Paul and the Law
When dealing with the subject of the law in Paul's writings, it is important to see things in the full context of what he wrote, which is what we will attempt to do on this page. Taking his words out of context can lead to false teachings, as Peter warned the church long ago:
2 Peter 3:15-18
15 Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. 16 He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
So let’s embark on a journey to understand what Paul really said about the Law and how it applies to us today.
Key Points Paul Makes About the Law
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Levitical priesthood was a shadow of the coming Messiah
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The main purpose of the law is to expose sin and to lead us to Christ
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The law is not based on faith, but faith upholds the law
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Walking in the Spirit fulfils the righteous standard of the law
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Circumcision is a matter of the heart, through faith, expressed through love
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Love fulfils the law
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Through faith in Christ, under grace we become workers of righteousness
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We should not sin under grace
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Sin will be judged by the law
Scriptures about the Law in the Book of Acts
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Paul’s Arrives at Jerusalem and is instructed by the elders to keep the Law
17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully. 18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present. 19 Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21 But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs. 22 What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. 24 Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.” 26 So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.
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Paul who was educated in strict conformity to the law is baptized by Ananias, a devout observer of the law
1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” 2 When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more silent. Then Paul declared, 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today. 4 I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ 8 ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me. 10 Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’ 11 Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus. 12 There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there, 13 came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice. 15 You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.” 4 But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!” 5 “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
7 When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove. 8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
23 So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
Scriptures about the Law in Paul's Letters
Later, when Paul writes his letters to the churches, he talks a lot about the law, especially in the letter to the Romans. This is where things can get confusing because Paul expresses himself in a very roundabout way of getting to the point which makes it easy to take what he writes out of context. So let’s go through his writings and try to make sense of them.
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All who sin apart from the law will perish apart from the law
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All who sin under the law will be judged by the law
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It is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous before God
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Gentiles have the law written on their hearts confirmed by their consciences
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Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but not if you break the law
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If the one who is physically uncircumcised keeps the law he is regarded as circumcised
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Circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code (Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 9:25)
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous. 14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them 16 on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel. 17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. 28 A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.
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Through faith in Jesus Christ the righteousness of God has been revealed apart from the law (Isaiah 46:13, Daniel 9:24)
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A man is justified by faith apart from works of the law
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Faith upholds the law
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22 And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. 26 He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.
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The promise comes by faith, not through the law, so it may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring (Luke 19:9)
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If those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, because the law (without grace) brings wrath
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Where there is no law, there is no transgression
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
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Sin was in the world before the law was given (Genesis 4:7-11)
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Sin is not charged against anyone without the existence of the law
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. 13 For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come.
Notice that even though Paul says that sin is not imputed to anyone without the law, death still reigned, and death is the result of sin, so we know that sin was definitely counted against people, so the law had to be in effect even though it was not written down yet.
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The law came in so that (awareness of) the trespass would increase
20 The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Sin shall not be your master, not because you are not under law, but because you are under grace
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Under grace we become slaves (servants, workers) of righteousness instead of slaves to sin
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. 13 Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, not because you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
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The law has authority over a man only as long as he lives
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You died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to Him who was raised from the dead
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We have been released from the law to serve in the way of the Spirit and not in the written code
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The law makes you mindful of sin
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Apart from the law, sin is dead
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Breaking the law brings death in order to expose sin
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The law is spiritual, but men’s flesh is unspiritual
1 Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2 For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. 3 So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress, even if she marries another man.
4 Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death. 6 But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
7 What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death. 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But in order that sin might be exposed as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good. 17 In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. 20 And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law. 23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
At the end of this chapter, Paul ends with the dilemma that he wants to serve the law of God, but ends up serving the law of sin. If we pay attention to the context, he is talking about the condition of people under the old covenant, the solution to this comes in the next chapter.
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In Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death
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The weakness of the flesh made the law powerless
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The righteous standard of the law is fulfilled in those who walk according to the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
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Israel who pursued righteousness by the works of the law did not obtain it because of lack of faith and the stumbling stone (rejecting Jesus)
30 What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
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Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. 3 Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” (Deuteronomy 30:11-15) that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.
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Love is the fulfillment of the law
8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
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Circumcision or uncircumcision is nothing (Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 9:25)
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Keeping God’s commandments counts
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
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We are not under the law
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We are not outside the law of God
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We are under the law of Christ
19 Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. 21 To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
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Women must be in submission according to the law (Genesis 3:16, Numbers 30:3-12)
34 Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
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A man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ
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Through the law we died to the law so that we might live to God (Romans 6:11, Romans 7:4)
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If righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing
15 We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners” 16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.
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We receive the Spirit by faith and not by the works of the law
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe? 6 So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.
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All who rely on works of the law are under a curse
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No one is justified before God by the law
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The law is not based on faith
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Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us
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The law was added to Abraham’s promise because of transgression until the arrival of the promised seed
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We were held in custody under the law until faith was revealed
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The law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith
10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. 15 Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
17 What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise. 19 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. 20 A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. 22 But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
23 Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
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The covenant from Mount Sinai bears children into slavery
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The ones born by the Spirit are children of the promise
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The son born by the flesh persecutes the son born by the Spirit
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise. 24 These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
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The one who tries to be justified by the law is severed from Christ and is fallen away from grace
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Every man who gets himself circumcised is obligated to obey the whole law
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In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value, but faith, expressed through love
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be entangled again in a yoke of slavery. 2 Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
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The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself”
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If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law
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The flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit
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Those who practice acts of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God
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There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit
11 Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves! 13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
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Jesus abolished in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees
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Jesus reconciled jew and gentile to God in His body through the cross
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two (jew and gentile) one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace 16 and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility.
