Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Under the Law?

In the past I found references to not being under the law confusing. Some use the scriptures that say we are no longer under the law to mean our way of living has no bearing on our relationship with God (Romans 6:14; Galatians 3:23: 1Timothy 1:9-10; Hebrew 7:18). But other scripture teaches that willful sins break the relationship with God (Hebrew 10:26-31; Galatians 5:19-21).

I sorted this out in my head by thinking of scripture as referring to the law in to ways, one meaning the sacrifice of animals to obtain forgiveness and one meaning rules like, Thou shalt not kill. I believed we should obey the law of rules (the ten commandments,) but not have to bring animal sacrifices for sin. However all references to the law include the Ten Commandments as well as the animal sacrifices. So does this actually mean we can go on sinning? Absolutely not.

A close study of New Testament scripture references to the law makes clear that we stop violating God's ordinances, not because we are under the law, but because Christ has changed our hearts (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:1-18; Galatians 5:19-23; 1Timothy 1:8-11).

So we are not saved through the law, but through God's work of Grace in us which causes us not to sin, but to live a holy life pleasing to the Father (Ephesians 2:8-10, 4:1; Galatians 5:22-23; Colossians 1:10). We have a changed heart.