Last week I received a letter
from a friend in another state, asking this question-"Are we under the ten
commandments as a principle in our lives?" The answer to that quest is
most important to us all. Therefore, I will endeavor to answer it publicly in
this article.
Let me state emphatically that--There is no sense in which the believer
is under the law. We observe no covenant with the law, no ceremony of the law,
and no commitment to the law. And we fear no curse or condemnation from the
law. In the fullest sense of the word we are free! In writing to the Galatians
about the moral law (And we know that it was the moral and not the ceremonial
law, because he quotes directly from Deuteronomy 27:26, a passage dealing specifically
with the moral law.) the Apostle Paul said, "Cursed is everyone that
continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do
them." And he calls it foolish and bewitching for a man to suppose that he
can be either justified or sanctified by the law. In every respect,
"Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that
believeth." Christ is the end of the law's types, ceremonies, covenants,
and commandments. Our legal and moral commitment to the law of God was fully
satisfied in the representative life and substitutionary death of the Lord
Jesus Christ in our stead.
But I must, with equal emphasis, say that -The believer has neither the
desire nor the liberty to break the law of God in any point. We are not
antinomians (lawless, or against the law), though many lay that hideous charge
against us for insisting upon our freedom from the law, even as they did
against the Apostle Paul. But the law is not our principle of life.
Are
we then without principle? Do we have no law? Perish the thought! We have a
higher law and a nobler principle than any legalist ever devised. If we would
please God, we must keep his commandment. "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ,
and love one another, as he gave us commandment." The only grounds of our acceptance with God, either for justification or
sanctification, is faith in the righteousness and shed blood of Christ.
And the only principle motivating and ruling our lives is the love of Christ,
the love implanted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit for God and our fellowman.
It is not the fear of the law which keeps us from idolatry, blasphemy, and
crimes against God. It is love for God. It is not the fear of the law which
keeps us from lying, stealing, adultery, murder, and crimes against men. It is
love for our neighbor. Where there is love, there is no need for law.
The
law is bondage, suitable for slaves. The gospel is freedom, such as children
enjoy. The legalist tithes, because he is afraid not to. The believer gives
generously, because he has Christ the legalist strictly observe what he calls
the Sabbath day, because he is afraid God will punish him if he breaks
it. The believer has ceased from his own works and comes to rest in Christ, the
true Sabbath. The difference is, indeed a matter of principle. The principle
motivating the legalist and ruling his life is fear and works, hoping to gain
acceptance with God’s either for justification or sanctification, on the basis
of his obedience to the law. The believer's principle of life is faith in
Christ. His rule of life is love. And his motivation in life is the glory of
Christ.
Is the law therefore useless? Certainly not! The law, with its strict requirements of perfect righteousness, stops the sinner's mouth, convicting and condemning him for sin, and sentencing him to death. The law slays the sinner. The law shuts the sinner up to Christ. The law strikes terror in the sinner's conscience, and forces him to seek soother refuge, even the Lord our Righteousness. I say, Preach the law to expose sin! Preach the law to point men to Christ: But do not make the law a grounds of acceptance with God, a motive for Christian service, or a principle of life. It was never designed for that purpose. "The law is good, if a man use it lawfully." The lawful use of the law is to shut men up to Christ. But it was not made for a man who is made righteous in Christ Jesus. "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster! Brethren, let no man bring you again under the yoke of bondage. The law has no claim upon a believer. Christ alone is our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption. Resting in Christ alone and trusting only in his merit, we gratefully sing
Free from the law,
O happy condition!
Jesus hath bled,
and there is remission;
Cursed
by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace
hath redeemed us once for all.
Now are we free, there's
no condemnation;
Jesus
provides a perfect salvation!