The Law and Faith in Christ

Dear fellow Christian,

"Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the Law of Moses?

Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law?

Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:2-14)."

I love God's grace! Why? Because it has freedom attached to it. Freedom from what? It's freedom from the Law, which attaches all kinds of burdens, rules, regulations, ordinances and principles.

Let me ask, are you saved by obeying principles from the Old Testament? Are you made righteous by observing and following the Ten Commandments? Where you saved by doing good deeds? Can you earn salvation?

No, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it (Ephesians 2:8-9)."

You know, it really bugs me when other Christians say that the Law is NOT abolished. If its not, then why don't you kill disobedient children and Sabbath-breakers like the Law required? Do you not wear shirts of two different fabrics and avoid ham like the Law required? Hypocrite!

Didn't you know that "Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands?" ~ Leviticus 18:5

These Christians, who are just simply misinformed and whom I dearly love, will quote from Matthew 5:17 which has Jesus saying "Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose (NLT)."

Jesus even stated himself that he would do this! In Luke 13:32 and in response to the threat of death from Herod Antipas, Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose (NLT)."

Well, what was the purpose of Jesus coming to earth? "According to Galatians 4:4, Jesus was born under the Law in order to redeem those Hebrews who were under the Law. When Jesus totally fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law, he set it aside and replaced it with Himself as God's standard of righteousness (Romans 3:21; John 16:8-9; 2 Cor 3:18 and Heb 7:12-18)." ~ (http://russkellyphd.blogspot.com/)

Even the Apostle Paul confirms this when he said, "The longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God (Romans 10:1-4, NLT)."

Is your zeal for God misdirected? Let me reiterate this point.

Romans 10:4 - "For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given (NLT)."

The NKJV says it this way:

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."

My friend, the Mosaic Law is over, done with, obsolete, not used any more, superseded by something newer, no longer in use and has ended!

Hebrews 8:13 - "When God speaks of a “new” covenant; it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear (NLT)."

No, observing the Law is not the way or the life. Consequently, the Holy Mosaic Law brings a curse and death for anyone who trys to make themselves right by following it. No, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6, NLT)."

"There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law." ~ Romans 3:30-31, NLT

The Law, Luther and Love

Galatians 3:19-25 “Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham.

Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. (NLT).”

Subsequently, it was the “Law” that was our guardian (tutor, or schoolmaster). It was not a principle, a code, belief, attitude, opinion, value, or standard that was our educator; but it was the Mosaic Law. The Easton’s Bible Dictionary says that the word schoolmaster “does not mean teacher, but pedagogue (shortened into the modern page), i.e., one who was entrusted with the supervision of a family, taking them to and from the school, being responsible for their safety and manners. Hence the pedagogue was stern and severe in his discipline. Thus the law was a pedagogue to the Jews, with a view to Christ, i.e., to prepare for faith in Christ by producing convictions of guilt and helplessness. The office of the pedagogue ceased when "faith came", i.e., the object of that faith, the seed, which is Christ.”

Consequently, the Law “was added because of transgressions, till the Seed [Jesus] should come (vs. 19-20). The Law was not against the promises of God, but served to confine all under sin until the promise by faith in Jesus could be given to those who believe (vs. 21-23). The Law served as a tutor, leading people to Christ, where they could be justified by faith and eliminating the need for a tutor (vs. 24-25).” ~ (http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/ga/ga_03.htm) Thus, there we have it. The Law is finished in Christ who fulfilled the Law by love!

Think about it. What things are you still doing that were instituted under the Mosaic Law? Are you Spirit-led or just being a good person and doing good deeds because you think that you are supposed to? If it was instituted during the Mosaic Law, then it is over. If you are a Christian, you should be Spirit-led and be obedient to what the Spirit tells you (“For we walk by faith; not by sight“ ~ 2 Cor. 5:7).” I know what I need to do; I am in Christ and have the mind of Christ. Why would I want to go back to the Law that condemns me?

Concerning the Mosaic Law, the great reformer and theologian Martin Luther said:

“The Law is a mirror to show a person what he is like, a sinner who is guilty of death, and worthy of everlasting punishment. What is this bruising and beating by the hand of the Law to accomplish? This, that we may find the way to grace. The Law is an usher to lead the way to grace. God is the God of the humble, the miserable, the afflicted. It is His nature to exalt the humble, to comfort the sorrowing, to heal the broken-hearted, to justify the sinners, and to save the condemned. The fatuous idea that a person can be holy by himself denies God the pleasure of saving sinners. God must therefore first take the sledge-hammer of the Law in His fists and smash the beast of self-righteousness and its brood of self-confidence, self-wisdom, self-righteousness, and self-help. When the conscience has been thoroughly frightened by the Law it welcomes the Gospel of grace with its message of a Savior who came into the world, not to break the bruised reed, nor to quench the smoking flax, but to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, and to grant forgiveness of sins to all the captives."

"As long as a person thinks he is right he is going to be incomprehensibly proud and presumptuous. He is going to hate God, despise His grace and mercy, and ignore the promises in Christ. The Gospel of the free forgiveness of sins through Christ will never appeal to the self-righteous."

"Man's folly, however, is so prodigious that instead of embracing the message of grace with its guarantee of the forgiveness of sin for Christ's sake, man finds himself more laws to satisfy his conscience. "If I live," says he, "I will mend my life. I will do this, I will do that." Man, if you don't do the very opposite, if you don't send Moses with the Law back to Mount Sinai and take the hand of Christ, pierced for your sins, you will never be saved."

"When the Law drives you to the point of despair, let it drive you a little farther, let it drive you straight into the arms of Jesus who says: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Therefore, only in this sense, the Law and the Spirit-led are in conflict. The Law commands and condemns; the Spirit leads and gives life.

Romans 8:3-4 “The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit (NLT).”

Now, knowing all this; please allow me to ask you a question:

“What is responsible for teaching God’s children how to give? Is it by the Law or is it by grace, faith or the Holy Spirit?

Specifically concerning giving, the apostle Paul says, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ (NLT, 2 Cor. 9:7, 13).” If I lived under and obeyed the Law, wouldn’t it be in response to pressure that I would give? How can I give cheerfully knowing that I am under the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:10)? Why should I keep reminding myself that I am a sinner under the Mosaic Law by continuing to obey it? I already know that I am sinner and Jesus has redeemed me and washed me clean!

Why did this specific church give? It was because “they did it of their own free will (NLT, 2 Cor. 8:3).” Paul’s advice on giving is that we should “give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality (NLT, 2 Cor. 8:11-13).”

So, why are these Christian giving in the 1st century church? Is it because they were commanded to give by the Mosaic Law? No, Paul says that concerning giving, “I am not commanding you to do this (NLT, 2 Cor. 8:8).” Accordingly, why did this particular church give? Paul said the reason they gave to the needs of other churches was because he was “testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches (NLT, 2 Cor. 8:8).” Thus, it is by “love” we are motivated to give and love comes from God; for God is love. Furthermore, “if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us (NLT, 1 John 4:12-13).”

Jesus is our model of what true love is. As the voice of truth, Jesus said “When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do- blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. When you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you (NLT, Matthew 6:3,4).”

The obvious conclusion is that the Law is not the instructor responsible for teaching God’s children how to give. It is His Law Spirit that is responsible for guiding and leading us to give in love, and it is our responsibility as Christians to listen and obey God. For the love of Christ, give!