The Myth of God’s Law
One of the most puzzling and controversial topics in Christianity is the question of how much of the "law of God" is required for believers after Jesus ascended to Heaven. All of the law? The 10 commandments? Do we even have to be concerned about the laws of God because Christ fulfilled them? Scripture is the best place to begin finding out the answer to this question.
When we examine why many Christian leaders say the Old Testament (OT) laws no longer apply, Paul is usually the go-to authority quoted in regard to this topic. There is rarely a Bible verse outside of Paul’s writings that is used in this defense. Let’s first review a verse in second Peter where Peter gives a warning about Paul’s writings:
2 Peter 3:15-17
15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.
Have you ever struggled to understand the meaning of Paul's letters in the Bible? You're not alone. Paul was writing to a specific group of people, and we're reading his words thousands of years later, without the benefit of their context and response. As a result, we have to rely on our own discernment to interpret what he meant.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that most of us are unable to read the original language in which Paul wrote his letters. Peter even warned that some people were misinterpreting Paul's words and twisting them to the incorrect understanding. With all these barriers to understanding, it's not a surprise to see a lot of room for error.
In this article, we'll explore some of the most popular snippets of scripture that Christian authorities use to argue that the law has changed or is no longer necessary. But first, let's keep in mind the challenges of interpreting Paul's words and the importance of understanding context. Join us as we navigate the complexities of Paul's letters and other scripture and seek to uncover the truth behind this controversial topic. After reading Peter's advice, let's look at some of Paul's writings on the law.
Romans 6:14
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Paul seems to be claiming that we no longer live under or according to the laws of God but rather by “grace”. We must continue reading to understand the context of what he is talking about.
Romans 6:15-16
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Picture this: you're standing at a fork in the road, and you have to choose which path to take. One leads to death, the other to righteousness. Which one would you choose? It's an easy choice, right?
According to Paul, a life of sin leads to death, but a life of obedience to God's law leads to righteousness. And it's not just a matter of believing in God's existence or the sacrifice of Jesus - as James reminds us, faith without works is dead. We have to show our obedience to God by following his law.
But wait, didn't Paul say we're no longer under the law but under grace? Yes, he did - but he wasn't saying we can just do whatever we want. He was referring to the punishment of the law, which is eternal death. Thanks to God's grace, we're no longer under that condemnation.
As Ezekiel 18:20 warns, "The soul who sins will die." And as Romans 5:12 reminds us, sin entered the world through one man, and death spread to all men. But thanks to God's grace, we don't have to suffer that eternal death. We're free to live a life of righteousness, not out of fear of punishment, but out of love and gratitude for what God has done for us.
Paul is comparing a life of sin to death and a life of obedience to God’s law leading to righteousness. Paul is telling us here that we are still obedient to God by following His law. How else would we show our obedience to God?
Romans 10:4
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Again, it sounds like Paul is suggesting that Christ ended the law of God. To gain context, let’s examine Matthew 5, first.
Matthew 5:16-20
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
First, In verse 17, the word fulfill in Greek is plēroō, which means to: fill, make full, to fill up, or to render perfect. Therefore, Christ is not saying the law ended with him. The opposite is shown to be true if these passages are read in their full context. This is a breakdown of what Jesus actually said:
Let your light (good works) shine so men may see your good works and you glorify God.
Jesus did not come to abolish the law.
the law will not be altered in any way until heaven and earth pass and all is fulfilled (Greek: ginomai - meaning accomplished or established)
Righteousness (works) must exceed the Pharisees’ if one is to enter into the Kingdom.
Jesus is warning his followers of teaching against the law of God. He asserts that teaching against God’s law will have consequences. And no one will enter the Kingdom of God if their righteousness is not greater than that of the Pharisees, whom Jesus names hypocrites in Mark 7 for placing traditions above the Laws of God.
Romans 10:4
4 For Christ is the end (telos) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
The word used for “end” in Greek is telos and can be translated differently depending on the context. Strong’s Concordance and Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy provide examples of the Greek word telos being used to mean end, fulfillment, or completion of something. However, depending on the context of what is being said, they also translate telos to mean a goal, aim, or purpose of something. It is also used in some examples to mean something existing for the sake of something else.
1 Timothy 1:5 is a clear example of how telos can mean goal or aim. 1 Timothy 1:5 “Now the purpose (telos) of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith”. Depending on the Bible translation, telos in 1 Timothy 1:5 is translated as aim, goal, or purpose. If we read into 1 Timothy 1:5 and break down the translation further, we could translate this verse as follows: “The commandment exists for the sake of teaching how to love and be faithful”.
The complexity of Paul's writings is compounded by the fact that his message has been transmitted across languages and cultures, leading to potential misunderstandings and lost nuances. Peter himself acknowledged the difficulty of understanding Paul's letters, making it all the more important to use the Bible to interpret itself. By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of the original intent behind the text, and avoid misinterpretations that can arise from translation and interpretation errors.
What is the correct translation of the word telos in Romans 10:4? Let’s let Paul defend his stance on the matter through his own writings. Let’s review a few of his writings on this matter.
Galatians 3:5-10
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?--
6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."
9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
There was a group of people spreading false doctrine and claiming salvation is not attainable without being circumcised. They told the believers in Jesus that they cannot be saved without certain works that also save themselves along with the belief in Jesus. Paul elaborates on this point many times with many examples. One of his most clear explanations of his point is in regards to the way Abraham was considered righteous by God. Abraham was not circumcised when Genesis 15:6 tells us he was deemed righteous for his belief and trust in God (see Romans 9-11). The assertions of the circumcision group are made invalid by Paul’s example regarding Abraham. In verse 10 Paul says “for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse”. Paul is warning us that if we attempt to save ourselves via our own works, whether we have done so in the past or do so in the future, we will be held accountable for any violations of the laws of God. Paul is not telling us that we forsake the laws of God. But he is telling us that we cannot expect to save ourselves by our righteousness because doing so would place us under the “curse of the law”, which is a curse to die the second death if we attempt to save ourselves without Jesus as our mediator. We would have to do the law perfectly to save ourselves by our own works, as only Jesus was able to do (Romans 3:23)
Galatians 3:11-13
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."
13 Christ has 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"),
Paul clarifies his statements about works and faith. He tells the Galatians that we are not justified in God’s sight by attempting to keep the law to save ourselves because we have all fallen short and have sinned. Paul claims in verse 12 that keeping the law independently of faith amounts to trying to be saved by our own righteousness. We are redeemed from the curse of the law (verse 13) and justified by Christ who died on our behalf and intercedes for our sins. But how does one walk in faith? what does it mean to walk according to faith?
What is the correct translation of the word telos in Romans 10:4? And how can we truly ascertain the stance that Paul takes regarding the law of God? In the following article, we will allow Paul to defend his stance on the matter through his own writings and let the Bible interpret itself, as well as, explore the idea of truly walking according to faith.