5.22 Epistles – The final verdict of the Law on the righteousness of man
The nation of Israel expended great effort to keep the law. They knew that righteousness and blessings depended on their success in keeping the law perfectly. They knew that it was necessary to avoid falling under the terrible curses of the law.
They were fully motivated to keep the law. The Bible said that they had great zeal for God to establish their own righteousness based on keeping the law.
(Romans 10:2-3, NKJV)
For I bear them witness that they have a ZEAL FOR GOD, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to ESTABLISH their OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have not submitted to the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
Unfortunately, it was impossible for mankind, being born in sin, to attain to true righteousness. Even their best, King David who was the man after God’s heart, failed. Israel’s failure only confirms that fact that man is already a sinner that has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:20, 23). It was not the medicine but the ultimate diagnostic test. The law was given not to justify man but deliver a verdict.
(Romans 3:19-20, NKJV)
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all THE WORLD MAY BECOME GUILTY before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.
Today, you must know that you cannot attain to righteousness through your self-effort in keeping the law. Anyone who walks under the system of law will inevitably fail. The person will feel unjustified, experience spiritual dryness, and come under condemnation. The law was given to point us to the need for Jesus, our Savior.
(Galatians 3:24, NKJV)
Therefore the law was our TUTOR to BRING US to CHRIST, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
This is why Jesus came as the personification of grace (John 1:17). He told Israel that has been laboring unsuccessfully for righteousness under law for 1,500 years to come to Him - to rest in Him through His finished work (Matt 11:28; Heb 4:8-10). God wants every Christian to come to the end of ourselves so that we can start resting in Christ.
They were fully motivated to keep the law. The Bible said that they had great zeal for God to establish their own righteousness based on keeping the law.
(Romans 10:2-3, NKJV)
For I bear them witness that they have a ZEAL FOR GOD, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to ESTABLISH their OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have not submitted to the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
Unfortunately, it was impossible for mankind, being born in sin, to attain to true righteousness. Even their best, King David who was the man after God’s heart, failed. Israel’s failure only confirms that fact that man is already a sinner that has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:20, 23). It was not the medicine but the ultimate diagnostic test. The law was given not to justify man but deliver a verdict.
(Romans 3:19-20, NKJV)
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all THE WORLD MAY BECOME GUILTY before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.
Today, you must know that you cannot attain to righteousness through your self-effort in keeping the law. Anyone who walks under the system of law will inevitably fail. The person will feel unjustified, experience spiritual dryness, and come under condemnation. The law was given to point us to the need for Jesus, our Savior.
(Galatians 3:24, NKJV)
Therefore the law was our TUTOR to BRING US to CHRIST, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
This is why Jesus came as the personification of grace (John 1:17). He told Israel that has been laboring unsuccessfully for righteousness under law for 1,500 years to come to Him - to rest in Him through His finished work (Matt 11:28; Heb 4:8-10). God wants every Christian to come to the end of ourselves so that we can start resting in Christ.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 7:24 PM
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