The Internal Righteousness of the

THE LAW

On Mount Sinai God gave Moses 2 tablets of stone, which contained the “Written Law,” the 10 commandments. God also gave to Moses what is known as the “Oral Law” consisting of 603 commandments which was also written down after he descended from the mountain. The 10 Commandments were written by the finger of God Himself, they were the first installment written on both sides of the tablets (not one sided as we see portrayed today). The functions of the Law were mediated by angels (messengers) from God, which number in total 613 commands that were given to Moses: They are broken up into three sections ceremonial, legal, moral for studying purposes only, not by any instruction found in Scripture.

THE LAW WAS MEDIATED BY ANGELS (messengers -603 Laws of the 613)

Acts 7:53: “you who received the law as ordained by angels, and {yet} did not keep it.”

Gal 3:19: “Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator (Moses), until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made.”

Heb 2:2: “For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense.”

Prior to Jesus’ Time period: The Tana -teacher (Tanaim-teachers) added more laws starting from 30 B.C -220 A.D. they built a fence around the law because they thought that there was too much space to break the Law of Moses and they wanted to protect the people from becoming guilty by breaking Gods law. They were chiefly concerned with the decisions about regulations. Besides the Mishna another collection of their comments is known as the 'Tosefta' (enlargement) which is not as significant.

The Mishna is called traditions of the fathers and the elders, this expounded upon the 613 commandments. This is what was challenged by Jesus as to be equally observed. The Pharisaic rabbis spent much time making additional practices on the Law. Those made in the first two centuries A.D. were compiled by Judah Hanasi about A.D. 200 to form what we now know as the Mishnah.

The Gemmorah (amor-singular ) (which is the written tradition) combined with the Mishna (Rabbinic writings concerning the Scriptures) became what is called today as the Talmud. This was the matter of contention between the Pharisees and Jesus, because He would not submit Himself to these laws of tradition for the reason that He knew that it was man- made and not God- given.

Scribes (Sopheim) (2nd generation of scribes) began their work in Ezra's time, approximately around 400 B.C. and ending in 30 B.C. They made approximately100 to 1000 additional laws for each of the 613. This was called Pilpul logic- how many new rules and regulations can come from one original statement. These scribes built a fence around the 613 laws with the idea of protection. So that no one would be able to break Moses’ laws, but they could break the fence laws and not bring judgment upon themselves (Halakah 1512 laws broken up into 39 activities). They added more than 1,500 rules and regulations to the Sabbath for keeping it holy. This included at least 100-1,000 additional rules and regulations for each the remaining commandments. The rules became more important than their purpose. The Mishna is called traditions of the fathers and the elders, this expounded upon the 613 commandments of Jewish law. The Mishna was more punishable to go against the scribes than the Scriptures. They taught, He that says anything against a rabbi causes the Shekinah to leave. To contradict a rabbi was to contradict God.

By the time Jesus came all these extra Biblical laws were being practiced as God's law this is where he had the contention. The Pharisees wanted Him to obey the elders law (Mk.7 the tradition of the fathers) which were not given from God. Jesus refused to validate their man made laws. This is why he consistently referred to Moses as the law giver because he received them from God on the mountain. Whatever Moses received whether it was written by God or spoken by him was all called Moses’ law.

When we come to the New Testament Jesus defines what true law keeping is in his sermon on the mount. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5 was not meant to be the “golden rule” for Christian ethics or obeyed to obtain salvation. It was a rebuttal against Pharisaic Judaism. The Pharisees kept the letter of the law outwardly. They thought if they did not literally steal or kill they were not guilty. Jesus went further showing them that the true righteousness of the law was kept by how one acts from the inside. What it really demanded was not just an outward obedience but it had an inward intent from the heart. Someone would violate the righteousness of the law long before they commit the physical act. If one hated his brother they would be guilty of murder in the heart long before they committed the act. However, the Pharisees considered themselves not guilty because they never did the physical act of murder. They made the law of no effect because they did not allow it to affect the inner man; they were concerned with outward actions only. The true conformity to the Law of Moses was internal not just external. Deut. 6:4 was memorized as the faith anthem of Judaism, yet right afterward it says to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind soul, and strength. They excluded the heart and soul. The law then could never affect the inner man, so it became an obedience that was only shown on the outside only. So the inner man was never convicted of his sin and became blind to it because of the Pharisees laws.

