Why Did God Give Us the Old Testament Law?

An abstract of Connor Kraus’ sermon on October 27, 2024, in the Galatians series. Watch the sermon video here.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible has so many rules in the Old Testament? Why did God give the Israelites all those complicated laws about what to eat, what to wear, and how to live? It might seem confusing, but there's actually an amazing story behind those rules.

The truth is, God's law wasn't meant to be an impossible obstacle course. Instead, it was like a giant arrow pointing straight to Jesus.

Revealing Our Biggest Problem

Imagine trying to follow a super complicated recipe that's so difficult, you mess up before you even start. That's kind of how the Old Testament law works. It wasn't designed to make people perfect. Instead, it was meant to show us something important: we can't be perfect on our own.

The law is like a mirror that shows us how far we are from being good enough. Every time someone tried to follow all the rules, they would realize how much they were messing up.

A Preparation for Something Better

But here's the amazing part: God wasn't trying to make people feel hopeless. The law was actually preparing people for something incredible - the coming of Jesus. Think of it like a giant countdown or a treasure map leading to the most important moment in history.

All those sacrifices, all those rules about being clean or unclean, all those complicated ceremonies - they were pointing toward one big event. They were showing people that they needed a perfect savior who could do what they could never do.

Grace Wins Every Time

The most beautiful part of this story is that when we recognize how much we mess up, we can appreciate how amazing God's grace is. It's like realizing how dark a room is makes you appreciate light even more.

The apostle Paul explains it like this: The more we understand our mistakes, the more we can appreciate how incredible God's forgiveness is. It's not about being perfect. It's about recognizing that we need help and accepting the help God offers.

What This Means for You

So what does this mean for you? It means you don't have to be perfect. You don't have to follow a complicated set of rules to be loved by God. Instead, you can trust in Jesus, who already followed those rules perfectly on your behalf.

If you're feeling like you're not good enough, or like you've messed up too many times, this message is for you. God's love isn't about how well you follow rules. It's about trusting in Jesus and accepting the incredible gift of grace.

A Personal Invitation

Take a moment to look at your life. Recognize the areas where you fall short, but don't get stuck there. Instead, let those moments draw you closer to God. Let them remind you how much you need Jesus and how awesome his love is.

Remember: Being a Christian isn't about being perfect. It's about being humble, recognizing your needs, and trusting in God's amazing grace.