This question, “In what way are we dead to the law?” is asked in conjunction with a more extensive study that I am undertaking, namely the validity of the Law of God for today.
I sense in my heart and have been taught that God’s Law IS valid today — yet others disagree. Therefore, I’m setting out to be convinced fully from Scripture — so that I can heartily defend the proper position — with a willingness to be corrected.
The Scriptures Teach We Are Dead to the Law
Paul tells us in Romans 7:4 that we are dead regarding the Law of God.
“Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.”
Galatian 2:19 says similarily: “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.”
Does Death to the Law Mean We Are Not Obligated to Obey?
Some Christians take these verses to support a view called antinomianism.
- There is no obligation to obey the laws of the Old Testament
- The Old Testament laws don’t apply to Christians
- Christians can live however they want so long as they love God and their neighbor
Even among Christians, some SAY that antinomianism is unbiblical, but still deny that Christians are obligated to obey the Law of God as expressed in the Old Testament.
For example, GotQuestions.org writes of this topic:
“Antinomianism is contrary to everything the Bible teaches. God expects us to live a life of morality, integrity, and love. Jesus Christ freed us from the burdensome commands of the Old Testament Law, but that is not a license to sin. Rather, it is a covenant of grace. We are to strive to overcome sin and cultivate righteousness, depending on the Holy Spirit to help us. The fact that we are graciously freed from the demands of the Old Testament Law should result in our living our lives in obedience to the law of Christ.”
What Does Jesus Teach About the Law?
At this time, I want to remind my readers (and myself as I study this out) that Jesus warned His followers not to disregard the least of God’s commands found in the Law and the Prophets — which naturally refers to the Old Testament.
So, here’s the first question I must ask: who is right? Jesus or GotQuestions?
Second, if all God expects is that we “live a life of morality, integrity, and love ” — while striving to overcome sin — then on what foundation do we determine morality, integrity, love — and sin?
Can we look to the New Testament alone for these virtues?
No law in the New Testament forbids incest in marriage. How could we defend against brother and sister marriage — without the Old Testament?
Jesus affirms the Old Testament Law (as mentioned above), and so does Paul. In the same letter where he writes that Christians are dead to the Law, he asks this question, “What then? Do we nullify the Law through faith?”
He then answers the question for us: “May it never be! On the contrary: we establish the Law.” Romans 3:31
So What Does It Mean To Be Dead To The Law?
Let’s look at Romans 7:4 once again.
“Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.”
1. How do we die to the Law?
This passage says that death comes through the body of Christ. Since we are joined to Christ, when He died, we died with Him through faith.
Because man can not perfectly keep God’s righteous decrees — he continually deserves the death penalty. The wages of sin are death.
In the Old Testament, God instituted the sacrificial system as a reminder of what law-breakers deserved: death. But, God allowed an animal to stand in the place of the sinner. These sacrifices looked forward to Christ’s death as atonement for sin — a sacrifice once for all.
Since Jesus did not deserve death, God raised Him from the dead. When a believer puts faith in Christ, he is joined to Him through faith, producing in us, death. We are crucified with Christ.
The penalty of the Law: death, no longer has sway over us — the sentence has been paid in full by Christ.
Therefore, we are no longer under the curse of the Law — which is death.
Calvin says, “Being then crucified with him, we are freed from all the curse and guilt of the law. He who endeavors to set aside that deliverance makes void the cross of Christ.”
We get no righteousness before God for keeping the law — though we do receive blessings on earth for keeping them (Psalm 19:7-11; Deuteronomy 28). And our status changes in God’s eyes from law-breaker apart from Christ to law-keeper in Christ.
2. How do we live now that we are dead to the Law?
Does this release from the penalty of the Law free us up to live however we’d like?
May it never be! Paul says that death frees us up to “bear fruit for God.”
The result of our death is new life in Christ — a life of joyful obedience to Christ. And by what standard has Christ taught us to obey? Everything He commanded — including the least commands in the Law and the Prophets.
Galatians 2:19 says the same thing: “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.”
We are dead to the Law so that we can live for God. Otherwise, if we were still alive in regards to the Law — we would stand condemned before God and be under a death sentence.
3. What of those who are not dead to the Law?
If faith is what frees a believer from the penalty of the Law, what about the unbeliever? How are they related to the Law of God?
The Law is that man’s undoing.
Why?
The Law is the standard that all men will be judged by who are not IN Christ, for Romans tells us that all men have the Law of God written on their hearts.
A primary purpose of God’s Law is to reveal God’s righteous standard and to show man how much they fall short of the glory of God.
The Law always means death to those who do not keep it. It can slay them in three ways:
- A man can try to keep it, but cannot — remaining under its sentence of death
- The sinner cares not to keep it — and stays under its death sentence
- The faithful recognize they cannot keep it — and are crucified with Christ
Being dead to the Law — has nothing to do with the abrogation of the Law. It simply means that through Christ’s death, those who are of faith died also. Since the death penalty has already been paid — we no longer have to fear the sting of death again for breaking God’s Law. God sees us as dead to the Law’s curse and alive with Christ — the perfect law-keeper.
This study is inspired by my consideration of The Institutes of Biblical Law by Rushdoony under the tutelage of Andrea Schwartz. Presently, I’m studying Section 1 of the Introduction of Volume 1: The Validity of the Law. If you are interested in studying with me, I’d be delighted to help you get signed up for a free class.
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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.
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© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
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