Paul says the law had a beginning in Gal.3:19: “it was added because of transgressions till the seed should come. To be added means there was something there that existed before the law came. So when the seed, that is Christ came, the law would pass away, it had a beginning and it has an end. Its purpose was because of transgressions. John the Apostle states the law came through Moses. So the whole body of the law was delivered into Moses hand as a mediator as in the later part of vs.19 says “Till the seed should come to whom the promise was made.” Israel knew nothing about laws (613) to keep until God spoke the Sabbath to Moses and later wrote them down on stone. What Israel did keep from the time of Abraham was circumcision as part of Gods covenant, not the 10 commandments nor the Sabbath.

Rom. 5:12-13: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Notice Paul makes it clear there were no written commandments while there was sin in the world. To what was the law added to?  Grace From Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses, before the law and after the law there was and is grace.

Rom. 4:15: “Because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.”

Before the law came there were no transgressions counted. The standard was to make sin a transgression. Was there sin in the world? Of course but there was no righteous standard to reveal the violation. The law made man conscious of what he is doing. What was always morally wrong then became legally wrong. To give a practical example: if one is driving 70 mph on the freeway the set standard speed limit is 55 mph.  So he is breaking the law. But lets say he is only going 45 mph, on another road, it looks like he is obeying until he comes to a sign that says 35 mph, so he is still breaking the law. A standard makes what one is doing evident and gives the guidelines for obedience.

Rom.5:20 “Moreover the law entered, that the offense might increase…” Here we are told the law stirred up what is in the corrupt heart of man. It didn’t make man corrupt but only brought out what was already there.

Rom.7:5 “For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions (the motions of sin), which were {aroused} by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.” The law put sin in motion. Rom.3:20: " for through the Law {comes} the knowledge of sin.” This is the same law Paul speaks about that condemns and makes one guilty it is the 10 commandments and anything else contrary to God. Their purpose was to produce sin to activate it. What Commandment keepers a want us to do is go under the keeping of these which stir up the sin nature. When the very purpose of the Holy Spirit was given to control and change it. Paul declared, “We serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” (Rom. 7:6)

M. De Hann gives a great illustration of this at work. “A glass of water is left standing quietly and undisturbed on the shelf. The dust, germs, and the filth settle in the glass in an imperceptibly thin layer at the bottom. The water looks clear, sparkling, and harmless as it can be, but it nevertheless poisonous and filthy.

Now I take a teaspoon and stir up the water, and immediately something is apparent which could not be seen before. The water becomes cloudy, dark, and muddy, and a stench rises from the glass. I see in that water something I did not know was there, because the teaspoon stirred it up and made it visible. Did the teaspoon pollute the water? Did it cause it to become poisonous? Was it the fault of the teaspoon? You know the answer. The teaspoon was clean and sterile, but it stirred up the filth which was hidden in the glass. It was not the fault of the teaspoon at all.”

Paul then goes on to say “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid nay I would not have known sin but by the law…But sin taking occasion by the commandment (being provoked to action by the law) brought out in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law sin is dead. The whole purpose of the law given to Moses was to convince man is sinful and prepare him to accept the Messiah that would later come through Israel.

In the New Testament in 1 Jn.3:4 “Whosoever commits sin transgresses the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.”

The Bible refutes the idea that the commandments were known by all from the beginning.

In Rom. 2:14-15 “for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

Here as clear as can be Paul says the Gentiles did not have the law. They did not have the word but they have a conscience, the image of God in man.

We all have a God given knowledge of right and wrong built in, it's called a conscience. Everyone has a moral conscience no matter where they live, they know inside what is right from wrong in a general sense. When Adam sinned he became aware of what was wrong. He then knew what was good and evil whereas before he only knew good.

HELPFUL BIBLE VERSES: on Law and Grace.

Rom. 6:6-13: “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

The way God gets rid of sin in the life of a believer is by getting rid of the sinner, getting rid of us. If someone tries to get rid of sin by trying to get rid of the sin it will never go. Everyone has something. The only way to have victory is not by concentrating on the sin, but by having it die. If you concentrate on the sin to stop it you have gone back to the law of thou shalt not. Paul says because of our fallen nature thou shalt not makes you want to do it even more. The sinner with his sin must die to it and live to Christ in resurrection life. If you walk in the Spirit that problem will fall away by itself. The focus is Christ not the law.

Be ye holy as I am holy. The only way possible is that he takes your sin and gives you his righteousness to operate in by picking up your cross daily and dying with him.

When Christians sin it is by choice, the unsaved have no choice, all they can choose is which kind of sin.

Rom. 6:14 -15: “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!”

