Delivered From the Law

[Dave]

Delivered From the Law​

"We are delivered from the law, not by its abrogation, but by its execution through Christ, who bore our sins in His own body on the tree....the ground of justification is not what is within us, but what Christ has done for us; His righteousness alone satisfies the demands of Divine justice. - Charles Hodge

"We are delivered from the law": This means that believers are no longer under the condemning power or penalty of God’s law. The law, which demands perfect obedience and pronounces judgment on sinners (Galatians 3:10), no longer holds its curse over those who are in Christ.

"Not by its abrogation": This clarifies that the law is not nullified, repealed, or dismissed. God did not simply set aside His righteous demands or ignore His holy standard. The law remains a reflection of His perfect character and justice (Romans 7:12).

"But by its execution through Christ": Instead of abolishing the law, God fulfilled its demands in Christ. Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to the law (Matthew 5:17) and satisfied its requirements on behalf of sinners. Additionally, Christ bore the penalty of the law for our transgressions, taking upon Himself the judgment that the law demands for sin (Isaiah 53:5-6).

"Who bore our sins in His own body on the tree": This refers to Christ’s substitutionary atonement on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). The "tree" is a reference to the cross, where Jesus carried the sins of His people. He endured the curse and wrath of God that was rightfully ours, satisfying divine justice completely (Galatians 3:13).

In short, believers are freed from the law’s condemnation, not because God ignored or dismissed the law, but because Christ perfectly obeyed it and fully endured its penalty in our place. His life and death uphold the law’s justice while making salvation by grace possible. In Christ, the law’s demands are met, and its curse is removed, allowing us to stand justified before God.

Delivered From the Law | Monergism

"We are delivered from the law, not by its abrogation, but by its execution through Christ, who bore our sins in His own body on the tree." - Charles Hodge"We

www.monergism.com

 

[Dave]

The Only Hope for Sinners​

This points to the biblical reality that, because of the universality of sin, no human being can stand before a holy God based on their own merit or moral efforts (Romans 3:10-12). Our best deeds are stained with sin and fall short of God’s perfect standard (Isaiah 64:6). However, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are united with Him, and His perfect righteousness is imputed—or credited—to them (2 Corinthians 5:21). This divine exchange means that Christ bore the punishment for our sins on the cross, while His perfect obedience is counted as ours before God. To be "clothed" in His righteousness, therefore, is to be covered entirely by His merit, standing justified and accepted in the sight of God. This doctrine underscores that salvation is entirely a work of grace, leaving no room for human boasting (Ephesians 2:8-9). It reminds us that Christ alone is the sinner's refuge and hope of eternal life.

The Only Hope for Sinners | Monergism

This points to the biblical reality that, because of the universality of sin, no human being can stand before a holy God based on their own merit or moral

www.monergism.com

 

[Soyeong]

Delivered From the Law​

"We are delivered from the law, not by its abrogation, but by its execution through Christ, who bore our sins in His own body on the tree....the ground of justification is not what is within us, but what Christ has done for us; His righteousness alone satisfies the demands of Divine justice. - Charles Hodge


"We are delivered from the law": This means that believers are no longer under the condemning power or penalty of God’s law. The law, which demands perfect obedience and pronounces judgment on sinners (Galatians 3:10), no longer holds its curse over those who are in Christ.

Being delivered from the Law of God would mean that we have no more obligation to refrain from doing what it reveals to be sin whereas being delivered from the penalty of the Law of God would mean that we are still obligated to obey it, but do not face condemnation for breaking it. In Titus 2:14, it does not say that Jesus gave himself to deliver us from the law, but to deliver us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people of his own passion who are zealous for doing good works, so the way to believe in what Jesus spent his ministry teaching and in what he accomplished through the cross is by repenting and becoming zealous for doing good works in obedience to God's law. In 1 John 2:6, those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way that he walked, so verses like Romans 8:1 that refer to those who are in Christ are only referring to those who have not been delivered form the Law of God, but who are following Christ's example of walking in obedience to it.

Repentance doesn't change the fact that we have not had perfect obedience, so if we needed to have perfect obedience, then repentance would have no value, but the fact that repentance has value means that we are not required to have perfect obedience. In Deuteronomy 11:26-32, the difference between being under God's blessing or His curse is not based on wether or not we have perfect obedience to the Law of God, but whether we choose to serve God or to chase after other gods.

