By Asher Eagle
For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. (Romans 4:15)
The law exposes to us that our own attempts at righteousness and holiness are as filthy rags. Every single person is measured by the same standard, perfection
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:8)
All of us fall short of this impossible standard that only Jesus could fulfill. He fulfilled it for us and He freely glorifies, sanctifies, makes righteous and perfects those who believe in Him. His perfection is now our perfection through our faith in Him! Christ is the end of the law for all who believe. The law is fulfilled in us who put our faith in Jesus Christ.
The law brings the knowledge of sin and causes people to shrink back in shame. The law of Moses drove Jesus to the cross. It is called the ministry of death, ministry of condemnation and the law of sin and death (2 Corinthians 3). The law is necessary for the crucifixion.
who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6)
Paul told us that He is always carrying the death of Jesus in the body so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in the body. He was teaching us that every day we have a choice whether to rely on ourselves or on the Holy Spirit. We have a choice every day to walk in the Spirit and every time we are tempted to come back under the law we can realize that the law is already fulfilled in us. We can then let the purpose of the law take its course. We can look fully at the law and realize that we can never ever keep it and thus give up our attempts at keeping it right then and there and turn back to Jesus. Jesus put it this way,
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)
Paul reiterates that it is through the law that we die to the law and are crucified with Christ. We take up our cross, that is the cross of Jesus Christ for of course we don’t have to die on the cross for He did it for us. Here is how Paul defined taking up our crosses,
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:19-21)
When we believe in Jesus, we are co-crucified with Christ. His death becomes our death and we never have to die again.
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; (2 Corinthians 5:14)
We die to our own self effort. We die to the old creation.We die to sin. We die to the law. We die to the fear of man and everything that tries to keep the world in bondage. We become a brand new creation and learn to walk in eternal life and in the power of the resurrection.
The law demands justice. The law demands punishment for sin. The law demands the shedding of blood.
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22)
The Law is the ministry of condemnation. those who put their hope in the law are condemned by the law as Jesus told the pharisees.
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. John 5:45
The law condemns the entire human race to death, because all who are under the law have to keep the entirety of the law. Anyone who breaks even one commandment is guilty of transgressing the entirety of the law and is therefore condemned under the law to die. The great news is that Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law! We are no longer condemned to die because Jesus died in our place, and redeemed us from the curse of the law and from the curse of sin!
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)
As Sons and daughters of God, we are no longer under the law nor should we attempt to keep it. We are called to walk day by day in relationship with the Holy Spirit. The law is not for us to live by. The law is not our guide. We are called to live by faith in Jesus Christ, and come out from under the curse of the law.
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:10-14
So today, come into the death of Jesus Christ so that His life may be manifest in your life. Come out from under your own self effort. Come out from the Law of sin and death and turn to Jesus Christ. Ask Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide you and teach you all things. Come and receive eternal life!
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