Tuesday: The Law
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 26th of May 2026
How would you define and describe sin to a non-Christian? How does the Bible describe sin? Read Romans 3:20 and 1 John 3:4.
Sin is a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4), and sin also is wrapped up in our natures (Psalms 51:5, Jeremiah 17:9). So, it’s the law that brings to light what sin really is. The law is like putting on a pair of glasses so we can clearly see what’s really around us, or using a mirror to see what we really look like. It brings clarity and conviction to our lives and our characters while at the same time telling us about God’s character and what’s important to Him.
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The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17) were written by God’s own finger. Jesus echoed their importance: “ ‘ “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these’ ” (Mark 12:30-31, NKJV). He added: “ ‘On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’ ” (Matthew 22:40, NKJV).
God’s words to the Israelites at Mount Sinai and to us today (Hebrews 1:1-2) tell us that the law is all about relationships. God gave the law as a safeguard to protect our relationship with Him and with others. However, Satan has distorted the beauty of God’s law so that some see it as a burden. Legalism rather than love and freedom is often attached to the law, even though the Bible tells us, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3, NKJV).
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On a scale of one to five, how precious is the Living Word (and the law, as a part of it) to me?
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When I keep God’s law, is it restricting me or strengthening me? How can I better understand the law if I think it is restricting me?
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What might happen if God’s law of love for Him and others was brought into the center of my life, my family, and my church? What might change in my life and my relationships?
The law of gravity is very restrictive. I find it very difficult to jump against it. At the moment, I am lucky to jump more than 30 cm off the ground. And if I climb up a hill, I find myself working against gravity again and it tires me out. If I want to overcome gravity, I have to reach a velocity of over 40,000 km per hour (I cannot resist putting a bit of physics into the description); and that is a bit faster than I can achieve in my Mazda. On the other hand, while gravity is restrictive it is also quite useful. The fact that I stick to the earth most of the time, and even when I fly though the air, I eventually come back to earth, gives me a sense of stability. I can just imagine the confusion and anguish if I had tossed one of my grandchildren up into the air and they just kept going!
We get a lot of bad press about “the law” in spiritual terms, as though it was a restriction in what we want to do. In fact, “the law” is largely there for our own good.
We had fences around our paddocks to keep the cows in. When the clover and grass was good, most of the cows were quite content to stay inside the fence. There were always a couple of naughty cows that would test the barbed wire and get out. They got scratched in the process and generally ended up where they should not be, on the road playing “dodge-ems” with the traffic.
The psalmists did not think of the law as restrictive. Listen to these comments:
Our problem is that we sometimes we think that what we see outside the fence is much better than what is available inside.
I have approached the law in this way because I often see “the law” or at least our perception of it, used as a control mechanism. I can rememeber that in the classroom, when I found myself spending more time disciplining students for their behaviour rather than teaching them what I was supposed to be teaching, it was time to review my teaching methods. Could the same be true in our spiritual lives?
Looking at these words from today’s study, and I quote:
I see two parts in this: the part of seeing “thtough the pair of glasses” to see clearly what is around us, and this I believe we do, and even comment, make an opinion (or judge), or maybe not. But what is for sure is that most of us see the law clearly around us when others are breaking it—the Sabbath, dressing, diet, and even entire beliefs. In fact, as we gather in the streets and the fields to see and preach to the lost world.
But, what if I say that we rarely use the mirror side of the Law—the one that points us to our own misgivings: the mirror that reflects our arrogance and pride; the mirror that points to our heart’s condition, clouded by hate toward the “fallen soul”; the mirror that points at our loathsomeness toward other faiths and cultures?
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:27 that, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
The purpose of the Law is to correct us and bring us close to the will of God and benefit from His abundant love, but how much more have I looked at the Law as a mirror? You’ll be surprised that much of the time it is about looking outwards, to the fallen world. Overall, to enhance a relationship with God.
I think I’ll be more purposeful, going foraward, to let the mirror that is the Law, point at my transgression so that I may join the rest in correction; confession and repentance.
How can sinful people keep God’s perfect law and delight in it?
The fallen human beings find it unpleasant to obey God’s law. “I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” (Romans 7:19, NLT). Praise be to God who has given us victory over sin, and by His grace, forgiveness, and transforming work in the heart, believers can begin to love and delight in His law. Once we receive a new heart and renewal of the mind, the Holy Spirit writes God’s law within us. This is the only way possible that a sin can keep the perfect law of God. “I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” (Romans 7:22).
It is essential to stress that we delight in the law of God because it is beneficial even in this physical life. For example, honesty brings peace, forgiveness sets us free, purity protects relationships, and love builds communities. Once we see God’s law not as a burden but as a way of life, we experience a fulfilled peace, joy, and happiness. This is what happens when God writes His laws in our hearts. “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.” (Hebrews 8:10).
Serving God goes beyond “thou shall” or “thou shall not.” It involves an inner strength that lifts us to a higher way of living, far above what the world offers. When we develop a right relationship with the Father, we do not succumb to life’s circumstances; rather, we ascend to the throne of God to receive grace for every need. Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” He also taught, “You have heard, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” This is living according to a law higher than the law itself.
George Barna conducted a poll among people who claimed to be “born again” Christians, and the results were revealing. 26% believed that all religions are the same, 35% did not believe Jesus rose from the dead (Romans 10:9), 52% did not believe the Holy Spirit is a living entity, and 45% did not believe Satan exists. In addition, 10% believed in reincarnation, 29% believed in communication with the dead, 33% accepted same-sex unions, and 39% believed there was nothing wrong with sex before marriage. Interestingly, these individuals still claimed to have made a commitment to Jesus. Such statistics show that many Christians are like babies who need to be fed, taught, and cared for; otherwise, they will die in their cribs.