"Not by its abrogation": This clarifies that the law is not nullified, repealed, or dismissed. God did not simply set aside His righteous demands or ignore His holy standard. The law remains a reflection of His perfect character and justice (Romans 7:12).

"But by its execution through Christ": Instead of abolishing the law, God fulfilled its demands in Christ. Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to the law (Matthew 5:17) and satisfied its requirements on behalf of sinners. Additionally, Christ bore the penalty of the law for our transgressions, taking upon Himself the judgment that the law demands for sin (Isaiah 53:5-6).

"Who bore our sins in His own body on the tree": This refers to Christ’s substitutionary atonement on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). The "tree" is a reference to the cross, where Jesus carried the sins of His people. He endured the curse and wrath of God that was rightfully ours, satisfying divine justice completely (Galatians 3:13).

In short, believers are freed from the law’s condemnation, not because God ignored or dismissed the law, but because Christ perfectly obeyed it and fully endured its penalty in our place. His life and death uphold the law’s justice while making salvation by grace possible. In Christ, the law’s demands are met, and its curse is removed, allowing us to stand justified before God.

https://www.monergism.com/reformation-theology/blog/delivered-law[/URL

I agree that God's law still stands, but then you start speaking about its execution through Christ as if it no longer stands and Jesus removed our salvation by meetings its requirements on our behalf. Jesus saves us from our sin (Matthew 1:21) and sin is the transgression of the Law of God (1 John 3:4), so Jesus graciously teaching us to be a doer of it is intrinsically the way that he is giving us his gift of saving us from not being a doer of it. The Law of God is not something that is once and does, such as if you do something that expresses your love for you neighbor, then you have executed its requirements and no longer need to love your neighbor.

 

[Soyeong]

The Only Hope for Sinners​

This points to the biblical reality that, because of the universality of sin, no human being can stand before a holy God based on their own merit or moral efforts (Romans 3:10-12).

Something that we do on our own does not involve relying on anyone else, so it is contradictory to consider our reliance on God's instructions to be something that we do that is based on our own merit or moral efforts. Rather, something that we is based on our own merits and moral efforts would be completely independent of following anything that God has instructed. God is trustworthy, therefore His instructions are also trustworthy (Psalms 19:7), so the way to rely on God is by obediently relying on His instructions. There are many people described as righteous in the Bible, such as Noah (Genesis 6:8-9) and Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-6), so Romans 3:10-12, it is not denying that anyone is righteous, but rather it is quoting Psalms 14:1-3, which denies that anyone is righteous among those who say that there is no God.

Our best deeds are stained with sin and fall short of God’s perfect standard (Isaiah 64:6).

In Isaiah 64:6, it have nothing to do with saying that their best deeds fall short of God's perfect standard, but rather it is the people hyperbolically complaining about God not coming down and making his presence known. God is not a commander of filthy rags, but rather the righteous deeds of the saints are like fine white linen (Revelation 19:8).

However, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are united with Him, and His perfect righteousness is imputed—or credited—to them (2 Corinthians 5:21). This divine exchange means that Christ bore the punishment for our sins on the cross, while His perfect obedience is counted as ours before God. To be "clothed" in His righteousness, therefore, is to be covered entirely by His merit, standing justified and accepted in the sight of God. This doctrine underscores that salvation is entirely a work of grace, leaving no room for human boasting (Ephesians 2:8-9). It reminds us that Christ alone is the sinner's refuge and hope of eternal life.

The Only Hope for Sinners | Monergism

This points to the biblical reality that, because of the universality of sin, no human being can stand before a holy God based on their own merit or moral

www.monergism.com

In Psalms 119:29-30, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching hi to obey His law, and he chose the way of faith by setting it before him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation by grace through faith.

In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to walk in His way that he and Israel might know Him, and in Matthew 7:23, Jesus said that he would tell those who are workers of lawlessness to depart from him because he never knew them, so the goal of the law is to teach us how to know God and Jesus, which is His gift of eternal life (John 17:3).

In Genesis 6:8-9, Noah found grace in the eyes of God, he was a righteous man, and he walked with God, so God was gracious to him by teaching him to walk in His way and he was righteous because he obeyed through faith. In Romans 1:5, we have received grace in order to bring about the obedience of faith.

