Deuteronomy 6:17 (ESV) -- You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you.

Faith alone in Christ alone is the heart of the gospel. Salvation comes through trusting in the finished work of Jesus. His death for our sins, and His resurrection from the grave to demonstrate His victory over sin, is the core of our redemption. Human beings are saved when we put our faith in that finished work, believing it is intended for us and applied to us. This is what makes us clean before God. Our baptism is a proclamation of this faith in Jesus. We are His. 

But what role do the commands of God play in our lives? The law certainly can’t save us, so what is its role? The commands of God are the way we should live to please God. We don’t earn salvation through keeping commands, but we demonstrate our salvation through obedience. And we also flourish under the rule and commands of God.

Our text today is from Deuteronomy 6:17. Moses says, “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you.” Moses is instructing Israel and her families. They are to keep God’s commandments. These statutes and testimonies are from the LORD to His people. They are for their good. 

Christians shouldn’t see the law as a way of earning something. The law is good. It is God’s law. The law provides the roadmap for how God wants us to live. He instructs us on how we should relate to Him and to one another. This isn’t a framework for redemption, but it is a framework for a life that pleases the Lord and brings flourishing. Salvation comes through trusting the sacrifice God provides in Jesus. A life pleasing to God comes through obedience to the commands God provides in His Word. Christians must learn to discern the difference, then diligently keep the commands.

Reflection & Journal: 
- What is the difference between the law and the gospel?
- Why do Christians confuse the relationship between these two things, and even get it wrong?
- How should Christians today understand the role of the law in their lives?

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