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Paul considers having his own righteousness from the law rubbish
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The righteousness that counts is from God through faith in Christ
2 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless. 7 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
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Some have strayed from the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith and turned aside to empty talk to teach the law without understanding what they are saying
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The law is good, if one uses it legitimately
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The law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless
5 The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. 6 Some have strayed from these ways and turned aside to empty talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert. 8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. 9 We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching 11 that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
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When the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed
11 Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
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The former commandment (on priesthood) is set aside because it was weak and useless
18 So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
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The law (on priesthood) was only a shadow of the good things to come
1 For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins. 3 Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
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Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses
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The punishment is more severe for the one who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace
26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
Detailed Summary of Paul's Points
Law:
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Where there is no law, there is no transgression
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Sin was in the world before the law was given (Genesis 4:7-11)
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Sin is not charged against anyone without the existence of the law
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Apart from the law, sin is dead
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The law came in so that (awareness of) the trespass (sin) would increase
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The law has authority over a man only as long as he lives
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Through the law we died to the law so that we might live to God (Romans 6:11, Romans 7:4)
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No one is justified before God by the law
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The law was added to Abraham’s promise because of transgression until the arrival of the promised seed
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We were held in custody under the law until faith was revealed
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The law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith
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The covenant from Mount Sinai bears children into slavery
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The law is good, if one uses it legitimately
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The law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless
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The law makes you mindful of sin
The main purpose of the law is to expose sin and to lead us to Christ.
Sin:
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All who sin apart from the law will perish apart from the law
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All who sin under the law will be judged by the law
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Breaking the law brings death in order to expose sin
Sin will be judged by the law.
The Promise:
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The promise comes by faith, not through the law, so it may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring (Luke 19:9)
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If those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, because the law (without grace) brings wrath
The promise of redemption comes by faith and not through the law, so it can be guaranteed to all.
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Through faith in Jesus Christ the righteousness of God has been revealed apart from the law (Isaiah 46:13, Daniel 9:24)
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Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes
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You died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to Him who was raised from the dead
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Jesus abolished in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees
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Jesus reconciled jew and gentile to God in His body through the cross
The righteousness of God is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ, bringing the end to righteousness by the law and reconciling jew and gentile.
Priesthood:
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When the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed
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The former commandment (on priesthood) is set aside because it was weak and useless
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The law (on priesthood) was only a shadow of the good things to come (Jesus)
Levitical priesthood was a shadow of the coming Messiah.
Works of the law:
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A man is justified by faith apart from works of the law
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All who rely on works of the law are under a curse
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Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us
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The one who tries to be justified by the law is severed from Christ and is fallen away from grace
We are justified by faith in Christ apart from our works of the law.
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It is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous before God
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Gentiles have the law written on their hearts confirmed by their consciences
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Under grace we become slaves (servants, workers) of righteousness instead of slaves to sin
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Israel who pursued righteousness by the works of the law did not obtain it because of lack of faith and the stumbling stone (rejecting Jesus)
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If righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing
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Paul considers having his own righteousness from the law rubbish
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The righteousness that counts is from God through faith in Christ
Through faith in Christ, under grace we become workers of righteousness and doers of the law.
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Sin shall not be your master, not because you are not under law, but because you are under grace
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The punishment is more severe for the one who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace
We should not sin under grace, or we will be severely punished.
Faith:
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Faith upholds the law
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A man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ
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The law is not based on faith
The law is not based on faith, but faith upholds the law.
Spirit
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We have been released from the law to serve in the way of the Spirit and not in the written code
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The law is spiritual, but men’s flesh is unspiritual
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In Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death
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The righteous standard of the law is fulfilled in those who walk according to the Spirit
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We receive the Spirit by faith and not by the works of the law
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The ones born by the Spirit are children of the promise
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If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law
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There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit
Walking in the Spirit fulfils the righteous standard of the law.
Flesh:
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The flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit
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Those who practice acts of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God
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The weakness of the flesh made the law powerless
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The son born by the flesh persecutes the son born by the Spirit
Flesh is contrary to the Spirit.
Circumcision:
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Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but not if you break the law
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If the one who is physically uncircumcised keeps the law he is regarded as circumcised
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Circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code (Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 9:25)
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Every man who gets himself circumcised is obligated to obey the whole law
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In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value, but faith, expressed through love
Circumcision is a matter of the heart, through faith, expressed through love.
Love:
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Love is the fulfilment of the law
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The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself”
Love fulfils the law.
Understanding:
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Some have strayed from the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith and turned aside to empty talk to teach the law without understanding
As you can see from everything Paul has written, the question of keeping God's Law is not about whether or not we should keep it, but rather about how and why we should keep it under the New Covenant. Jesus came to show us how we can keep God's law by walking in the Spirit and bringing the commandments to life for us.
For further reading about the Law you can visit these pages: