How should a Christian approach the Hebrew scriptures? The number of commandments in the Old Testament is usually given as 613. That’s near enough for our discussion. Let’s look at some of them in light of Paul's instructions about the spirit of the law.
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6 ESV)
Is this what Jeremiah meant when he wrote of the law being written on our hearts?
“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:33 NKJV)
Obviously then, harmonizing these two descriptions, of the Spirit and the law written on our hearts, this is not a legalistic, letter-of-the law written on our hearts, but the Spirit and intent of the law on our hearts.
Next time let’s explore some of those approximately 613 laws and see what spiritual application we can find, the spirit of the law.
