Original Sin?

Original Sin and Inherited Sin
Is the idea of original sin and inherited sin found in the Bible? Do all humans inherit the sin of Adam as some claim? Are all humans totally depraved, or in a completely sinful position, from the time they are born? It is true that all people are born into a world containing sin and as humans we will all sin. This idea is stated by Paul in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Every person will sin, but are we born sinful? Did we inherit sin? Do we have a sinful nature? A careful study of the Word of God will reveal to the reader that human beings are in fact not born sinful nor born in a depraved state.
People claim that every human is born sinful. What is the definition of sin? The Bible teaches the following about sin in I John 3:4; “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” The Bible also says that the result of sin is spiritual death, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” If the payment for sin is spiritual death, and sin is a breaking of God’s law, what law has a newborn baby broken? Why should they receive the payment of something they have not done? This definition of sin is very important to remember. Sin is simply breaking God’s law, nothing else.
The Bible teaches that works of the flesh are sins that people commit. Paul gives a list of sins in Galatians 5:19-21; “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Many other passages could be sighted giving further sins, as these listed here are not an exhaustive list. The author uses this passage because the phrase “and such like” encompasses every other sin imaginable. Also note that sins are not only actions in our flesh, but also of our thoughts, Matt. 5:28, 1 John 2, 3, 4, etc.) If sins are a Transgression of God’s law by works of the flesh or evil thoughts can a newborn human that does not know God’s law, is physically unable to commit any of the works of the flesh, and mentally unable to sin in thought, be guilty of sin? If the Biblical definition of sin is an evil work of the flesh or evil thought of the mind, both of which breaks God’s law, can there be another manmade definition of sin?
Children, especially newborn babies, do not know the difference between good and evil. They are not able to commit transgressions of God’s law. We have an example from the Old Testament about the neutral nature of children. The Israelites had refused to obey God and fight against the land of Canaan. Twelve spies were sent into the land, and only Joshua and Caleb had faith in God to make them victorious. The following verses is God’s reply to these people; Deuteronomy 1:39-41 “Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD,. . .” Notice that God’s says that the children had no knowledge of good or evil. All humans are born neutral in the eyes of God because of this fact. The Children of Israel were being punished because “we have sinned”, they truthfully claim. Children, especially babies, do not know good or evil and therefore cannot transgress any of God’s laws by committing works of the flesh and giving way to evil thoughts.
Because of this definition of sin it is clearly seen that original sin cannot exist because sin is an action a person does contrary to God’s law. What about the idea of inheriting sin? This would be sin passed on from parents to children. The prophet Ezekiel speaks about this subject in Ezekiel 18:4-20. To conserve space, only the main points of this passage will be noted. Please read the passage in its entirety on your own. Ezekiel 18:4; “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” The prophet tells us that the soul that sins, or transgresses God’s law, shall die. What has a newborn baby done worthy of death if they are physically and mentally unable to sin? Notice especially Ezekiel 18:19-20; “Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” Again the Prophet states this unmistakable fact: the soul that commits sin will die. Sin is not and cannot be passed on from father to son. To say so is to deny the inspired writings of the Bible. The “wickedness of the wicked” is his and his alone. It is not passed on to his or her children.
Many people believe that Romans 5:12 teaches the idea of original sin. Let us examine this verse to see what God would have us to know. Paul states in Romans 5:12; “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” On the surface this verse seems to say that because of Adam and his sin every human to live after him will inherit his guilt. However, this verse comes nowhere near teaching such false doctrine. First, Paul, by inspiration, states that “because by one man sin entered into the world”. Adam introduced sin into the world because he was the first man to commit sin. “And death by sin” Please recall Romans 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death;. . “ and Romans 3:23; “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Sin was introduced into the world, and, because all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death, death is now entered into the world. This can be applied to physical death, but the context of the passage teaches that the death is a spiritual death. That is why Paul is explaining the necessity of Jesus Christ. Finally, “and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”. What passed on to all men? Adam’s sin? By no means! Death passed on to all men! Why? Because “for that all have sinned”! The only reason “death passed upon all men” is because “all have sinned” and “the wages of sin is death.”
Original Sin is a man made term that states that we are born full of sin and have inherited sin from Adam. This is not the Biblical definition of sin. Sin is something that transgresses God’s law. Only those who go past, or transgress, the law that God gave to govern men and women in Jesus Christ can commit sin. Sin is not passed on from father to son. A newborn baby can do none of the above-mentioned things. God’s definition of sin contradicts man’s definition of sin. Which is it then? Men or God? What kind of God would condemn an infant or child of sin when that child has done nothing contrary to God’s Law? What kind of doctrine would teach something so contrary to the nature of God and the biblical definition of sin? God created man in his own image, and said it was good, Genesis 1:26-27. God does not continue to create his children evil and full of sin.

What are we to do?

What does the Bible teach about the subject of Judging? This topic is one that is misunderstood and misused by many people. Can a Christian judge? What does the Bible mean when it tells us not to judge? What does the Bible mean when it tells us to judge? This article will deal with the Master’s commands on judging.
Last article stressed the importance of understanding the complete picture of topics found in the Bible. The Christian should never pit the Bible against itself to make it contradict direct teachings found within its pages. Taking the sum of all the parts should form the complete picture, without discounting individual parts or opposing one particular part with another part. This is true with the teachings of salvation, and is likewise true in regards to the teachings of judging. The word Judge is used in a variety of ways within the New Testament. The word, depending upon the context, could mean to choose between right and wrong, decide an action to be righteous or unrighteous, to come to a conclusion, or to condemn or bring condemnation by pronouncing a sentence upon an individual. While the first three options are synonymous, the last option is altogether different. Our God uses the word in both ways in his teachings regarding judging.
We, as Christians, are commanded by Jesus himself to judge. The Bibles states, in John 7:24, “Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” Jesus tells us that we must judge things not according to what they may or may not look like, but judge righteously, in regards to truth, in regards to what the Bible says. Jesus also spoke concerning himself in John 5:30, “I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” This is a principle that we as Christians are obligated to adopt for our own lives as well. We cannot judge according to what we wish, nor can we judge in regards to anything other than God’s will. As we understand the Bible and the teachings found therein, we must judge according to what we hear, judge things as righteous or unrighteous in regards to what the Lord has spoken, not according to appearance or our own desires. We must be able to tell the difference, or come to a conclusion, between actions that are sinful and contrary to the word of God and actions that are righteous.
Many would claim that telling an individual that their actions are sinful is being judgmental and therefore likewise sinful. People claim that ‘judge not’ means ‘do not tell me I am wrong’! This conclusion is wrong and in direct opposition to the teachings of the Bible. We must judge things either sinful or not sinful, according to what God has spoken on the subject, and warn people about the sin in their lives. Consider II Timothy 2:24-26 where Paul states; “And the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.” How can we correct those that oppose themselves if we cannot tell them what they are doing is wrong? How can people recover themselves from the devil’s snare if it is judging, and therefore wrong, to tell someone they are living in sin? Likewise, Christians are told to do the same thing for wayward Christians; Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” How can we restore the wayward Christian if we cannot tell them that they are wrong? The simple truth is that Christians are obligated to judge according to what God has said, preaching the difference between right and wrong, and warning people who are living wrong and in danger of loosing their souls. (The verses proving that teaching the lost and restoring the fallen are to numerous to list in this article. James 5, I Cor. 5, II Cor. 2, II Thess. 3, Rom. 15, Matt. 28, Mk. 16, II Tim. 2 etc. just to name a very few.)
In contrast to this idea we find the second definition of the word ‘judge’ in the Bible. People, in their quest to defend their evil actions, time and again refer to Matthew 7 and John 8 to make the claim that Christians cannot judge. It is likely that a Christian telling a lost soul, or a wayward Christian, that their actions are sinful will be quoted Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Why people pit the Bible against itself to make it contradict itself is unknown to this author. Please take a moment to read both Matthew 7:1-5 and John 8:3-11. In both contexts the people are scolded and taught that judging another person guilty of the same action that you are doing is a great sin. Hypocrisy is a sinful action that the Lord hates. In John 8:3-11 Jesus condemns the sin of both the people and the woman taken in adultery. Jesus condemns the hypocrites who were trying to trick him. Jesus condemns the adultery. Jesus, not being a witness to the adultery, could not bring the death sentence upon the woman, as Deuteronomy 22 teaches. The parallel to Matthew 7:1-5 is Luke 6:37-44ff. This passage likewise condemns judging people while doing the very actions that you are judging against. This is hypocrisy! This is the key point to Christ’s condemnation of the Pharisees! Not that they were telling the people that they were living in sin, but that they were telling the people they were sinful while they themselves committed the very same actions. Romans 2:1-3, “Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judges another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things. And we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that practise such things. And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” The Pharisees also held the common Jew to a higher standard then they themselves were willing to be held to, Matthew 23:2-7. This is exactly why Jesus states that a person will be judged according to their own standards, when those standard exceed or contradict the standards of God himself.
As Christians we must not speak evil of others and count them as enemies. This idea is contrary to the teachings of Christ. No Christian has the right or authority to tell an individual, ‘you are a lousy sinner who is going straight to hell!’. However, we are obligated to say ‘your soul is in jeopardy for living in sin, you need to make it right with God.’ There is a huge difference between condemning someone to hell and meekly teaching them the right ways of the Lord. As Christians we must judge. We must be able to preach the difference between right and wrong. We must kindly, meekly, and humbly correct those in sin by boldly saying that their actions are sinful, hating the sin and loving the sinner. Finally, consider the inspired writer, Jude 1:20-23, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have mercy, who are in doubt; and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

