UNDER THE LAW
by Bro Matthew Peters
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WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN WHEN IT SAYS “UNDER THE LAW?” Romans 8:9-10 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ , he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. KJV NOTE: If Jesus Christ (via the Holy Spirit’s ministry) is in you then what is dead? Answer: The body of sin! The acts of sin in the flesh!
WHAT IS SIN? 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. KJV NOTE: Sin is
breaking the Law of God! That is not a good thing! That is a
bad thing that Jesus Christ does not approve of! If there is
sin in the world than there is also a law to point it out. If
there is a law to point it out then the Law of God still stands
as a witness against acts of wickedness, or how else would the
righteous judge, Jesus Christ, judge the world? WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF SIN IN THE BIBLE? Gal 5:19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication , uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. KJV NOTE: All the above acts are listed as “WORKS OF THE FLESH” and are considered sin! Sin is once again the breaking of the Law of God. The flesh is what breaks the Law of God. The flesh is a term used to describe a person without the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the mind and heart. A BORN AGAIN believer in Jesus Christ has this gift, and is not in the flesh, but is in the Holy Spirit’s power and authority.
IS THE LAW OF GOD A BAD THING ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE? Romans 7:12 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. KJV NOTE: Can
something be holy and unholy at the same time? Can something be
good and bad at the same time? Can something be just and unjust
at the same time? The Bible is clear that the Law of God is
three things: HOLY, JUST, and GOOD! These are good things! WHAT DOES JESUS CHRIST HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE LAW? Mattew 5:17-18 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. KJV NOTE: Is the
heaven still in the sky? Yes! Is the earth still under your
feet? Yes! Is the Law of God still in effect according to the
CREATOR GOD (Jesus Christ)? YES! WHAT HAPPENS IF WE FAIL TO TEACH THE LAW OF GOD? Matt 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. KJV NOTE: To be great in the kingdom of God is to obey the Law of God! We have not addressed how to obey, just the fact of SCRIPTURE that the Law must be obeyed. The HOW is another question…keep reading…and try to stay calm, you will see there is no heresy…just the facts.
1 Cor 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. KJV NOTE: There
are TWO laws!!! The laws of MOSES which are nailed to the
cross! The Laws of Moses deal with the ceremonial law of
ordinances (Eph 2:15; Col 2:14) there are forever finished and
we do not have to kill lambs anymore. The law of ritual service
is done away when Jesus shed His blood on Calvary. And secondly
is the Law of God which is the TEN COMMANDMENTS! This is the
eternal standard of righteousness and can never change or be
done away with. HOW IS MANKIND TO BE JUDGED? James 2:7-8 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: KJV James 2:10-12 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. KJV NOTE: This
passage of scripture is clear! The Law of God is to judge
mankind! The Law that is spoken of is the Law that points out
our MORAL DUTY to God and to our fellow man. That would be the
TEN COMMANDMENTS! DO WE HAVE POWER IN THE FLESH TO OBEY THE LAW OF GOD? Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. KJV 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. KJV Gal 5:19-20 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, KJV NOTE: There
is no way on earth that mankind can obey the Law of God in his
own strength. Secondly, even if he tried and gave it his best
effort, HIS WORKS, would not be accepted and he would never be
justified! He would be LOST like the wicked Pharisees that
murdered Jesus Christ. The works of the flesh cannot keep the
law, as the works of the flesh are PURE SIN, SIN, SIN! The
“works of the flesh” are described as: Adultery (break the 7th
command); Hatred (break the 6th command) and the rest
of the “works of the flesh” are all examples of LAW BREAKING!!!
Therefore, the works of the flesh can not keep the HOLY, JUST
and GOOD law of God! It is impossible! To try would be a wicked
legalism and the greatest form of apostasy that would lead to
isolation from Jesus Christ! Our efforts in our strength is not
acceptable with God!
The works of the
law (our effort to obey) is legalism and not accepted with God,
and will not lead to JUSTIFICATION! DOES THAT MEAN WE CAN BREAK THE LAW OF GOD FREELY AND BE SAVED? Romans 6:12-14 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. KJV NOTE: If we are not to let sin (LAW BREAKING) be in our life, then clearly we are to obey the Law of God! For you are either obedient to the Law of God or you are not and are in sin! But the Bible says we are not to obey sin (Law breaking). So how do we obey the Law without the works of the flesh? How do we get rid of sin in our life, but not be found legalists trying to earn our way to heaven? Will the real gospel please stand up????
Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. KJV NOTE: FAITH
DOES NOT GET RID OF THE LAW OF GOD EITHER!!! So how do we obey
the Law of God then and not be considered legalists trying to
earn our way to heaven? How are we to be saved from sin (Law
breaking)? How are we to establish the Law of God? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE UNDER THE LAW? Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. KJV NOTE: If you are in sin the LAW tells you that you are what??? GUILTY!
