For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Matthew 5:18
If we believe in Jesus, we aren’t required to keep the Mosaic laws, but we are still judged against both they and Jesus’ words if we don’t believe.
See, if you don’t believe in Jesus, then, like it or not, you’re still under the old law, even if you aren’t Jewish. It may be unwitting; it’s not what you want. It’s not fair. But that’s the way it is. You and I are under hundreds of civil laws that we had nothing to do with writing; many we don’t agree with. Add in state and federal tax codes, state and federal regulations, and even municipal ordinances and operating instructions and we, as Americans, live daily under thousands of regulations. It wouldn’t be hard for anyone in law community to find someone guilty of anything at any given time even though that person didn’t know a thing about that law when it happened.
If that happens to you, better lawyer up. Not the smallest letter of any of those laws will be re-written just because we don’t like it. So, why is it even more objectionable to many people when they find that, if they reject Jesus, they are still held accountable to old testament codes they don’t accept?
Psalm 119 says that God’s word, like Himself, is eternal. That’s echoed by Isaiah, who said that, unlike things of the earth, God’s word lasts forever. Jesus promised that His words would last forever, and He’s God. He said that the law and prophets were preached as established until the time of John the Baptist (in other words, the time of Jesus), after which time the good news of salvation took their place. The good news doesn’t invalidate the law: it completed it, putting the final punctuation on it. The ultimate completion came on the cross when Jesus proclaimed, “it is finished.”
Yet, if you don’t believe in that, then, come Judgment Day, Jesus will ask you why, and then all your deeds will be recounted. You’ll find yourself up against that law you didn’t like, being judged against it because of the choices you made. You’ll need a really good lawyer at that time. Too bad you rejected Him.
The good news is, however, the Good News. At any time in this life, you can examine your heart and honestly confess, “I believe.” At that point, you’re lawyered up…in Christ. He who would have to consign you to punishment instead, because of His sacrifice, becomes your advocate. The law is still perfect, but you’re declared, through vicarious satisfaction, ‘not guilty.’ Better lawyer up fast, while there’s time.
For more reading: Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, Isaiah 55:11, Mark 13:31, Luke 16:17, Luke 21:33, John 19:30, Matthew 5:19
Thank You for Your law, Lord.
Practical Proverbs 