This is part 2 of this series and I want to focus on the fact that there is only one aspect in which the law has a place in a loving relationship. And that was only for Israel during the time between Moses and Jesus. And at no other time is there a place for the law in our loving relationship with God.
The law works wrath Paul said. While the love of God does not impute sin. See the difference? Let me try to show you what I mean by using an illustration Paul gave in Rom.4 to express this fact.
Paul wrote in Rom.4 saying, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”
This was Paul’s way of saying that even though Israel was given the law, and they were blessed or cursed based upon their keeping of it, righteousness that is a relationship with God would never be attained by its keeping. And quoting David Paul says here that the righteousness wherein sin is not imputed is a blessing reserved only for those who do only seek righteousness by faith without works.
As Isaiah, who Paul also loved to quote in regard to righteousness also said, that Israel’s righteousness, that which they tried to achieve through blameless law keeping, was filthy rags. So why then the law? Does it confuse you that God gave Israel the law when we see David saying that the righteousness that is by faith without works is where the real blessing is?
As we hear more from Paul we see him giving an answer to this very question in Gal.3:19. He asks the question this way saying, “Wherefore then serveth the law?” And his answer may surprise you. He says “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.”
He asks what the purpose of the law was. And then proceeds with the answer, while at the same time giving the timing for its passing. He says its purpose will be finished, like when Jesus said on the cross “It is finished”, when “the seed comes to whom the promise was made.”
A question that needs to be asked is why would Paul say “till the seed should come”? Why till then? Does this mean there will be no more transgressing after the seed should come? No it does not.
It means that there will no longer be a need for the law after the seed should come. Why? Because as we see Paul saying in Rom.4:15, “Where there is no law there is no transgression.”
Think about what Paul is trying to relate to us here. And also try to understand what Paul is saying when he tells us there is a time when there is no law. What time could that be? We see clearly in Rom.5:12-14 that Paul is referring to the time before the law was given to Israel through Moses.
But, we also see that this is a reference to all time for the rest of the nations. Because the rest of the nations, what is many times referred to as gentiles, were never given the law. Making it impossible for them to ever be held accountable by God for its keeping.
For these, and for all people before the law was given to Israel through Moses, God considered them not to have ever transgressed the law. Let that sink in. No transgression because there was no law. While everything the churches have ever taught about sin hinges on the idea that all have transgressed the law. And are held accountable by God for breaking it.
Yet Paul says here that only those who are under the law can transgress it. But, that without the law there is no transgression. So that the only people who have ever been able to transgress the law, and were held to account by God for its transgression, is Israel after Moses and before Jesus came.
This is why Paul writes in Gal.3:19 as we saw above that “the law was added because of transgression.” But, that transgression will be done away with after the seed should come to whom the promise was made. Because there is no more need for the law.
So how, you are probably asking, is God to judge the world without the standard of the law to point out transgression? I’m glad you asked. It’s a question only asked by those whose only definition of sin comes by the law. The answer. He judges the world by it’s love. Do you love Jesus or are you indifferent to Him, or even hate Him?
I had some friends that once welcomed me so much that they told me their house was my house. But, when I told them the truth about Jesus’ love it was such a contradiction with what they believed they have now shunned me. Saying I am a false teacher and a heretic.
And to their way of thinking I am. Because they believe Augustine, Luther, and Calvin that taught babies who die without being baptized go to hell because God predestined them for hell. Otherwise they would not have died before being baptized. This the result of their belief in the doctrine of original sin and sin nature carried out to its logical conclusion.
I pray for them whenever I think of them. Just as I would any other unbeliever. Because to believe such a thing about Jesus is a sign that they neither know Him or His love. And in John17:3 Jesus said it is knowing Him that is eternal life. Also remember that Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
So… when you next go to church or are having fellowship with friends, if they tell you any of these things what they are showing you is that they do not have a clue what the law is for.
If they tell you that Adam was punished for his sin then they are teaching you are under the law.
If they tell you that all men are punished for Adam’s sin then they are teaching you that you are under the law.
If they tell you that God killed animals and gave Adam and Eve their skins to cover their sin they are teaching you that you are under the law.
If they tell you that Eve was cursed for her sin then they are teaching you that you are under the law.
If they tell you that Adam was separated from God because he sinned then they are teaching you that you are under the law.
If they tell you that the reason Jesus came was to pay the penalty for sin in your place they are teaching you that you are under the law.
If they tell you that the Bible says there is a moral law as well as a written law that all men are accountable to they teaching you that you under the law.
If they tell you that people go to hell for breaking God’s law or a moral law they are teaching you that you under the law.
If they tell you that all sin is the same they are teaching you that you are under the law.
If they tell you that Adam and Eve covered themselves with leaves because they were ashamed of their nakedness they are teaching you that you are under the law.
If they tell you that Adam hid from God because he was ashamed after he sinned they are teaching you that you are under the law.
And to set aside other false teachings that bring the strong delusion Paul spoke of in 2Thes.2,
If they tell you that Adam and Eve tried to pass blame to someone else for their sins they are teaching the strong delusion.
If they tell you that Adam’s flesh was in any way different from yours they are teaching the strong delusion.
If they tell you that Jesus’ flesh was in any way different than yours they are teaching the strong delusion.
If they tell you that all men inherited a sin nature from Adam they are teaching the strong delusion.
So to answer the question I asked in the title of this message it should be clear now that the only time the law has any place in a loving relationship is when it was needed to keep Israel from destroying themselves. To ensure there was a bloodline through which to whom the promise was made should come.
And in the case of the rest of mankind Paul says it is for civil gov’t only. To punish evil behavior and reward good behavior. And that it would only be used for that reason. Reminding us in 1Tim.1 that there has never been a law for the righteous man. But, only love.
And that in Israel’s case to be done away with and abolished when its purpose has been served. Leaving only the promise of Abraham that was there 430 years before the law was given. To make them that are in covenant with God righteous by the same faith Abraham was righteous. While at the same time keeping them as a people through whose bloodline messiah could come.
Love and the law is an interesting combination. Law being works. While love is about relationship brought about by believing apart from works. This is the picture Paul painted for us in all his epistles. Showing us that while it was necessary for God to use the law to ensure Israel’s survival. It would ultimately depend upon believing apart from the law that eternal life through a loving relationship with God would be possible.
The law being done away with when Jesus said “It is finished”. Making the way for Israel to be delivered from the law so she could bring forth fruit unto God. And for the rest of mankind to leave their idols to know and love the true and living God.
This was Paul’s message when he said, “11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
To make God’s plan a reality for you a choice is to be made. You must confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. And believe in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. By this you are made righteous. And by this you are saved.
Do this and you will have eternal life. Do this and a spirit will be created in you that was never there before. One that makes it possible for you to worship God. Because it can only be done in spirit and in truth. The natural man that all men are since Adam was made can not worship Him. Do this and you will be a child of God and heir to His kingdom. Do this… and I will see you there or in the air!
