Which of God’s laws exactly is Jesus referring to here?
Often we read about God's laws and Mosaic Laws and I read in much of Paul's letters that we are not under the law, (Rom 6:15, Gal. 5:18), then we read Jesus' words in Matthew 5:19.
Matthew 5:19
NLT - 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Asked September 24 2013
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Larry Pittman
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For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Danny Hickman
Humans need someone or some thing, to which or by whom, to be held accountable. We require leadership!
The above truth is revealed in the scriptures from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. It's summed up by Paul here: the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God (1 Corinthians 11:3).
Where does the law fit in all of this? It is a teacher. The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith (Galatians 3:24).
Here it is: But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor (Galatians 3:25).
The Law and the Prophets were until John (Luke 16:16). (then the gospel was preached!)
The law did its job! It has brought many to Christ. It's still doing its job. Christ saves, the law doesn't. CAN'T!! It's still in use! It still teaches. It still can't lead to salvation!
Abraham was given a promise; he wasn't given a law to keep that would secure the promise. The law was given 430 years later; it couldn't annul God's promise to Abraham. The law was added because of sin, (here it is) "till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made." (Galatians 3:19)
Galatians 3:16 says, "To Abraham and his Seed were the promises made." Jesus is that Seed. To Jesus was the promises made. Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13).
We are kept by the power of God through faith. (1 Peter 1:5) Faith in Christ!
You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law... (Gal 5:4).
Danny Hickman
"But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (Gal 3:25).
Faith has not come to everyone to whom faith will come; the gospel is a work in progress. Many are yet to be in Christ by faith who are destined to be in Christ by faith; people who are yet to be born into the world; people alive today who have not come to repentance of their sin.
Are they under the law? (What law?) The law of sin and death. The law of sin and death says, "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). That will never change, regardless of how many souls are saved at a given time on this side of eternity. The unsaved are condemned to die! Those who have not been GIFTED the eternal life by God, are under the law of sin and death.
What about the saved? Here it is: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of Christ (LOTSOC) has made me free from the law of sin and death (LOSAD) - Romans 1:2.
Paul said the LOTSOC made HIM free from the law of sin and death; he didn't say it freed all of society; only those who ARE IN CHRIST! So what's the status of them who are not "in Christ" and under the law of the Spirit of Christ? They are under the LOSAD.
There are 2 laws IN EFFECT!
I'm under the LOTSOC; in accordance (agreement) with the Spirit of Christ. Not the commandments (the LOSAD) - they lead to death!