THE END OF THE LAW – Saturday May 14th 2016

THE END OF THE LAW

 

Memorise; And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1st Corinthians 13:13

 

Read: 1st Corinthians 13:8-13, 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

 

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

 

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Bible in one year: 2nd Kings 17:24-19:7, Proverbs 24:8-20

 

MESSAGE

The Bible says Christ is the end of the law (Romans 10:4), and it is entirely correct in every respect. Christ is the object of the law, the reason why the law was given; He is the fulfilment of the law, the conclusion of the law, the finality of the law, and the termination of the law. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. There is no righteousness of any kind (justifying righteousness or sanctifying righteousness) to be attained by our personal obedience to the law because it is written, “for if righteousness by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21). However, Christ is not the end of the law for everyone. He did not fulfil the demands of the law for everyone. He is only the end of the law for the elects of God and all those who shall trust in His saving power. Christ is therefore the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes in Him.

“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”

 

Romans 10:4

When Apostle Paul declared the Christ is the end of the law, he was not telling us that the law is evil. Writing by divine inspiration, the apostle meant that those apostate religious leaders who try to mix law and grace, who try to put believers under the yoke of bondage, desiring to be teachers of the law, do not know what they are talking about, “understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” The law was never intended, in any sense, for those who are righteous before God.

  The law was given for the unrighteous. The law is not evil. It is holy, just, and good. It would be well if all men lived in conformity to the law’s commands, both in outward practice and inward principle. Indeed, it is ordained of God and used by all civil governments to protect society from those who would otherwise disregard all respect for the rights, property, and lives of others.

This passage should not be used to legalise immorality and corruption as many are doing. Jesus did not come to invalidate the commandments of God in anyway. He was a law abiding person while He lived here on earth. Jesus teaches liberty and freedom from the binding effect of sin in that the letters of sin enslaves in a very powerful way. Yet, man has a strange infatuation with the law. Like the gnat that is drawn to the candle that will destroy it, man by nature is drawn to the law for righteousness, when all the law can give is destruction. The law can do nothing else but reveal sin and pronounce condemnation on the sinner (Romans 3:19-20).

 

Still, we cannot get men to flee from the law. They are so enamoured with their own self-righteousness and their own self-worth that they will cling to the law with a death-grip, though there is really nothing to cling to. They prefer Sinai to Calvary, though Sinai offers them nothing but death. Listen to the Word of God. If the opinions of men or your own opinions contradict the Word of God, “Let God be true and every man a liar.” 

Prayer Point

Father, please give me the grace to live by Your righteousness and not my works