Q 14: How are the religious or ceremonial laws useful?

A 14: The religious or ceremonial laws demonstrate the holiness of God and, by foreshadowing Jesus Christ, teach us to find redemption in Him. (Heb. 7-10)

The ceremonial laws, as mentioned, were given to guide the people of Israel in how they must approach the Lord, in order to maintain and enjoy the benefits of their covenant relationship with Him. One cannot read these laws without seeing in them a requirement of holiness, a mood of fear and love, affections of rejoicing and thanksgiving and praise, an orientation toward future blessing and a greater redemption to come, and a sense of the utter seriousness of maintaining at all times, by every means provided, a right relationship with God.

Nothing about these aspects of the spirit of the ceremonial laws has changed. Our worship and daily walk with the Lord are satisfied through our relationship with Jesus Christ. In Him, Who is the fulfillment of all the ceremonial laws, we find the way into God’s presence, favor, and glory. And in Him we also experience the power to meet the requirement, know the mood, nurture the affections, enjoy the redemption, and maintain with all diligence the relationship which the ceremonial laws of Israel were intended, in their time, to achieve.

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