So is the Old Testament Law worthless? By no means!

The law serves a most necessary purpose.

They [unbelievers] will never accept grace

until they tremble before a just and holy Law.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I do not believe that any man can preach the gospel

who does not preach the law.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Charles Spurgeon

The purpose of the Law is to reveal to us our sin.

Romans 7:7-13 (ESV)
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.

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

Romans 7:7 (ESV) 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.”

Romans 3:9-10 (ESV)
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;  

Galatians 2:19 (ESV) For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.

This follows along with the post about Paul. 

Can we trust the word from the other disciples? 

Or could they have been deceived by Paul?

This might seem strange to most believers to question the disciples but that is what Satan wants us to do.  “Hath God Said?”  So Satan comes along and encourages others to question the disciples and the books in the NT written by them and Paul.  Satan doesn’t mind convincing you that you are doing just fine because you are willing to follow the Words of God, it is just the disciples or Paul that you question.  But that is very dangerous territory.

See who wrote the Words of God for us?

• Moses
• The Prophets
• David
• Solomon
• The Disciples
• Paul

Did God write down the Words of God?

Two instances that I know are recorded that the Lord physically wrote.

Exodus 31:18 And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. ESV

John 8:8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. ESV

Beyond that every word of God was written by a man through the Holy Spirit.  So if we start throwing out, nullifying or belittling the writings of the disciples, we are tampering with Scripture ourselves.

How can we then know what God has said if we cannot trust the words written by Paul, the disciples or the prophets?

Is Paul’s “gospel” a different gospel?

Did he change God’s Word to fit his gospel?

Why Paul’s writings are accepted by the church?

Paul’s writing and teachings are typically accepted by the church today.  However, there are often groups that attempt to undermine Paul’s teachings by saying that they are different or contradictory to Jesus’ teachings.  I have actually heard women say Paul hated women because they feel Paul placed women lower than men and confined them to silence and the home without allowing for their gifts.  There is a new grouping called The New Perspective on Paul by NT Wright.  John Piper actually wrote a book refuting that position.  There are groups that say only the words of Christ are gospel (Red Letter Christians).  I can’t keep up with all the various teachings that denigrate Paul to being unimportant or to have taught a different gospel than Jesus did.  Some even call Christianity “Pauline Christianity”.

Satan wants to continually undermine God’s Word.  He won’t come right out and say it is all false, but Satan, as since the beginning with Eve, just questions little bits and pieces until he leaves God’s Word full of holes like Swiss cheese.

The Early Church accepted Paul’s writing because the original Apostles accepted Paul’s writings. 

The first time we meet Paul (Saul) in Scripture is here.

Acts 7:58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ESV

Acts 8:1-3

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. ESV

By this point every single Apostle, believer and disciple knew who Paul was just as every German Jew knew Hitler.  Paul was so feared that when he converted he still was rejected for fear of him being a spy.

Paul was so gung-ho about persecution that he sought letters to allow him to enter other synagogues instead of just the Jerusalem Synagogues.  He wanted to eradicate all believers in Jesus.

But after the journey on the road to Damascus, Paul is forever changed and transformed.

We in Scripture are given little information about the entourage traveling with Paul at that time.  But several men were traveling with him, remember he was going to round up believers and kill or torture them.  That would require many men.

Acts 9:7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. ESV

Don’t you know these men reported this and talked of it to many?

Acts 9:8-9

8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.  ESV

Then even after Ananis was told by God to talk to Paul he hesitated.  Why? Because everyone knew Paul and his reputation.  But look at what God told Ananis:

Acts 9:15-16

15 “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” ESV

That in itself is enough for us to trust what Paul says and has written.  Notice also this information is from Ananis and is recorded in Acts by Luke.  This isn’t Paul saying this.  But is that not exactly what Paul did.  God’s Word will be fulfilled exactly as He said, always.

Then next the turnaround in Paul was so distinct that everyone was amazed.

Acts 9:19-22

19 For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. ESV

Imagine along the lines of Hitler changing and becoming a Jew, not just a Jew in name only but out “Jewing” Jews. 

The change in Paul was so profound that he was within a few days in risk of being killed by the Jews he had previously been working for.

Upon escaping Damascus and going to Jerusalem the disciples there would have nothing to do with him for fear of him.  However, Barnabas took Paul to the disciples and vouched for him and his faith.

Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.   ESV

But even in Jerusalem, Paul’s life was in danger and the disciples sent him to safety.

Paul spent many years in Tarsus but after Barnabas came to get Paul and brought him to Antioch, then the church there began to grow by leaps and bounds, so much so, that prophets came from Jerusalem to be a part of the church in Antioch.

Set apart as a Missionary

The church in Antioch was praying and fasting and the Lord told them that they should set apart Barnabas and Paul for missionaries.

Acts 13:2-3

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. ESV

We read about Paul performing miracles.

Acts 13:8-12

8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?

11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.   ESV

Acts 14:3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ESV

Acts 14:8-10

8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.

9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 

10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. ESV

Paul and Barnabus would not allow others to worship them, but pointed all to Christ.

Acts 14:11-15

11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,

15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. ESV

After being stone Paul rose up and went back into that very same city preaching the gospel.

Acts 14:19-20

19  But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. ESV

Even the demons knew who Paul was.

Acts 16:17-18 (ESV)
17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

 Many of the church and the disciples were given visions about the impending death of Paul.

Acts 21:4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ESV

Acts 21:10-14

10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”  ESV

James, Peter and John accepted Paul as being sent to the Gentiles.

Galatians 2:7-9

7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised

8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),

9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ESV

Peter accepted the Word of God as revealed through Paul calling it Scriptures.

2 Peter 3:15-16

15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. ESV

Calling writings Scripture is accepting the fact that they are God Breathed.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

So we can see that Paul’s writings were called Scripture by the Disciples and that Paul was preaching the Gospel of Christ, not Paul’s Gospel!

Acts 20:24-27

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,

27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.  ESV

Galatians 1:6-12

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

7  not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 

12  For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. ESV

So can we trust Paul’s word? 

Definitely you can, unless you are then also going to throw out the other disciple’s writings or maybe the Prophets.

It is a very dangerous thing to throw out the writings of Paul.

It is also very dangerous to say that Paul contradicts the Lord’s Word.

Paul’s writings are just as valid Scripture as any other writings in the Bible.

So if there seems to be a contradiction we must study the issue better and ask God for the wisdom to reconcile all of Scripture with itself, not our feeble opinions.

The seriousness of NT believers returning to the Law is shown through several verses in Scripture.  Here are just two of them in both the ESV and the KJV.

Fallen From Grace

Galatians 5:4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. ESV

Galatians 5:4 (KJV) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.  

This verse is pretty clear that you have fallen from Grace if you think the law will justify you.  What does justified mean?  To be counted righteous.  If you feel that being obedient to the law makes you more righteous, than you have fallen from grace. 

Because see then your Salvation becomes Jesus plus the Law and not Christ alone.  Following the Law is a work of the flesh and no one can follow the Law.  Only Christ successfully followed the Law and thus He fulfilled it for each of us.

This commentary by Luther is quite helpful to understanding this passage.

Galatians 5:4 (Underlining added)

Paul in this verse discloses that he is not speaking so much of circumcision as the trust which men repose in the outward act. We can hear him say: “I do not condemn the Law in itself; what I condemn is that men seek to be justified by the Law, as if Christ were still to come, or as if He alone were unable to justify sinners. It is this that I condemn, because it makes Christ of no effect. It makes you void of Christ so that Christ is not in you, nor can you be partakers of the knowledge, the spirit, the fellowship, the liberty, the life, or the achievements of Christ. You are completely separated from Him, so much so that He has nothing to do with you any more, or for that matter you with Him.” Can anything worse be said against the Law? If you think Christ and the Law can dwell together in your heart, you may be sure that Christ dwells not in your heart. For if Christ is in your heart He neither condemns you, nor does He ever bid you to trust in your own good works. If you know Christ at all, you know that good works do not serve unto righteousness, nor evil works unto condemnation. I do not want to withhold from good works their due praise, nor do I wish to encourage evil works. But when it comes to justification, I say, we must concentrate upon Christ alone, or else we make Him non-effective. You must choose between Christ and the righteousness of the Law. If you choose Christ you are righteous before God. If you stick to the Law, Christ is of no use to you.

(from Luther’s Commentary on Galatians, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 1999, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Law is not of Faith

Galatians 3:10-12

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” ESV

Galatians 3:10-12 (KJV)

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

As we know “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23) and in Galatians Paul tells us that the Law is not of faith.  All through the OT we see that the just were saved by faith and not by the Law.  The Law never saved any OT saint.  The Law revealed our sin but Jesus fulfilled the Law and He saved us by faith in Him.

Are we justified through faith in Jesus or through the Law?  If the Law is not of faith then we can’t be justified by faith and the Law.

So does it matter that Galatians was written by Paul?  Did Paul change God’s instructions? Can we trust the words of Paul? Next we’ll look at Paul’s writings to see if we can trust them.

