Works and Salvation

[Cameron143]

Those verses say that the Mosaic Covenant is eternal, but you said that they are not, so I don't see how you can deny that you're not denying anything. Do you think that the Mosaic Covenant reveals things about who God is that are eternally true or temporary true? Are the promises in regard to the Mosaic Covenant eternally true or does God break His promises? My point was not about Revelation, as you claim, if the Mosaic Covenant doesn't exist any more, then why would Revelation bother retelling of the stipulations of the old covenant and the sanctions that were coming as a result of the conditions of the old covenant not being met?

I already explained...there are parts of every covenant that are eternal. And any attribute of God is also eternal.
The recounting of the stipulations in Revelation is to remind the Israelites of the covenant they had agreed to, and what the coming repercussions would be for their failure to live up to the terms.
The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple officially ended the old covenant.

 

[Soyeong]

I already explained...there are parts of every covenant that are eternal. And any attribute of God is also eternal.

The Mosaic Covenant was given to teach us how to be a doer of the character traits of God, so if you grant that they are eternal, then you should also grant that the Mosaic Covenant is eternal.

The recounting of the stipulations in Revelation is to remind the Israelites of the covenant they had agreed to, and what the coming repercussions would be for their failure to live up to the terms.

If it has ended, then there would no longer be any repercussions for failing to live up to its terms.

The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple officially ended the old covenant.

There was nothing about the destruction of the first temple that ended the Mosaic Covenant, so the same is true about the destruction of the 2nd temple.

 

[rogerg]

In Galatians 3:15-18, even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. The Mosaic Covenant does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God so as to make the promise void and neither does the New Covenant. If you think that God breaks His promises, then you do not understand who He is. God is not at cross purposes with Himself, but rather the step of stipulations of New Covenant is in complete accordance with the Mosaic Covenant. In Psalms 119:29-30, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey the Torah, and he chose the way of faith by setting it before him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation.

God Himself nullified the covenant with Israel because of their spiritual infidelity and idolatry. This covenant included a clause that allowed God to do so if they failed to uphold their part of the agreement, which they did not, leading to its termination through a certificate of divorce. The covenant was exclusive to the nation of Israel, so its termination meant its complete dissolution. At the time God established the New Covenant through Christ, no other covenant was in effect. This New Covenant, created and maintained by Christ, includes no conditions demanding (our) performance or that permits termination.

[Jer 3:8 KJV] 8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

In Matthew 4:15-23, Christ began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, which was a light to the Gentiles, and the Torah was how his audience knew what sin is (Romans 3:20), so repenting from it is a central part of the Gospel of the Kingdom, which is in accordance with Jesus being sent in fulfillment of the promise to bless us by turning us from our wickedness (Acts 3:25-26). Christ also set a sinless example for us to follow of how to walk in obedience to the Torah and as his followers we are told to follow his example (1 Peter 2:21-22) and that those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way he walked (1 John 2:6). So Jesus spent his ministry teaching his followers to obey the Torah by word and by example, and he did not establish the New Covenant for the purpose of undermine anything that he spent his ministry teaching, but rather the New Covenant still involves following the Torah (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10). Do you affirm or deny that God revealed how to act in accordance with His eternal character through the Torah?

No, the repenting in view is repentance from our dead works unto a trust exclusively in Christ for salvation.

[Heb 6:1 KJV] 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

You are incorrect to think that a priesthood that is headed by God's word made flesh is contrary to following God's word. If the way to testify about God's righteousness could change, then God's righteousness would not be eternal, so Hebrews 7:12 could not be referring to a change of the law in regard to its content, such as with it becoming righteous to commit adultery or sinful to do charity, but rather the context is speaking about a change of the priesthood, which would require a change of the law in regard to its administration.

It is by the Torah that we have knowledge of what sin is (Romans 3:20), so the position that we don't need to obey it is the position that we do not need salvation from sin, we do not need the Gospel message, and that we do not need Jesus to have given himself to redeem us from all lawlessness.

The Old Covenant was shadow, not the substance. Salvation was never contingent on the Old Covenant or any of its conditions. The true priesthood resides in heaven, not on earth. The New Covenant provides the forgiveness of sins for those whom God has chosen to include under it through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, not by a fleshly law of works. Once the NC came into being, it alone reigned supreme.

