OBS: God's Word is a Progressive Plan (Part.6.2)

This is Part 6 of the Series

Click here for the previous lesson: Part 6.1

The Meaning of 'Not under Law'
in the Grace Dispensation

It is easy to understand what LAW meant in the Old Testament and in the four Gospels. The law in question was the 'Mosaic Law' and there was no dispute that it was active at this time and it was required to obey it and adhere to it as a way of life. The following (taken from 100's of available scriptures) attest to this fact,

Deuteronomy 6:1 "Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, ... 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, ...

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 

Matthew 19:16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? 17 So He said to him, why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.

So, when we come to the grace dispensation, does adhering to the law change, and if so, does the law change or do we change in respect to the law or does the law completely fall away? Paul writes that we are not under the laws of Israel and that grace no longer owes allegiance to the law,

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

What does this REALLY mean in the context of the grace dispensation? As with Part 6.1 in this study regarding baptism, please note that this is NOT a deep dive into all that the law is, or is not, but this article is simply clarifying what has changed between the period of Israel under law versus the period of the Body of Christ under grace.

Under the LAW  < vs >  Not Under the LAW

Definition:
Mosaic Law (for Israel), Moral Law (for ALL men, Rom.13:1-10), Mans Law (for Nobody!)

To start with, it is beneficial to clarify the three definitions above, as this will add clarity to the rest of this article.

1. The Mosaic Law is the law given by God to Israel through Moses. This is the law that distinguishes Israel from the Gentile nations. This is the law that gives them identity and separates them as God's chosen nation above all other nations. The Mosaic law is the 613 commands or statutes that include the moral laws, the civil laws and the ceremonial laws defining the values, character and observance of each Jew and the nation as a whole. This law definition is applicable to the Jews and to Israel ONLY under the dispensation of the Law!
   
   
2. The Moral Law is my personal definition of the moral law as to be obeyed by all humanity. The moral law is the simple knowledge of good and bad as written innately on the heart and understood by the conscience. This can be extended further to include the moral laws (as in the 10 commandments) and the civil laws of a land and government and any other laws which are all packaged up and adhered to under the single law of love. For a biblical reference to this definition, see Rom.13:1-10. This law definition is applicable to all humanity and is active currently in this dispensation of Grace!
   
   
3. What I call 'Man's Law' is the laws that are NOT given by God but originate from the mind of men. These laws serve no purpose to and for God, but are designed to promote men and ultimately blind and imprison them in religions, philosophies and observances that bring about dead works and bondage. This law definition is NOT applicable to anybody and is NOT supported or promoted by the scriptures, yet it is being observed by countless people and trapping them in lies and blinding them from the liberty which is found in Christ under grace.

With these three definitions clarified, you will find that it is not too necessary to spend time in writing about which law is good to practice or which applies to the two dispensations. What we will do in the rest of this article is to focus on how each dispensation rejects 'Man's law' and how adhering to it can spoil what God intended for that period. Let's look at some biblical references to confirm and distinguish how each dispensation spoke out against 'Man's law' as being ungodly and an absolute hinderance to the work of God in the individual. Let's start with this extract from the Gospel of Mark during the Law Dispensation,

(Example of what the Mosaic Law was NOT!) 

Mark 7:1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" 6 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honours Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men [rituals, habits, observances] —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." 9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. ... 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition [rituals, habits, observances] which you have handed down.

The laws that Jesus spoke against is not the Mosaic laws, but the efforts of men having added things to the law and completely distorting it. Jesus taught and promoted the Mosaic laws which were there to define and separate the nation, but He spoke against and rejected the traditions and rituals that were practiced by the Pharisees so as to distinguish themselves above the people.

Can you see that 'Man's law' is the problem. Even in the period of law, when Jews were expected to adhere to law and obey, Jesus spoke out against anything added to the Mosaic law; things like traditions, rituals, observances and practices that promoted the elevation of men rather than the honour of God.

Now let's turn our attention to the dispensation of grace, where Paul says that we are NOT under law. Let's look at what this statement really means in this new context, starting with salvation under grace and then moving on to looking at how we live as Christians under grace.

(Warnings to grace believers against returning to the Law) 

Galatians 3:2 "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by [ritual, habit, repetition, effort of] the flesh?" 

Galatians 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

No one can satisfy the demands of the law! The law for Israel was to prove their inabilities to meet God's standards and to show their need for a Messiah. For us, in the Grace dispensation, we do not need the Mosaic law (firstly), because it was given to Israel only, not to us!, and (second), because Jesus has already completely satisfied the moral law demands on our behalf.

So, if we are not under the law today (not refering to the moral law (Rom.13:1-10)) and not dictated by rituals, traditions, and observances, then what do we live by (what standards, practices)?

Colossians 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 ... 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord [by faith in the Gospel message], so walk in Him [by faith in the voice of the Spirit], 

7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught [Word, doctrine], abounding in it with thanksgiving. 

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit [falseness, trickery], > (1)according to the tradition of men [Tradition = something handed down], (2)according to the basic principles of the world*, and not according to Christ.

*The basic principles of the world can be defined as any system that seeks to understand and appease God by human systems of observance. In these passages "basic principles" refer to the rudimentary principles of religion (Col.2:20 – don't taste, touch, handle; Gal.4:9-10 – you observe days, and months, and times, and years). Heb.5:12 – Heb.6:2 references the elementary principles or teachings common to the Old Testament.

Summary: The serving of God by traditions, by human wisdom and concept, by observances and ceremonies, by religious rituals and repetition.

To live as Christians today in the liberty of the Spirit does not mean that we forego all laws and rebel against the government, our parents or guardians and just do as we please. No! This will not reflect our duty and lifestyle to God and as an example to others. Laws are laws and they are there for a reason. What Paul means by the statement, "we are not under the law...", is that we are not to come under the bondage of 'Man's law', and fall into the bondage of traditions or rituals or observances and practices. These are things that promote men and really have no part in the design of God for your life and liberty. The key to not being under the law is to do that which gives you joy and life and which does not restrict you in your service to God and others. To live by the instruction of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Life within us is what sets us free and produces the good works that result in gold and silver and precious stones before God, 1 Cor.3:12-15.

I encourage you to read my article called, "How to Live by the Liberty of Love and Personal Conviction". It is effectively a continuation of this study and will clarify what it means to walk in the Spirit, or be led by the Spirit. It will bring you to a better understanding of what it really means to walk in the liberty we have as a grace believing Christian today.

Grace and peace to you.

See the video of this lesson here.