LAW: LETTER VERSUS SPIRIT

Sometimes, we are tempted to follow the letter of God’s law and ignore the spirit of His intended instruction. Personally, when I do this, the flow of God’s Holy Spirit seems to be affected in a negative way, and I feel less intimately connected to Christ.


FOLLOWING THE LETTER OF GOD’S LAW
Following the letter of God's Law refers to adhering strictly to the written commandments without considering the broader context or the underlying principles intended by those laws. This approach often leads to legalism, where the focus is on external compliance rather than internal transformation.


Jesus criticized the Pharisees and teachers of the law for such behavior. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." (Matthew 23:23-24 NIV) Here, Jesus highlights the Pharisees' meticulous adherence to the minute details of the law while neglecting its fundamental principles of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.


Following God’s literal law, without embracing its spirit, ends up missing His point of His law in the first place. I must admit, sometimes it is easier to follow the letter of the law than the spirit of what was intended.


FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF GOD’S LAW
Following the spirit of God's law means understanding and living by the principles and values that underpin the written commandments. This approach focuses on our heart's transformation and the intimate relationship with God, emphasizing love, mercy, and justice over mere rule-following.


"He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6 NIV) I notice that following the letter of the law dampens my intimacy with Christ.


Paul contrasts the letter and the spirit of the law, asserting that the Spirit brings life. This life-giving spirit is echoed in how Jesus taught and lived, emphasizing the importance of internal attitudes over external observance.


"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)


The fruits of the Spirit represent the character traits that emerge from a life led by the Spirit, in contrast to a life bound by the letter of the law. These qualities fulfill God’s laws’ true intent by focusing on love and respect for God and others.


CONCLUSION
The distinction between following the letter versus the spirit of God's law is crucial for understanding the essence of our Christian faith. The letter of the law, while important, cannot bring life or righteousness by itself. It serves as a guide, but without the transforming power of the Spirit, it can lead to legalism and a focus on external behaviors rather than heart transformation.


"But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." (Romans 7:6 NIV)


God wants us Christ-followers to live by His Holy Spirit, which fulfills the law's requirements through a life of love, joy, peace, and other fruits of the Spirit. By focusing on the spirit of the law, we are called to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God that transcends mere adherence to rules, embodying the law's true purpose through a transformed life.


May we all have the courage to live like this.
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Your aspiring servant, Daniel M.
February 15, 2024
POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ.