Matt. 5:17-18 says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled.” Mosaic Law teachers try and convince the Biblically illiterate that these verses mean the Law of Moses is still in force today (at least to some degree) on the Christian. Nothing could be further from the truth. Though we are commanded to avoid foolish questions and strivings about the Law because they are unprofitable and vain (Titus 3:9), it seems it’s always coming back up again. Those that want to teach the Law know not what they say or what they affirm (1Tim 1:7). They don’t truly hear the Law - they hear what they want to hear (Gal 4:21).

Whether or not a Christian - especially a Gentile Christian - has to keep the Law, was forever settled in the first Church counsel at Jerusalem in Acts 15. Specifically, in vs. 24, the Apostles reassured that they never gave commandment that a Christian had to keep the Law whatsoever. Why, after 2,000 years, is this still a debate? The Law came by Moses, but grace and truth is what Jesus brought (Jn 1:17). Jesus is the end of the Law for righteousness to all who believe (Rom 10:4). The Law has been abolished (Eph 2:15); taken out of the way, and nailed to the cross (Col 2:14). Through Christ, we are delivered from the Law (Rom 7:6).

Why was the Law abolished? Because it made nothing perfect (Heb 7:19). Because it was only types and shadows of Jesus, and not the real thing (Heb 10:1, Jn 5:39-40). Because it was weak, unprofitable, and beggarly (Heb 7:18, Gal 4:9, Rom 8:2-4). Why was it weak? Because it only brought the knowledge of sin (Rom 3:20), and not the solution. The Law doesn’t help you keep God’s perfect standard; it just tells you what it is. That’s why it kills (2Cor 3:6).

The Law ministers death and condemnation (2Cor 3:7-9). It works wrath (Rom 4:15). It actually strengthens sin (1Cor 15:56). It imputes sin (Rom 5:13). It gave sin dominion over us (Rom 6:14). It entered so sin would abound (Rom 5:20), and become exceedingly sinful (Rom 7:13). Before the Law, your conscience would convict you of right or wrong. The problem is, sinful man will excuse his conscience, seer it, and make allowances. The Law stopped all that, and the world became guilty (Rom 3:19). Although the Law was only given to the nation of Israel, yet, because it was in the world now, it made us all guilty. Thou shalt and thou shalt not, now left no room for personal preference or interpretation. The Law doesn’t bend, flex, or care about your good intentions. It is what it is, and must be kept completely, or not at all (Jam 2:10, Gal 3:10). It does not grade on a curve!

Christian legalist are always “half-law” keepers. None of them keep the entire Mosaic Law, but they boast in the little bit they do keep. The problem is, the Mosaic Law was a unit. It was an entire package. You couldn’t leave out aspects you didn’t like - like Judaizers do today. You keep it all, or you fail. Our best effort to keep the Law will always result in miserable failure! I’ll just keep believing on Jesus!

The Law is only a vehicle to drive us to Christ (Gal 3:9-29). Once it has brought us to Christ, it has done its job. Why hug and kiss a picture of your wife, when she is standing right next to you? It was only a picture of Jesus! Jesus has come! The Law is fulfilled! Remember Matt. 5:17-18? It was fulfilled by Jesus on the cross (Jn 19:30, Col 2:10). Jesus clearly stated this is Luke 24:44.

The Law has absolutely nothing to do with our justification (right standing) with God (Gal 2:16, Rom 3:28, Act 13:39). The Law could never make us righteous. It could never make us acceptable with God. The purpose of the Law now is to open the eyes of the self righteous and sinner to their hopeless state, and show them their need for The Savior. That is the lawful use of the Law (1Tim 1:8-9).

The Christian is not under the Law of Moses, but he is not without law - or lawless. He lives under the Law of Christ (1Cor 9:21). The Law of Liberty (Jam 1:25). The Royal Law (Jam 2:8). The Law of The Spirit (Rom 8:2). The Law of Love (Rom 13:8, 10; Gal 5:14). This is New Testament law. They are not a set of rules, regulations, ordinances, and ceremonies to perform to be righteous with God. New Testament law is the fruit of the Spirit flowing out of the new creation in Christ. Who The Son makes free, is free indeed. Praise be to God. Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!