The Law

The last couple of Sundays we have been pondering the Law of God, especially the Ten Commandments.  This is important for we know that ALL Scripture was given by God and is profitable (II Tim 3:16) and we know that the Law is not over us (Rom 6:14, 8:2) as it does not save (Gal 2:16).  Yet, we hear that the Law has value to Christians still today (I Tim 1:8) and we know that we must be careful about use and misuse of God’s Word (II Tim 2:15).

Galatians 3:21-25, Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.  But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.  Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 

Too often we go to extremes with the Law – either completely scrapping it or else promoting it to the point that keeping it means salvation.  Both are wrong.  The Law serves three purposes helpful for man:

1. The Law shows man that he falls far, far short of God’s standard and thus has NO hope of entering Heaven at death – NONE!  Zero!
2. The Law keeps people in check.  Without hearing that God is angry with those who murder or covet or abuse His name – those things will happen more frequently and grossly.  The Law slows down evil.  Galatians 3:23, “we were kept under guard by the Law.”  This is one reason morality and evil is greater in the country today – the Ten Commandments have been removed.

The Law can’t save – it is a perfect tutor from God to move us to faith in Jesus!  Only Jesus, the God/man was able to keep all the jots and tittles of the Law and thus be acceptable to God.  Yet, Jesus paid the price demanded by the Law for sin – death.  He died, but not for Himself, rather for others. So, there is a salvation but ONLY in the One who did keep the Law perfectly and paid the penalty the Law demanded.  Jesus loved the Law, followed the Law, and fulfilled the Law that by embracing Him and thus being in Him, the Law has no power over the one saved for it was fulfilled by Jesus.

3. Yet the Law, for someone saved, becomes directions and markers as to how to live pleasing to God.  The Law becomes a guide – Oh, we can never fully keep it but we don’t need to.  Remember, we are in Him so it is fulfilled by Him.  Romans 3:31, Do we then make void the law through faith?  Certainly not!  On the contrary, we establish the law.

So, the Christian says of the Law, “It is the perfect law of liberty and continues in it,” James 1:25.  And it is a “royal law,” James 2:8.

The Christian agrees with:

Psalm 1:2, But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 40:8, I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.

Psalm 119:47, And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love.

Psalm 119:72, The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

The Christian thinks this of the Law:  The law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good, Romans 7:12.  And thus: I delight in the law of God according to the inward man, Romans 7:22.