Through faith IN CHRIST and his works, we substantiate the law. Every jot and tittle of the law is completely satisfied in and through Christ. Paul and Barnabas were accused by some believers, who belonged to the Pharisee sect, of not preaching the true gospel of Jesus. These believers wanted Paul and Barnabas to preach the necessity of following the law and being circumcised. At the council of Jerusalem in 50 AD, this dissension within the church was discussed by the apostles. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5) After much consideration, Peter points out to the leaders of the church that they and their ancestors have never been able to satisfy the law’s holy requirements. Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 5:7-11) Peter asks the council to reflect on their ability to fulfill the law in their lives. If they were honest in their reflection, he knew they would agree with him that they had failed to live up to the law in their lives. So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? The law’s requirements on the actions and attitudes of humans have never been completely satisfied by any man, for the Bible says, all sin and fall short of God’s glory. None of us will achieve perfection in living our lives. We are of Adam’s seed, but Christ cleansed us with his blood and made us his own by substituting his works for ours. He made retribution to God for our sins. As surely as the Jewish slaves in Egypt were released from their bondage to Pharaoh by the blood over the doorway, so are we released from our slavery to the prince and power of the air by the blood of Jesus. He freed us from the bondage of sin, so we no longer receive the wages of sin: death. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we no longer follow a written code, but we follow the voice of God from our innermost being. God gave us his blessed Spirit to lead us through the wilderness of life to the Promised Land: heaven. For no matter how much determination, strength, and discipline we have, Adam’s nature still exists in us. Knowing this, Paul did not want the church of the living God thinking they could find deliverance through their own works. Holiness, perfection, and a life in harmony with God are the result of putting our complete trust and faith in Jesus. He alone fulfills all the requirements of the law. Consequently, Paul reminds the Romans that they are justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Jesus is the way, the gate to eternal life. He said, I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. (John 10:9) God gave the law to us, much like a fence that surrounds us, to control us, our Adam-driven lives. The law is good, but it cannot change our hearts or transform us into new creatures. It cannot deliver us from the bondage of sin. All the law can do is to corral us and to make us aware of our sins. Humans need a Savior, a Way, a Gate that will lead them to the favor of God, to the freedom of complete acceptance by God. We no longer need a fence to corral us, the law: we need an intimate relationship with the one who is holy, pleasing to God: Jesus Of course, this relationship comes by faith. We become new creatures IN HIM, our Savior. We are changed by the blood of Christ from those who are held in bondage to those who have passed through the Red Sea to freedom. If we are changed by God’s hands, by his work, there is no difference between the Jew or Gentile, freeman or slave. We know someday we will be changed into celestial beings after our demise. But we know now by faith, Christ’s work in us has transformed our spirits into new creatures. We presently are changed! We who belong to Christ are of one tribe, one nature, one people: So in Christ Jesus you are all children through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29) Circumcision of the flesh identified people as being Jews. Following the law was central to the Jewish culture. But Christ has come to save the whole world. As we know, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) Laws, rituals, and customs cannot change the nature of man, but Christ can. He plants his love and consideration for others in our hearts. He makes us willing servants to the world. Faith in Jesus is the transforming power in our lives no matter who we are or what we have done. He alters our lives towards God and his will: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)
Yes, is the answer to Paul’s question: Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Anyone who has trusted in Christ has also died to the law and its restrictions. We no longer follow the law of Moses, for we have been freed from its demands upon our lives. Not that we do not fulfill the law, for IN CHRIST we satisfy the law’s requirements. By living IN CHRIST we have been changed into new creatures, born again through the shed blood of our Lord. Our old, sinful creature is not recognized by God as worthy of fellowship, but our new creature formed IN CHRIST has an intimate relationship with God. We serve God in a new and living way, through the Spirit of God, not through the written law. My brothers and sisters, 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 for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. But now by dying to what once 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. (Romans 7:4-6) We are dead to the law; the corral of the law does not bind us. The Son has set us free, so we are free indeed. Paul wanted the church to know that the new work within us does not answer to the law and its obligations; instead, the new creation answers to the Spirit within us. God works directly with our hearts and minds. He changes us from within and constantly talks with us as we walk through life. Dear friends, hear the voice of God within you today. Obey his leadings, and do not boast in your own works or abilities. Do the work of God by loving and serving others, all in the name of Jesus Christ, for all honor and praise goes to him. He has called you with a holy calling. We leave you with Paul’s beautiful admonition to the church at Philippi: Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. (Philippians 2:14-16) Amen!
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