Christianity 101 - There is No More Law

This is probably one of the most hotly debated subjects in Christianity. It is sad to have to keep writing on the subject of the law. However, as long as Christian leaders continue to teach their followers that they must follow the law, then there must be those that will set the record straight and strengthen the faith of the elect. As always we must go to the Scriptures to determine the truth, so that we do not teach anyone a false doctrine.

First, let us look at why the laws were given and to whom. The laws of God were given to Israel and this includes all twelve tribes. Some of the laws were given before the Exodus, to Abraham in order to establish covenants between the Hebrews and God. Others were given to the Hebrews at the time of the Exodus and were the ideals that would ensure their safety and the longevity of the Hebrew people, as well as setting forth good guidelines by which the people should live.

No law was given that did not serve a particular plan of God. These laws are good and there is no fault in them. Some would keep the people healthy by determining their diet and health standards. These laws actually served the Jewish people very well during the "Black Death." Very few Jews died during this time in history; however, there was an unfortunate result, in that it was interpreted by the people in the countries where the Jews dwelt, that they must have been responsible for the plague because they seem to be immune from its effects. The Jews were viciously attacked and murdered by the populaces of many of the countries affected by the plaque.

Throughout the generations of the Jews we find that it was not possible that they be able to keep all of the laws. Remember, if you are guilty in transgressing one small part of the law, then you are guilty of breaking all of the law. This was God's way of determining to the people that all sins are equally vile to the Lord. However, we judge according to the flesh, so we judge sin in degrees of severity. However, who are we that we should judge which sin is worse than another, this is why judgment is for God to determine.

At the time that Jesus started his ministry there were many religious leaders and they were broken into two camps, the Pharoses and the Sadducees. This had to be confusing to the people at the time because both camps had different beliefs as to how things were to be handled. It was Jesus that was to come and set the record straight and teach the people the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. But more than that, he came to convict everyone of sin and to fulfill the law, which no man had been able to do until his time.

At the time that Jesus was preaching and teaching the people, he was still subject to the laws, as were they. However, he was not subject to man's interpretation of the laws, but instead, to the Spirit of the law. Over the generations the religious leaders had added to the law and even interpreted it in a way so as to enslave the people and to use it for their own gain. This is why Jesus attacked the leaders of Jewry.

Once everyone was convicted of sin and the law had done its job, Jesus was then determined to fulfill the law. The fulfillment of the law was done when Jesus paid the ultimate price for our transgressions without having sinned. What happened next was we entered into a better covenant, which was that our sins should not be counted against us any more. Nevertheless, that covenant could not come into affect until the one making it was dead.

Therefore, when Christ died, the new covenant took effect and the old one was done. Once the law is fulfilled it is done and no one is subject to it anymore. What did God say concerning the law? In the book of Micah we read a promise given by God himself, and that is, "He will have compassion on us and cast our sins into the depths of the sea, never to be seen again." This takes effect when you come to the cross and acknowledge the Lordship of Christ Jesus. Further we have King David himself who understood the truth of Salvation and that is, "Blessed is he whose sin is covered and whose transgressions are not counted against him."

This is what Jesus came to do, and that is to cover the sins of as many as would believe on him and come to the cross for the remission of sins. In the book of Colossians we read that Christ nailed the law to the Cross. This is because the law goes against our very nature. We are rebellious and when we are told that we cannot do something, we tend to dwell on it and want even more to do it. However, where there is no law we tend to be freed from those lust because they are no longer exciting, and the Holy Spirit of God is free to work through us.

However, if there is no law all things are lawful, and as we read in 1^st Corinthians Paul tells us that "All things are lawful, but not all things are good for you." Keep in mind that "Whatsoever you sow, that shall you reap," but God is good in that he keeps his promise that whoever shall believe on the Son, not the law, has the Father.

Now some would like to mention the parts in the Bible where Paul states that no adulterer, liar, thief and the like will ever enter into Heaven. This is true, but they neglect to explain that if there is no law against these things then you are no longer subject to the convictions of these things and the blood of the Cross makes you a new creature in Christ. They tend to forget to mention the rest of the verse, where it states that you are no longer these things, because you believe in Christ Jesus.

It is God's wish that you depend entirely on him for your salvation and if it is by works that you think you will get into Heaven than you are not trusting in God, but by your own efforts. The secret of Grace is that it is given to them that are not worthy of it and that is what God has determined as he way to Salvation.

Man has a way of trying to determine the logical explanations as to how we are saved, and that is to do good things and work hard to earn it. However, God has determined that the cross is the way in which we will be saved, and that is why many men consider it foolishness, just as the Bible states in the book of 1^st Corinthians.

Remember always, never let any man put you under the law. The law is a curse which only leads to death and despair. The law only serves to cause disbelief in the saving grace of God and the sacrifice which was made by Christ Jesus on the Cross. This is what is meant by treating the sacrifice of Christ as an unclean thing. Come to the Cross for Salvation, not the law.

Citations

The Holy Bible (King James Version)

Genesis 17:3

Exodus 15:26

1^st Corinthians 6:12

Colossians 2:14

Mathew 16:12

Mathew 13:11

Mathew 5:18

Luke 24:44

Hebrews 8:6

Hebrews 12:24

Ephesians 2:15 -16

1^st Corinthians 1:18

Sources

Jewish History Sourcebook: The Black Death and the Jews 1348-1349 CEhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/jewish/1348-jewsblackdeath.html