THE END OF THE LAW
Memorise; And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the
greatest of
these is charity. 1st Corinthians 13:13
Read: 1st Corinthians 13:8-13, 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies,
they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be
knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we
know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But
when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done
away.
11 When I
was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For
now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And
now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is
charity.
Bible in one year: 2nd Kings 17:24-19:7, Proverbs 24:8-20
MESSAGE
The Bible says Christ is the end
of the law (Romans 10:4), and it is entirely correct in every respect. Christ
is the object of the law, the reason why the law was given; He is the
fulfilment of the law, the conclusion of the law, the finality of the law, and
the termination of the law. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.
There is no righteousness of any kind (justifying righteousness or sanctifying
righteousness) to be attained by our personal obedience to the law because it
is written, “for if righteousness by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
(Galatians 2:21).
However, Christ is not the end of the law for everyone. He
did not fulfil the demands of the law for everyone. He is only the end of the
law for the elects of God and all those who shall trust in His saving power.
Christ is therefore the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that
believes in Him.
“Christ
is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”
Romans
10:4
When Apostle Paul declared the
Christ is the end of the law, he was not telling us that the law is evil.
Writing by divine inspiration, the apostle meant that those apostate religious
leaders who try to mix law and grace, who try to put believers under the yoke
of bondage, desiring to be teachers of the law, do not know what they are
talking about, “understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.”
The law was never intended, in any sense, for those who are righteous before
God. The law was given for the unrighteous. The law is not evil. It is holy,
just, and good. It would be well if all men lived in conformity to the law’s
commands, both in outward practice and inward principle. Indeed, it is ordained
of God and used by all civil governments to protect society from those who
would otherwise disregard all respect for the rights, property, and lives of
others.
This passage should not be used
to legalise immorality and corruption as many are doing. Jesus did not come to
invalidate the commandments of God in anyway. He was a law abiding person while
He lived here on earth. Jesus teaches liberty and freedom from the binding
effect of sin in that the letters of sin enslaves in a very powerful way. Yet,
man has a strange infatuation with the law. Like the gnat that is drawn to the
candle that will destroy it, man by nature is drawn to the law for
righteousness, when all the law can give is destruction. The law can do nothing
else but reveal sin and pronounce condemnation on the sinner (Romans 3:19-20).
Still, we cannot get men to flee
from the law. They are so enamoured with their own self-righteousness and their
own self-worth that they will cling to the law with a death-grip, though there
is really nothing to cling to. They prefer Sinai to Calvary, though Sinai
offers them nothing but death. Listen to the Word of God. If the opinions of
men or your own opinions contradict the Word of God, “Let God be true and every
man a liar.”
Prayer Point
Father, please give me the grace to live by Your righteousness and
not my works
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