Jurisdiction and the Old Testament Legal System
So here’s a question I’m often asked: What does it mean that Jesus “fulfilled the law?”
It’s usually connected to the question: Why do we “pick and choose” which of the Old Testament laws to follow (some say tattoos are bad, most people prefer to ensure they’re not drinking the blood of recently killed animals, etc.) and which we don’t (can I say “cotton/polyester shirts”)?
My answer? Jurisdiction.
I’ve never heard anyone else explain it this way so there may be a huge speed bump in it somewhere (feel free to point it out!) but it makes sense to me.
Prior to Jesus, God’s people lived under the jurisdiction of the Old Testament legal system. When Jesus came, he “fulfilled” that law but didn’t destroy it. Jesus also set up a new “system;” we call it grace. So there are two systems: the Law and Grace.
Both are biblical. Both were instituted by God. Both have a redemptive aspect to them. BUT, we are only under the jurisdiction of one at any given time. As a Christian, I live under the jurisdiction of Grace… very different from living under the jurisdiction of the Law. It’s like living in Michigan verses living in Iowa. Each has a specific legal system and a specific way of expecting those within its jurisdiction to live. In Michigan, I am not fundamentally responsible to live up to the laws and expectations of Iowa’s system. Iowans, of course, are similarly not required to live under the Michiganian system. Each has legitimate laws. Each is a legitimate system. But only one has jurisdiction over me at any given time.
The problem? Many Christians don’t really like it. We claim to believe in Grace, but when someone does something we don’t like, we still appeal to the law. That’s like an American appealing to a South African law. It’s simply not legitimate! (While both are legitimate systems, they don’t both have jurisdiction in the United States.)
(Note the jurisdictional question doesn’t negate the “third use of the law” which I mentioned in a previous post.)
What does this require of us? Well, at its most basic level, I think it requires that we truly embrace grace and quit trying to straddle the two systems (thereby, of course, giving neither one the jurisdiction they would require.)
Imagine a church where Grace truly prevails?! A church where people actually live out the grace we say we believe!
Wow.
Grace and Peace,
`tim
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