In Ephesians 2:8-10, we are new creations in Christ to do good works, so while we do not earn our salvation as the result of our works lest anyone should boast, being graciously made to be a doer of good works is nevertheless a central part of our gift of salvation.

In Titus 2:14, our salvation is described as being trained by grace to do what is godly, righteous, and good, and to renounce doing what is ungodly, so doing those works has nothing to do with trying to earn our salvation as the result, but rather God graciously teaching us to be a dear of those works is part of His gift of salvation.

While the only way for someone to attain a character trait is through faith, what it means for someone to attain a character trait is for them to become a doer of that trait, so the gift of righteousness is the gift of getting to become a doer of righteous works in obedience to God's law.

 

[Dave]

Hi @Soyeong

I was going to get into Galatians 3 here, but I just don't have the time. Being under the Law doesn't mean that we disregard the Law, it only means that don't trust in it for, justification. Here's an excellent read, if your interested. It's from "Ask a Pastor"

What does it mean to be under the law?

Pastor Tom Hicks of First Baptist Church of Clinton, Louisiana explains what Paul means when he speaks of being "under the law."

pastortomhicks.com

 

[prism]

To reject the imputation of Christ's righteousness puts one back under the law ( as a system of merit ).

 

[ReverendRV]

I agree that God's law still stands, but then you start speaking about its execution through Christ as if it no longer stands and Jesus removed our salvation by meetings its requirements on our behalf. Jesus saves us from our sin (Matthew 1:21) and sin is the transgression of the Law of God (1 John 3:4), so Jesus graciously teaching us to be a doer of it is intrinsically the way that he is giving us his gift of saving us from not being a doer of it. The Law of God is not something that is once and does, such as if you do something that expresses your love for you neighbor, then you have executed its requirements and no longer need to love your neighbor.

The answer to this is our Widowhood from the Mosaic Law of God; we are now free to Marry another Law of God; IE the Royal Law of Christ. The Christian is never Lawless, as in Antinomian; we are now under a new Federal Head; the Lord God Jesus Christ...

This reminds me of an example. I watch reviews of mobile Power Supplies. One test is if the Power Supply can keep a Laptop Computer functioning without it shutting down, due to the Laptop's power changing from the Wall plug-in to the Power Station at the press of the button. The Power Station is plugged into the Wall, and the Laptop is plugged into the Power Station. The Laptop is running on 110 power from the wall through what is called a "Pass Through" function; bypassing the Power Station's internal battery. When you turn the Power Station on, there is a Lag that may occur as it starts powering the Laptop with it's Internal Battery only; this can cause the Laptop to cut off. But a good Power Station transitions so fast from 110 power to battery power, the Laptop can't tell the difference...

This is the way it is for the new Christian; we are never without the Law of God, even though Federal Headship over the Law changes for Us. We graduate from the Law of Adam/Moses, and are now able to Keep the Law of Christ; which let's our new Consciences be our guide...

 

[prism]

I see a new law written on our hearts impelling us, but not forcing us as in ...

Jeremiah 31:33 KJV
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

I know we are not Israel, but the principle remains the same; the only difference is, we have remaining flesh (the old man) to contend with.

 

[Eleanor]

To reject the imputation of Christ's righteousness puts one back under the law ( as a system of merit ).

The law was not given as a system of merit, for salvation has never been by merit, it has always been by faith (Ge 15:6, Ro 4:1-5, Eph 2:8-9).

The law was given to reveal sin (Ro 3:20).

 

[Dave]

The law was not given as a system of merit, for salvation has never been by merit, it has always been by faith (Ge 15:6, Ro 4:1-5, Eph 2:8-9).

The law was given to reveal sin (Ro 3:20).

Hi Eleanor

But that faith brings us into union with Jesus', and His merits, right? The righteousness of God that justifies us is from the Law, right? Just wanted to make sure what you're saying here.

Dave

 

[Eleanor]

Hi Eleanor

But that faith brings us into union with Jesus', and His merits, right? The righteousness of God that justifies us is from the Law, right? Just wanted to make sure what you're saying here.

Dave

No, the righteousess of God is not from the law, his righteousness is by his own nature, from which the law is derived.

Nor, are we justified by the Law, which was given to reveal sin (Ro 3:20), not to justify (save).

All mankind is justified (saved) only by faith (Ge 15:6, Eph 2:8-9) in the promise, Jesus Christ.