I must admit this wasn’t something that I was particularly interested in beyond the general interest I have in all of God’s Word.  But the Lord desired me to really study His Word concerning the Law.  I have had several people email me asking questions about it.  I also got a comment on a previous post about the OT dietary laws.  Beyond that I had been noticing more and more over the last few years an increase in the interest of believers following the OT dietary laws, feast and other regulations.  I’m not talking about Jews who have become believers but Gentile believers whom are turning to follow the Law.

It was clear to me in the NT that believers are not bound by the Law and are even warned to not return to the Law.  However, when I ran across this teaching essentially I ignored it as a wrong teaching and something to pity those who fell into it.  But the Lord has convicted me that this isn’t just some wrong teaching but is a false Gospel.  We are not talking about the differences between denominations but the differences between being a Christian and a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness.

There is so much of the NT that deals with this return to the Law.  The whole books of Galatians and Hebrews are full of warning about returning to the Law.  All through the NT you can find references to the Law, Covenants and returning to the OT Law.  Paul warns the Galatians of this False Gospel with dire warnings of having “fallen from Grace” or being “under a curse”.  That is downright serious and thus I’m convicted by the Lord that I should not have let that slide without confronting it.

Galatians 5:4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. ESV

Galatians 3:10-12

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” ESV

Also as Terry and I discussed those who are teaching this return to the Law also tend to focus on what name they use to refer to Jesus and God.  I don’t know if that is consistent or not just something we’ve noticed.  Many of the differences in interpretation are furthermore blamed upon the differences in Bible translations with of course the KJV being the preferred translation.  I don’t know what significance those features all have with each other though. 

So let us examine the Scriptures and see what they say about the Law and specific portions of it such as Dietary Laws, Circumcision, Sabbath observance, etc.

Because this subject can get so convoluted with different topics and verses I’m going to try to stick with one idea at a time.

Seven Principles of Finance for the Believer – by Jim & Pam Elliff

One of the most recognizable differences in the believer and the world he lives in is his unusual relationship to money and possessions. However, even serious believers sometimes balk at the seeming extremities in the teaching and lifestyle of Christ and the leaders of the New Testament church. Can we duplicate this New Testament lifestyle in our day?

This outline provides the diligent believer with some key principals preparing him/her for radical, other-worldly financial behavior. Alone, or if married, with your spouse, take some time for reading the Scripture texts and thinking through the obedient thing to do in each area. Then write out what you find. There is only one thing for you to do after this meditation … obey!

1. The Principle of Non-Attachment
I will purchase or receive nothing that I cannot give away.

And He said to them, “Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions. Luke 12:15

Luke 12:32-34; 16:13-25; 1 John 2:15-17

What must be done to obey these verses?

2. The Principle of Liberty
I will owe no man anything but to love him.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. Rom. 13:8

Pro. 22:7

What must be done to obey these verses?

3. The Principle of Liberality
I will constantly seek to give away possessions for God’s glory.

For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 2 Cor. 8:3-5

2 Cor. 9:7; Luke 6:38

What must be done to obey these verses?

4. The Principle of Recall
I will keep accurate records of God’s dealings with me financially in order to show others that God answers prayer and provides for His own.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Mat. 5:16

Prov. 27:23-27

What must be done to obey these verses?

5. The Principle of Security
I will save and invest only if God is leading, with the understanding that I will give it all away at His slightest instruction.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and dust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up your treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal. Mat. 6:19-20

Prov. 28:8; 1 Tim. 6:9-11

What must be done to obey these verses?

6. The Principle of Compassion
I will not pray for someone’s needs financially unless I am willing to be the instrument God uses to meet that need if He should desire.

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 1 John 3:16-18

James 2:15-17; Luke 6:30, 38; II Cor. 9:6-15; Prov. 28:27

What must be done to obey these verses?

7. The Principle of Contentment
I will be content to live on whatever God chooses to provide, whether little or much.

Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phil. 4:11-13

Prov. 30:7-9; Matt. 6:24-34; 1 Tim. 6:8

What must be done to obey these verses?

Copyright © 1996 Jim and Pam Elliff
Christian Communicators Worldwide, Inc.
201 Main, Parkville, MO 64152 USA
www.CCWtoday.org
Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright
Other uses require written permission. Write for additional materials.

What is the relationship between the Christian and the Law? Does the Law of Moses, including the dietary Law, have any place in a Christian’s life? We are told in 1 Timothy 1:8 that the Law is good, but then Paul goes on in verse 9 to tell us that the Law is not made for the righteous person, but for the unrighteous.

1 Timothy 1:8-10

8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine (KJV)

In other words, the purpose of the Law in this New Testament era is to convict the unrighteous of their sins, not to govern the life of the believer. Paul writes this in the book of Galatians:

Galatians 3:24-25

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (KJV)

by Berean Husband