Is the Law of God Illegal?
Absurd as the question may appear to be, it is a legitimate
one which has caused you to begin reading this document. Your
interest was aroused because the subject of the LAW is one of
great historical controversy. It often generates much polarization
and all too frequently more heat than light. There are basically
three stock answers commonly given to the question. They are
essentially these: YES, NO and SORT OF!
What is the Biblical answer?
The scriptures affirm that the Law of God is ETERNAL (Ec 3:14).
Although times have changed, circumstances have changed and
the manifestations of the law have changed, the Divine Law of
God is unchangeable and irrevocable.
But, what is meant by the word LAW? Attempts have been made
to break down God's law into three primary divisions called
the Moral Law, the Civil Law and the Ceremonial or Sacrificial
Law (interesting and perhaps helpful for clarification but not
necessarily Biblical). These are only manifestations of the
Law of God. The eternal principles of God's divine law transcend
all of these manifestations that often consume our time and
attention. Divine Law is that principle of God that is perpetual
and immutable (unchangeable) regardless of time, people or circumstance.
It is the nucleus and governing factor for any action or conduct
of God. This divine law of immutability is the one principle
which the eternal God set to govern His own actions (Hebrews
6:17-18). The divine principles of life, death, reward, judgment,
mercy, truth, worship and the like are perpetual laws of God
which are not subject
to repeal or abrogation. Spiritual truths are life truths. All
natural laws of physics which govern the universe are axioms
of fixed and unchangeable determinations. These natural laws
exist to reveal the immutability of the spiritual laws of God
which comprise Divine Law (Ro 1:20, Ps 19:1-7).
A CHANGE -- NOT AN EXCHANGE
"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity
a change also of the law" (Heb 7:12). Jesus effected a
reformation in how the law was manifested (Heb 9:10). The New
Covenant was a change, not an exchange of one set of laws for
another, nor for grace. This change was subtle in that it affected
how the law was manifested. It is important that we make a clear
distinction between the Law and the "manifestations"
of the law. Here we must avoid getting bogged down in endless
explanations of these manifestations which can become very confusing,
but the few examples we shall give for clarification should
be helpful.
Before proceeding further let us first state unequivocally
that no one can be saved nor made righteous by works of the
law including God's law. Frankly, it was never intended to serve
that purpose from its very introduction (an erroneous opinion
all too often held by Christians). We are saved by grace through
faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ alone (Eph 2:8-9).
What purpose then does the law serve? The concept that one is
redeemed through "works" of the Law has been dubbed
"legalism", a trend greatly feared by the Church and
rightfully cautioned against. But perhaps an inordinate fear
of "legalism" has so infused the Church that even
God's law has been victimized by it. The truth is that "illegalism"
has plagued the Church far more than legalism and has wreaked
far more havoc, but never reached "code word" status
as the term "Legalism." Yet
all too often we have simply substituted institutional or denominational
laws, which are viewed as being somehow safe and helpful, for
the laws of God that are usually considered dangerous and "risky
business".
It is necessary, particularly with this sensitive subject,
that we deal in Bible absolutes. Here is a fundamental Bible
absolute uttered from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ: "Do
not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell
you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest
letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear
from the Law until everything is accomplished" (Mt 5:17
NIV).
David in the Psalms informs us "the heaven and earth abide
forever." Therefore, we must apply the same degree of eternality
to the Law of God. Despite what is often quoted, there is no
hint in Scripture that God's law was ever nailed to the cross,
abolished, canceled, terminated, abrogated nor repealed. That
traditional Christian idea needs to be put to rest. No noble
cause is served in attempting to defend the concept of "grace"
by discrediting the law. The only thing that could be remotely
construed as suggesting that notion is the isolated mention
of terminating "carnal ordinances", etc. (manifestations).
This terminating effect (of fleshly rituals), the scriptures
clearly confirm (Heb 9:10, Col 2:14). It is the underlying principles
(laws) contained in those manifestations that must be perceived
and understood as being the eternal irrevocable law of God.
This is not difficult to understand.