 

[Dave]

@Eleanor

But you're speaking of people, us. We can't be saved by the Law because all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. The Law is a reflection of the very character of God. Jesus didn't. He came to fulfill the Law, that's why He is the end of the Law for righteousness for all who believe. He fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law on our behalf. The righteousness of God is the positive side of the atonement coin, if you will.

When some asked Jesus what must they do to be saved, He stringently laid out what it means to obey the Law perfectly. "What then can man do?" they asked. Jesus replied, what is impossible for man is possible for God. To be saved, one must not just not sin, but must also give the other side of that coin, perfect obedience, perfect righteousness. "It is finished" Jesus, as a man, fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law for us. The imputation by means of being in Him is all that we need. It's the whole reason, or at the very least, the main reason that He became incarnate. To do for us what we couldn't do.

Dave

 

[ReverendRV]

@Eleanor

But you're speaking of people, us. We can't be saved by the Law because all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. The Law is a reflection of the very character of God. Jesus didn't. He came to fulfill the Law, that's why He is the end of the Law for righteousness for all who believe. He fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law on our behalf. The righteousness of God is the positive side of the atonement coin, if you will.

When some asked Jesus what must they do to be saved, He stringently laid out what it means to obey the Law perfectly. "What then can man do?" they asked. Jesus replied, what is impossible for man is possible for God. To be saved, one must not just not sin, but must also give the other side of that coin, perfect obedience, perfect righteousness. "It is finished" Jesus, as a man, fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law for us. The imputation by means of being in Him is all that we need. It's the whole reason, or at the very least, the main reason that He became incarnate. To do for us what we couldn't do.

Dave

Yes; if Man Keeps the Law, he will be Saved. The Law still Justifies; it Justified Jesus. The problem is that other Men cannot Keep it since we're Fallen...

It's an Everlasting Covenant; unless it's Fulfilled, then it passed away. For those in Christ's Fulfilled Covenant of Works, it's passed away...

 

[Eleanor]

@Eleanor

But you're speaking of people, us. We can't be saved by the Law because all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.

No, we can't be saved by even perfect obedience to the Law, because the Law was not given to save, it was given only to reveal sin (Ro 3:20).

Salvation has always been only by faith (Ge 15:6, Ro 4:1-5) in the promise (Ge 15:5, Seed), Jesus Christ (Gal 3:16).

The Law is a reflection of the very character of God. Jesus didn't. He came to fulfill the Law, that's why He is the end of the Law for righteousness for all who believe. He fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law on our behalf. The righteousness of God is the positive side of the atonement coin, if you will.

When some asked Jesus what must they do to be saved, He stringently laid out what it means to obey the Law perfectly. "What then can man do?" they asked. Jesus replied, what is impossible for man is possible for God. To be saved, one must not just not sin, but must also give the other side of that coin, perfect obedience, perfect righteousness. "It is finished" Jesus, as a man, fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law for us. The imputation by means of being in Him is all that we need. It's the whole reason, or at the very least, the main reason that He became incarnate. To do for us what we couldn't do.

Dave

 

[Eleanor]

Yes; if Man Keeps the Law, he will be Saved. The Law still Justifies; it Justified Jesus. The problem is that Man cannot Keep it since we're Fallen...

Man will not be saved even by perfect law-keeping, for the law was not given to save, it was given only to reveal sin (Ro 3:20).

Jesus didn't need to be justified (declared not guilty, sentence of acquittal). . .he was born sinless, and never sinned.

All he could do was lose sinlessness, which he did not because he did not disobey the Law.

 

[ReverendRV]

Jesus didn't need to be justified (declared not guilty, sentence of acquittal). . .he was born sinless, and never sinned.

All he could do was lose sinlessness, which he did not because he did not disobey the Law.

Jesus, as the Second Adam, needed to be Justified. Adam Broke his Covenant of Works, Jesus Kept his. This is what Romans 5 is about...

Covenant Theology, right?

 

[Eleanor]

Yes; if Man Keeps the Law, he will be Saved. The Law still Justifies; it Justified Jesus. The problem is that other Men cannot Keep it since we're Fallen...

It's an Everlasting Covenant; unless it's Fulfilled, then it passed away. For those in Christ's Fulfilled Covenant of Works, it's passed away...