What does it say?

What does it say?

It is extremely important to understand the fact that context determines exactly what statements, commands, examples, and practices mean in the Bible. The context of any given statement determines the way in which people should understand that statement. It is illogical to open the bible to a random page, read a random verse, and automatically assume that the verse applies directly to the man or woman who is reading the passage. Imagine if a person opened his or her Bible to II Samuel 7:16 which states; “And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever”, and tried to apply that verse to his or her personal life. Does this verse mean that the man or woman will be made a king or queen and have a kingdom that will be established forever? No person would assume that this verse applies to his or her personal life in anyway. Why? The answer lies within the fact that the context determines what this statement means, whom it is given to, and how it fits within the Holy Scriptures.

Every verse of scripture must be read within its context. No verse should be divorced of its context and bent to mean something that it does not mean. Furthermore, no verse of the Bible should be used to teach something contradictory to another verse in the Bible. Every verse must be held within its context, and studied in accordance with other verses in the Bible. For example, the Bible states in Romans 10:9-10 “Because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Several things may be assumed by this particular verse of scripture. Firstly, a person may come to the conclusion that all one must do to be saved is confess with the mouth and believe with the heart. Secondly, a person may use this verse to disprove other verses in the Bible. If someone said that faith is involved in salvation, as is found in Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him”, does this contradict what Romans 10:9-10 says? God forbid. If a person claimed that Hebrews 11:6 proves faith is required for salvation, someone else should not use Romans 10:9-10 to prove that faith is not required for salvation. The two verses do not cancel each other out. The two verses must be joined and reconciled together, as they are both Holy Scripture. Therefore, we read and understand that confession, belief, and faith are all required for salvation. Is this all that is required for salvation, according to the Bible? Again, no it is not.

The bible teaches that hearing the word of God is required to become pleasing to God. Romans 10:17 reads; “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ”. If it is impossible to please God without faith, Hebrews 11:6, and faith does not come except through hearing the word, Romans 10:17, the two verses must be reconciled together to form an even bigger picture than confession, belief, and faith. The fact that one must hear the word of Christ to be saved does not cancel out the fact that one must confess, believe, and have faith. Is this the conclusion of what is required for salvation? Again, no it is not. Jesus told the people in Luke 13 that not only the extremely wicked people would be punished for sin, but also everyone who did not repent of sin would be punished. Jesus states, in Luke 13:3 “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Does the fact that every human must repent for salvation cancel out the fact that people must hear, believe, confess, and have faith for salvation? Is it proper to disprove confession as necessary for salvation by saying you must repent? God forbid. The Holy Scripture must be put together to come to a complete picture of salvation from sin. Scripture must not be used to disprove other scripture. Scripture must be unified together to come to the complete understanding. We must hear the word of Christ, Romans 10:17, confess Christ before men, Romans 10:9, believe with the heart, Romans 10:10, have faith in God, Hebrews 11:6, and repent of all sins, Luke 13:3,5.

Is Hearing, Believing, Confessing, and Repenting all that is necessary for salvation in Christ Jesus? Again, no it is not. The Bible and all the Holy Scriptures must be put together to form the complete picture of salvation. The Bible teaches in Acts 2:38 “And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Here we have another step required for salvation, baptism. In the context the people to whom Peter was preaching to came to a conclusion; they had killed the Christ, the son of God. They believed he was Christ, they heard about him as Christ through Peter’s preaching, they are horrified by their sin and asked Peter in verse 37, “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter, seeing that they have heard, understanding that they have believed, tells them to repent and be baptized for remission of sins.

Jesus told his Apostles, before his ascension into Heaven, the following: Mark 16:15-16, “And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Jesus Christ himself states that part of the complete picture of salvation is baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Peter tells us in his book, 1 Peter 3:21, that “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The Bible teaches that people must walk in newness of life, a life dead unto sin and alive unto God. Romans 6:2-6 teaches the following; we must die to sin. A dead person is buried, as Christ was buried. Yet Christ rose from the dead, and we, likewise, must rise from the death unto sin to walk in newness of life. No one can be saved without walking in newness of life. How does one obtain newness of life? Romans 6:4 tells exactly how this happens; “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Notice that we are buried with Christ, dead unto sin, by baptism. The only way to rise in newness of life is to be baptized; when we are raised out of that water we are saved from sin, walking in newness of life. Newness of life cannot be obtained without first dying to sin and being buried in baptism. We must also put on Christ to be saved from sin. How does one put on Christ? Galatians 3:27 tells exactly how this happens, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” We put on Christ by no other way but baptism.

What saves us then according to the Bible, the complete picture? Hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and baptism. Who will be lost, Mark 16:16? Those that are not baptized. Where is the remission of sins, Acts 2:38? Baptism. What saves us, I Peter 3:21? Baptism. How do we walk the new, Christian life, Romans 6:2-6? Baptism. How do we put on Christ, Galatians 3:27? Baptism. Why in the world would anyone use verses that teach about confession, faith, belief, and hearing to prove that baptism is not necessary for salvation? Why make the Bible fight against itself? Why not reconcile all the verses into the complete picture of salvation? Hearing the word, believing the word, confessing Christ, repenting from sin, and dying to sin by walking the new life by putting on Christ, all done through baptism. Only one more part and the picture is complete. Revelation 2:10, “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” 1 John 5:2-3 “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” Live the faithful life. Live the life by following the Law of Christ, the things that have been commanded. The things that, in respect of Christ’s love toward us and his death on the cross, are not grievous at all. Acknowledge the fact that baptism is not to join a group or church, but is for salvation before Almighty God. Stop fighting the Bible with the Bible, and see the complete picture.

Jesus told his Apostles in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Become a disciple of Christ by being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and by learning to observe all things that God has commanded. Lets end with a personal challenge: If your religious group practices things that are not in the Bible (all things whatsoever I commanded you), or does things in a different way than what was commanded, as you read the bible, why not try to find a group that does everything according to the pattern? (Hebrews 8:5).

