“Keeping the Law”

[Netchaplain]

God never intended for man to keep the Law, it was His way of revealing to man, not only His requirement for fellowship, but also the inability (even if desiring to) of the creature to do so. Perfect obedience to His will cannot be accomplished in the creature (man), in who dwells the sin nature (old man), even in regeneration.

Perfect obedience to God will be the walk of the Christian in eternity because of the absence of the sin nature, which will involve the absence of all hindrances to man’s ability to obey Him perfectly—in the Spirit. Jesus was the only human who could keep the law perfectly because it required, not only an uninterruptence (even in thought) of outward compliance of actions (impossibility with a sin nature—Jam 2:10), but an inward holiness of intentions in all things (performed only out of divinity—Jesus). The outward keeping of the law could be keep by any human—but not perfectly—and that was the point.

Jesus’ Law keeping was not so that His obedience would be accredited to the believer, but for Himself—for the qualifying of a perfect sacrifice, and it is the result of this atonement which is accredited (imputed) to the believer. Now, the believer’s obedience is in the life of Christ (Col 3:4) by the Spirit, and this is why godliness is imputed (not imparted due to the sin nature).

-NC

 

[williemac]

Well said.

God never intended that man would be 'justified' by the works of law. Not in the old covenant. Not in the new covenant. If there was a law given that could have given life, then truly righteousness would have been by the law (Gal.3:21).

 

[SolaGratia]

Not in the old covenant. Not in the new covenant.

Exactly. Some seem to think that the New Covenant was plan B, and after the Old Covenant didn't work out so well. Not so (as you correctly point out). The law was never going to justify anyone. God has always had intended to redeem man through the sacrificial death of the Son.

 

[Angelina]

well said NC...amen!

 

[KingJ]

Hi Net. I respect you and your posts! but I can't help nitpicking this one. Please don't be upset :wub:.

God never intended for man to keep the Law,

He did, otherwise He wouldn't have given us the law. Deut 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

He never intended man to be 'saved / have life / be in His presence' by the law. A perfect sacrifice is needed for that. Two very separate issues.

it was His way of revealing to man, not only His requirement for fellowship, but also the inability (even if desiring to) of the creature to do so.

That was part of the reason. The main reason for the law was that He wanted us to know Him better. When we know those things that please and displease Him, we know whom it is we serving and what to do if we love Him and choose to serve Him. He / we also now have a gauge by which we can measure our devotion to Him.

Perfect obedience to His will cannot be accomplished in the creature (man), in who dwells the sin nature (old man), even in regeneration

We have a 'weak' flesh not a sin nature at birth. We receive a sin nature when we choose to sin and make our father the devil. Just as we recieve Christ's nature when we choose to have our hearts after His. If we had a sin nature from birth then that and whoever put it there must go to hell and not us.

Perfect obedience to God will be the walk of the Christian in eternity because of the absence of the sin nature,

Can't agree with that at all. Perfect obedience is unscriptural and it's an assumption. We are simply not evil robots now or obedient robots in heaven. We can rest and know that whatever we do in heaven for eternity, we are forever covered by the blood of Jesus.

Jesus was the only human who could keep the law perfectly because it required, not only an uninterruptence (even in thought) of outward compliance of actions (impossibility with a sin nature—Jam 2:10), but an inward holiness of intentions in all things (performed only out of divinity—Jesus). The outward keeping of the law could be keep by any human—but not perfectly—and that was the point.
Jesus’ Law keeping was not so that His obedience would be accredited to the believer, but for Himself—for the qualifying of a perfect sacrifice, and it is the result of this atonement which is accredited (imputed) to the believer. Now, the believer’s obedience is in the life of Christ (Col 3:4) by the Spirit, and this is why godliness is imputed (not imparted due to the sin nature).

Jesus was the worthy sacrifice because He was God. If Jesus sinned by the law, it would not be sin because Jesus is the law John 1:1. I am not saying He was not tempted (we can certainly rejoice and be confident that in Him we can have victory over sin!! because He did), but if He gave in to any, then whatever that was would not be 'sin' after that.

So, regarding your title ''keeping the law''. Lets be clear that keeping the law (the whole law = the ''thou shalt nots'' with the verses like Psalm 51:17 and Gen 15:6) gets us into Abrahams bosom and not Hades. Salvation is when Jesus comes to fetch us there and takes us to be with Him. Sure NT we don't go there, but the principle still applies Matt 16:24.

God hates sin. Jesus's sweat turned to blood, not because of the pain coming from the whips and public humiliation. But from being covered in sin when He completely / utterly hates it. If our hearts are after His (hating sin, trying our best to obey His laws, being quick to repent) we will find Him and He will save us.

 

[Netchaplain]

Well said.

God never intended that man would be 'justified' by the works of law. Not in the old covenant. Not in the new covenant. If there was a law given that could have given life, then truly righteousness would have been by the law (Gal.3:21).

Well said to you too WM - The old dispensation taught by types and shadows that fellowship with God would be in Christ (Gal 3:24, 25)--in the new dispensation (Heb 10:1, 9, 10).

Exactly. Some seem to think that the New Covenant was plan B, and after the Old Covenant didn't work out so well. Not so (as you correctly point out). The law was never going to justify anyone. God has always had intended to redeem man through the sacrificial death of the Son.

Hi SG - Appreciate the instructional reply. Understanding the omniscience of God resolves more Scriptural questions than any other of His attributes. When He gave Adam the first command, He knew he would not keep it, but this is the way He chose to teach us.

well said NC...amen!

Hi Angelina - Good to see your reply and thank you too for the compliment.

Hi Net. I respect you and your posts! but I can't help nitpicking this one. Please don't be upset :wub:.


He did, otherwise He wouldn't have given us the law.

I would never be disappointed in anyone's reply, because the truth is being sought.

 

[lukethreesix]

Jesus didn't "keep the law", he fulfilled it.
We too, should be fulfilling the law, not keeping it.
How? "Love God with all your heart and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself."
This is the law AND prophets.