Did Jesus replace the law of God with His law? Of WHAT USE is the ‘law of Christ’ IF we are saved by ‘faith ALONE’?
[Revised: April 27, 2012]
Sounds good. But is that what the Bible says?
The phrase “law of Christ” is used in only one place in the entire Bible [KJV]– that is, in Galatians 6:2.
This verse, or the surrounding verses, does not explain what is meant by the phrase “law of Christ”, nor does it give the slightest hint that the “law of Christ” is different from the “law of God”.
A similar phrase, “Christ’s law” also appears — only once — [in GNB or NIV, none in KJV], I Corinthians 9.21:
NIV puts it:
The KJV version is NOT quite the same:
1Co 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
Again, Paul made no attempt to explain what he meant by “Christ’s law”.
But you’ll notice here that Paul DENIED that he is “free from God’s law”. He denies that he does NOT obey the law of God. That alone should END our discussion about the “law of Christ”.
But knowing the carnal human mind’s attitude toward God and His law [Rom 8:7Rom 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be: ], it understandably won’t.
Earlier in the SAME epistle Paul said something that directly belie the claim that God’s law had been replaced. Notice:
The Analytical-Literal Translation version puts it:
So, as far as Paul is concerned, the commandments still matters. But verses like that gets drowned by some vague and unlikely verses.
Now, notice further the following things that Paul said about the law of God:
This was the “reformed” Saul, LONG AFTER he was stricken blind and shown the truth by Christ! Those statements of Paul alone show that the “law of God” is FAR from being replaced by “another law”. Those are straightforward statements, which should make one wonder how anyone could say that God’s law is abolished.
What, after all, is the “law of Christ? Is it Christ’s “better idea” than God’s “old” one? Where in the Bible is a “better law” or “higher law” promised – or even just mentioned?
The “new covenant” DOES bring “better promises”. But nothing is said about “better laws”.
One thing we should be aware of is that some of what Paul wrote can sometimes be difficult to understand unless we consider and understand the context and background in which he wrote them. The apostle Peter was aware of this when he wrote:
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other’ scriptures, unto their own destruction.
If it was so then, how much more today, almost 2,000 years later. The chances of misunderstanding Paul could only be much greater. Yet we see modern theologians and Bible teachers making hasty and careless conclusions when encountering such terms as “law of Christ”. Why don’t we examine what Christ’s Himself say about the law of God? But theologians would rather avoid it because they would be greeted with Christ’s resounding declaration such as:
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
How can anyone conclude from that blunt and unequivocal statement that Christ repealed the law of God?
Well some people grab phrases like the “end of the law” [Rom 10:4Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.]. But the same Greek word for “end” is also used in the phrase “end of your faith” in 1 Pet.1:91Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls..
Does that mean faith also ends?
Some claim that during His “earthly” ministry, Christ was speaking to the Jews only – including above quoted “sermon on the mount”. That WHAT He told them were exclusively for Jews ONLY. But that reasoning has no leg to stand on, for in Matthew 28 Jesus said:
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things WHATSOEVER I have commanded you.: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
This is a direct contradiction of the claim that Christ’s message [eg, Mat.5 and Mat 19] during His human ministry – where He enjoined them to keep the law — was for Jews only!
Moreover Paul, according to those who diminish the law of God, was rebuking the Jews for holding on to “the law” [which includes the ten commandments]. That would place Paul, again, in contradiction with Christ who berated the Jews for rejecting the laws of God [Mark 7:8-9Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.]!
Christ’s message not His own
It should be pointed out here also that Jesus Christ said He does not speak His own words! He speaks only what the Father directs Him to speak!
Notice:
Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
So, rather than getting confused by the opinion and guesswork of teachers, shouldn’t we rather listen to the words of Christ Himself?
Unfortunately, some [many actually] would rather listen to what they want to hear and would seize on even the most vague of the passages – that seem to support the popular notion about God’s law. Which is not unexpected, for as Paul said:
Now, a close look at the “law of Christ”
Let’s take now a look at the supposed “law of Christ”. Some say the “law of Christ” is “love your neighbor”. Some add “love God…”. Let’s examine both of them:
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Do you call this “new”?
Well, it CERTAINLY is not quite new!
Christ was quoting from the OLD TESTAMENT!
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
…
Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
There is something “new” though. Christ gave the “second commandment” a new “twist”, which makes it more demanding. That is, Christ wants us to love our fellow AS He loved us!
That HARDLY nullified the law of God. What Christ did RATHER was to put God’s law under a MAGNIFYING GLASS so that we can see things IN IT that the Israelites [who did not have Holy Spirit then] NEVER saw before!
So in the end we are faced with the inevitable conclusion, that the “law of Christ” IS none other than the law of God.
Shocking.
*Judaism is a corruption of the law and teachings that God gave Moses. It is highly diluted and rendered almost unrecognizable by the addition of man-made rules and human traditions