God did not give the law to the righteous people!
“Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently. But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for ungodly and sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:6 – (, NET).
Our justification is by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ only. If by trusting Jesus Christ, we accept the justification by his faithfulness, it becomes our visible daily experience. God has made us righteous in his eyes. In Jesus Christ, we are one with God, the lawgiver. Therefore, the law has no dominion over us and cannot condemn us anymore. However, if we insist that we must obey the law for our justification and sanctification in addition to the grace, we break the law and remain condemned sinners. Also, suppose we continue under the condemnation by the law; what then? In that case, we cannot be justified because our justification comes through what God accomplished on our behalf in Jesus Christ on the cross at Golgotha.
Obedience to the law produces behavior and deeds. However, those deeds are performed in the sinful flesh. But the sinful flesh cannot and shall not inherit eternity. The justification by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ results in a change of mind and change in our attitude. The change of mind and the corresponding change in attitude opens the door for the Holy Spirit to come in and testify to our new spirit that we are now God’s children in Jesus Christ. Thus, we become a new creation who obeys the principle of selfless love that leads to fulfilling all laws, not only the ten commandments but all laws. So, Paul asserts forcefully that grace and the law are not in conflict because they operate in different spheres and have different purposes. The fallen human beings, by insisting to, at the same time, be married to the law and Jesus Christ, create a conflict between the grace and the law. The believers impose confusion between grace and the law by insisting on double marriage. The law condemns; grace saves.
Why then the law? Read the next blog.
