CHRISTIAN UNDER LAW

Is the Christian Under law?

Some evasive answers to that question:

1. Under the moral law, but not under the ceremonial law.

2. Under the moral law, but not under its penalties.

3. Under the moral law is a rule of life, but not as a way of salvation.

4. Under the moral law for sanctification, but not for justification.

5. Under the sermon on the Mount, but not under the law of Moses.

6. Under the law of God, but not under the law of Moses.

But what does God say-not under law.

The word of God declares plainly that the Christian believer is not under the law. Rom. 6:14, 15; 1 Cor. 9:20; Gal. 5:18.

The Christian believer is not under law in any sense as a means of salvation, or any part of his salvation. Rom. 3:20; Rom. 6:14; Rom. 8:3.

The law would give no help to men as a means of salvation from sin. Col. 2:14; 2 Cor. 3:7; Acts 15:10; Rom. 4:15; Gal. 3:12.

The Christian is delivered from the law. Rom. 7:4; 7:6; 10:4.

Furthermore, the law itself, as regards the Christian, is done away, abolished. 2 Cor. 3:7-11; Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14.

Meaning of the phrase under law.

It occurs 11 times in the  authorized version 12 times in the ASV. Once the preposition is "en" with article; "en to nomon" Rom. 3:19.

11 times the preposition is "hupo" Rom. 6:14, 15; 1 Cor. 9:20; Gal. 3:23; 4:4, 5, 21; 5:18.

Preposition "en" in Rom. 3:19 refers to the sphere in which the subject is dwelling and acting. This would accurately described the Jew was not merely under the law, but in the law.

Preposition "hupo" with accusative in the other texts means subject to the power of any person or thing. They are sites as references the ones under consideration in this study. See Matthew 8:9 for a good illustration.

Summary: to be under the law means to be under the law of God, the Mosaic Law in its indivisible totality, under its commands and sanctions (penalties).

In what sense were the Old Testament saints under the law?

Gal. 3:17-23 makes it clear that they were under the law.

Under the law in the Old Testament could have only two possible meanings.

            A. Under the law as a way of salvation for unsaved people. (Soteriological)

            B. Under the law is a rule of life or saved people (Dispensational)

It could not mean as a way of salvation (Rom. 3:20; 4:13-15)

Therefore it must mean that under the law for Old Testament Saints was to be under law as the rule of life. The people to whom the law was given were a Redeemed people. They had been redeemed out of Egypt.

Consider the logic of the argument-the dispensational change from the age of law to the age of grace does not mean that Old Testament saints were saved by law whereas today they are saved by grace, because men are not saved by law in any age. But it does mean that the Old Testament saints were under law as a rule of life, whereas today, they are not. Yet this is the very sense in which Pink and his crowd affirmed that the law is still in force over us today. And this is the very sense in which the Jews sought to impose the law on saved Gentiles in Acts 15:1-11. And this is the very thing Paul denounced in the book of Galatians. Jews for Jesus is an attempt to put the Jews back under the law.

What is the danger of putting Christians under law?

1. Under the law-pure Judaism.

2. Under the moral law and its penalties-pure legalism.

3. Under the moral law separated from his penalties-qualified legalism. (Mormonism; British Israelism; Seventh Day Adventism; Other Legalism as Jews for Jesus)

Note the dangers of this third position.

            Employs an unbiblical terminology-"the law" in the Bible is a unity which includes all elements with its sanctions.

            The law of God is dishonored and reduced to complete innocuousness. Where there is no penalty, all that is left is good advice. Transgression of the moral code no longer seems to be sin.

            This ultimately moves in the direction of the logical disaster, by bringing confusion into our view of sin, salvation, the work of Christ, and even the doctrine of God, sin and righteousness are confused. Where sin is not sin, then what need is there for salvation. Where there is no need for salvation, then, to what purpose did Christ die? And where all this confusion exists, what is the nature of God?

The abstraction of the moral element from the ceremonial element, and its imposition upon the Christian as a rule of life, has a grave spiritual and moral danger--for the ceremonial element provides the context of grace for the moral element, and it is in this context of grace that provides the motivating principle which secures the fulfillment of the moral element of the law. Thus a legal morality defeats itself.

