When we ask and answer one question about the gospel, another pops up right behind it. Questions are good and need asking and answered. But questions about the gospel and the Law need answered through the text of Scripture with humility and not arrogance.
After spending much time teaching, “by the works of the Law, no man is justified”; Paul stresses that God is the justifier of those who places their gift of faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Now a question arises, “Do we then nullify the Law through faith?” Paul answers that question with a resounding, “May it never be! A thousand times, no!
Salvation does not replace or nullify the Law because the Law was never the means of salvation. On the contrary, we establish the Law.” We show that the Law performed its intended purpose.
To help us understand this better we will start by asking and answering a few questions.
- What is the Law ?
- What is the requirements of the Law?
- What is the purpose of the Law?
- How The Law Is Established
What Is The Law?
The entire Bible, The Old, and the New Testaments are the Law of God. We can say that God summed up the Law (The Moral Law) in the Ten Commandments, which He gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. Christ again sums them up further in Matthew 22:37-39:
” You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it; you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Strongs Reference # 3551 defines Law as follows: anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command of any law whatsoever, a law or rule producing a state approved of God by the observance of which is approved of God, a precept or injunction, the rule of action prescribed by reason of the Mosaic law, and referring, acc. to the context. Either to the volume of the Law or its content.
WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW?
The Law is God’s precepts and standards set forth for you and me to follow in perfect obedience. The breaking of God’s Law requires death. No man has ever kept the Law of God perfectly, except the man Jesus Christ. God even required His death to fulfill the justice of His commands on our behalf.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW?
To help us understand more about the Law of God, let’s look at several scripture references that teach its purpose.
- Leviticus 19:2 teaches the Law reveals the holy character of God.
- Romans 3:20 teaches through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
- Romans 4:15 teaches the Law brings about wrath.
- Galatians 3:24 teaches the Law is our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
The Law reveals to us the holy character of God. It shows us His perfect righteousness. We look at the standard of God and, through the Law should recognize that we are sinners and cannot live up to God’s righteousness.
James teaches in his letter that if we stumble in one point of the Law we are guilty of breaking them all. God’s Law has shut all men up under sin. The Law brings wrath and judgment upon all men who supress the truth in unrighteousness.
The Law is the tutor that leads us to Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith and boast in the works of Christ and not our own. By the works of the Law no man will be justified. Romans 3:20.
HOW IS THE LAW ESTABLISHED?
I believe that Romans 8:1-4 answers this question for us.
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ, Jesus has set you free from the Law of sin and death. For what the Law could not do weak as it was through the flesh, God did; sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
If we are in Christ Jesus, the wrath and justice that rested on us by not keeping the requirements of the Law, are no longer resting on us. We read in Matthew 5:17-19 that Christ did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill the Law. The blood and the cross of Christ have fulfilled every requirement that God set forth in His Law. Jesus has set us free from the Law of sin and death!!
The Law is established. It is put in its proper place. The purpose of the Law is to make men aware or conscious of their sin. When man acknowledges that they are sinners and turn to Christ in faith, the purpose of the Law is confirmed. The Law has accomplished what it was set out to do. Man’s faith and not his works bring the Law into a clearer focus.
Can we praise God that He sent His One and only Son to fulfill the requirements of His Law in us!! This is amazing grace.
PLEASE ALSO READ:
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN?
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So thankful that we don’t have to be bound to the law, but that Jesus paid for us to live by HIS grace~
Me too Caroline! Praising Jesus for fulfilling the Law in and for us! Have a great day, thanks for stopping by:)
Beautifully put. Praising God with you for His Son!
Thank you Liz!!! So grateful you are praising along! God Bless:)
we are indeed saved by grace – but God’s laws are God’s laws….
Yes, His Laws are His laws, they have not been done away with. But praise Him, Christ has fulfilled them in us that are His!
I am so grateful for God’s grace! Without it, we would be lost. And we only know His grace because we know His law. He is so good!
Very well put Megan, we only know His grace because we know His Law! Thanks for sharing your thoughts:) God Bless!
He has fulfilled EVERY requirement. So thankful for his grace, everyday.:)
Every single one, Brianna!!!! Praising Him, everyday:)
This is amazing grace. When I stop to think about, it is incredible. What kind of love is this? That He sent HIs son to die in our place. Generous, compassionate, abundant love.
Yes, Mary, generous, compassionate and abundant love!! It is amazing grace! We need to stop and ponder it more, at least I do!
Grace wins every time, thanks be to God
Yes, thank God for His grace!
#gracewinseverytime
#AMEN:)
Lisa! Thank God for grace. Honestly, laws make us too legalistic, stiff and rigid. I prefer to stick to Love your neighbor as yourself and love the Lord your God with all your Heart and Might. Even then, it is only by grace…
Yes, Matilda, even then it is only by grace! i am so grateful you stopped by today. God Bless:)
I am SO grateful for His grace!
Where would we be Rose, without His grace! Very thankful and grateful as well!
I’m so grateful that Christ is the fulfillment of the law and that His grace abounds in my life! Wonderful grace!
Me too Lil! Wonderful amazing grace!
It is truly amazing that Jesus fulfilled the law for us. His grace abides in us.
It is amazing Brandi, that He would fulfill the Law for us! Amazing abiding grace! Thanks for sharing today! God Bless:)
I like how you tied Old Testament with New Testament, showing we aren’t exempt from the law, but through grace, we are pardoned. Visiting from the #RaRaLinkup!
I am so thankful you stopped by today Amanda! Thank you! Praising Him for His grace of pardon!
I love that you talk about the entire law–Old and New Testaments. We can learn much from the Old Testament too!
Yes, Tara!!! We can learn so much from the Old Testament! All of the Bible the Old and New Testament was written for our instruction and encouragement, that we might have hope!
Last year, my ladies’ Bible study read through the life of Moses… including the Law. So thankful that Jesus fulfilled the Law! The study, however, opened my eyes to a new understanding of what it means to be holy and obedient to God. I think many Christians today “throw it out” so to speak because we are no longer under the Law (thank Jesus for that!), but as you pointed out, there is a purpose for it; and I must say that I learned a lot about God and His character by studying it. Thank you for your post. 🙂
I think you are right Alyssa when you say many Christians today, “Throw it out”. Very sad and dangerous! I am with you, I wrote a study in Hebrews and did a lot of studying in the Old Testament I learned so much about God, His holiness, and obedience to Him! Thank you for sharing today! God Bless:)
Praise the Lord that we are not under the Law but under Grace!!!!
Praising with you Susannah!!!
Yes, I am SO thankful for God’s grace through Jesus.
Being thankful together with you Melanie!Have a great day rejoicing in the Lord:)
I Love your perspective! Grace that is greater than all our sin!
I think it is so important to not cover up the fact that mankind is in great need of God’s grace!Today so many want to distort or cover up that truth. But it is central to the gospel.Equally important is God’s amazing grace that He has sent through His Son Jesus! When we understand the need we understand more fully His gift! Thank you, Denise, for your kind words and your visit today:) God Bless
Lisa, thanks for taking us through the wonderful book of Romans and thanks for linking up at Mondays @ Soul Survival. Blessings!
It is my pleasure, Donna! I love God’s word and I pray He uses the Free lessons and the Blog posts to grow His kingdom. Thank you for hosting @Soul Survival! God Bless:)
Great post! Thank you so much for linking up with Worshipful Living! Hope to see you this week!
Thank you, Mandy! I always enjoy linking up with Worshipful Living! I really enjoy your Blog! God Bless:)