The matter of the law and grace, which has been in dispute since Christ came, was fully settled some two thousand years ago. Acts 15 gives the account and the findings. The errors involving the law for righteousness are still with us today. Although settled at the first church council they have persisted causing millions of Christians to be completely confused and fail to understand the clear distinction between the ministry of the Law and the ministry of grace. The Bible is crystal clear that the law was never given to save a person, never given to justify the sinner or sanctify the saint. A. WHAT IS THE LAW, OF THE LORD, OF MOSES? There are not two laws, but many would like to think so. There are three areas covered within the book of the law in its broadest sense... ) The Commandments of the moral law (Exo.20:1-26) These dealt with Israel�s moral conduct and set forth within the decalogue. ) The Judgements, civil law (Exo.21:1-24) dealt with the social conduct of the people and civil laws for the nation. ) The Ordinances, ceremonial law (Exo.24-31) dealt with the ceremonial and religious obligations of the nation. These included holy days, offerings, and sacrifices. All these are part of THE ONE LAW given by one God. To make a distinction about the law for our own convenience, to prove our own point, is man-made and artificial and is a violation of the Scriptures. If Christ fulfilled the law, the believer is not under the law but under grace (Rom.6:14), delivered from the law (Rom.7:6), free from the law (Rom.8:2), and dead tothe law (Gal.2:19). B. WHY WAS THE LAW GIVEN? The question was sure to come up, Why did God give the law which no man could keep, but instead only condemn the sinners? This was the situation in Gal.3:19, �Wherefore then serveth the law?... What was the reason God gave the law if it cannot save, justify, sanctify, or satisfy? Note Paul�s inspired answer: ...It was added because of transgression, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hands of a mediator (Gal.3:19) Notice three parts of the answer: The beginning of the law - it was added--added to something which existed before. The purpose of the law - it was added because of transgression. Literally, in order to reveal sin as transgression. There was sin and there was rebellion but it was not a �transgression� of the law which had not yet been given. Rom.4:15, �The law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.� The statement is very clear, you can�t break the law if there is no law to break. Yes, there was sin and it was just as wicked, wrong, terrible and horrible before the law as it is after the law. Notice 5:13, �For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.� When the law came it gave sin a new meaning, it became a transgression of the law. The End of the Law - it was added till the seed should come. The law not only had a beginning but its ministry was until the seed should come. It was for a period of time beginning when it was added, and lasting till the seed should come. Now Paul tells us what he means by the seed. Gal.3:16, �Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.� If the seed is Christ, we may thus read the verse, �The law was added...till Christ should come. The law had it purpose for a time and John the Baptist clears up the question of the time when introducing Jesus in Jo.1:17, �For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.� So we now see that Christ, indeed, is the end of the law for righteousness for the purpose of the law was to reveal sin as rebellion against God C. TO WHOM DOES THE LAW APPLY? Here now we will to see the error of the legalists. The religious legalists said in Acts 15:1;5, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved, and certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Do you hear what they are saying? Now listen to Paul as he instructs young Timothy, Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (1 Tim.1:9-11) If it is not for the righteous man. A righteous man who has never broken the law at any time in any manner has nothing to fear from the law. Who is a righteous man? Rom.3:10-12, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. If God could not find a righteous man (Ps.14:2-3) and the only way to escape the curse of the law because of sin one had to be a righteous man--holy and sinless what a hopeless situation! But wait! While man does not possess a righteousness of his own, their is one who does. The only one who can provide the righteousness of the law is the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, (Rom.3:22, 4:5) the righteousness of God, is through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. And to him that worketh not (law for righteousness), but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. In Romans chapters 9, 10, 11, Paul�s concern is for the Jews, his kinsmen according to the flesh. His focus is there because the Jew had been raised with and under the LAW. This was a great concern for Paul as seen in 9:3 and 10:1. He viewed the Jews, although his people, as being separated from God because of the Law (see 9:6-8). It is unfortunate that many groups today, calling themselves Christians are very similar to those Jews because of the Law. The Law, as it was written implied �Do and Live.� This view as held by the Jews and many today, based their goodness or relation to God, on their own effort to keep the outward observance of laws. How does Paul and the Word speak to that view? The key verse of the 10th chapter is verse 4, �For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.� We see here that Paul had a heartfelt desire that his people, Israel, would be redeemed. His focus was on the religious segment. It would be a waste of time and energy to for a person to go from one point of view to another or from one religious group to another. The gospel, like the law demanded a change of heart, attitude, and relationship. These Jews were religious. They were zealous of God. Paul knew what that was, (Gal.1:14) but their zeal was not according to a full and accurate knowledge of God. So it is today, many are zealous of their religious belief and will work themselves to the bone for their church or group. But all this is in ignorance to the righteousness of God. In the Jews case, they were: WILLFULLY IGNORANT The proper rendering is that they were ignoring God�s provision for righteousness. We have many today who are willfully ignoring God�s provision for thier own personal agenda that they might appear to be righteous. SEEKING TO ESTABLISH Because of this ignorance, they were seeking, outwardly, to estab- lish their own version of righteousness which grew out of legalism and not God�s way. Likewise, today there are those who would deminish Christ and His perfect work by saying it is not enough. We have to do something ourselves in order to be approved of God. REFUSING TO SUBMIT By continuing to preach and teach their perverted doctrines, they were refusing to submit themselves to God and His way. Their very activity is direct disobedience to God. Paul tells Timothy about these in 1Tim.1:7, NIV, �They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.� In Roman 10:6-12 Paul shows us the simplicity of righteousness by faith and he quotes from the law in Deut. 30:12-14. God said, I have set before you life and blessings , death and cursings; therefore choose life. That life is in His Son. Remember too, the words of Moses in Deut.29:29, The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. BACK|HOME