It's Still The Law!

Sitting here contemplating the Law and Commandments of Yahweh and how so many say that we are no longer under the Law and no longer required to obey it. I don't believe this at all, but most who do will even cite scripture as an attempt to support this idea (Romans 6:14 ~ For Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.).

When reading scripture, however, it's important to read it in context. Before AND after this particular verse, Paul explains what he means when he says that we are no longer under the Law and it has nothing at all to do with no longer having to obey it! (I'll let you read for yourselves to confirm this, but please pay special attention to Romans 6:15 (KJV) ~ What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Note also, that in Strong's concordance, one definition of "sin" in this verse is: to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin. Let's insert Strong's definition here, just for a little clarity: What then? Shall we wander from the Law of God, violate God's Law, sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace? God forbid. See? He's not AT ALL saying that we should not obey the Law anymore!)

The only Laws that we are no longer bound to are those requiring animal (blood) sacrifice for the atonement of our sins. We are no longer bound to this because Messiah's sacrificial blood was shed for all of us for all times instead. Everything else in the Law, however, is still on the table and we are still to obey it.

What is further meant when Paul speaks of us no longer being under the Law is that we are no longer under its condemnation. When Messiah died, so did we.

Romans 6:3-7 (KJV) ~ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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 the newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

We have risien with Him also and are new creatures. Does this mean we'll never sin again? No, but when we do sin...and repent...we no longer receive the death sentence of the law but are, instead, forgiven due to our faith in Messiah. See, before the Law sin wasn't counted against us.

Romans 5:13 (KJV) ~ For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law

Looking at Strong's again for the definition of imputed we have: to reckon in, set to one's account, lay to one's charge, impute.

Reading this verse again, but inserting part of Strong's definition for clarity: For until the Law sin was in the world: but sin is not set to one's account when there is no Law.

After the Law, however, sin was counted against us and the result was death!

Romans 6:23 (KJV) ~ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Strong's lists a metaphoric definition for death in this usage, which I believe to be applicable:

Death (Definition 2a): the misery of the soul arising from sin, which begins on earth but lasts and increases after the death of the body in hell

Means, we're not only guaranteed an earthly death, BUT will our souls will experience increased misery in hell! Now, thankfully, because of the grace of Messiah, as long as we embrace Him, we won't have to experience this increased misery in hell which is a direct result of sin.

None of this, however, means that we no longer have to obey the Law. Just that we are no longer condemned to hell if and when we trangress it (i.e. sin).

The Law is for our benefit. It is Yahweh's ordinances for order, peace and quality health in our society. However, He knows that no matter how hard we try to live within its confines, we will inevitably fall short at times. Before Messiah if people fell short (and all did!), the consequence was death and a sacrifice was due in order to avoid this. Since Messiah is now our sacrifice and our life, we are no longer convicted by the Law, but instead we are forgiven and granted life through Him. However, the Law...as our guidelines for orderly, healthy living which please Him... is still in place.

Without the Law, there is no condemnation for sin and without sin's condemnation to hell we don't need a Savior! However, there is the Law, transgression of it is sin and, therefore, our Savior is an absolute must lest we be condemned forever.

Praise Yahweh for our Savior!