Your second paragraph doesn't make sense. Christ is the Savior, man is not. Those whom He forgives, and saves, are forgiven and saved and justified not based on their actions, but solely on the actions of Christ alone - they are but recipients and beneficiaries and play no part in securing or deserving it.

[Heb 8:4-5 KJV]
4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

In Deuteronomy 5:31-33, Moses wrote down everything that God commanded without departing from it, so the Torah is the Law of God, which is also why it is referred to as being the Law of God in verses like Nehemiah 8:1-8, Ezra 7:6-12, and Luke 2:22-23. In Romans 7:25-8:2, Paul equated the Law of God with the Law of the Spirit of life by contrasting them both with the law of sin and death. In 1 John 2:6, those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way he walked, so verses like Romans 8:1 that refer to those who are in Christ are only referring to those who are walking in obedience to the Torah. Furthermore, in Romans 8:4-7, Paul contrasted those who walk in the Spirit with those who have minds set on the flesh who are enemies of God who refuse to submit to the Torah.

The Torah represented God's law in a temporal and earthly context, but not in a spiritual or eternal one. As stated in Hebrews, Christ has fulfilled that law. Adherence to it cannot lead to salvation; instead, seeking justification before God through its observance incurs His wrath rather than His blessing.

[Gal 2:14 KJV]
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

 

[Cameron143]

The Mosaic Covenant was given to teach us how to be a doer of the character traits of God, so if you grant that they are eternal, then you should also grant that the Mosaic Covenant is eternal.

The Mosaic Covenant was given for a number of reasons, like the preservation of Israel so Messiah could come into the world, but the covenant was only given to Israel.


If it has ended, then there would no longer be any repercussions for failing to live up to its terms.
There are no repercussions for failing to keep the old covenant. Those were taken care of in 70 AD.

Under the new covenant, entrance isn't natural birth, but by spiritual birth. One has but to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and they are saved.

There was nothing about the destruction of the first temple that ended the Mosaic Covenant, so the same is true about the destruction of the 2nd temple.

This is just your assumption. If you really want to understand the old covenant, study the book of Deuteronomy. If you want to understand how and why it no longer exists, study Revelation. Hint: they have the exact same outline, deal with the exact same subject, and show the superiority of grace over the law and the wisdom of God in Christ.

 

[Magenta]

From Galatians 4:22-24 plus 28-29 and 5:1 Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise. These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery. We, like Isaac, are children of promise. The son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
Thank you for the inspiration .

PS ~ here is another one that @TabinRivCA our lovely Tabs might like, as she
encourages me to work more male figures into my Scripture panel designs .

And I do normally try to avoid having so much text on a panel, but in this case it could
not be helped, as there is so much to say against what @Soyeong would have us believe!

 

[Dino246]

The Mosaic Covenant was given to teach us how to be a doer of the character traits of God, so if you grant that they are eternal, then you should also grant that the Mosaic Covenant is eternal.

Um, no, that does not follow.

If it has ended, then there would no longer be any repercussions for failing to live up to its terms.

While that is true, what you overlook is that most Christians are not and never were under the Mosaic covenant.

There was nothing about the destruction of the first temple that ended the Mosaic Covenant, so the same is true about the destruction of the 2nd temple.

Again, that does not follow. You're making an assumption and defending it quite inadequately. God brought the old covenant to an end by destroying not just the temple but essentially the entire structure of Levitical Judaism. There has never been a temple or even a tabernacle since, so no-one can follow the Mosaic covenant.

 

[BroTan]

There is a sense of works that we are required to have done first in order to earn something as a wage that is different from the sense of works that are intrinsically required to have the experience of doing something. For example, there is a difference between work that someone is required to have done first to earn a wage to pay for the opportunity to experience driving a Ferrari for an hour and the work of driving it that is intrinsically required to have that experience. The opportunity to experience driving a Ferrari for an hour can also be given as a gift that requires someone to do the work to have that experience, but where that work contributes nothing towards earning the opportunity to have that experience as a wage.

