DID CHRIST ABOLISH THE LAW OF GOD? THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMANDMENTS ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE
In Christianity, there are constant disputes over whether Christ abolished the Law of God or not. Some claim that the Law given through Moses was only partially abolished, and that some commandments are still in effect today. Believers have quarreled over this and divided into denominations due to their differing understanding of God's will and His Law.
I want to show you the truth from Scripture that will give you a way out of this confusing situation.
First, let us establish what a "carnal" commandment of God is (pertaining to the flesh or body of man), and what a spiritual commandment of God is (pertaining to the spirit or heart of man).
· Hebrews 7:16 (KJV): "...not after the law of a carnal commandment..."
· Romans 8:2 (KJV): "...the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus..."
· Romans 7:14 (KJV): "...the law is spiritual..."
Thus, there is a carnal commandment of God (related to the body) and a spiritual commandment of God (related to the heart or spirit of man). There is a law pertaining to the flesh and a law pertaining to the spirit.
1. The Carnal Commandment: Controlling Outward Behavior
Let us take an example from the Decalogue, the tablets of stone written by the finger of God. Some claim this is an eternal, moral law.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14).
A person who keeps this commandment must not have intimate relations with someone of the opposite sex unless that person is their husband or wife. In other words, the person keeping this commandment must not commit marital unfaithfulness with their body or flesh.
If a person watches pornography, is overcome by thoughts of infidelity, or fantasizes about committing adultery, but takes no physical sexual action, according to this commandment, that person has fulfilled it.
Therefore, we see that this commandment only controls the outward behavior of a man in the flesh. This is a commandment pertaining to the flesh.
2. The Spiritual Commandment: Purity of Heart
Now let us take a commandment from Christ's Sermon on the Mount, which pertains to the heart or spirit of man.
Matthew 5:27-28 (KJV):
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
According to the carnal commandment, the sin of adultery was the act committed by the body. According to the commandment given by Christ, the sin is what is in the heart—the lust that a person harbors within.
Matthew 5:8 (KJV): Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Jesus affirms that only the believer who has no sin in their heart will see God and enter His kingdom.
The Root of Sin: The Human Heart
All of Christ's teaching, especially the Sermon on the Mount, is filled with commandments concerning the spirit or heart of man and the motives that reside there. If sinful lusts, covetousness, and selfish motives are in the heart, then that person will also sin with the flesh.
Every sin begins in the heart of man. It is conceived there and then manifests itself in outward, fleshly behavior.
James 1:13-15 (KJV):
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Therefore, it is vital to guard the purity of the heart.
Proverbs 4:23 (KJV): Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Why Did God Change His Law?
Why did God suddenly decide to change His law? This implies that the law given through Moses was imperfect, not good enough, and did not achieve the goals that are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 7:19 (KJV): ...For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
The Apostle Paul writes that through the Levitical priesthood and the law given to Moses, perfection was not attained.
The issue is that the entire law, and practically all of its commandments (even those of the Decalogue), pertained only to the flesh and did not change the heart or spirit of the believers.
This law was given to spiritually dead people, in whose hearts sin dwelt, in order to control their outward, fleshly behavior.
Hebrews 9:8-10 (KJV):
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
This law, pertaining to the flesh, was established not forever, but only until the coming of the Savior. With the coming of Christ, God changed the law and removed the useless commandments that only concerned outward behavior, as they changed nothing and did not lead to perfection.
Hebrews 9:13-14 (KJV):
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The blood of Christ does not merely cleanse the flesh; it cleanses our spirit, our conscience. Therefore, the commandments introduced by Christ pertain to the heart and are designed to cleanse it.
The Call to Perfection
God is leading us to perfection. His grace works in this direction. His goal is for us to become like Christ.
Matthew 5:48 (KJV): Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Colossians 3:14 (KJV):And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Hebrews 12:23 (KJV):...To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect...
Some believers claim that perfection is impossible to achieve, but God says the opposite. It is only to Satan's advantage that you do not grow into Christ and do not go on to perfection.
Pharisaism: The Danger of Outward Purity
A perfect example of how Satan deceives believers is the spiritual state of the Pharisees and scribes in Christ's time. These men meticulously kept what was commanded in the flesh (outwardly righteous behavior), but paid no attention to the state of their hearts.
Jesus called them hypocrites and blind guides.
Matthew 23:25-28 (KJV):
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Jesus called these religious men children of the devil (John 8:44), because despite their outwardly righteous behavior, their hearts were full of sin.
From this, we see a clear example of where refusing to guard the purity of your heart leads: such a person can become a puppet in the hands of Satan.
The New Covenant: The Perfect Law of Liberty
God, through Christ, introduced teaching that concerns the heart so that the believer might attain perfection.
James 1:25 (KJV): But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Through faith and the working of God's grace, the Law of God is established—not merely for the flesh, but for the heart.
Romans 3:31 (KJV): Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
The commandments from the teaching of Jesus Christ are far more important than the commandments of the Mosaic law. The commandments concerning the purity of the heart are far more important than those concerning only the flesh or outward behavior.
Hebrews 7:18-19 (KJV):
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Colossians 2:14-17 (KJV):
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
In place of the Law of Moses, God has introduced the teaching of Christ. For us, the Sermon on the Mount is more relevant than the Decalogue.
Dead to the Law, Alive to Christ
There are always people among believers who want to boast in the flesh, boasting of their outward keeping of the law. The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, clearly teaches that we are not under the Law of Moses.
Romans 7:1-4 (KJV):
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
...
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Galatians 6:2 (KJV): Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Christ did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). Every shadow and type was fulfilled in Him. We, being crucified with Christ, have died to sin and have also died to the Law (Galatians 2:19-21). He that is dead is freed from sin.
Galatians 2:19-21 (KJV):
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Conclusion: The Law of Moses has no dominion over us, for we have died to it in Christ. We now live under the perfect law of Christ, the law of the Spirit, which cleanses our conscience and leads us to perfection, transforming us from the inside out.
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