We had said yesterday, that
“… just because obedience to the Law does not save a man, this does not mean obedience to the Law has passed away and is without a purpose. Moses was very clear to explain the purpose of obedience all through Deuteronomy, the book in which he undertook to explain this Torah (Deu 1:5).”
In Deuteronomy, the book in which Moses undertook to “explain this Torah” before his death (Deu 1:5), the Spirit revealed why He wanted His people to obey His Torah, commandments, statutes, and judgments, as their father Abraham had (Gen 26:5). It was not to enter into right standing before God, for the entirety of Deu 9 is devoted to the fact that Israel was not inheriting their promise because of their righteousness (see the righteousness that is of faith and following links).
But he does explain the purpose of Torah obedience for the Lord’s people:
“So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am YHVH.” Lev 18:5
“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which YHVH, the God of your fathers, is giving you.” Deu 4:1
“So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which YHVH your God is giving you for all time.” Deu 4:40
“Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which YHVH your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear YHVH your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as YHVH, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.” Deu 6:1-3
“So YHVH commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear YHVH our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today.” Deu 6:24
“And now, Israel, what does YHVH your God require of you, but to fear YHVH your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve YHVH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of YHVH, which I am commanding you today for your good?” Deu 10:12-13
“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey YHVH your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, YHVH your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey YHVH your God.” Deu 28:1-2
To put it simply: obeying the written Torah from a heart of faith and love for God provides blessings and all that is needed for life and happiness on this side of heaven, for the physical man. Trusting in the Living Torah, Jesus Christ our Lord (Joh 1:1,14), from a heart of faith and love for God is the foundation of our relationship with God, provides salvation, and all that is needed for eternal life on the other side of heaven, for the spiritual man.
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