Romans 2:12
There
are well-meaning people in the church who call on all to follow the
prescription of the laws given to Israel; these people make the keeping
of the law of Moses the standard for obtaining the righteousness of God.
By this, they are bringing people under the law from which Christ died
to deliver them. Romans 7:4. First, let us make clear that the law was
not given to make the doer righteous, because if there was a law given
that could make its doers right with God, Jesus would not have had any
need coming to die. Galatians 3:21.
The
law in its proper place shows man how terribly sinful he is and then
points him to his need for a Saviour. When, therefore, that which was
given to reveal sin, and make it abound (Romans 5:20) becomes our
instrument for making men righteous, there arises some confusion.
Unfortunately, this is the confusion into which many who have attempted
to attain righteousness by the keeping of the law have plunged
themselves. Seeking righteousness by the keeping of the law is a futile
pursuit.
When
the law succeeds in showing us that we are indeed sinners, and points
us to our need for a Saviour, then we can say that the law has finished
its course. Galatians 3:24 brings this truth out perfectly, “Wherefore,
the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we may be
justified.”
So
what do we do with the law after it leads us to the Saviour? Can we
continue to be under it after it has brought us to its designed end,
which is Christ? This is where the confusion lies; trying to be under
the law as well as being under grace. Romans 6:14 is clear that we are
not under the law but under grace. What this means is that those under
grace cease to rely on the keeping of the law for righteousness. The
letter of Paul to the church in Galatia was entirely focused on
correcting this error of trying to make better by the law what grace had
perfected.
Toni