While there are many verse like Romans 4:1-5 that speak against works being required to earn our justification/righteousness/salvation/eternal life as a wage in the first sense, there are many verses like Hebrews 5:9 support that they require us to be doers of works in the second sense. Our salvation is from sin (Matthew 1:21) and sin is the transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4), so while we are not required to have first obeyed it in order to earn our salvation as a wage, having the experience of living in obedience to it is intrinsically the content of the gift of Jesus saving us from having the experience of not living in obedience to it. In Titus 2:11-14, our salvation is described as being trained by grace to do what is godly, righteous, and good, and to renounce doing what is ungodly, so we are not required to have first done those works in order to earn our salvation as the result and we are not required to do those works as the result of having first been saved, but rather God graciously teaching us how to have the experience doing those works is intrinsically the content of His gift of saving us having the experience of not doing those works.

In other words, the content of God's gift of eternal life is the experience of knowing Him and Jesus (John 17:3) and the gift of His law is His instructions for how to have that experience (Exodus 33:13, Matthew 7:23), not for how to earn eternal life as a wage.

Paul said in (1 Cor. 15:1-2) (v.1) MOREOVER, brethren, I declare unto the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (v.2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. Paul is telling you right here that you are saved by the gospel that he preached unto you if you keep it in memory. So what happens if you don’t keep it in memory? Then you have believed in vain you have believed for nothing that’s what vain means.

Also Paul said in (Gal. 6 (v.3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (v.4) But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

 

[Soyeong]

Paul said in (1 Cor. 15:1-2) (v.1) MOREOVER, brethren, I declare unto the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (v.2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. Paul is telling you right here that you are saved by the gospel that he preached unto you if you keep it in memory. So what happens if you don’t keep it in memory? Then you have believed in vain you have believed for nothing that’s what vain means.

Also Paul said in (Gal. 6 (v.3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (v.4) But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

In Matthew 4:15-23, Jesus began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, which was a light to the Gentiles, and the Torah was how his audience knew what sin is (Romans 3:20), so repenting from our disobedience to it is a central part of the Gospel of the Kingdom, which Paul also taught based on the Torah (Acts 14:21-22, 20:24-25, 28:23, Romans 15:4, 18-19).

 

[Soyeong]

This is just your assumption.

What specifically do you think was just my assumption?

If you really want to understand the old covenant, study the book of Deuteronomy. If you want to understand how and why it no longer exists, study Revelation. Hint: they have the exact same outline, deal with the exact same subject, and show the superiority of grace over the law and the wisdom of God in Christ.

God's graciousness is not superior to His righteousness, but rather God is gracious to us by teaching us to obey His law (Psalms 119:29) and God has made His wisdom known through His word.

 

[Cameron143]

What specifically do you think was just my assumption?


God's graciousness is not superior to His righteousness, but rather God is gracious to us by teaching us to obey His law (Psalms 119:29) and God has made His wisdom known through His word.

Your assumption that the old covenant was eternal is incorrect. Thus, your reasoning was flawed. Since the old covenant no longer exists, it cannot be eternal.
Further, the covenant was not given to teach anyone to perform the eternal attributes of God. There are a number of reasons why the law was given, but this is not one of them.
Lastly, I didn't suggest that God's graciousness was is superior to His righteousness. This you assumed. I said that grace was superior to the law. Since no one will be justified by the law, but many are made righteous by grace, this can easily be seen to be the case.

 

[Soyeong]

Your assumption that the old covenant was eternal is incorrect. Thus, your reasoning was flawed. Since the old covenant no longer exists, it cannot be eternal.

In Exodus 33:13 and Leviticus 24:8, it says that the Mosaic Covenant is eternal.

Further, the covenant was not given to teach anyone to perform the eternal attributes of God. There are a number of reasons why the law was given, but this is not one of them.

The Bible often uses the same terms to describe the character of God as it does to describe the character of God's law, such as with it being holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12) or with justice, mercy, and faithfulness being weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:23), and it could not accurately be described as that if it were not God's instructions for how to be a doer of those traits.