If one is to keep the law then they must meet its requirement. Which is perfect obedience. James 2:10 states to break one point of the law means we are guilty of all, because it is a unit. Imperfect law keeping is not law keeping at all; one is just as guilty as the other person they are trying to bring under the law. Paul clearly says it's one or the other. The law was given to show the flesh could not meet the requirements of God. If you put yourself under the law you will sin, it has no power, and it's for those in the flesh. This is why Paul says “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.  Because through grace God gives one the power to live the life required of him.

“The pernicious practice of attempting to merge the two legal systems with the teachings of grace results in a forceless law and a defeated grace. The student's problem is not one of striking an average between law and grace, but rather that of separating these systems to the end that each may retain its intended effectiveness” (Lewis S. Chafer, Systematic Theology. Vol. 4, p. 185.)

Rom. 8:2-4: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God {did:} sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and {as an offering} for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Notice For what the law could not do! The law had a purpose, and there are some things it cannot do. It cannot justify, it cannot change the heart of a sinner, it can only make one guilty, it can’t pardon or redeem or save. It was the weakness of the flesh that prevented it, so it can only bring conviction, guilt and curse. What it could not accomplish the son of god did by condemning sin in the flesh and fulfilled it himself because he alone could live the law perfectly.

He then gives us the power to live accordingly by the spirit. Our new nature inclines us to fulfill the law. It's powered by God himself, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.

Rom. 7:1-6: “Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then if, while her husband is living, she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she is joined to another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were {aroused} by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter”…”I would not have known sin except through the law”. Paul gives us a comparison with how the law was practiced showing that we are set free by Christ’s death and raised to newness of life by being in him.

Paul is using marriage as an analogy. We died to the law in Christ. When you're under a law your bound to it you must obey like a wife to her husband, but if the husband dies she is free from that law, she is dead to that law. If one dies and is resurrected they are free from the former obligations. Husband = law. Now she is free to marry another, so she is not a law breaker vs.4 dead to the law through Christ to be married to another. So the new husband loves her and helps her keep the obligations of being faithful. The old one was good but he expected perfection which she could not accomplish. Wouldn’t it be foolish to go back to what formerly condemned her for not being perfect, instead of staying with the better freedom?.

1 Tim 1:8-11: “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, “realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. The law is to convict those who do not know God.” To use it lawfully means it is to be used in the correct manner. To be used in evangelism asking if ones behavior is compatible with the law. When used as a mirror they can then see their failure and rely on the savior for their sins.

Gal 3:19-25 states the law of Moses was an addition to the Abrahamic covenant it points out our guilt and was a teacher to bring us to the savior. “We are justified by faith” Once faith came we are no longer under the law it replaces it. ALL the commandments are kept by the power of the Spirit and it is by faith the law is established. No Mosaic commandment has continued to be enforced beyond the cross. The Law is a teaching tool to show someone Gods standard of righteousness and our sinfulness. It points to the substitutionary atonement of Christ who alone has the power to eliminate sin. Why the Law then? It was a temporary addition; it was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. Once the seed came it was no longer needed to instruct the believer.

Gal 3:23-25: “But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor {to lead us} to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

A NEW LAW

The New Testament makes a clear distinction of the commandments in the law and those issued from Christ. Those who promote keeping the law use such scriptures as 1 Jn.2:3-4 “Now by this we know him if we keep his commandments. He who says he knows him and does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.” Jn.15:10: “If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love just as I have kept the fathers commandments and abide in his love. Jesus was not referring to Moses law but what He gave under the new covenant.

Earlier Jesus said in Mt.22:40 To love the lord your God with all your heart your soul and your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. On these two hang all the law and the prophets. So Jesus sums up the Spirit and intent of the law in this simple saying love God, love your neighbor as you would yourself. Jn.15:12: “this is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.” The commandments are fulfilled first by love. The only way this can be realized is to have the love of Christ in us by the Holy Spirit so we can obey from a sincere heart.

Heb. 8:13: When He said, “A new {covenant} “He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear”. Here the writer of Hebrews quotes Jer.31:31 which speaks of the new covenant, he is showing that as soon as the New Covenant was installed the old one became obsolete, it was put aside. The Mosaic Law was growing old in Jeremiahs time when he penned this by the time Christ came and died it vanished away. It has no authority over the New Testament believer's life we have been delivered from the Old Testament covenant of law and now operate under the law of Christ.

Col. 2:14: “having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us {and} which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” All the book of the law which was the book of Deuteronomy included the 10 commandments were decrees written against us.

There is a lot of confusion on what does the New Testament means when it refers to the law. To be under grace does not make one an antinomian (without law), we are under the law of Christ. This does not mean as Paul says…” we have been called into liberty, don’t use it for an occasion to the flesh” (Gal.5:13). There is a danger Paul warns us about. Before we were believers we depended on our works to be right with God. Once we realize that we are not saved by works we should not despise them and live like we do not need a life of holiness but have a life of holiness.

