In our last
2 lessons we examined the role of
God's grace, our faith and
works. God's grace is His role in the redemption
plan of mankind and includes everything He did to accomplish the
salvation of man. Obviously there must be a response from
man in order for God's grace to work. If everything God
did to save man required no response then everybody who ever
lived would be saved irregardless of how they lived. Jesus
makes it clear that this is not the case in, Matthew 22:14, "For
many are called, but few are chosen."
The required
response to God's gracious offer of salvation is summed up in
God's word as "Faith", and as a comprehensive Biblical
term includes everything man does in response to God's grace.
Grace is God reaching down from Heaven to mankind with an offer
and a means of salvation. Faith is man reaching upwards to
God in realization of His doomed state in hope of God's grace.
Grace is God reaching down to man. Faith is man reaching
up to God.
Any response
whatsoever from mankind is a work. A work is defined as a
mental or physical action which produces a result. God's
grace and man's faith work together to produce a result.
Both grace and faith are works. Grace is the work of God.
Faith is the work of man. Human works, though necessary,
do not negate the need for God's grace or our faith. Both
grace and faith are indispensable to the salvation process and
both of them are works. Thus we rightfully conclude
that if works were not necessary, then salvation would be
possible without any response from man whatsoever. Jesus
makes it crystal clear in Matthew 7:21 that this is not the
case.
We also saw
that works cannot save us by circumventing God's grace or our
faith. Works cannot save us by repaying God what His grace
cost Him. Works cannot save us by compelling God to offer
His grace. God's grace is a gift freely offered completely
exclusive of man's works. Works cannot save us by earning,
paying for, or deserving salvation in any way. If works
could save us, we wouldn't need God's grace. In these
ways, works cannot save us, but faith is a work (1
Thessalonians 1:3,
2
Thessalonians 1:11), so even though there are some ways in
which works cannot save, they are necessary nonetheless.
So where
does God's law fit in to all of this? This is an important
question because there are those who claim Christ as savior and
make the claim that there is no law under the new covenant.
I have heard it said among some that the old covenant is 'law
and no grace' and the new covenant is 'grace and no law'.
The purpose of this lesson is to make an examination of God's
law and how it fits in with God's Grace and our Faith.
1.
What is law?
Law is a rule or
a set of rules, enforceable, regulating the behavior of those under
which it has authority. The short definition is a rule of
conduct.
2. Is there
law under the new
covenant?
There are
two laws spoken of in the new testament. The most common
one directly mentioned as law is in reference back to the law of
Moses. In Acts 13:39, Paul made a reference to the law of
Moses that is of particular relevance to this lesson. Paul
said, "And by him all that believe are justified from all
things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of
Moses." Paul made a reference here to the law of Moses
and in doing so he made a very important observation. The
law of Moses cannot justify anyone. The word justify means
to 'make just' or to declare one to be innocent. The
Hebrew writer further explains this in Hebrews 10:4, where he
wrote, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of
goats should take away sins." The animal sacrifices
under the law of Moses were incapable of taking away the sins of
the people. All they did was to accomplish what is
referred to as atonement. Atonement is another word for
appeasement. The animal sacrifices were only capable
of appeasing God's wrath for a period of time. The Hebrew
writer tells us when this time was in Hebrews 9:15, where we
read, "And for this cause he [Jesus Christ] is the
mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for
the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first
testament, they which are called might receive the promise
of eternal inheritance." Under the law of Moses, the
sins of the people were only atoned for until the death of
Christ on the cross at which time His blood then provided the
total and complete forgiveness of their sins.
In the first
century times, there was a lot of confusion and resistance from
several Jews who just wouldn't let go of the law of Moses.
A large portion of the new testament is devoted to explaining
the difference between the old and new covenant and it is vital
to our understanding of God's law that we rightly understand the
difference. Much religious error today comes from the
inability of some to distinguish between the law of Moses and
the law of God under the new covenant.
For example,
let's look at a particular verse which is contrasting the two
laws we find in scripture and from there, we will make some
observations and then build on this study of whether or not
there is new testament law.
Galatians
2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,
but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and
not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall
no flesh be justified." In the book of Galatians, Paul
dealt with Judaizers who had crept into the gentile churches and
were convincing them that they should follow after the law of
Moses. Paul's singular purpose for writing the letter to
the Galatians was
to correct this false teaching brought in by those who refused
to let go of the law of Moses and were bringing Christians back
under the old law of Moses.
So let's
take the text of Galatians 2:16 and for a moment, let's look at it from the
perspective that Paul is speaking from all the law of God in
general and not just the law of Moses. When Paul's statement in Galatians
2:16 is taken from its proper context, it can, and is, used to
set forth the belief that there is no law under the new
covenant. Those who want to go to heaven but
don't want to commit their lives to serving God acceptably convince
themselves that they are safe from God's condemnation based on the
misguided belief that the inabilities and inadequacies of the law of
Moses apply to all of the law of God in general. This belief
allows them to live any old way they want because they believe that
the new covenant release from the law of Moses releases us today
from our obligations to new covenant law.
So let's
deal with this issue first. Is there law under the new covenant?
To answer
this question, let's look at two very key verses. The
first is Romans 3:23 where Paul wrote, "For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God." There is no one
today who is accountable before God who has not sinned.
All have sinned and fallen short. Now in 1 John 3:4, we
learn that "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the
law: for sin is the transgression of the law." So if
there is no law at all under the new covenant and sin is a
transgression of law, then how is it that all have sinned?
What law was transgressed? For there to be a transgression
of law, there must be a law to transgress. We cannot break
a law where there is not one. If there's no law against speeding
then we can't break the speed limit. It is not possible to
transgress a law that does not exist. Indeed, in Romans
4:15, Paul wrote, "for where no law is, there is no
transgression."
Yes there is
law under the new covenant. So what is it called?
How do we know which law is being discussed when we see it
referenced in scripture?
In
referencing the new covenant law, Paul mentions this in Romans
8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Paul
is contrasting two laws found in each covenant here. We have the law of the
Spirit of life contrasted with the law of sin and death.
We already know from this lesson that the law of Moses was
incapable of the justification of anyone. The law of Moses
was not a law that, when kept, could permanently free anyone
from sin
and condemnation. It is obvious that the law of sin and
death is a reference to old covenant law. The law
of the Spirit of life is a reference to a law. The
word of God states that there
is a law that, when kept, frees us from the old covenant law of sin and
death. If there is no law under the new covenant,
then it is not possible to be made free from the old covenant
law. Yes there is law and in Romans 8:2 Paul called it the "the law of
the Spirit of life".
While
writing his inspired letter to the Galatian Christians, Paul
wrote in chapter 6 and verse 2, "Bear ye one another's
burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." This
reference to a law cannot be about the law of Moses. God
gave the law of Moses to Moses on Mount Sinai centuries before
Jesus Christ walked the earth. This was near the end
of a letter that Paul wrote that was dedicated solely to the
abolishment of the law of Moses and how it does no good to keep
it. Now he makes mention of a law he says we are supposed
to keep and he called it the law of Christ. We are not
required to keep the law of Moses, but we are required to
fulfill the law of Christ. If there were no law under the
new covenant, then there would be no law of Christ to fulfill.
So far have 2
references to new covenant law. Paul has called it the "law
of the spirit of life" and the "law of Christ".
In James
chapter 2 and verse 8 we see another reference to new covenant
law, "If ye fulfil
the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself, ye do well." James called this a
royal law. That cannot be a reference to the law of Moses
because Moses was never a king. So then who is the king
that James is talking about here? Paul answers that
question in 1 Timothy 6:14-15, "That thou keep this
commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of
our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is
the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of
lords." Jesus is our king under the new covenant so
the royal law can be nothing other than the law of Christ.
One must ask, if there is no new covenant law, then what are the
standards by which Jesus rules us? A king who reigns over
a people must do so with rules of behavior. We simply call
them law.
Paul called it
the "law of the spirit
of life" and the "law of Christ" and James
called it the "royal law".