For a personal bible study with Joshua Haley, please email me at jdhaley@cox.net
To learn more about the Lord’s church, visit with us Sunday morning at 9:30 at 6001 Garner Drive, Oklahoma City. (59th and Anderson, just south of I-40/north of I-240.)
For a church of Christ near you, please email me for information regarding phone numbers and addresses.

The Christian and Law

Christians and Law

What does the Bible tell Christians today about Law? Are we as Christians under Law? If we are, what is that Law? Or, as Christians, do we enjoy freedom in Christ Jesus? Many people today are confused about Law and the Christian. This post will take a look at Law, if Christians are subject to any form of Law, and if Christians have a code of Law that must be followed.
God has at all times issued Law for his creation to follow and observe. God tells us through the prophet Jeremiah “O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23. Men and women cannot know the path to righteousness with God unless God tells them the way. We, as God’s creation, are helpless without Law issued from God. As we read the Bible we see various forms of Law that God has issued to his creation. From the beginning of time, in the Garden of Eden, humankind has received Law from God. God gave the very first Law to Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:16-17: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." This Law was not only the first Law given to humanity, it was also the first law ever broken by humankind.
Reading the Old Testament reveals that God had two forms of law before Christ came to the earth. These two forms of Law are known as the Law of the Patriarchs and the Law of Moses. Information on the Law of the Patriarchs is very limited in the Holy Scriptures. This law is outlined throughout the Old Testament and all Gentile humans were subject to that law. In Genesis 4:3-7 the account of Cain and Abel’s sacrifices are recorded for our learning. We see from this reading that Cain and Abel were under some form of Law from God. Cain’s sacrifice, which was offered unto God not in accordance with God’s law, was rejected. Abel’s offering, which was offered unto God in accordance with God’s law, was accepted. Why would God reject one offering and accept another if He had not given law to humanity to observe?
The Law of the Patriarchs also had a priesthood that offered unto God sacrifices. Melchizedek is called a High Priest unto God. In Genesis 14:18-20 the Bible reads “Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.” It is important to notice that God had High Priests under this particular form of Law, the Patriarchal law. Knowing that the Law of Moses was not initiated until the book of Exodus, this Priesthood is different from the Priesthood of Moses’ Law. Christ our saviour is called a “Priest after the order of Melchizedek” five times in the New Testament. This is because Christ would not become a Priest after the order of Aaron, as the Law of Moses demanded, but a Priest after a completely different order. This also shows that Melchizedek was a Priest unto God in a very different way than those under Moses’ Law. Many different men in the Old Testament are referred to either as Priests unto God or as those authorized to offer sacrifices to God, in accordance with that Patriarchal Law. Examples of these men would be Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The next law in the Old Testament, and by far the most well known and understood of the two, is the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was issued to only the Israelites and their descendants. Exodus 19:5-6 states “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” Likewise the Bible also states in Exodus 24:3 “And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the ordinances: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which Jehovah hath spoken will we do.” Exodus 24:7 “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that Jehovah hath spoken will we do, and be obedient.” God then commanded them to obey all his law and teach it to the next generation, which would do the same thing, until God determined when that law would be taken away (Exodus 12:26ff, Deuteronomy 11:19ff).
These two laws, the Law of the Patriarchs issued in the Garden of Eden, and the Law of Moses issued on Mount Sinai, ran together, keeping all humankind under law to God until Christ’s law came into affect. Romans 2:11-29 teaches that both Jew and Gentile were under Law to God. The Gentiles, who had not the law, did by nature the things contained in the Law of Moses, and were counted as faithful. Yet they died in sin outside of that law if their works were evil. Likewise the Jews, who had the Law of Moses, were counted as uncircumcised Gentiles when they refused to accept and be faithful to that Law. Therefore, whether under the Law of Moses as a Jew, or under the Law of the Patriarchs as a Gentile, only those that lived correctly under their Law were justified before God. If either Jew or Gentile lived outside of their respective law, they were lost in God’s sight.
