“7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; ” Hebrews 8

THE FAULT IN THE LAW IS THE FAULT IN MEN, THAT IS, THAT MEN ARE UNABLE TO KEEP IT.

“13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE “- Gal. 3

Curse? Indeed, the Law found everyone living under it guilty. This is why Paul calls it a “ministry of death” and a “ministry of condemnation”, 2 Cor. 3:7-9.

The curse of the Law is the impossibility and futility of living under it as it becomes clear that no one can keep perfectly.

Yes, the law required perfection.

“10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM.” – Gal. 3:10.

The fault of the Old Law was the fault of man who is imperfect. Thus the person living by the Law quickly becomes guilty before God.

“3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” – Romans 8:3,4.

This text in Romans tells us a couple of important things about the futility of living under the Old Law of Moses. First, it was weak through the flesh of man. The law itself is “holy, righteous, and good” (Rom 7:12), but man won’t keep it perfectly. This the weakness of the Law. Second, the requirement of the Law is perfection which cannot be attained since due to the weakness of man’s flesh, perfection isn’t attained. Except Paul shows that the perfection is possible by faith in Christ.

Thus what the Law of Moses couldn’t do, is possible by faith in Christ.

Do you keep the Old Law of Moses? If so, you are under obligation to “abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform”, Gal. 3:10. And James says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” James 2:10. Keeping part or most of the Old Law isn’t sufficient if you are going to seek justification by the Law. It’s not possible to be made righteous except by following Christ.

We are released from the Old Law. “4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” – Romans 7.

Paul tells the Romans they “died to the Law” and that they are “released from the Law” so they could be joined to Christ. The Law they are released from includes the Commandment, “Thou shall not covet.” That’s the 10 Commandments! Yes, to follow Christ is to be released from Moses and the tablets of stone. Then you can be joined to Christ and bear fruit unto righteousness.

What was wrong with the Old Law of Moses written on tablets of stone? It couldn’t be kept perfectly And it still can’t be. Do you see many people resting and doing no work on Saturday? Christians live under the New Covenant of Christ which was inaugurated with the death of Jesus on the cross, Hebrews 9:15-17.

If you are a person of faith and understand the righteousness that comes by faith in Christ, then don’t be attempting to resurrect the Old Law.

“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” – Gal. 2:21.

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