James isn't
finished yet. He also made a reference to new covenant law a
few verses later in James 1:25, "But whoso looketh into the
perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed
in his deed." What is this liberty that James is speaking of
here? Those who believe and teach that there is not any law
under the new covenant will tell you that this law of liberty is
really freedom to live our lives free of any of the rules of conduct
required by God and found in scripture. Is this true?
We can put that to the test by reading what the text in the verse
says, "he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed." If the law of
liberty freed anyone from keeping God's law, then no one would have
to be a doer of the work in order to be blessed. Yes there is
law in the covenant and James says we must be a doer of the work of
this law of liberty. The law of liberty, liberates us from the
sins which the law of Moses could not accomplish. The law of
liberty does not liberate us from the need to obey God.
So far we we
have the:
1) "law of
the spirit of life", which Paul said would free us from the law
of sin and death.
2) "law
of Christ", which Paul commanded Christians to Fulfill.
3) "royal law",
which James commanded Christians to Fulfill. The result of this
fulfillment is love for their neighbors.
4) "and
the "law of liberty", which James commanded Christians to
continue in it and to do the work.
In Paul's first
letter to the Corinthians in chapter 9, verses 20 thru 21 we see one
of the most informative verses of all regarding the laws found in
each covenant.
1 Corinthians
9:20-21
"And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews;
to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain
them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not
without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain
them that are without law."
KJV
There is a
parenthetical statement in there which Paul threw in there to make
sure there was no misunderstanding. Paul say "being not
without law to God, but under the law to Christ". Another
way of saying that would be "though I am not free from God's law
but am under Christ's law" Paul made sure that the
Christians he was writing to understood that he was still living
under law. Paul was discussing various ways in which he
engaged in his evangelistic efforts to both Jews and Gentiles.
When trying to lead Jews living under the law of Moses to Christ, he
made himself appear as if he were living under that law in order to
get the opportunity to reach them with the truth. To those
Gentiles who did not live under the law of Moses, Paul says he made
it obvious that he was not living under the law of Moses.
And then Paul
made one of the most important statements in all of scripture
regarding the law under the new covenant. He said "being
not without law to God, but under the law to Christ", in other
words, "though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's
law". Paul declared to Christians that he and every
single person on earth, both Jew and Gentile were not living without
law. The law he was living under was the "law to Christ".
Of the laws Paul spoke of in this context, the law to Christ is the
one he is living under.
Concerning the
law of God, Paul wrote in Romans 8:7, "Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be." A carnal mind is a sinful mind. In
this context Paul was discussing the differences between those who
live with and without sinful minds. He says those who live
with sinful minds are not living in obedience to the law of God.
If there were no law under the new covenant, then it would not be
possible to live outside the law of God. There is law under
the new covenant and in this verse Paul called it the law of God.
So far we we
have the:
1) "law of
the spirit of life", which Paul said would free us from the law
of sin and death.
2) "law
of Christ", which Paul commanded Christians to Fulfill.
3) "royal
law", which James commanded Christians to Fulfill. The result of
this fulfillment is love for their neighbors.
4) "law
of liberty", which James commanded Christians to continue in it
and to do the work.
5) "law
to God" Which Paul says he is not living without.
6) "law
to Christ", which Paul says he is living under.
7) "law of
God", which Paul says evil minded people are not subject to.
In Hebrews
8:8-13 we learn a very important fact about the new covenant and
law.
Hebrews 8:8-13
"8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come,
saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of
Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in
the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of
Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded
them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of
Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into
their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a
God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man
his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the
least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins
and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now
that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."
There are a
number of points that can made from this context relative to our
lesson today.
There was going
to be a new covenant. And we know this new covenant is the new
testament under which all Christians live. But notice
carefully, that God says that this new covenant is going to have its
laws written on our hearts and in our minds. This new covenant
has laws. Being written on our hearts and minds means that
Christians are going to follow this law from the heart out of love
for God. Christians are going to follow the laws of the new
covenant from their own free will, because they love God and want to
obey Him. The new covenant which replaced the old covenant
came with laws.
