1 John 3:16


"By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Friday 19 March 2010

Intent of the Law

When we read the law as Christians we are not reading it for legalism and condemnation (to keep its letter), but reading it to see its intent and learn of the nature of God behind it. We are looking at the spirit or intent of the law and interpreting its principles into daily life. This is how God always intended the law to be used. But because people were not born again they could not do so.

Any time courts today interpret a statute they are supposed to look at the purpose of the statute, not just the letter. The judge asks, “Why was this law legislated? What was the background or situation it was trying to correct? What was the need? What was the government of the day trying to achieve?”. This is contextualization. He is supposed to judge by the intention of the government and not use the law to achieve his own purpose.

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