The Christian and Biblical Law

One frequently misunderstood aspect for many Christians today is that of the Christian’s relationship to the Old Testament Law.  Some want to insist we have to follow the Old Testament Law exactly.  Like the Pharisees, they are concerned with keeping even the tiniest detail.  If they are correct, their concern is justified, according to Galatians 3:10.  “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”  Many people want to focus on some of the law while ignoring other parts.  James 2:10-11 makes it very clear that this is unacceptable.  “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  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.”

For sinful human beings, keeping the law completely becomes an unbearable burden.  Despite their best efforts, they constantly mess up.  Fortunately, as Christians, we no longer under that burden.  Romans 8:2 tells us, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”  When we receive Christ as savior, he places his spirit in us, and as Galatians 5:18 tells us, “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” 

Knowing this, some have taken the position that the law is irrelevant in our day. In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  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.  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.  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” 

As long as this earth remains, the law will be in effect, and violations will be punished.  Only those who have been saved have been freed form punishment, and that only because as Romans 3:24-26 tells us, we are “… justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Galatians 3:19-25 explains the Christian’s relationship to the Law.  “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.  Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

When one graduates from school, he is no longer under the authority of the teachers, but the things they have taught do not change because he graduated. Two plus two still equals four, whether you are in kindergarten, or have a doctorate.   The law taught what was right, and getting saved does not change the standard.  It provides a guideline for how we should live, even though we will not get an “F” if we make a mistake.