From time immemorial, God has attached rewards and penalties to His holy law. For example, in Genesis 2:17, Adam was warned that disobedience would result in death, making the punishment a deterrent against violating God’s command. The same encouragement toward righteousness and deterrence against unrighteousness is found in the New Testament (Romans 2:6–11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9). The problem arises when a man or woman becomes selfish. In such cases, the restrictions found in God’s law, instead of restraining evil, actually stir up sin. As Paul wrote, “While we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law” (Romans 7:5), and “Sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind” (Romans 7:8). “The mind set on the flesh is death” (Romans 8:6). Since “sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4), the sinful heart delights in knowing the law only so it can defy it. Lawlessness means more than simply breaking the law; it is opposition to the law itself—a rebellion against authority, a zeal for autonomy, and a false desire for freedom from all law.
The restrictive nature of God’s law is meant to protect and save us from pain caused by sin.
I understand that Laws; especially those that relate to social conduct and behaviour have their source from a certain philosophy of life that is espoused by the Law-Giver.
The philosophical foundation from which the Ten Commandments emanate and that is espoused by Christ himself- the Law-Giver is found in Matthew 22:37-40 – “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” It is upon this philosophical and Biblical foundation the Ten Commandments are to be understood and interpreted.
Another very important point, built into to these commands is the understanding that its recipients MUST know, take the time to know , and become acquainted and develop a relationship with the Law-Giver. Love CANNOT be commanded.
Genuine love is always the fruitage of a relationship. If you take the time to know someone and you discover for yourself that they are lovable and trustworthy, you natrually grow to love and trust them. Similarly with God and thus we obey.
Satan presents God’s law as opposed to freedom. He did this in heaven, and he is doing it successfully in the world today. He did it in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. Now our fallen nature views God‘s law as restrictive when the problem resides in our mind and in the way we think. As the Psalmist says, “the law of the Lord is perfect” Psalm 19:7. God thought it was important enough that it was better for Jesus to die rather than for God to change His law so as to allow for sin in His universe. The history of our world has demonstrated the rightness and glory of that decision. And to me it demonstrates that the whole problem that any of us as God’s creatures have with God’s law is in our mind’s. And hence our desperate need to be “transformed by the renewing of our mind” Romans 12:2
Surrender to God every day. Abide in His word. Yield to Him. Allow Him to do what He is supposed to do. Speak to God as a friend, a man who loves you. Wait in silence for Him to talk to you. Be patient to hear Him speak to you. Come to me Lord, I am surrendering my soul to you.
How do I define ‘sin’ and describe it to a non-Christion?
If the person is truly interested in an explanation, I would start by asking if he/she believes in a Creator who established what ‘sin’ is.
If agreed, my explanation would aim to help understand that ‘sin’ in this world causes the spiritual separation between man and our Creator.
If agreed, I would ask if he/she considers him/herself to sin should his/her conduct go contrary to the basic tenet of the 10 Commandments – to love God.
If the person understands the spiritual separation from the Creator, I would attempt to explain that, as long as he/she accepts there is a Creator, he/she would need to accept what He established to be ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ for man.
If agreed, it would be necessary to believe our Creator and follow His teachings.
If the person rejects this ‘reality’, he/she engages in the original sin of ‘disbelieve’.
I would continue with asking the person to realize that he/she cannot have if both ways – believing that there is a Creator but refusing to accept Him as his/her God who has the right to establish norms/laws that ‘judge’ mankind’s spiritual, moral, and ethical conduct.
Yes, 1 John 3:4 states it clearly: ”Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”
Brigitte, I don’t know if you have tried this approach, but I would guess you would lose the person long before getting to the end of your description. Try something simple:
Most people understand that selfishness is not good.
Respectfully, when I talk with a non-Christian, I cannot assume that he/she understands what you describe as ‘simple’: that sin is “selfishness”- that “God is love” – that “selfishness is the opposite of love”. These are foreign concepts to a non-Christian.
I do not think that ‘Jesus – demonstrating self-sacrificing love when He came to walk among us’ -, means anything to the non-Christian. It is not even fully understood by those who claim to be Christians, otherwise we would not have the many problems stemming from outright selfishness that permeates every aspect of the Christian as well as the non-Christian’s life.
If I put it into a nutshell, I would say that: ‘sin is the absence of believe, trust, and faith in a benevolent Creator.” Everything arising from disbelieve, daupt and mistrust is only the evidence of the sin of dis- or unbelieve and doupt.
No one calls upon a deity without acceptance of their powers; this would be non-sensical. And if one declares a deity to be their god, one would be able to define this God.
The world struggles to know the God of Christianity; even the Christians still struggle to define Him, trust Him, and give Him control over their life.
So, no, I do not believe that most people understand that ‘selfishness’ is not good. At this point I see selfishness to rule the world.
The Law of God represents the limit found in love. Love can free people, but it requires responsibility. Limits also accompany great love. That is the reason for the Law to exist, for us to remember that love cannot smash over people.
In reading Psalms 119 as recommended by the author of the companion book for this quarters lesson, Heather Quintana. We ran across a verse that is very apropos, for those of us that are attached to mobile devices. Psalm 119.37.