The New Covenant was not unheard of, Even from Jeremiah’s day there was promised a new covenant that would be greater and stronger than the old covenant. Jer.31:31 we are now under a new covenant, the law of the spirit. In the new Covenant there is the law of Christ. While the Mosaic Covenant had many commandments the law of Christ repeats them all except one (the Sabbath). There are also many changes. Ex: Under the Mosaic Covenant some meats were unclean Lev.11. Under the New covenant. all are clean. 1 Tim.4:4-5 “for every creature of god is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving.” The Law of Moses tells us not to eat pork or shelled seafood. The Law of Christ gives us liberty to it all as long as it is by thanksgiving. It was Peters vision that gave him a revelation that all are clean the former foods and the Gentiles. (Acts 10:9-16) Paul in Rom.14:2 tells us “For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak (in the faith) eats only vegetables, vs.17 tells us the kingdom of god is not food or drink.”

Many of the commandments in the New Testament are intensified or expanded.

Mosaic covenant-Lev. 19:8 “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

New Covenant- John l5:12: “Love your neighbor even as I have loved you.” (its amplified by his own example)

Today if one obeys “you shall not steal” it's not because of the Mosaic law but because Christ said it. We operate from a new law under the instruction of Christ by the Holy Spirit. While there are many similar commands this does not validate that the law has been retained, since there are many additions also. As New Testament believers we are free to keep any part of the Old Testament law if we choose to do so, but it is not by obligation to a command from Scripture. Paul chose to keep the law in certain instances, he desired to be in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost Acts 20:16 and in Acts 21:17-26 he desired to keep the law and the Sabbath to reach his brethren of the flesh.

So why did Paul keep the law? Here is a clear and concise answer in1 Cor. 9:20-21: “and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; Paul used what he could for evangelism, this is the very reason he went to the synagogues on the Sabbath.

However Paul did not make this a requirement for anyone else and makes it clear of the freedom we have such as in Rom.14.

Rom. 14:5-6: “who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.” If someone wants to set a certain day aside he has the liberty and right to do so. It can any day of the week however if he makes it a requirement for others to have to do the same then he has become legalistic and is no longer operating in grace, he has become a judge of his brother without any Biblical substantiation.

Eph.2:15: “Having abolished in the flesh, even the law of the commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.” The reason the law was given was to keep gentiles out of the blessing unless they became a proselyte. The death penalty was interconnected to the law and it was removed by another's death. By doing so he could bring both people groups together in one new entity the church. Both Jew and Gentile become part of the Body of Christ.

Heb. 10:15-17 “And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, this is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, and upon their mind I will write them,” {He then says) “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Jer.31:33 quoted.

Heb 8:6: “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. For if that first {covenant} had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. For finding fault with them, He says, “Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, when I will effect a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;” Jer. 31:31 quoted of the New Covenant.

Rom. 8:2 “ For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Gal 2:19-21: “For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which 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 set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Paul says when he received salvation he died through the law, the law kills. He has now been spiritually raised to new life so he can live to God. He is given life by the law of the spirit that is superior to the law that could only bring death.

Rom. 3:10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one”

Gal. 2:16: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Gal. 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. If righteousness came through the law then Christ died in vain.”

Gal. 3:11-13: “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.” However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”--

Gal. 3:23-25: “But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor {to lead us} to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

James 2:10: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one {point,} he has become guilty of all.”

Our justification our right standing before God comes not from obeying his commands…Because no one can obey perfectly.

Once faith came we are no longer under the law it replaces it. All the commandments are kept by the power of the Spirit and it is by faith the law is established.

Rom.3:26-28: “ To demonstrate at the present time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Rom.11:6: “And if by grace then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. but if it is by works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.” It is either one or the other, it can't be both, these are two completely different covenants given for different reasons to different people.

Gal.5:4: “You who would be justified by the law (obedience and works) you have fallen away from grace.” (Gal.2:16, 21 3:10,12) those who have resorted to living the Christian life legalistically have left grace. The law does not provide us with the power to live the life so one has removed themselves from operating from Gods strength and are dependent on their own.

Eph. 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves of works, {it is} the gift of God.” The law was operated by works along with faith, The new covenant is operated by faith in Christ's work on the cross.

Titus 3:5: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”

Phil. 3:9 “And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.“  Paul contrasts that to keep the law made one self righteous, it was our work, but to believe in Christ means we trust in his perfect work.

