In this lesson we are going to study the law of God. We want to see what part the law had in our becoming Christians, and how Christ made it possible for us to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law. We will learn how to live the Christian life. Let us begin by thinking about the law of God.

The Law of God

What do we mean when we speak of "the law of God"? We mean the commandments of God.

Where did the law come from? The law came from God. On Mount Sinai God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. God wrote these commandments on tables of stone with His own finger.

In the Ten Commandments, God said:

You are to love and worship Me supremely and allow nothing to come before Me; you are not to make images, nor bow down to them; you are not to take My name in vain; you are to keep My Sabbath day holy; you are to honour your parents; you are not to commit murder; you are not to commit adultery; you are not to steal; you are not to lie; and you are not to covet or desire something belonging to someone else.

But God's law includes more than just the Ten Commandments. There are many other commandments of God in the Bible and these are included in His holy law.

God's law is the expression of His will—it tells us what things are right and what things are wrong in God's sight. The Bible says,

"And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you…" Deuteronomy 6:18

When we break God's law, we commit sin, and we know that sin results in death. The Bible says,

"…sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4

"The wages of sin is death…" Romans 6:23

Have men kept God's law? No, they have not. No one, other than the Lord Jesus, has ever kept the law of God perfectly. The Bible says,

"Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in His sight…" Romans 3:20

What the law could not do

God's law is good, and holy, and righteous, but there are three things that it could not do.

The law told men what they should do, but it could not give them the power to do it.

What did the law do?

If the law could not save men and it could not make them good, then what did the law do? The law did three things:

Now, let's consider the case of a man in the Old Testament and see how the law did these three key things.

Before the Law was given, a man who stole something might say that he did not know that this was a sin.

But after the law was given, when a man took something belonging to another person, he knew that he had sinned. The law showed him that he was a sinner.

The Bible says,

"…for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20

God's law not only showed a man that he was a sinner, but it did something else. It condemned him to death.

The Bible says,

"The soul that sins, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:20a

What happened when a man saw that he was a sinner and condemned to death? He realized that he needed a Saviour!

What did he do? By faith he brought a lamb and offered it as a sacrifice for his sins. Did the sacrifice of this lamb take away his sins? No, but when he offered this lamb he was looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, and God accepted his sacrifice.

What had the law done for this man? The law had shown him that he was a sinner and that he needed a Saviour.

What does the law do for us?

The law does the same three things for us today that it did for men in the Old Testament.

Now, we have come to see the purpose of the law. What is it? The purpose of the law is TO BRING US TO CHRIST THAT WE MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. The Bible says,

"Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Galatians 3:24

Christ is our Saviour

We have seen that the law brings us to Christ. Now let's see what Christ did for us when He saved us.

Now, let's think about these three key things.

The law demanded perfect obedience. Those who broke God's holy law came under the curse of the law. The Bible says,

"Cursed is every one who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." Galatians 3:10b

Because we had broken God's law, we were condemned to death, but Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. How did He do this? By His death for us. He bore the penalty of the broken law for us. The Bible says,

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us…" Galatians 3:13

Christ not only delivered us from the curse of the law, but He also delivered us from the dominion of the law—that is, He delivered us from the old creation in Adam where the law reigns over men.

The Bible says,

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:14

As God's children, we show our Heavenly Father that we love Him by keeping His commandments. But how can we keep God's commandments? The Lord Jesus has done something to make this possible—He came back to live in us.

Why did the Lord Jesus come back to live in us?

He came back THAT HE MIGHT FULFILL THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW IN US.

Under the law I tried to keep God's righteous requirements but failed. Now the Lord Jesus has come to live in me, and He says, "I will fulfill them in you."

Let's see how this works. We know that the law commands us to love others. This command of God is good and right, but I have not been able to keep it.

Now Christ has come to live in me. Does He love other people? Yes, He does. He died for them, too. When Christ's love dwells richly in my heart, I shall love even my enemies. What the law could not do by commanding me from without, Christ does in me.

How to live the Christian life

In Galatians 2:20, the Apostle Paul has told us how to live the Christian life. Here is what he said:

This is a key verse in the Christian life. You should memorize it and know what it means. Now, let's consider the verse.

The fact that we were crucified with Christ is the basis for victory over every enemy in the Christian life. By our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, we have been delivered from the power of sin, Self, the flesh, the world, and Satan. This is our standing in Christ, and we must count on it. Remember:

"It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me." God had a great purpose in crucifying us with Christ. What was it? God crucified us with Christ in order that our old self-life might be brought to an end SO THAT CHRIST MIGHT LIVE HIS LIFE IN US.

The Bible says that Christ is "the power of God." He lives in us, and He is made unto us everything we need. The Bible says,

"But of Him (God) you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption…" 1 Corinthians 1:30

How can I be righteous?

The answer is "Christ in me"—He is my righteousness. How can I be holy? The answer is "Christ in me"—He is my holiness. How can I overcome temptation? The answer is "Christ in me"—He is the victorious One. How can I fulfill the righteousness of the law? The answer is "Christ in me"—He is the One who always does the will of God.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

"That life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

We have been talking about the Christian life, but what is it? Is it my trying to do the best I can? No, it is not. Is it my trying in my own strength to fulfill the law? No, it is not. Is it Christ helping me to live the Christian life? No, it is not this either. The Christian life is Christ living His life in me. The Apostle Paul said,

"For to me to live is Christ (His life in me)…" Philippians 1:21

Then how do we live the Christian life? We live it by faith. This means we live it TRUSTING CHRIST TO LIVE HIS LIFE IN US. Christ lives in us, and as we count on Him to live His life in us, He is faithful to do this.

Begin today to recognize Him—that is, to realize that Christ actually lives in you. When you awake in the morning, say to yourself, "Christ lives in me!"

Remind yourself of this often during the day. Rejoice in all that Christ is and all that He means to you. Talk often with Him. Tell Him that you love Him and want to please Him in all that you do. Count on His life in you. Say with the Apostle Paul,

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

---

^top