Law.htm

LAW.

"While we lived on the level of our lower nature, the sinful passions evoked by the Law worked in our bodies, to bear fruit for death. But now, having died to that which held us bound, we are discharged from the Law, to serve God in a new way, the way of the Spirit, in contrast to the old way, the way of a written code." (Rom 7:5,6 NEB).

FREEDOM FROM THE LAW OF SIN.
"In my inmost self I delight in the Law of God, but I perceive that there is in my bodily members a different law, fighting against the Law that my reason approves and making me a prisoner under the law that is in my members, the law of sin. Miserable creature that I am, who is there to rescue me out of this body doomed to death? God alone, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Thanks be to God! In a word then, I myself, subject to God's Law as a rational being, am yet, in my unspiritual nature, a slave to the law of sin." (Rom 7:22-25 NEB).

"The conclusion of the matter is this: there is no condemnation for those who are united with Christ Jesus, because in Christ Jesus the life-giving Law of the Spirit has set you free from the law of sin and death. What the law could never do, because our lower nature robbed it of all potency, God has done: by sending His own Son in a form like that of our own sinful nature, and as a sacrifice for sin, He has passed Judgement against sin within that very nature, so that the commandment of the Law may find fulfilment in us, whose conduct, no longer under the control of our lower nature, is directed by the Spirit." (Rom 8:1-4 NEB).

"If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under Law." (Gal 5:18 NEB).

"But we know that no man is ever justified by doing what the Law demands, but only through faith in Christ Jesus; so we too have put our faith in Jesus Christ, in order that we might be justified through this faith, and not through deeds dictated by Law; for by such deeds, Scripture says, no mortal man shall be justified." (Gal 2:16 NEB).

DECLARED RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH NOT BY LAW.
"When you seek to be justified (1) by means of Law, your relation with Christ is completely severed: you have fallen out of the domain of God's grace." (Gal 5:4 NEB).

"For since the Law has a shadow of the good things to come, but not the very substance of the things, men can never with the same sacrifices from year to year which they offer continually make those who approach perfect." (Heb 10:1).

"Brothers, my deepest desire and my prayer to God is for their (the Jews') salvation. To their zeal for God I can testify; but it is an ill-informed zeal. For they ignore God's way of righteousness, and try to set up their own, and therefore they have not submitted themselves to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the Law as a way to righteousness for everyone who has faith." (Rom 10:1-4 NEB & footnote).

"Consequently the Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith. But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a tutor." (Gal 3:24,25).

"'Master, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' He answered, '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind." That is the greatest commandment. It comes first. The second is like it: "Love your neighbour as yourself." Everything in the Law and the prophets hangs on these two commandments.'" (Matt 22:36 40 NEB).

THE LAW FULFILLED THROUGH THE CHRIST.
"You, my friends, were called to be free men; only do not turn your freedom into licence for your lower nature, but be servants to one another in love. For the whole Law can be summed up in a single commandment: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'" (Gal 5:13,14 NEB).

"Do not suppose that I have come to abolish the Law and the prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to complete (fulfil. NWT) ...If any man therefore sets aside even the least of the Law's demands, and teaches others to do the same, he will have the lowest place in the Kingdom of Heaven, whereas anyone who keeps the Law, and teaches others so, will stand high in the Kingdom of Heaven." (From Matt 5:17-19 NEB).

"Always treat others as you would like them to treat you: that is the Law and the prophets." (Matt 7:12 NEB).

"Go on carrying the burdens of one another, and thus fulfil the Law of the Christ." (Gal 6:2).

"But now, having died to that which held us bound, we are discharged from the Law, to serve God in a new way, the way of the Spirit, in contrast to the old way, the way of a written code." (Rom 7:6 NEB).

(1) JUSTIFIED: Declared righteous. (NWT).