The old and the new law

Exodus chapter 20 contains the record of God Giving Moses the 10 commandments that would form the basis for what is today known as “The law of Moses” or simply, “The law.” Most Christians are familiar with this story and can probably quote all or at least most of these 10 commandments. But what many Christians do not know is the connection between the giving of the law at Mount Sinai and the pouring out of the Spirit on Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2.

Exodus 19:1 tells us that the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai “in the third month after they had gone out of the land of Egypt.” The Israelites came out of Egypt on the night of the Passover – the fourteenth day of the first month. Pentecost was the Greek name of the feast known in the Old Testament as the “Feast of weeks.” It was celebrated seven complete weeks, or 50 days after Passover – meaning it would occur somewhere in the first week of the third month.

Even though this passage does not say exactly on which day of the third month the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai or on which day The law was given to Moses, it does make it clear that it was very close to the feast that would later be known as Pentecost. And in light of the fact that Exodus 19:1 says, “on that very day,” I believe it was actually during the feast of Pentecost that God gave Moses the Law upon Mount Sinai.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether or not it was during Pentecost that God gave the law to Moses. But it does suggest a very powerful spiritual truth that is confirmed elsewhere in scripture – the connection between the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Not only is there a connection between these two incidents, Pentecost is actually the New Testament equivalent of the giving of the Law.

In Jeremiah 31:31 God promised to make a New Covenant with His people. In the old covenant, the people were right with God only if they kept the commandments – the basis of the covenant. (Deut. 4:13, 6:25) But God said that the new covenant would “not be like the old.” In the New Covenant, God promised to “write His laws in our hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10; 10:16).

This phrase “write his laws in our hearts,” is a reference to God making it part of our new nature to keep His law. And this is the very thing that the presence and fruit of His spirit in us accomplishes in our lives. (Ezekiel 11:19-20; 36: 26-27). The Holy Spirit in us is God’s own divine nature in us (2 Peter 1:4), “working in us to both to will and do His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 13:21)

In a real sense then, the Holy Spirit is the new “Law” – the “Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:2) The Holy Spirit is the most perfect and highest law that exists. Because it is God's own nature living in and through us! It is His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, goodness, His faith (fullness), His gentleness, and His temperance being expressed through us!

In Galatians 5:18 Paul said, “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.”

In essence Paul was saying, “if you are walking by the new law, then you don’t need the old law anymore.” As you walk through your day today, ask yourself which law you are walking by. If you haven’t embraced the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ yet, allow me to suggest that now might be a good time to start!