The law, which bears witness to the grace of God, points ahead to its fulfilment and climax in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel does not abolish the law, but fulfils it, by allowing it to be seen in its proper light.
Human beings cannot fulfil the law by their own efforts
Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:15–16 See also Acts 13:39; Romans 4:13–15
Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners” 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.
The law brings knowledge of human sin and the need for redemption
Romans 3:20, Romans 5:20 See also 1 Timothy 1:9–10; 1 John 3:4
Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
The law points to the coming of Jesus Christ
So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Believers are not justified by works of the law, but through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ
Romans 3:28; Galatians 3:11 See also Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 4:1–5; Galatians 3:10–14; Ephesians 2:15
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
The relationship between believers and the law
Dying to the law through Jesus Christ
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
The law remains valid for believers
Romans 7:11–12; 1 Timothy 1:8; 1 Peter 1:15–16 See also Leviticus 11:44–45, Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7; Romans 7:7–11, Romans 13:8–10; James 2:8–11
For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately.
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
The Holy Spirit enables believers to fulfil the law through Jesus Christ
Romans 8:3–4 See also Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 11:19–20; Galatians 5:13–18
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, 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.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.