And finally,
going back to James we see yet another reference to the law of
liberty he had mentioned earlier in James 1:25
James 2:9-12
"9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are
convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one
point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.
Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a
transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law
of liberty."
James is very
obviously not speaking about the law of Moses here. The
scriptures make it crystal clear that the law of Moses contained in
the old covenant has been replaced by the new covenant whose laws
govern us today. There are some important points we can take
from these scriptures. First, it is a transgression of God's
law under the new covenant to show favoritism. Verse 11 lists
adultery and murder as violations of new covenant law.
In Verse 10,
James writes, "For
whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he
is guilty of all." James lumps the entire new covenant law
up into one system. There is only one lawgiver, and only
one law. There are no transgressions of new covenant law that
are more or less grievous to God. Any one transgression
of any element of the law of Christ is a breach of the whole law
because it breaks fellowship with the object of our faith, God.
James is reiterating something Jesus said in Matthew 5:19, "Whosoever
therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall
teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven:
but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called
great in the kingdom of heaven." There is no such thing as
white lies or small sins. Any transgression of the law of
Christ is a trespass of the whole law.
Another very
important point we need to take from this context is found in verse
12, " So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the
law of liberty." The law of liberty James spoke of, is
going to be used to judge us in the end. In John 12:48 Jesus
tells us that we will be judged by the things He spoke, "He that
rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last
day."
Let's go back
over what we have so far...
1) "law of
the spirit of life", which Paul said would free us from the law
of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
2) "law
of Christ", which Paul commanded Christians to Fulfill.
(Galatians 6:2)
3) "royal
law", which James commanded Christians to Fulfill. The result of
this fulfillment is love for their neighbors. (James 2:8)
4) "law
of liberty", which James commanded Christians to continue in it
and to do the work of that law. Our liberty is the freedom
from sin, not a pass from obedience to God's law. ()James 1:25
5) "law
to God" Which Paul says he is not living without.
6) "law
to Christ", which Paul says he is living under. (1
Corinthians 9:21)
7) "law of
God", which Paul says evil minded people are not subject to but
should be. (Romans 8:7)
8) The
"New Covenant" will replace the old covenant and its laws will be
imprinted on our hearts Hebrews 8:8-13
9) The
"law of liberty" is transgressed by any violation of God's will.
(James 2:9-11)
10) The
"law of liberty" is going to be used to judge us. (James 2:12)
The word of God
teaches that there is most certainly law under the new covenant.
And this law can be broken, meaning we are to obey new covenant law
faithfully. And in the end, we are going to be judged by new
covenant law. In order for there to be any judgment, there
must be a standard or a set of rules by which we are judged.
Yes, there is law under the new covenant and we must live by that
law if we are to have any hope whatsoever of an eternal home in
heaven with God.
In our previous
two lessons on Faith, Grace and works, we established the need for
all of these things working together in order to provide man with a
means and method of salvation. Grace plus anything cannot be
grace alone. If grace we all that were required then everybody
on earth would be saved regardless of how they lived or how they
believed. It's by grace we are saved through faith so we know
that it can't be grace alone. We also cannot be saved by faith
alone because without grace all the faith in the world would be
useless to us. Works are a necessary component of faith,
therefore we cannot be saved by works alone either. It takes
all three of these things, grace, faith and obedience working
together.
Add to
these three things God's law under the new covenant. God's
grace provided us with a means and a hope of salvation. It's
not grace alone because man has to make a response to what God has
offered. Everything man does in his response can be
summed up as faith. Grace is God reaching down to man with
salvation. Faith is man reaching upward toward God in hope.
Works are everything we do by faith. God does not owe us
anything for them, they cannot save us by going around the blood of
Jesus Christ. And finally, the new covenant law is what we
have to do in order to live faithfully under the rule of Jesus
Christ our king. Grace gave us hope. Faith, working is
our response. Law is what directs how we are to live. If
we did not have God's law, we would not know what our response to
God's grace should be. Without God's law, we would not
know how he wants us to live.
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Matt 11:28-29 "Come unto me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls."
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