Loving God's Laws

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Here's the cell discussion outline I used for this week's cell. Did a bit of research and put the following together:

Objective: Provides an understanding of the love behind God's law and how we should not merely adhere to the Letter of the Law but the Spirit of the Law.

More than Negative: The law condemns sin and thus it is understandable we have negative feelings about it. But reflecting upon it, the law is more than something negative.

Restoration of Relationship: It's God's way of restoring our relationship with Him, when we were separately by sin from Him. Just as Jer 31:33 shows that God desires for His people to be His people and Him to be their God and Ex 20:21 reminds us that it keeps us from sinning. Through the law, we get to know God and His will better.

Knowing Sin: Through the law, we come to know of sin (Romans 7:7-13) just like a warning sign warns us of shark-infested water. The sharks (just like sin) were there before the sign and it's aim is to protect.

Law as Holy, Righteous and Good: Paul also says that the commandment is holy, righteous and good (Romans 7:12). 2 Timothy 3:16 also reminds us that all scriptures (including the law) is God-breathed and "useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness".

The Law is still relevant: Hebrew 10 reminds us that the sacrifices, repeated year after year does not make us perfect, because if it does, it would have been stopped being offered. God does not require sacrifices and offerings. Jesus also came to say in Matthew 5:17-20 that He has not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.

The Letter of the Law: By this time, people honoured God with their lips but their hearts are far away and states that the worship is in vain as the teachings are but rules taught by men (Matthew 15:8-9). We needed to understand the principles behind the law and no longer follow the law blindly... Jesus also condemned the religious leaders (Matthew:23:25-26) on how clean the cup and dish are on the outside but inside, they are full of greed and self-indulgence... that they should clean the inside first so the outside will be clean...

The Spirit of the Law: Jesus became a role model as to how to live out the law (Galatians 2:15-21 says that we do not become justified by observing the law but by faith in Jesus Christ). In both Jer 31:33 and Heb 10:16, it was mentioned that the law will be written in our hearts. The spirit and principle of the law is more important than outward observance and so in Luke 10:27 and Matthew 22:37-40, we are reminded to:

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind
• Love your neighbor as yourself

that "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments".
So we need to recognise the love and the principles behind the law before we learn to appreciate God's laws.