In the Old Testament the law led to condemnation. The history of the nation of Israel also ended in condemnation, invasion and failure. The people of Israel were not able to keep the law. Nor can we. So God did an amazing thing. He paid off the law with the death of his Son so that he freely could love the sinner and he gave a completely different way of deliverance. Paul stated this simply.
19 "For through the Law I died to the Law, that I might live to God. (Gal 2:19)
All of the expectations of the law and all of its punishments met Jesus on the cross so that God could introduce an alternative way of becoming godly. That is through a living relationship with him based on the total acceptance of the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not need to look to the rules to develop spirituality; we need to look to our Father. We do not have to produce character within but the Holy Spirit within produces character that will flow outward. But best of all we are delivered from the ink on a page to the person of God the Father. We've been delivered from the rules to a relationship.
