Have you ever noticed what the apostle Paul writes immediately after making the statement, “Ye are not under the law?” This is what he says: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest (easily identifiable, plainly shown to be nonspiritual), which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (lewdness, indecency), idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (being quarrelsome or divisive), emulations (striving to outdo someone else), wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like, of the which I tell you before (before you do such things), as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (See Galatians 5:18-21).
So Paul is urging these Galatian believers to keep and honor God’s commandments lest they be disinherited from the kingdom of God. Then why does he first tell them that they are not under the law??? To be “under” the law is to have the law standing over you claiming your life for having broken that law. Paul told the Roman believers, “You are not under the law, but under grace” (See Romans 6:14). And it is in that text in Romans we see clearly what Paul meant by using the phrase, “you are not under the law.” Grace is the unmerited pardon of God given to those who repent of having broken His holy law, so Paul was saying, “You are no longer under the penalty of the law as Jesus Christ has paid that penalty for you. You are now under the gracious pardon of God. Your sin debt has been paid in full.”
Most professing Christians have a piecemeal knowledge of God’s Word. They recall a snippet here and a snippet there, but are unable to put it all together. I don’t know how many times I have had some scripturally ignorant believer say to me, “We’re not under the law,” thinking that meant we don’t have to keep God’s law. I had a lady, now dead, stop me on the sidewalk outside my apartment one day and say that to me, as she knew I taught the keeping of God’s commandments. I asked her, “What do you mean by that? Are you saying I am now free to lie, to steal, even to kill?” She looked perplexed and said, “No, I don’t mean that.” I then said, “Then what do you mean?” Instead of giving me an answer she walked past me and on down the sidewalk.
Paul wrote, “Where no law is there is no transgression.” (Romans 4:15). You can’t break a non-existent law. If the Ten Commandments have been abolished, then there is no law against murder, stealing, or serving other “gods.” Again Paul wrote, “Sin is not imputed when there is no law” (Romans 5:13). If God’s holy law has been done away with, there is no longer any such thing as sin. We no longer need a Savior. None are sinning any longer! Kind of confusing, isn’t it?
Again, Paul wrote: “The law has dominion over a man as long as he lives.” (Romans 7:1). Are you alive? Then the law of God has dominion over you and you stand condemned by God if you break that law. Paul further informs us that it is the carnal mind that is not subject to the law of God. (See Romans 8:7). The truly spiritually minded person honors God’s holy law and is heartbroken if he discovers he has violated that law at some point, immediately repenting and asking God’s forgiveness.
Paul wrote that “the doers of the law shall be justified” (See Romans 2:13). That’s WHO God justifies. “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). That’s HOW God justifies. There is no contradiction whatsoever in those two verses penned by the same apostle moments apart. God will NOT justify anyone who rebels against His holy law. When one repents THAT is what they are repenting of – sin, the breaking of God’s holy law!
“Do we then make void (or abolish) the law through faith? GOD FORBID! Yea, we establish (Greek, “continue”) the law.” (Romans 3:31). “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good!” (Romans 7:22). God’s Ten Commandment law is a perfect law. It is totally just and fair. Nothing in it needs to be altered. It is holy, sacrosanct and will stand forever! “ALL His commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever!” (See Psalm 111:7-8). “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in His commandments” (Psalm 112:1).
“Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto ALL thy commandments” (Psalm 119:6). “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine!” (See 2 Timothy 3:16). Where do you think the apostles got their doctrine? Never in all their lives did any one of them ever see a New Testament. They had no idea that centuries after their deaths church elders would collect together their writings and declare them to be inspired of God and even later still called the New Testament!!!!! God help you to understand is my prayer.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley