The Purpose Of The Law

Hebrews 7:19  (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

The apostle Paul was accused of being antinomian (Romans 3:8) by those described in Galatians 6:12-13.

So how does the Law apply in God’s plan of salvation in and through Christ alone?

First and foremost, salvation is given solely to those whom God has chosen (election) in Christ before creation.

Ephesians 1:

3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

4  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

5  he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

6  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

We are chosen in Him that we should be holy and blameless. This is one of the facets of the “free gift”. We are holy and blameless as he has sanctified us once for all. (Hebrews 10:5-14)

Therefore the Law was not given to justify or sanctify the saints.(1 Timothy 1:8-11)

Romans 3:20  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:

27  Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

28  For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Romans 7:

5  For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.

6  But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

7  What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."

8  But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

9  I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.

10  The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.

11  For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

12  So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13  Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

14  For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

1Cor 15:

56  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

57  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Romans 3:

28  For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

29  Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

30  since God is one--who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

31  Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

The law was never given to save, nor sanctify, as no one (save Christ), is able to keep it before or after coming to saving faith. If one confesses Christ, then one is acknowledging the fact that he/she is a sinner and falls short of the glory of God, and always will. If one is able to sanctify himself by keeping the Law after his/her conversion, then why should Christ’s death stand once for all and all time? He died for all the sins of the elect, past, present and those we will commit down the road, else his death is worthless.

The law makes the elect man aware of his sinful condition, reveals his need for salvation, and drives Him to Christ and the good news. (2 Cor 5:17-21)

So many misinterpret Romans 3:31 as Paul stating that he advocates both law-keeping and teaching as the means of  righteousness and sanctification. In fact, Paul upholds the Law, i.e. establishes the Law in its purpose established by God in the beginning.

Christ satisfies God’s demand for justice through the law on our behalf. (Romans 8:1-4)
He is the only “son of man” ever to keep the law perfectly, not to give us a good example to follow, but to give evidence to the fact that it is the Shepherd, who became one of the flock, that is the lamb without spot or blemish, the only one worthy to suffer and die to save His own. (1 Peter 1:17-21). Selah!
He is the giver of mercy and grace, not the giver of ability to be “holy”

Hebrews 4:

15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Romans 5:

20  Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

21  so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Solus Christus

Soli Deo Gloria

Testimony!

1Timothy 1:

15  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

16  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Paul is always straightforward in his presentation. He never stepped over the line in terms of the pious blether that has throughout the centuries, to this day, manifested in professing Christianity. Even in those who call themselves “reformed” we see this tendency. That which draws focus away from the Savior toward the saved, from the Creator to the creation, from the Healer/Deliverer to those healed and delivered, is not of faith. “Our story” is not the Gospel.  It is truly and always about Him and His glory, made known in creation through His election of the saints.      (Romans 9:6-22)                                                                                                                     The true wonder of God’s choosing men from every tribe, tongue and nation, in Christ, from before the foundation of the world was laid, is not that only a remnant is saved, but that any are saved at all.

1John 5:

9  If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.

10  Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

11  And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 17:

1  When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,

2  since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

3  And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

4  I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

5  And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 

It Is Finished

Luke 22:

19  And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

20  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Matthew 26:

38  Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me."

39  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

Luke24:

44  Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that EVERYTHING written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

45  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

46  and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

47  and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

John 19:

28  After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst."

29  A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.

30  When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Hebrews 8:13  In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

1Cor 5:7  Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Hebrews 10:

15  And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

16  "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,"

17  then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

18  Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Hebrews 9:28  so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Christ,in drinking the final, bitter cup of the old covenant by His death, brings an end to that which was but copy and shadow (Colossians 2:17). There is nothing left undone. His second, (and last) appearing is all that the saints , both living and dead await. To say that God hit the "pause" button and the Son has yet to fulfill "OT" scripture is blatantly unbiblical.

Forgiveness....

1John 1:
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
God's forgiveness is not predicated upon my confession. God chose before the world was made. I confess because God has already forgiven me in Christ. All my sins past, present, and future. By my confession I am not supplying God with information He is not aware of. My confession is acknowledgement that He has,does and will forgive based solely on the righteousness of His Son which is imputed to me through election at the Father's discretion. I confess the sins that Christ bore to the cross, receiving the just punishment that should have been mine to bear. Only the sins that Christ bore are forgiven.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

1Timothy 1:
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.