Expert: Dean Gade - 2/12/2012

Question
I understand we no longer live under the law like the Jews did. Still sometimes it gets hard to understand when reading letters like James and 1 John that talk about commandment keeping. I meet people all the time who believe in keeping the ten commandments. Our preacher at Church of Christ stated the Ten and the whole law was nailed to cross. Still it gets confusing because it seems people get saved then try keep the Torah sorta speak. Could you shed some light on law vs grace? Ten commandments and the New Testament Christian?

Answer
Josh
The confusion of whether we are still under Law after being saved by the blood of our Savior, AND Lord, has always been and will be among us till Jesus comes again.

The Scripture is clear:

Rom 10:3-4
3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. NIV

The Law is perfect, it is from God Himself but it was and is only meant to bring people to the end of themselves.  That is, that they be totally dependent on God's Grace shown in Jesus' sacrifice taking all our sins on Himself....and thus fulfilling all of the Law, perfectly, in our place.  Whenever we try to establish our righteousness before God, we need the Law again.

Rom 3:19-20
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. NIV

AND:

Gal 3:10
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them."RSV

The emphasis is on the doing "all" things written. Any who choose to still be under the Law must be brought to know that they have to keep the whole Law, "every jot and tittle" or be cursed.

To gain God's favor by our "doing" for Him only leads to self righteousness.....like the pharisee who thanked God that he was "not like others, like this tax collector".
It is our fleshly pride that desiring us to be righteous by our works that makes the confusion dangerous to all Christians. God's Grace,that is: His "unmerited favor", can't be earned.  It is a gift from our heavenly Father and shown in Him sending His Son to save us. For this reason God sent His Son. And He "finished" that job on the cross.

The Reformation theologians dealt with this confusion about the Law by writing about the Three Uses Of The Law(Book of Concord).  1. That it tells us the will of God for the whole world.  2. That it brings people to the knowledge that they can't save themselves. 3. That for Christians it is a guideline to direct us to the will of God.
Number 3 speaks to us as Christians who desire to lead a sanctified life, but still with the understanding that God is not only the source of our justification, but also our sanctification. It's all by His power.  We are totally dependent on Him in these things.

Most Christians do confuse Justification with Sanctification (living the sanctifies life by being led by the Spirit of God). But sanctification should be looked at as guidance for maturity in Christ with the knowledge that we won't be totally holy till Jesus comes again. And that this maturity only comes about by keeping our eyes on Jesus, getting to know Him better and better for He is more than any of us can fully comprehend.

2 Cor 3:7-18
7 Now if the dispensation of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such splendor that the Israelites could not look at Moses' face because of its brightness, fading as this was, 8 will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor? 9 For if there was splendor in the dispensation of condemnation, the dispensation of righteousness must far exceed it in splendor. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had splendor has come to have no splendor at all, because of the splendor that surpasses it. 11 For if what faded away came with splendor, what is permanent must have much more splendor.
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not see the end of the fading splendor. 14 But their minds were hardened; for to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; 16 but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
RSV


The Law had its glory in our lives but now being changed by beholding Jesus.

I hope this has helped. Even St.Paul had trouble in his soul over this matter after preaching to us.  Please read Romans chapter 7 where he cries out "who will deliver me... Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ".