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Building the Kingdom: The Law, part 2

Every kingdom that still has unperfected people must have laws. There is no call for law enforcement when every citizen is fully in the image of Christ, because there is no sin to judge. In that day, courts will be empty and judges will be on holiday or find other things to do.

Meanwhile, however, in the present world the law is a necessary practicality. Disputes must be resolved by courts as long as men sin and as long as sinners refuse to pay restitution to their victims. As long as sinners remain on earth, the law is there to teach them right from wrong according to the standard of God’s nature.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:18,

¹⁸ For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the law until all is accomplished.

So we need not concern ourselves with the far future when heaven and earth have passed away. In the present order, the law is still our standard by which we can measure ourselves as we grow to spiritual maturity, “in the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).  In this, the five-fold ministry—God’s gifts to the church—are called to assist. Hopefully, they are students of the law, the prophets, and the gospel of the Kingdom, so that they succeed in bringing God’s children to maturity.

God Judges by His Own Law

God does not judge mankind by the laws of men but by the standard of His own law. So when we read of the White Throne judgment in Revelation 20:11, 12 or “the judgment seat of Christ” in 2 Corinthians 5:10, it is apparent that the law of God has not been put away or abolished in any way.

For example, if the Sixth Commandment had been put away, murder would be legalized, and no one could be charged with murder at the judgment seat of Christ. Paul says in Romans 4:15,

¹⁵ for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

Some people, being largely ignorant of the law, interpret this to mean that the law was put away and that now there is no such thing as sin. That interpretation does away with all judgment, having created a kingdom of spiritual anarchy. But Jesus said that the law would not pass until heaven and earth had passed away. There are still unrighteous men to be judged at the great White Throne. God’s Kingdom does not promote anarchy but righteousness. The law will continue to be applied and will teach men the nature of God until all are in the image of Christ.

Are Believers Accountable to the Law of God?

Paul says in Romans 3:19,

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God.

We see from this that the whole world is said to be under the law. That was a present reality in Paul’s time, long after the cross. To be “under the law” means that someone has been judged for sin and has not yet paid the debt. If the sinner must work 20 years to pay off his debt to sin, he remains “under the law” for 20 years. When the debt is paid, he is said to be “under grace,” because the law no longer has reason to hold him accountable.

In the case of a believer, who by faith claims Jesus’ blood as payment for his debt to the law, he is no longer “under the law” but is “under grace.” This does not mean that the law has been put away, but that he has been released from his debt. Shall he then sin that grace may abound? Paul says, “May it never be!” (Romans 6:1, 2).

Suppose a man stole his neighbor’s tractor (or his ox) and was caught and convicted of the crime. The law says that when you steal an ox—the tools of a man’s trade—you must restore fivefold (Exodus 22:1). If the sinner lacks the means to pay this restitution, he remains “under the law” until the debt is paid. Forced labor is slavery; hence, “he shall be sold for his theft” (Exodus 22:3).

Let us say that the thief works to pay off his debt for ten years, at which time, his debt is paid. The law then sets him free, having no further interest in his case. The thief, being “under grace,” is restored to full citizenship rights as if he had never sinned.

What if the restored sinner says to himself, “I am no longer under the law, and that means the law against theft has been put away. The law’s standard in regard to theft is no longer applicable to me, because I am now considered righteous. Therefore, I can now go out and steal as much as I wish without being held accountable.”

This is what many Christians today are saying when they think the law no longer applies to them. They misunderstand what it means to be “under grace.” Because their debt to sin has been paid by the blood of Jesus, they think that the entire law has been put away—in essence, legalizing sin. But Scripture does not legalize sin in any way. If a believer steals an ox, God will hold him accountable. I know this because God has never let me get away with anything, even though I believe that the blood of Jesus has paid my debt to sin.

I have been “under grace” since childhood, but God has treated me like one of His children. That is, He has disciplined me by His laws in order to bring me to spiritual maturity. He has taught me His laws so that I might grow in grace. Hebrews 12:6, 7, 8 says,

⁶ For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son which He receives. ⁷ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

I thank God that He has disciplined me; I am honored by His discipline, because it proves that I am a son. To the extent that I am in agreement with His discipline is how I measure spiritual maturity, for immature children do not agree with their parents when they are disciplined. It is only later that they thank their parents for godly discipline. (This obviously does not apply to situations where parents abuse their children, for this is not godly discipline.)

Obedience and Agreement

Immature believers chafe at the law of God, because their Adamic nature does not align with God’s nature. Mature believers rejoice in the law of God, because their nature is conformed to God’s image. Hence, they agree with God, even if they sin. Immature believers must learn obedience until they come into agreement with Him.

This is seen in the three main feasts of the Lord. Passover speaks of our justification by faith in the blood of the Lamb (Christ). Just as the Israelites left Egypt on Passover, so also is the church called out of the world. About seven weeks later, the Israelites were given the Law at Mount Sinai, and this day was celebrated thereafter as the feast of weeks—later known by the Greek term, Pentecost (“Fiftieth Day”).

The purpose of Pentecost was to bring discipline to the immature Israelites so that the law could be written on their hearts. They were to be led by the Spirit (the pillar of fire/cloud), and each place they camped was a new learning experience. Hence, just as Passover was designed to teach them faith, Pentecost was designed to teach them obedience until they could enter the land at the feast of Tabernacles—the place of agreement.

Until we agree with God, the law is needed to teach us obedience. We must learn obedience by being led by the Spirit, who teaches us by experience the principles of God’s nature as expressed in His law. At first, our “old man” (as Paul puts it) does not always see eye to eye with God, but as time progresses, and as we grow in maturity, we gradually come to the place of agreement.

So the law should be important in the life of every believer, because it is commemorated by the feast of Pentecost. If the law justified us, then it would have been given to the Israelites at Passover. But Passover presents the importance of faith; Pentecost presents the importance of obedience. If we understand this distinction, then we will avoid the legalistic belief that our works of obedience bring about justification (or salvation).