What are Christians supposed to do with the law? It’s a statement of fact, we are no longer under the law. It’s a statement of fact that we are under grace. But what does that mean? Romans 6 tells us we are not to use grace as a way to serve sin. For the Christian, the law of God cannot condemn us (Romans 8:1) nor can the law cannot save us (Romans 3:28). As human beings, we are born with the imputed guilt of Adam’s sin (Romans 5). Born, under the law, born in sin, born owing a debt to God’s justice. We cannot earn salvation with the law, and we are justly condemned for our sins by the law. In Christ, we are freely justified by faith in the propitiatory work of Christ and faith in his blood. We are justified, having full and free forgiveness of our sins and the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:25-26).
We are no longer in Adam, but in Christ. We have righteousness in His obedience to the law imputed to us and by His righteousness, God has declared us justified unto life (Romans 5:18). The law came so that we would see the sinfulness of sin, and the more we see our sin, the more we come to Christ. The law shows us how bad we truly are and God's grace abounds in our minds when we see the depth of our depravity. But that doesn’t mean the Christian keeps on sinning and is free to break God’s law. The moral law of God doesn’t change. Our relationship to God’s moral law changes.
Sin is the transgression of the law. The Christian is not to live in sin. But, in Christ, we have been justified. We are declared righteous. We have the righteousness of Christ, and we are not only free from sin but we are counted as righteous in Christ. Jesus’ active obedience is mine and I’m a righteous person. In union with Christ, I died with him and now I live unto God with him. Therefore, I’m no longer “under” the law’s judgment. Apart from Christ, you are in your sin and already condemned. In Christ, I am free from condemnation and live, not under the condemnation of the law, but under the grace of God.
How then does someone take Romans 6 and come to the conclusion we can live in sin? “I’m no longer under the law, I’m in the law of Christ.” Amen. But what is the law of Christ and how does it differ from the Old Testament laws that concern our piety towards God, our love for our neighbor, and the regulation of our hearts?
As a Christian, I follow the law of Christ, which is the same, in substance and spirit as the law of the Old Testament. You may object to that and say, “I’m supposed to love my neighbor and God, I’m not supposed to follow the book of Leviticus.” Where in the Bible do you find that law to love your neighbor? Was Jesus the first to say that? If not, who was and where would you find it? It’s not as easy as saying “Old Testament bad. New Testament Good.” The same chapter, Leviticus 19, that tells us to love our neighbor is the same chapter that tells us not to wear garments of mixed fabric. The law of Christ is the same in substance and in matter in the Old Testament as it is in the New and you will find the law of Christ throughout the entire Scriptures. This law is agreeable to God and directs one to godliness, love toward our neighbor. God gave it to us as a rule of righteousness. It would be simple if there was one section that said, “Christian, do this and only this.”Then we could read it straight through and call it a day. But God wants his people to think about how they live and think about what God requires of us and to apply the truth. The legalistic spirit wants a list. Either a list to follow or a list to throw in the trash for the antinomian, but a list all the same.
It’s is God’s way, and a mercy to us, that we must be discerning people. To pray over matters, to search the Scriptures, and to mediate on God’s law day and night. That's walking in the Spirit.
The law doesn’t change, but your relationship to the law is based on your relationship to Christ. Thomas Boston said we should think of it this way, you don’t take the law from Moses hands. We don't take the law from God's hands apart from Christ. But we take the law from Christ. The Law remains the same, but our relationship to the law changes.
But what about mixed fabric and shellfish? God gave Israel laws that prefigured and pictured Jesus by type, ceremony, and worship. There were laws given to Israel to show the difference between God's people and to protect Israel from the idolatry of the heathens of the land. Laws to teach and remind the people of God they were a separate, sanctified people. In Christ and in the blessings of the New Covenant, the need for those elementary reminders are gone.
When you first start learning a stringed instrument like the violin or the cello, the teacher will put tape on the fingerboard so the student knows approximately where to place the fingers. There are no frets on a fiddle, so learning where to put your finger is challenging for the new student. But, as you advance in knowledge and ability, the tapes are not needed. To play the F note on a violin, the master and the student will put their fingers in the same spot on the string. But only the student needs the elementary guide and reminder.
When Jesus came, those laws are no longer necessary. Why celebrate the Passover when Christ delivered us from sin, and death, and died for our sins by shedding His blood? Why go to an inferior priest, when Christ is our High Priest? Why offer blood sacrifices of bulls and goats, that never washed away sin, when Christ died once for all for sin forever? The Old Testament was a figure of the New, so it is no longer needed. Waking in the Spirit, in the blessing of the New Covenant is far supervisor than the laws of separation, though the principle is still the same.