This brings us at last to the Law of Christ. At the cross Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses and did away with the ordinances contained therein. Paul states in Colossians 2:13-14 “And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross.” Clearly seen is the fact that the Law of Moses and the Law of the Patriarchs was done away with at the cross. Christ died, bringing a new law to humanity to live under. We see in the New Testament time and again the fact that the Old Law was done away with. However, it is this fact that has caused many people to misunderstand the system in which Christians now live unto God.
The simple truth of the matter is that the Old Law was done away, and therefore a new law must take its place. That new law is the Law of Christ. The New Testament, called such because of the New will for humankind compared to the Old will for humankind, states many times in many places that humans are now under Law to God through Jesus Christ. Many would claim today that Christians are not under Law, but under, and only under, Grace. What people fail to realize is that the New Testament never claims that Christians are not under Law. The New Testament simply states that Christians are no longer subject to the Law of Moses. When we read in the Bible that Law is done away with, it is always in reference to the Law of Moses. For example, we read in 2 Corinthians 3:6 “Who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Many people leap to the conclusion that Christians are not under law, but under the spirit (grace). However, to read such into this passage is to completely divorce this verse from its context. This passage is dealing with the fact that the Law of Moses is what now brings death, and the Law of Christ is what brings life. Likewise, many people read Galatians 5:4 and come to the same understanding; there is no law.
Galatians 5:4 reads “You have become estranged from Christ, you who are justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” Many people claim that we as Christians are not under law, and if we try to be, we fall from grace. This simply is not what this verse is saying, when read in its context. The first three verses read (Galatians 5:1-3) “Stand fast therefore in the freedom in which Christ has made us free, and do not be loaded down again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.” What law contained circumcision? The Law of Moses. In Acts 15:5 the Luke writes “But some of those from the sect of the Pharisees rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." Likewise, the phrase “yoke of bondage” refers to the Law of Moses, Acts 15:10 “Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” Paul is claiming in Galatians that those who would be saved by added elements from Moses’ law into Christ’s law were ‘severed from Christ’. Why is the Law of Moses talked about in such a way? Why was it a law unto death? Why was it a yoke of bondage that no one (save Christ) could keep? Because it had a flaw. Hebrews 10:4 teaches us this flaw: "For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins." For 1500 years animal sacrifices were made under Moses' law. Hundreds of thousands, millions, of animals were slaughtered for the sins of the people, yet all this blood could not take away one small, tiny sin. Only Christ, in his death, through his blood, could take those sins, and all others, away.
Christianity is termed “Law” in many passages in the Bible. Christianity is called the “Law of the Spirit of life, God’s law, Law of Christ, a Law written on our hearts (not on tables of stone), a Perfect law, the law of liberty, a Royal law, and Christians are said to be under the law of Christ, which is a law of faith. (Romans 3:27, 8:2, 7-8, Gal.6:2, Heb. 10:15-16, James 1:25, 2:8-10, and I Cor. 9:21, for example). In any passages of scripture, if law is being talked about, and Law is being condemned, the context will tell the reader that it is the law of Moses, not Law in general. Because of the fact the all humanity is under law to God, we do have something required of us. The bibles teaches in Acts 10:35 “But in every nation, he that fears Him and works righteousness is acceptable to Him.” We are commanded to keep the Law, 1 John 5:2-3 “By this we know that we love the children of God, whenever we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” We do have a written Law we must follow. It is the law contained in the New Testament. It is the “steps of faith” Rom. 4:12, it is keeping from sin Gal. 5:19ff, it is studying God’s word, II Tim. 2:15, it is growing according to God’s ways, II Peter 1:5-8, it is doing all things that have been commanded, John 14:15, 15:14.
Remember friends, without law, why was Christ put to death for our sins? Romans 4:15 teaches “for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.” We have law, and Christ died to give it to us.