God's way is the way to know Him by being a doer of His character traits, such as in Genesis 18:19, God knew Abraham that he would teach his children and those of His household to walk in God's way by being a doer of righteousness and justice that the Lord might bring to him all that He has promised. In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to walk in His way that he and Israel might know Him, in 1 Kings 2:1-3, God taught how to walk in His way through His law, and in Matthew 7:23, Jesus said that he would tell those who are workers of lawlessness to depart from hi because he never knew them, so the goal of the law is to teach us how to know God and Jesus through being a doer of His character traits, which is eternal life (John 17:3), and which is why Jesus said that the way to inherit eternal life is by obeying God's commandments (Luke 10:25-28, Matthew 19:17),

In Hebrews 1:3, the Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact image of His character, which he expressed through his works by setting a sinless example for us to follow of how to walk in obedience to God's law.

In 1 Peter 1:16, we are told to be holy for God's is holy, which is quote from Leviticus where Good was given instructions for how to do that, so I don't see grounds for denying that it is God's instructions for how to act in accordance with His eternal holiness. The only way that we should no longer follow God's instructions for how to be holy if He is holy would be if God were to cease to be holy.

Lastly, I didn't suggest that God's graciousness was is superior to His righteousness. This you assumed. I said that grace was superior to the law.

God's law is His instructions for how to act in accordance with His righteousness, so that is the same. In any case, grace in not superior to law because the Bible is abundantly clear that God is gracious to us by teaching us to obey His law (Psalms 119:29, Exodus 33:13, Genesis 6:8-9, Romans 1:5, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 2:11-13).

Since no one will be justified by the law, but many are made righteous by grace, this can easily be seen to be the case.

The only way for someone to attain a character trait is through faith and what it means for someone to attain a character trait is for them to become a doer of that trait. For example, there are no amount of courageous works that someone is required to have done first in order to earn becoming courageous as the result, but rather the only way for someone to become courageous is through faith, but it would be contradictory for someone to become courageous apart from becoming a doer of courageous works, and the same is true for righteousness and every other character trait. So we do not earn our righteousness as the result of our obedience to God's law because it was never given as a means of earning our righteousness, but rather what it means to become righteous is to become s doer of righteous works in obedience to God's law, which is why the same faith by which we are declared righteous apart from works does not abolish our need to be a doer of righteous works in obedience to God's law, but rather our faith upholds it (Romans 3:27-31).

 

[Mem]

I skimmed through all 13 pages to make sure that I wasn't repeating a reference already address. I saw references from Hebrews 6, 7, 8, and 10 and so can go ahead and post what I had in mind.

Hebrews 9
9 It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.
10 They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.

Redemption through His Blood
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.
12 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

And I see that, Somehow, I happy accidented a thumbs up emoji within the above context.

I'd have posted the entire chapter but first, I'd like to establish that Jesus supersedes Moses. Although I assume that would be claimed that it isn't the argument being put forward, @Soyeong is effectively claiming that Jesus "backs" Moses with the heavenly tabernacle rather than the reality that Moses "fronts" Jesus with the earthly tabernacle.

Soyeong is looking back when he should be keeping his eyes forward if he's going to try and plow.

 

[Cameron143]

In Exodus 33:13 and Leviticus 24:8, it says that the Mosaic Covenant is eternal.


The Bible often uses the same terms to describe the character of God as it does to describe the character of God's law, such as with it being holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12) or with justice, mercy, and faithfulness being weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:23), and it could not accurately be described as that if it were not God's instructions for how to be a doer of those traits.

God's way is the way to know Him by being a doer of His character traits, such as in Genesis 18:19, God knew Abraham that he would teach his children and those of His household to walk in God's way by being a doer of righteousness and justice that the Lord might bring to him all that He has promised. In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to walk in His way that he and Israel might know Him, in 1 Kings 2:1-3, God taught how to walk in His way through His law, and in Matthew 7:23, Jesus said that he would tell those who are workers of lawlessness to depart from hi because he never knew them, so the goal of the law is to teach us how to know God and Jesus through being a doer of His character traits, which is eternal life (John 17:3), and which is why Jesus said that the way to inherit eternal life is by obeying God's commandments (Luke 10:25-28, Matthew 19:17),

In Hebrews 1:3, the Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact image of His character, which he expressed through his works by setting a sinless example for us to follow of how to walk in obedience to God's law.

In 1 Peter 1:16, we are told to be holy for God's is holy, which is quote from Leviticus where Good was given instructions for how to do that, so I don't see grounds for denying that it is God's instructions for how to act in accordance with His eternal holiness. The only way that we should no longer follow God's instructions for how to be holy if He is holy would be if God were to cease to be holy.


God's law is His instructions for how to act in accordance with His righteousness, so that is the same. In any case, grace in not superior to law because the Bible is abundantly clear that God is gracious to us by teaching us to obey His law (Psalms 119:29, Exodus 33:13, Genesis 6:8-9, Romans 1:5, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 2:11-13).



The only way for someone to attain a character trait is through faith and what it means for someone to attain a character trait is for them to become a doer of that trait. For example, there are no amount of courageous works that someone is required to have done first in order to earn becoming courageous as the result, but rather the only way for someone to become courageous is through faith, but it would be contradictory for someone to become courageous apart from becoming a doer of courageous works, and the same is true for righteousness and every other character trait. So we do not earn our righteousness as the result of our obedience to God's law because it was never given as a means of earning our righteousness, but rather what it means to become righteous is to become s doer of righteous works in obedience to God's law, which is why the same faith by which we are declared righteous apart from works does not abolish our need to be a doer of righteous works in obedience to God's law, but rather our faith upholds it (Romans 3:27-31).

Exodus 33:13 doesn't mention a covenant, and Leviticus 24:8 says the sabbath will be taken from Israel by an everlasting covenant. Since the old covenant ended, the new and everlasting covenant has to be what was in view.
I know it won't make a difference for you, but perhaps it will help someone else.

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

Um, no, that does not follow.


While that is true, what you overlook is that most Christians are not and never were under the Mosaic covenant.


Again, that does not follow. You're making an assumption and defending it quite inadequately. God brought the old covenant to an end by destroying not just the temple but essentially the entire structure of Levitical Judaism. There has never been a temple or even a tabernacle since, so no-one can follow the Mosaic covenant.

Sadly, the words of Paul come true

1 Timothy 1:7

desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

 

[Soyeong]

Sadly, the words of Paul come true

1 Timothy 1:7

desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

In 1 Timothy 1:8, it says that the law is good when it is used properly, so it is important to recognize that the Bible can speak against doing something improperly for the wrong reason without speaking against doing it properly for the right reason. For example, the Bible can speak against obeying God for the purpose of trying to earn our salvation without speaking against obeying God.

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

In 1 Timothy 1:8, it says that the law is good when it is used properly, so it is important to recognize that the Bible can speak against doing something improperly for the wrong reason without speaking against doing it properly for the right reason. For example, the Bible can speak against obeying God for the purpose of trying to earn our salvation without speaking against obeying God.

Gal 3:
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.


21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

 

[Soyeong]

Gal 3:
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.


21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Do you think that Christ the Gospel message to stop repenting because the law has ended now that he has come and to curse us by causing us to be free to do what God’s law has revealed to be wickedness? Or do you think that Christ began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand and that he was sent in fulfillment of the promise to bless us by turning us from what God’s law reveals to be wickedness?

 

[Dino246]

Do you think that Christ the Gospel message to stop repenting because the law has ended now that he has come and to curse us by causing us to be free to do what God’s law has revealed to be wickedness? Or do you think that Christ began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand and that he was sent in fulfillment of the promise to bless us by turning us from what God’s law reveals to be wickedness?

We don’t avoid sin by the power of the law, but by the inner conviction of the Spirit. Perhaps you don’t have the Spirit; that would explain perfectly why you don’t understand what you’re being told. People with the Holy Spirit within them don’t need the external law to constrain them.

 

[jacko]

Dude, the law is a curse. It says in the bible.

 

[Soyeong]

Dude, the law is a curse. It says in the bible.

In Romans 10:5-8, it references Deuteronomy 30 as the word of faith that we proclaim in regard to proclaiming that God's law is not too difficult for us to obey and that obedience to it brings life and a blessing while disobedience brings death and a curse, so choose life! Likewise, in Deuteronomy 27-28 it lists the blessing of living in obedience to God's law and the curse of not living in obedience to it, so God did not give His law as a curse to His children, but as a precious gift for our own good in order to teach us how to be blessed.