PLEASE NOTE VERY CAREFULLY: TO BE UNDER THE LAW IS TO BE GUILTY OF BREAKING THE LAW OF GOD! NOTE: We are not under the Law (breaking it) we are under grace! If you are under the law according to the BIBLICAL definition of the term, then you are BREAKING THE LAW and are guilty of SIN!!! To apply the term “under the law” in any other method is not Biblical! It specifically means to be in sin breaking the principles of eternal righteousness! You are either in God’s grace (power) to obey the law or you are “under the law” guilty of sin for breaking the law! What does the Bible mean when it says “UNDER GRACE?” The term grace means the power of God! Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. KJV NOTE: UNDER
GRACE, means to be under the control of His (Jesus Christ’s)
power to live a righteous life that does not break His law! HOW DO WE THEN ESTABLISH (Rom 3:31) THE LAW OF GOD (Jesus Christ)? John 14:15-16 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; KJV NOTE: If we are willing to live our lives after the power and control of the HOLY SPIRIT, according to the principles of eternal righteousness (Law of God) then the gift of the Holy Spirit will be given and He will guide us into appropriate obedience to His Law. In Romans 7:14 the law is said to be SPIRITUAL! If it is spiritual then how can a person in the flesh (without the spirit) obey the spiritual principles of the Law of God? He cannot it is impossible! It will never happen! Unless the gift of the Holy Spirit is given, and the power of God is in the life, then and only then can we ESTABLISH the Law of God (Rom 3:31)! To love Jesus Christ and obey the Law He gave on Mount Sinai and repeated it (spiritually) on the Mount of Blessing, we need the gift of the Holy Spirit to obey the spiritual law! Thus, we will not be “UNDER THE LAW” but under God’s grace to obey the Law as He reveals it to our conscience and then gives us power to yield our wills to His commands or direction, which is Law keeping! Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. KJV NOTE: People
that submit themselves fully to the Word of God and the Power
(grace) of the Holy Spirit will be said to be KEEPING THE
COMMANDMENTS OF GOD! The law will thus be established in their
lives as the witness that man can obey the Law of God which is a
reflection of the character of God, and it is all done by the
POWER of GRACE that God gives His people, so that they will not
be found to be sinners breaking His law on Judgment day! They
will not be saved by their works of the law, but BY God’s works
in them. God will write the law in the mind and heart of the
believer…then and only then will the believer be said to be
keeping the Law of God. Rev 22:14-16 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. KJV NOTE: In verse 15 to love and make a lie is an act of sin, which is breaking the commandments of God! How are we to obey the Law when the Bible calls this “works” and not faith? Ps 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. KJV Matt 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. KJV Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. KJV NOTE: How does the Law of God convert the soul? By the works of the Holy Spirit bringing the power of God (grace) to the heart and mind of man so that he can obey the will of God…the law! It is not done in “OUR WORKS” but it is done in “HIS WORKS!” Isaiah 26:12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. KJV NOTE: It is the LORD that does the works of the law in us! We are not justified by OUR EFFORTS TO OBEY, but by allowing the creative power of God to REWRITE the principles of lawful obedience in our CHARACTERS! He is the CREATOR and He can recreate us to be obedient to the Law, which is a reflection of eternal righteousness and character perfection. This is the NEW COVENANT EXPERIENCE!!! Hebrews 10:15-16 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; KJV NOTE: Please
note that in verse 15, it is the HOLY SPIRIT that WRITES THE LAW
OF GOD IN OUR MIND AND HEART! Thus faith is allowing the Holy
Spirit to work in our lives to bring our characters into harmony
with the Spiritual principles of the Spiritual Law of God (Rom
7:14), and in thus doing we are able to ESTABLISH the Law of God
(Rom 3:31) as Holy, Just and Good (Rom 7:12). It is solely the
“WORK OF GOD” to change us into Law Abiding Citizens of heaven,
of which sinners (Law Breakers) can have no part! Phil 2:12-13 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. KJV Phil 4:13 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. NOTE: I hope
I have made this issue clear. To be under the law is to be
guilty of breaking it! Thus if you are guilty of breaking the
law, you are not keeping the commandments of God, and are a
sinner and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). 1 John 5:2-4 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. KJV Malachi 3:6 6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. KJV Matthew 5:17-18 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. KJV NOTE: Neither
God or His law changes! Man was created and was in harmony with
the Law of God, but when he sinned, he lost the gift of the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the grace (power) of God that
was given him (man) to obey was lost. We too can
defy the law of sin and death! We can live within the Law of
God, only as we have a faith relationship with Jesus Christ and
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and His grace will be given
for us to obey his will, which is lawful obedience and
perfection of character. John 15:10 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. KJV NOTE: The Commandment’s of Jesus Christ (GOD ALMIGHTY) is the same as His Father’s (GOD ALMIGHTY)! They are one!!! John 10:30 I and my Father are one. KJV |