Foundations:
The Essentials of Our Faith
Based on Hebrews 6.1-3, this Bible study explores and explains the topics described by the Biblical author as “elementary” and “foundational.” These topics are just as fundamental to our faith today as they were in the first century.
The Law: A Primer
In our near east context of following the Hebrew God, the law refers to the 10 commandments, and the additional laws defined in section of the Old Testament. The Jews call this the Torah. By the time of Jesus Christ, there were 613 commands, called the “613 Mitzvot” that Jews were typically required to follow.
To preempt any misunderstanding of the law, or the responsibility of the Christian follower, we must understand the purpose of the law, and what role does it play on this side of the cross. Jesus himself spoke about the law in the Sermon on the Mount,
“Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:17–20
While we don’t have time to delve too deeply into this famous sermon, consider that what Jesus may be doing throughout it is describing the futility of the Law. He’s practically describing that even if you maintain the law, you didn’t meet God’s standard. God is perfect, and expects perfection. End of story.
To paraphrase what Jesus is telling the devout Jews in front of Him on the mount that day is this: You thought that by not acting on your sin, you were satisfying God. You aren’t. Sin stems from your heart. So you can’t save you, and the law can’t save you. You need a savior.
Jesus does say the Law will continue until all things are accomplished, which most Biblical scholars believe refers to the end times. And, in truth, the law continues today, with devout Jews everywhere living under the weight of the 613 Mitzvot.
“Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator. Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” — Galatians 3:19–26
Paul’s use of the term guardian makes the concept clear. Is he saying we are not under the law? Yes. This a huge yes, with many implications, which this book sets out to resolve, but first, this passage is not permission to sin. Nor is it permission to break any of the commandments. Salvation brought us back into right relationship with God. Throughout the gospels Jesus uses the family as a model many times (re: Bride, Bridegroom, Father), we can use a similar model to understand our relationships with both Jesus Christ, and through Him, God the Father. Imagine for a second that Jesus is literally the bridegroom, and you are literally His bride, would you want to disappoint him? Anger or hurt him? Would you look at every other guy who walks by? Frankly, would you jump into and out of bed with other guys after you’ve committed to Jesus?
No, of course not. But why? Because of love. The model relationship is rooted in love. We don’t hurt those that we love, that is plain core humanity. Even “us against them” hinges on us – me and you. The law describes God’s standards, and after centuries of evidence, we know His is not a standard we can live up to. The Sermon on the Mount expanded upon God’s standards, with Jesus describing an incurable heart condition. We’re sick and dying because we can’t meet God’s standard, and we need a Savior.
I’ll admit that I sometimes allow the thoughts and emotions and anger and hate to simmer for awhile. I like the satisfaction of imagination. But if I’m honest, that is an example of my flesh acting against my spirit. Our flesh is corrupted by sin. This is what Jesus means when He tells us it is not what we put into our body that defile us, but rather what comes out of our heart.
“Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated? But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” — Matthew 15:17–20
Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is Love the Lord your God, and the second is Love your neighbor like yourself. If you love somebody, will you cheat them? No. But actually, sometimes people do cheat. Why is that?
Because our very flesh can be our enemy, and our flesh battles against our spirit. Because we are not a body with a spirit, we are a spirit with a body. That body is flesh, and the flesh has been corrupted by sin.
Sometimes when we sin, we say “I didn’t want to do it” who is the “I” in that lament? Is it our being? Our awareness? Perhaps that is our spirit?
But we did do it. Why? Usually, it is because our flesh wanted pleasure, and even if we want to refrain, we seldom have the discipline to stop ourselves. That is the effect of sin on each one of us. Our own bodies are our enemies in our efforts to follow Jesus. Have you ever read Paul talk about beating himself? Paul is speaking about discipline, but the distinction between our spirit and our flesh is highlighted in this piece of scripture.
“Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away. Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” — 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
Have you ever wanted to raise your hands in church with a song, but were embarrassed? Why is that? It is your flesh fighting you. Our flesh truly is our enemy. To some, this may not make any sense, that’s okay. Through prayer and maturation (sanctification) you’ll begin to distinguish where the voices are coming from, and that will grow into self-control over some of the choices you make.
The law was given as guardrails until the Savior came, but the law was ruined by humanity. What God gave us for guidance, we turned into ritual and rote, with little consideration for the reasoning behind the laws, or the heart condition of a person living under the law, or subject to the religious leadership. The entire book of Galatians provides a solid perspective on the law, but for the purposes of this writing, we’ll primarily use Galatians 3 and Romans 8 for support.
“The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
— Galatians 3:24–26
“Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
— Romans 8:1–4
In summary, it is no longer about what you do, or do not do. It is about why you do and don’t do the things that you do. (love the grammar) It is about your heart. This focus on our heart, and the “why” aligns with Jesus perspective on the commandments, when pressed by the religious leaders.
When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
— Matthew 22:34–40