“Sometimes scholars say that the Old Testament does not demand perfect obedience to the law. We must address this matter carefully because there is a sense in which the Old Testament requires perfect obedience and a sense in which it doesn’t. Let me explain. God saves his people, Israel, by grace. He enters into covenant with them and delivers them at the exodus. He does not demand that they obey the law perfectly to remain in covenant with him. But Yahweh threatens exile if his people become enslaved to evil. They will be judged by God if they harden their hearts, forsake the Lord and turn away from him. They will be blessed as his people if they keep the Torah. Such blessing is not conditioned on perfect obedience. Israel will show its faith in Yahweh by obeying him significantly and substantially, but not perfectly.” – Thomas Schreiner, The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views, p. 74 (emphasis mine)

I think the last part of what Schreiner says is significant for Christians to consider. In the same way that it applied to Israel, followers of Christ show their faith in Jesus by obeying him significantly and substantially, but not perfectly. Those two words, “significantly” and “substantially” are key. After all, this seems to be the thrust of a lot of what is said in the NT: [Read more…]