The Bible condemns unsparingly any attempt to put the Christian under law for it misrepresents God and did maneuvers the sinner or saint into eternal loss. (1 Cor. 15:56; Rom. 7:9; Gal. 3:1-13; Cf. Gal. 1:6-9)

Problem:

Does 1 Corinthians 9:20 contradict on this? No! All Paul was saying was this, that he could perform the works of the law from the point of the true meaning, now that he was a Christian, in order that he might win a Jew and this he did in Acts 21:17-30.

What is the objective standard of life for the Christian believer? The will of God in the context of his grace in our Lord Jesus Christ as revealed perfectly in the entire word of God, written. (Rom. 12:1-2-mercies of God-will of God) (2 Tim. 3:15-16-profitable) (John 5:39-which testify of Me).

This entire word of God makes us wise with reference to that salvation which we have by faith in Christ. 2 Tim. 3:15.

This entire word of God is profitable for the Christian. 2 Tim. 3:16-doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness Cf. 1 Cor. 10:1-11.

This entire word of God serves as a mirror for the Christian. James 1:23. To see Christ. 2 Cor. 3:14-18. Even the law is part of the mirror though done away is a law over the Christian. See Luke 24:24-44.

This entire word of God points us to a perfect example in Christ so as to see in Him what we ought to be now. 1 John 2:6. 1 Pet. 2:21-23 we need the whole Bible here, not merely the gospels Cf. Phil. 2:5-7. And also to see in Him what we shall be in the future 1 John 3:1-2.

This entire word of God centers our attention on Christ. (Matt. 17:1-8-save Jesus only; 1 John 4:8-9, John 15:9-on His love; John 1:29-on His work; John 14:23, 1 Tim. 6:3-4-on His words; 1 John 2:3-4, 3:22-23, 5:2-3-on His commandments)

What does it mean to keep His words and Commandments?

John 17:6. See 1 Kings 14:8 where David kept His commandments. Certainly, this does not mean sinless perfection. But it does mean to recognize the truth of God's grace and provision for sinning men. Thus all legalists and perfectionists are shut out.

This will of God, must be seen in the context of the grace of God throughout the entire word of God. (Rom. 12:1-2-presenting body; 1 Cor. 8:7-11-not to misuse liberty; Eph. 4:1-walk worthy of the calling; Phil. 2:1-8, 4:1-3-mind of Christ; Col. 3:1-4-affection on things above; Gen. 3:17-21-sorrow, submission, clothing; Exod. 20:1-17, 24-26-law, altar; Matt. 5:23-24-reconciliation; Matt. 19:16-26-believe on Christ; Heb. 12:1-3-run the race with endurance; Matt. 22:39 with 1 John 4:11-love thy neighbor, love the Brethren; Matt. 7:12 with Phil. 2:3-golden rule, esteem others better than self; Deut. 6:5 with 1 John 4:9-love Lord thy God, God loved us in His Son).

Note:  Don't be afraid to find the Lord Jesus in the Old Testament everywhere. Only be sure that what you find is true to the historic revelation of the Son, as recorded in the New Testament.

This context of grace is the only environment in which the Christian life can be fully realized. In this context of grace as Christians (2 Pet. 3:18-we grow; 1 Pet. 5:12-we stand; Acts 20:32-we are built up; 2 Tim. 2:1-we are made strong; 1 Pet. 5:10-we are made perfect; Rom. 6:14-we find freedom from the dominion of sin; Gal. 5:1-4-we find liberty from legal bondage; 2 Cor. 8:9-we find a sufficient motive for doing the will of God; 2 Cor.12:9, 1 Cor. 15:10-we find an enabling power for Christian living; Heb. 4:16-we find recovery when we fail; Acts 20:32-we find assurance as to the final goal of the Christian life). NOTE: See Acts 13:39-43 for the importance of continuance in this context of grace. See Gal. 4:11 for the reaction of  Paul toward those who stepped outside of the context of grace-"I am afraid of you."