"GOD'S LAW IMMUTABLE" 1

Bible Facts About the Law of God

One of the charges against God is that He  has abolished His moral law of Ten Commandments, and men no longer need to keep them! This attack undercuts the very foundation of Gods throne. What would happen if our nation abolished its laws? The government would collapse. There can be no government without law.

Every city, every business, every church has laws which must be obeyed. Yet is said that God has no laws. The claim is made that Christ's death on Calvary freed all men from obedience to God.

Here are important Bible facts, showing that God requires obedience to His moral code; and, through the enabling grace of Jesus Christ, we can fully obey all that God asks of us in His Inspired Writings.

LEARNING MORE ABOUT GODS PLAN TO REDEEM US

In order to draw closer to God, we need to understand more of His plan to save us from sin.

We mentioned earlier that the problem in this world is sin, and that sin is transgression of Gods law.

Gods plan is that, by the enabling grace of Christ, our past sins can be forgiven and we can be empowered to obey His holy Ten Commandment law.

But, unfortunately, not only is God under attack today, the Ten Commandments are also.

We live in a sinful generation which ignores sin, blames God for everything, and declares that no one need obey Gods moral law! Incredible! Yet you and I see and hear it all about us.

Here is what the Bible says about this.

1. God has a government.

Psalm 103:19 The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all.

There can be no government without law. As with the laws governing nations, we must respect and obey the law of God.

Romans 7:12 The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

2. Gods law was for men in Bible times. They were required to obey it back then.

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

James 2:10-12 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Gods law is for the remnant in the last day.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus (see verses 13-15).

3. Unfortunately, we live at a time when there is general rebellion against Gods law.

Romans 8:7 The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Psalm 119:126 It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law.

There are many wonderful promises for those who will love God and obey His holy law.

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Isaiah 48:18 O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.

THE TRUTH ABOUT LAW AND GRACE

Here is a brief Bible study about the relationship of the law of God to the grace of Christ, in the plan to save you from sin. It is important, for it will help you draw closer to God and help you remain more firmly by His side:

1. The law gives a knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:20 By the law is the knowledge of sin (see Romans 7:7).

Second, it brings guilt and condemnation.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Third, it acts as a spiritual mirror.

James 1:23-25If any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (see James 2:10-12).

Without the law, the sinner is like a man who is afflicted with a deadly disease that he doesnt know he has. Paul said, I had not known sin, but by the law (Rom 7:7).

2. But there are certain things the law cannot do for the sinner.

The law cannot forgive. Law does not possess the power to forgive those who transgress its precepts. Only the Lawgiver can do that. Jesus died to redeem us from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13). The law cannot keep the sinner from sinning because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Rom 8:7).

The law only shows the sinner where he needs to change; but the law, itself, cannot change him. And so let us get three facts about the law very clear.

(1) The law cannot forgive or justify us.

Romans 3:20 By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight.

(2) It cannot keep us from sin or sanctify us.

Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

(3) It cannot cleanse us, or keep the heart clean (Romans 9:3, 7-8).

The law is limited in its ability to do all that needs to be done for the sinner. A wound cannot be sewed up with only a needle. The thread of the gospel must do that.

3. The wonderful grace of Christ solves the problem! This is what it can do for the sinner:

When the law of God and the Spirit of God have made the sinner conscious of his sin, he will then feel his need of Christ and go to the Saviour for pardon. The publican found it so (Luke 18:13-14). The woman taken in adultery felt condemned and ashamed. She needed sympathy and forgiveness, and Christ was ready to grant these to her. Then He said, Sin no more.

If we confess and put away sin, He will forgive (1 John 1:9). This is grace, or unmerited favor. This gracious love of Christ awakens love in the heart of the sinner, and he then desires to serve and obey God.

(1) The grace of Christ forgives and justifies.

Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses (see Luke 18:13-14).

(2) It saves from sin, or sanctifies.

Matthew 1:21 She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

(3) It inspires faith.

Ephesians 2:8-10 By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

(4) it brings Gods power.

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Forgiveness of sin and power over sin comes through the exercise of simple faith in Gods promises and a full surrender of the heart to Him.

4. How should a sinner, who is being saved by the grace of Christ, relate to Gods law? 

(1) The law becomes the standard of his life.

1 John 5:3 This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.

(2) The law permits Christ to fulfill in him the righteousness of the law.

Romans 8:3-4 God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

(3) Christ writes the law in his heart.

Hebrews 8:10 This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people (see Ps 119:11).

It is as simple as that! Jesus Christ, by His death on the cross, forgives our past sins and enables us, by His redeeming grace, to keep the Ten Commandments. It is Gods plan to purify His people of sin. Through the study of the Bible and continual prayer and faith, we are enabled to live clean, godly lives.

Sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4); Jesus Christ came to earth and died in order to save us from our sins (Matt 1:21). And that is what He will do, if we will cooperate with Him.  

THE LAW OF GOD  IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Another charge against the moral law of God is that it is not found in the New Testament. Therefore we need not obey it. But Jesus clearly disproved this by His own actions and words.

1. For example, while here on earth, Jesus gave us a careful example of obedience to the Fourth Commandment, the Sabbath day which, at the Creation, was given to mankind.

Luke 4:16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

His custom should be ours, for He is our example. He gave us an example of obedience that we should follow.

1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.

1 Peter 2:21 Leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.

John 15:10 I have kept My Fathers commandments, and abide in His love.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God: that we keep His commandments.

2. Throughout His earthly life, Jesus continually gave us an example of obedience to the moral law of Ten Commandments. And He told His disciples to obey it also.

Matthew 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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. 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.

3. Not only did He give us a careful example of obedience while here on earth, but Christ also rebuked man-made attempts to change His law.

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 15:6 Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Matthew 15:3 But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

 4. Throughout His life, Christ did just as Scripture predicted He would do: He magnified the law and made it honorable.

Isaiah 42:21 The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

Psalm 40:7-8 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me: I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart [compare Hebrews 10:5, 7].

5. While here on earth, Jesus gave us a careful example of obedience to the Fourth Commandment: the Sabbath day which, at the Creation, He had given to mankind.

Luke 4:16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

6. His custom should be ours, for He is our example. He gave us an example of obedience that we should follow.

1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.

1 Peter 2:21 Leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.

John 15:10 I have kept My Fathers commandments, and abide in His love.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God: that we keep His commandments.

Christ also taught that others should obey the law of God, as He was doing.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 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.

Matthew 19:16-17 Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him . . If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

However, Gods faithful ones fully realize that they are incapable, in their own strength, of rendering this obedience to God. We must all lay hold of the enabling grace of Christ.

John 15:5I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.