SALVATION AND THE ROLE OF LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

When we talk about salvation in the Old Testament, we cannot ignore the central place of God’s Law —also called the Torah. While salvation is ultimately an act of God's mercy and power, the Law outlines how the people of Israel are to live in covenant relationship with Him. It is not a means of "earning" salvation, but a guide for how the saved community should walk in obedience and holiness.

This distinction is important. Obedience to the Law was a response to salvation—not the cause of it.

1. The Law as a Covenant Response

The Law was given after the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt. Exodus 19:4 reminds us of this order: You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”

Then God gives them the Law—not to save them, but because they had already been saved. The Law becomes a covenantal framework for living in relationship with a holy God. It was meant to:

1. Shape their identity as God’s people

2. Preserve justice and righteousness

3. Guard against idolatry and moral compromise

4. Reflect God’s holiness to the nations

So, the Law was not a prison—it was a gift. It defined a lifestyle that aligned with God’s character.

2. Misunderstandings of the Law

Over time, some misunderstood the Law as a legalistic system where salvation was earned by performance. But even in the Old Testament, the emphasis is on the heart behind obedience. Deuteronomy 10:12–13 asks, “What does the Lord your God require of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him...” Psalm 51:16–17 says, “You do not delight in sacrifice... but a broken and contrite heart.”

True obedience was always meant to be relational—not mechanical. The prophets constantly called Israel back to this heart-centered obedience, rather than empty rituals.

3. The Law and Human Inability

Though the Law was holy and good, it also revealed human weakness. The people of Israel repeatedly broke the covenant, despite God’s faithfulness. This tension created a longing for,

1. A new heart that would desire God (Ezekiel 36:26)

2. A new covenant where the Law would be written inwardly (Jeremiah 31:33)

3. A Messiah who would fulfill the Law perfectly and make way for lasting redemption

In this sense, the Law becomes a mirror —showing us both God’s will and our deep need for grace.

Why is this important?

Understanding the role of the Law helps us see,

a) Salvation in the Old Testament is not by works, but through God’s initiative and covenantal grace

b) The Law is a response to salvation, not a precondition for it

c) The Law reveals God’s holiness, our need, and the hope for something more

This paves the way for the New Testament, where Jesus says, “I have not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.” (Matthew 5:17)

The Law, then, becomes part of the story of salvation, pointing forward to Christ who fulfills it on our behalf and writes it on our hearts.


AMEN.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Amen. The law reveals God's own Character. Once we put on God, we reveal His character.
July 16, 2025 at 10:13 PM
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