big IF that stood between them and their promises. Let me share some important but conditional promises.
1) The promise of righteousness is CONDITIONAL upon keeping all the laws.
(Deut 6:25)
Then it will be RIGHTEOUSNESS for us, IF we are careful to observe ALL these COMMANDMENTS before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.’
2) The promise of being a holy nation and a kingdom of priests is CONDITIONAL upon keeping the whole law.
(Ex 19:5-6)
Now therefore, IF you will indeed obey My voice and KEEP MY COVENANT, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS and a HOLY NATION.’
3) The promise of receiving the blessings of God is CONDITIONAL upon keeping all the laws. Failure to do so would attract the curses of the law.
(Deut 28:1-2, 15)
“Now it shall come to pass, IF you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully ALL His COMMANDMENTS which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And ALL THESE BLESINGS shall come upon you and overtake you…
“But it shall come to pass, IF you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully ALL His COMMANDMENTS and His statutes which I command you today, that ALL THESE CURSES will come upon you and overtake you…
The CONDITION is their ability to keep the WORKS OF THE LAW completely and perfectly. It was an impossible covenant for sinful men to keep. They wanted righteousness and blessings but they could not attain to it. Thank God we are not under the Old Covenant of law but the New Covenant of grace.
Attaining to righteousness and receiving the promises of God under the system of law are CONDITIONAL. These were like their dream that they dreamt of attaining. There was a big IF that stood between them and their promises. Let me share some important but conditional promises.
1) The promise of righteousness is CONDITIONAL upon keeping all the laws.
(Deut 6:25)
Then it will be RIGHTEOUSNESS for us, IF we are careful to observe ALL these COMMANDMENTS before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.’
2) The promise of being a holy nation and a kingdom of priests is CONDITIONAL upon keeping the whole law.
(Ex 19:5-6)
Now therefore, IF you will indeed obey My voice and KEEP MY COVENANT, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS and a HOLY NATION.’
3) The promise of receiving the blessings of God is CONDITIONAL upon keeping all the laws. Failure to do so would attract the curses of the law.
(Deut 28:1-2, 15)
“Now it shall come to pass, IF you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully ALL His COMMANDMENTS which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And ALL THESE BLESINGS shall come upon you and overtake you…
“But it shall come to pass, IF you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully ALL His COMMANDMENTS and His statutes which I command you today, that ALL THESE CURSES will come upon you and overtake you…
The CONDITION is their ability to keep the WORKS OF THE LAW completely and perfectly. It was an impossible covenant for sinful men to keep. They wanted righteousness and blessings but they could not attain to it. Thank God we are not under the Old Covenant of law but the New Covenant of grace.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 11:17 PM
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