For example, the "Law of Sacrifice" continues to
be in force today. The death of Jesus on the cross did not cancel
the sacrificial law. However, faulty interpretation of scripture
has led many to think so and to act accordingly. The Church
today should continue the practice of offering sacrifices. It
is true that because of Christ we need no more slain or dead
sacrifices to be offered for SIN. But there is a definite ongoing
need for the Law of Sacrifice to be manifested in the Church
and in the lives of God's people. The scriptures teach us that
we are to be "living sacrifices" (Ro 12:1). In this
instance, the "manifestation" of that law changed
from animals to humans and from dead to living sacrifices but
"sacrifice" nonetheless, i.e., by the sacrifice or
the offering up of our time, finances, praises, worship, etc.
(Php 4:18, Heb 13:15). We must have in our lives an ongoing
"physical" manifestation of God's laws because we
must reflect His divine nature and character. To say that the
Church is in desperate need of this sacrificial manifestation
today is a definite understatement. God's laws are as eternal
as He is. The future trend of the Body of Christ must be, to
conform to His image.
The Apostle Paul gives further insight into this concept with
the following statement in Ro 7:12, 13: "Wherefore the
law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was
then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid..."
The death of Jesus upon the cross was primarily for the purpose
of changing the heart of man (Eze 11:19-20), not the law of
God. It is inconsistent to suggest that God would destroy the
very laws which He had purposed to write on the tables of mens'
hearts. For this reason Paul could say "Do we then make
void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the
law" (Ro 3:31). It is unconscionable that anyone would
persist in a theology that Paul categorized as "God forbidden".
The laws of celebration are similar. God did not give a "cease
and desist" order regarding the celebration of Biblical
memorial days (primarily Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles)
with the advent of Jesus as Messiah. Jesus is the very heart
and soul of these Feast celebrations. What did change was the
"manifestation". No more ancient ritualism was required
for the Passover day celebration. Christ is our Passover (1
Co 5-7), Therefore we ought to partake of the "Lord's Supper"
on that memorial day as He instructed (Luke 22:19). Biblical
festivals are eternal celebrations. They should be celebrated
in the light of the New Covenant and the eternal principle involved.
God's code of moral conduct and ethical standards knows as
the "Ten Commandments" are still valid. While they
have no redemptive value, nor was that their original purpose,
they remain a measure for righteousness and a disciplinary guide.
Even the dietary laws, while not redemptive nor obligatory,
are conducive to good health and a worthy guideline to the proper
treatment of our "temples of the Holy Spirit". The
scientific community could well endorse them.
THE LAW OF LIBERTY
"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged
by the law of liberty" (Jas 2:12).
This passage is occasionally offered as "proof text"
for asserting that we were liberated from the law of God. This
scripture speaks entirely of our liberation from sin by the
mercies of God. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has indeed made us free from the law of sin and death, but not
free from the laws of God (Ro 8:2). A misconception of this
reference to the "Law of Liberty" has too often resulted
in a concept of a lawless liberty, i.e., turning liberty into
license. Liberty is the cornerstone of our democracy in the
United States, but it is our legal system that guarantees the
preservation of that liberty. The law of God remains valid.
When we take occasion to transgress it, the debt is paid through
repentance and faith in Christ's sacrifice. While disobedience
to the law of God does not disqualify us from being children
of God, unrepentance will exact a price.
The inclination to develop a theology that nullifies the law
of God is perhaps a subconscious effort to absolve oneself from
the responsibility of its requirements. If indeed the law of
God had been abolished, the scripture teaches that it would
be impossible to sin (1 John 3:4, Ro 5:13). The very existence
of sin confirms the perpetuity of God's laws. There is a form
to godliness and it is the law that defines it (2 Timothy 3:5).
At the same time we must not deny the power (spiritual dimension).
The theology of "lawless grace" (antinomianism, i.e.,
"sin that grace may abound") reveals a gross lack
of vision in the big picture of what is involved in the Gospel
of the Kingdom. The destiny of the people of God is to rule
and reign with Christ in an eternal physical kingdom upon the
earth. The world will be subjected to the law of God that comes
forth from Mt. Zion. What law will it be? It will be the same
eternal law that has existed before time in the bosom of the
Father, manifested at different times in different ways, but
the same in principle. That law will once again be the international
"law of the land" to be obeyed by the peoples of earth
and manifested as is directed from Jerusalem.
So! Is the Law of God illegal? It really is an absurd question
after all!
"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul..."
(Ps 19:7).
Is
the Law of God Illegal?