Acts 13:38-39: “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

Rom. 4:2: “For if Abraham were justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. For what does the scripture say? Good question lets look at the answer. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that works the wages are not counted as grace, but as debt. But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

Gal 3:11-12: “ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

Faith is obedience, and we operate from love. The Bible states we are not under the law but Grace, the law was a teacher to bring us to Christ. Legalism which means to keep the law from the old covenant kills grace. Grace comes from God, the law today comes from man because God has put it aside for the believer. Paul said to the Galatians about adding the law Did you receive the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith. Therefore having begun in the spirit are you now being made mature by the flesh..”

THE LAW HAS ENDED FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS.

Rom.4:5 : “His faith is accounted for righteousness” Not by what we do or keep, but what we place our faith in.

Rom.4:25: “ He rose for our justification.” We are not accounted righteous with any works of the law but by resting in the finished and perfect work of Christ.

Rom. 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” By trusting in Christ’s work the law is fulfilled perfectly in us.

Jesus becomes the instructor of the new Law in the New Covenant through the Holy Spirit, with those in relation to Him by the New covenant.

Jer. 31:31: “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” This New Covenant replaced the Old, and it operates in a different manner. One operated by law the new one operates by grace.

Rom. 8:2-3: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God {did:} sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and {as an offering} for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” We are operating under a new law and influence.

Rom. 5:19-2: “For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom. 6:14-15: “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!

Rom. 7:6: “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”

In Acts the apostles had a dispute on their hands by those who claimed to believe and yet added parts of the law to walk with Christ. Acts15:24: “Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the law'-- to whom we gave no such commandment-” The apostles made it clear you didn’t hear this from us (this came from the Judaizers who Paul called false brethren). Paul who was more zealous for the law recognized that adding Old Testament commands to grace deters one from walking in the Spirit.

IF THE LAW IS STILL IN EFFECT, THEN SO IS THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD AND CHRIST CANNOT BE OUR HIGH PRIEST.  BECAUSE THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD FUNCTIONED UNDER THE LAW WITHIN ITS SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM.

Under the old priesthood and sacrifices it could only cover our sin so it needed to be repeated over and over. Under the Melchizedek priesthood the former order of Aaron was past away and with it the law. Since this priesthood was uniquely functioning under the law there needed to be a new priest one that could administer forever.. through the messiahs death this could only be accomplished He.9:11, 10:18 So the Levitical priesthood was replaced and a change of the law occurred. If the Mosaic law was in affect and still functional Jesus could not be our high priest.

Heb 7:7-11 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one {receives them} of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need {was there} for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also, For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become {such} not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life For it is witnessed {of Him} “Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. And inasmuch as {it was} not without an oath (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, 'Thou art a priest forever'); how much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. but He, on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently. is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, {appoints} a Son, made perfect forever.

2 Cor. 3:7:  “But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading. How shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory on account of the glory that surpasses {it.} For if that which fades away {was} with glory, much more that which remains {is} in glory.” The glory of the law was temporary it was to be replaced by something greater. The law that was tied with the priesthood and the temple was taken away when the temple was destroyed. Without the place where sacrifices could be made there could be no atonement. Christ came fulfilling the Old Testament types of sacrifice. The very reason God had the temple destroyed is because the priesthood would be replaced and the sacrifices removed with a single permanent one.

Rom. 4:13-16 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason {it is} by faith, that {it might be} in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

WE LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD

Faith is a living trust between the believer and God. It means to rely one's whole weight upon God and his work not on anything we can do. Paul said there is nothing good that dwells in me. Faith is only as good as the object in which it is placed. If it is not put in God, it is not saving faith. If faith is put in an inanimate object, commands or rituals it will fail. If its put in the law that means it is dependent on us to keep. This focuses salvation on our work, not Christ's on the cross. Salvation is by faith in Christ the living God and His work alone. Faith is not by our works added by our keeping days, diet, ceremonies, baptism, prayers, or tithing. We must put our faith in His work that was finished once for all. Christ said: “Tetelestai! it is finished!” Paid in full, no more installments. (Gal.5:4 ; 2:21; Rom.3:24; 8:30; 1 Jn.5:1; 5:4 -5). Rom.10:4: “Christ is the end of the law the Greek word is telos which can mean termination or goal. To terminate Thayer's Lexicon defines as, the limit at which a thing ceases. It was replaced. All the Old Testament types and shadows were replaced by the true light they once represented, the one who gave us them. Christ did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it, to bring it to its natural conclusion, to completion. It was there for a time and was then replaced.  It's all been replaced by God himself, now we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us.