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In order to be a law, the command must have a penalty attached to it! For example, a traffic law is not just: “You shall not drive over 60 miles per hour.” It is: “You shall not drive over 60 [a commandment], and if you do, you will pay a fine of $15 for every mph over 60 [a penalty].”

In a math class, a law could be written into a simple equation:

law = commandment + penalty

In sports, a law is a like a heavyweight boxer with an incredible 1-2 knockout punch of a commandment and a penalty. Together they make the law an undefeated champ.

Now, the Old Covenant was a covenant of laws – commands with penalties attached. That’s why the Spirit prompted Paul to correct people who thought they could keep the Law and enter the kingdom of God:

“All who rely on observing the Law are under a curse, for it is written ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law’ ” (Galatians 3:10; cf. Deuteronomy 27:26).

Even before Moses, God dealt with mankind on the basis of laws. You say you don’t remember any laws before Moses? Let’s go back to the very beginning in Genesis 2:16-17:

“And the LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’ "

I suspect you’re thinking, “But Bud, I don’t see the word ‘law’ anywhere in that verse.” Well the word law isn’t there, but a law is there – a commandment with a penalty attached. Do you see it?

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