Put the Law to Rest

I am amazed as I traverse the many Christian websites and listen to the television evangelist just how little they seem to understand about the laws given by GOD. The laws were given for a specific reason. The laws were not meant to save us, but to teach us. In this article I will attempt to explain just what the laws were for and just how they apply to us today.

I have noticed that evangelist like to quote Jesus directly, but they do not quote him in the entirety of the context of which he was speaking. They use these passages to try to make people believe that they are under the law and must keep them in order to be saved. Let me tell you right off that I myself have believed that same ideology as well and it does not make you inept, or stupid if you have fallen into that trap as well. It simply means that we did not discern the word of GOD and allowed men to interpret it for us. This is the most dangerous thing anyone can do. Believe me I don't want you to take my word for anything. Please research it yourself and if you do, I think you will find the rewards far outweigh anything you can imagine.

The most common verse quoted by those that favor the law is, "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." (Mathew 5:18) Ok, I have to admit with just this verse alone and at face value; it is easy to see why people would believe that we must follow the law. Not so fast, remember it says until all be fulfilled. What must be fulfilled? I believe that it is obvious that since Jesus is talking about the law then it is the law that must be fulfilled.

Well let's look at the verse that precedes this one. The verse is as follows, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Mathew 5:17) Now let's ask ourselves this question. What did Jesus say he came to do? He came to fulfill the law. So, we have Jesus saying that nothing shall pass from the law until it is fulfilled and he has come to fulfill it. We must now consider how the law can be fulfilled. A man would have to live by the law and not break even the smallest of the commandments from the time he is of the age of accountability until death.

We are told in Hebrews that, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."(Hebrews 4:15) So we know that Jesus lived as a man and was tempted as any man is yet he did not sin. This simply tells us that Jesus did in fact fulfill the law. So we must consider what the law was for in the first place. We will soon discover that because Paul gives us the answer.

In Galatians it is stated that, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24) We must consider the following verse as well to complete the idea, "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3:25) Interesting the law was to bring us to Christ and after we had come to faith, we are no longer under the law. But we still don't understand how that works exactly. We must consider that no man can be justified through the law as stated in this verse, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20) This seems to be saying that if a man follows the law he will still not be justified.

So what hope is there for anyone then? This is how the law worked, there is no man woman, or child, which can perform the law and never break even the least of the commandments. So by trying to keep the law you are supposed to realize that you cannot do it and that there is only one hope for you to be saved. That hope rests squarely on Jesus. See how it works the law kills you and then with mercy and grace Jesus saves you. So maybe you are asking then why do I need to worry about being good and trying to help others? Well, short answer because you are still accountable and if you are not willing to do that which is right you should be asking yourself if you are really doing what GOD intended.

We sometimes forget that Gospel means "The Good News." How can it be good news if you find out that, you can only be saved by keeping the law and that there is no one that will be justified by the law? That is why it is such good news because we have a Savior, which justifies us for believing in him. If nothing else remember this verse, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12) That is the good news, as a matter of fact that is the greatest news ever given. This is the reason we are so happy and excited.

So, do not feel as though you must conform to what men would tell you how you should be, but instead let GOD be your guide. Pray always and ask for his guidance. If you ask, GOD will do it because he did not die for you and ask you to trust in him just so he could let you down. Remember GOD knows better what you need than you do, so don't be disappointed if things don't go the way you think they should.