A Note On The Law

Remember the following at all times when reading about the Law in the Old Testament:

Once the Lord Jesus Christ had died and rose from the dead, He fulfilled everything necessary for our salvation. We thus do not have to do anything related to the Old Testament laws relating to the old sacrificial system such as animal sacrifice, special dress etc. Christ did not however do away with the MORAL law. He referred to some of the ten commandments for instance. He referred to adultery in detail also.

While the death penalty is advocated for certain sins under the Law, we are now currently under the dispensation of grace where we can ask for forgiveness for our sins. Nevertheless, we must not expect to get away with sin. Laws made by the governing authorities must be obeyed by Christians except where they conflict with God's Word. Don't expect to just be forgiven for a serious crime such as murder, without paying the penalty:

Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

So, even though governments may be corrupt, being run by man, they are ordained by God. Without them we would have anarchy.

But remember, we NEED the Law, since it brings us to the realisation of our sin, and thus brings us to Christ:

Rom 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Gal 3:19  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.

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [see here for a brief explanation of "schoolmaster"] to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Remember : Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

What then is the Spiritual Law we must fulfil?

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

So, while we are no longer under the Law, we must live by the Spirit as Jesus did. We then should not lie, steal, murder etc. and will obey the Moral Law which has never been done away with.

 

Back