Moses was a man under two covenants, Abraham's, and also, the covenant established in Exodus. However, God is of one purpose. God didn't change the covenant to Abraham and will not change. God also didn’t change when he gave the law to Moses. He's the same God in Genesis as He is in Leviticus as He is in Galatians. Those covenants were not antagonistic. The nation of Israel was put under the tutelage of a strict ruler (the law), to both keep them and to point them to the coming Christ. But once Christ came, the vehicle of the Old Covenant that bring us to Christ was no longer needed. The Old Covenant was a servant to take God's covenant people from Abraham to Christ. It would be like if I bought a car and drove across country to see the Pacific Ocean, and the proceed to sit in the car, with its luxurious seating and "fine Corinthian Leather" for 40+ hours, arrive at the beach, then be content to stay in the car and smell the breeze of the salt air, but never go to the water. I’d be crazy to rejoice in the car. The car brought me to the ocean, but it wasn’t the point of the trip. There is nothing wrong with the car. In fact, the car is good and I would recommend it to everyone because it served its purpose.
To remain in the Old Covenant is to view the means as the end. In Christ, God's children walk in the Spirit, not under the law. Now, we get to the crux of the issue. Which Old Testament Laws would the Holy Spirit tell you to break? Which law are you comfortable breaking in the name of Christ? Which of Christ’s laws will you break in Heaven? Will you take the Lord's name in vain in Heaven? Will you build an altar to Beelzebub? If the law has nothing to say to the Christian, what do we make of this? Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
I can eat shellfish because I have Acts 10. I can wear mixed fabric because I have Acts 15. I can understand Sunday because I have Matthew 12. The New Testament shows me what was designed to lead to Christ and what was a law designed to show me sin and holiness. There were also laws given to the country of Israel, to rule the people. Since we don't live in ancient Israel, the laws of that country do not apply, though we can still see what pleases and displeases God in those laws. During the virus restrictions, the law of New York doesn't apply to me in West Virginia. In fact, our government has made restrictions by county. So the restrictions at my house are different than if I drive a mile down the road and cross the county line. Civil laws of any nation apply to it's citizenry.
Ancient Israel was a theocracy. We expect the civil laws to reflect God's holiness. Exodus 22:18, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” That’s a civil law for the nation of that time, not for me. But, what does that tell me God thinks of witchcraft? Do you think God is pleased with witchcraft today? Many of my more liberal minded brethren will wax poetic about illegal immigration, and feel free to quote a few verses down. Exodus 22:21-22, “Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child” (It's funny to me that these same men scoff at people for praying and believing 2 Chronicles 7:14). Do we throw out the widows and orphans because it’s in the same chapter as Exodus 22:26, “If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down.”
I’m not under the law. I've never taken my friends Carhartt jacket as collateral. But, should I not pay back my neighbor if I borrow something from him, and should I not be generous to him? Should I steal from orphans and not care for widows because I'm no longer under the law? Should I join a Wiccan coven? Here’s another question I won’t provide the answer to. Is it wrong for a man to dress like a woman? Does the Bible forbid it and if so, where? I believe we should read the Bible like Paul, who said that we are not under the law, but also said, in Timothy 5:18, "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward." Paul quotes Luke and Deuteronomy to show the principle of paying your pastor. He didn't take it out of context. He didn't twist the scripture. He used his mind and applied the principle of the law.
Take tithing for example. Christians are to give to God. Christian are to give unto God through the church (2 Corinthians 9:6-15). How much? What amount should I give unto Christ? The principle of giving in scripture is a tenth. Abraham, 400+ years before the law was given, tithed to Melchisedec 10%. This tithe was continued in the Old Covenant, and different amounts were for different purpose. They brought their tithes to the Levite Priests. After the priesthood of Aaron ended, God’s people are still to give, right? Muzzling the ox and etc. Do God’s people have to tithe? No, you are free to give much more than 10%. Is giving God a tenth of what he has given you a burden? Is counting every penny to the last red cent a way to be a cheerful giver? Does the law of Christ free us to be less giving than our Old Testament brethren?
The remainder of the laws reveal to us our sinfulness and God's holiness and how we are to live in our desire for living under grace. If we use the law to gain favor with God, or to try and earn with God we are wrong. If we use the law to show us what is pleasing and unpleasing to God, then we use the law, lawfully.
I’m not free TO sin, but free from sin’s dominion. I am not under the law, that I must earn favor with God, but I’m under grace that I am justified and have Christ’s righteousness.
But, does that mean, that since I’m united to Christ, by faith, I am free to live under the domain of sin? Does that mean that I take my body and use it as instruments of Sin? Of course not I'm not under the law. I'm under God's amazing grace. I'm free to serve righteousness unto holiness.
(1) I'm preaching through Romans on Wednesday night and made it to Romans 6 last Wednesday. I was also asked a question of Facebook by a dear brother in Christ about the Old Testament law, in a post under a sermon I preached. Since I'm not on Facebook, and my long-suffering wife explained a 2,000 word essay was probably too long for a post, I'll leave my answer here.
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