Man will not be saved by perfect law-keeping, for the law was not given to save, it was given only to reveal sin (Ro 3:20).

 

[Eleanor]

Jesus, as the Second Adam, needed to be Justified. Adam Broke his Covenant of Works, Jesus Kept his. This is what Romans 5 is about...

Covenant Theology, right?

Don't know about "Covenant Theology," only know the Bible.

Justification is God's declaration of righteousness. Jesus did not have to be justified, he always was righteous.

Yes, Jesus had to keep the Law to keep from becoming sinful and unqualified as the perfect sacrifice.

Romans 5 is also about the imputation of Adam's sin (Ro 5:17, 12-16, 18-19).

 

[Eleanor]

Imputation of Adam's sin to those of Adam, not to Jesus, who was not of Adam.

Which imputation of Adam's sin is the pattern (Ro 5:14) for the imputation of Christ's righteousness (Ro 5:18-19).

 

[ReverendRV]

Don't know about "Covenant Theology," only know the Bible.

Justification is God's declaration of righteousness. Jesus did not have to be justified, he always was righteous.

Yes, Jesus had to keep the Law to keep from becoming sinful and unqualified as the perfect sacrifice.

Romans 5 is also about the imputation of Adam's sin (Ro 5:17, 12-16, 18-19).

Covenant Theology ~ by ReverendRV * March 2

Romans 4:5 KJV; And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Jesus told the people that their Righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisee’s. Now this is no small task, as the Pharisees were a Jewish sect noted for their strong adherence to the Law of God. After the Ten Commandments were given to Israel through the Prophet Moses, God’s Law was refined by the people over the years, sometimes going too far in their devotion to it. Here’s an example; the Disciples of Jesus were eating the heads off wheat from a field on a Saturday, and some Pharisees claimed it was a violation of the Commandment to keep the Sabbath Holy. Jesus went on to explain to them why the Disciples had not broken God’s Law; ultimately it was because Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. This is an example of how legalistic the Pharisees were; but Jesus said our Righteousness must surpass their standard; how can any of us be that Good??

A young Pharisee came to Jesus and asked him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him that he must keep the Ten Commandments; keeping the Law of God is Righteousness. This Pharisee kept many of the Ten Commandments since his childhood, but Jesus knew which one of these Commandments would cause this young Ruler to stumble; because he was also rich. Jesus said, ‘Thou shalt not Covet; go sell your possessions and give to the Poor’. Because of his Coveting, the rich young Pharisee ‘Kept’ his possessions; instead of God’s Commandment. The Commandments he actually Kept were now Counted as Sin instead of counted as Righteousness. Among all men, the Rich Young Pharisee actually had lived a more righteous life than almost anyone could ever live; but your Righteousness must surpass even that of the Pharisees. ~ I’m afraid that we would have Sinned far easier than this Pharisee did; he kept the Sabbath day Holy and perfectly honored his parents. Have you been THIS Good? Have you ever told a Lie? Then you will quickly be found guilty on the Day of Judgment and be sentenced to an eternity in Hell…

But Jesus said that your Righteousness MUST surpass that of the Pharisees; there has to be a way! There’s only been one person who ever had his personal Righteousness surpass that of a Pharisee’s; Jesus Christ himself. Covenant Theology teaches that as our Representative, Adam Sinned by not keeping the Covenant of Works. ‘Thou shalt not eat fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil’; but Adam did eat and thus Condemned us all. Jesus is the ‘Second Adam’ who never Sinned, thus keeping the Covenant of Works! He shares this accomplishment with all who put their Faith in him as their risen Lord and Savior; thus we keep the Covenant of Works through him! Saint Paul tells us that through Faith, the Covenant of Grace transfers ‘Funds’ from the Covenant of Works to our personal accounts; Faith is ‘counted’ as Law keeping. ~ Christ’s Disciples asked Jesus what they must do to be able to perform the Works God requires; Jesus said, ‘This is the Work God requires - to Believe in the one whom he sent’. Through Faith, the Covenant of God’s Grace is counted as our having Kept the Covenant of Works. Repent of your Sin and believe on Jesus Christ, then you will be Forgiven; and your Righteousness will surpass that of the Pharisees. Find a Gospel Church and start reading the Bible. In it you will find out about an Old Covenant and the New Covenant; commonly known as “Testaments’ these days…

Romans 3:21 KJV; But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.