Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

The power of the natural, religious mind to obscure what is plainly written in the Holy Scriptures is truly mind boggling. The apostle Paul is a prominent figure in the New Testament. His testimony is recorded no less that three times in the book of Acts, and over half the book is devoted to documenting his conversion, his entering into what the Holy Spirit refers to as "the work." Where Paul went, what Paul said, his experiences with his countrymen, his establishing and building up the churches, all are documented in eternity in the word of God. Add to that, over half the books, 14 out of 27, (counting Hebrews) in the New Testament were written by him.

Why is Paul a particular person in the Scriptures? His salvation was not from fishing, like Peter, or from tax collecting, like Matthew, or from net mending, like John. His salvation was from serving God according to the law of God, according to the traditions of his fathers, and from zealously serving according to the orthodox, Biblical religion of his time. Here is a list of his religious attainments according to Paul's own word:

Philippians 3:5-6 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Saul of Tarsus was saved, not out of gambling, drug addiction, or fornication, but out of religion and tradition, and most importantly out from under the law to become a pattern to us who have been trapped in religion, possibly all our lives. In his religious zeal, he was persecuting Christ, and the chiefest of sinners.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

From the beginning of the church, the matter of the believer's relationship to the law of God was a cause of contention.

Peter's going to the household of Cornelius, a gentile, in Acts 10 became a matter of contention.

Acts 11:2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

In Acts 15 there was more contention because certain men were teaching that to be saved, one must keep the law of God.

Acts 15:1-2a And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them

Eventually both Peter and Barnabus were reduced to hypocrisy due to this very conflict.

Galatians 2:11-13 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. For before some came from James, he continually ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to shrink back and separate himself, fearing those of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also joined him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away in their hypocrisy. (RcV)

Notice "before some came from James". This verse identifies James as the source of the trouble. James was at the head of "thousands of Jews who believed, who are also zealous for the law."

Acts 21:18, 20 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. ... And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

Paul opposed Peter to his face because he stood condemned. Barnabus, who had shepherded Paul into fellowship with those who were apostles before him, also was carried away in their hypocrisy. James, was the leader of thousands of Jewish believers, who were also zealous for he law. It seems that possibly Paul was raised up by the Lord for this very reason; to explain how Christ has come to replace the law. We must learn from Paul what is our relationship with the law.

   Yes, starting Romans 6 was this verse:  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?   That is the very charge leveled by those insisting upon Torah observance.  It dawned on me that the entire book of Romans can be seen as an exposition regarding the continuance of seeking GOD through performance of the law.   Paul spoke it most clearly thusly:  Romans 10:3-4  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

PAULFROMNYS said:

For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Christ is the end of the law because He did not come to help us keep the law. He came to replace the law. The law cannot help a sinner, and the law cannot help a believer, because it is weak through the flesh. This is a major revelation in Romans and in Galatians and is at the heart of Paul's gospel. Many dear believers struggle today because they are still trying to keep the law.

Romans 8:3-4 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The basis of our Christian life is the Spirit with our spirit. Christ, as the Spirit of life is a fountain in our spirit for us to drink, enjoy, and live by. This is the way!

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The subject of the book of Galatians is "Christ replacing the law." The gospel that Paul preached had as its center, Christ.

Christ revealed in us

Galatians 1:15 -16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Christ living in us

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Christ formed in us

Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

In Galatians, Christ in us has replaced the law of God which is outside of us, cannot give life, and can only make demands on us which we can never keep. 

We believers have died to the law.

Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

To attempt to keep the law is to frustrate the grace of God.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

We are free from any desire to be under the law

Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

Paul's gospel as presented in the book of Galatians emphasizes Christ revealed in us, Christ living in us, and Christ being formed in us, and has nothing to do with Jesus helping us to keep the law. Paul is not burdened with a recovery of law keeping, but with a recovery of the promise God made to Abraham, the promise of the Spirit, the Spirit of His Son, whom He has sent into our hearts.

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

The Spirit of His Son is Christ, who became a life-giving Spirit in resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:45b) who is with our spirit (Romans 8:16) and is being dispensed into our hearts through the hearing of faith, not through works of law (Galatians 3:5). This wonderful Person in us is the grace by which we are saved.

Galatians 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

   WOW, this topic has taken you to a new level of awesomeness  :).   Sharing with local believers to help clear us on this issue deeper into our unity in Christ.

Just a little more provoking...

Is there ANY Law that the believer is under or in subjection to?

Shalom,

JS5777

JS5777 said:

Just a little more provoking... Is there ANY Law that the believer is under or in subjection to?

I welcome provoking brother. I have discovered that revelation in the Bible sense does not mean seeing visions and revelations that are not in the Holy Scriptures. The very word apokalupsis means to remove the veil, that we may see what is plainly written. 

Of course the New Covenant has a new commandment, love one another. If we are enjoying the Lord in our spirit, and expressing Him in our relationships with one another, this is the fulfillment of the entirety of the law of commandments in ordinances.

What pleases God? Not law keeping, but to reveal His Son in us.

Galatians 1:16-16a But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
To reveal his Son in me,

Romans and Galatians both have a verse as to what law we are under.

Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Romans 13:8-9 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

JS5777 said:

Is there ANY Law that the believer is under

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

The law of Christ: This is the higher and better law of life which works through love and empowers us to bear one another's burdens. God the Father has sent the Spirit of His Son into us. This person in our spirit is the higher and better law, the law of the Spirit of life.

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

The more this Person increases in us, the more He is formed in us.

Colossians 2:19b ...holding the Head, from which all the Body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God.

Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

I admit, it is not easy to see that we are not in any way under the law of God, and how and why it is that we are not under the law. In fact, any attempt to keep the law will bring the believer under the bondage of sin and death. 

Many believe that Romans 7 is the normal Christian experience and Paul's testimony. No! It is the result of bringing oneself under the law. That is why it begins with, "Don't you know?", or "Are you ignorant?"

It is equally not easy to see what grace is in the Scriptures. I agree with John Newton that grace is amazing, but to say that it is simply unmerited favor is far, far, far short of what is revealed in the Scriptures. We are not under law, but under grace.

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.

Fred said: "I admit, it is not easy to see that we are not in ANY WAY under the law of God, and how and why it is that we are not under the law."

Then absolutely EVERY one of the promises that are contained in the Old Testament are nullified, and God is concluded as promising without fulfilling, and thereby defined as NOT being faithful and ALSO as being a liar, but my God is not so, He IS faithful and He DOES fulfill absolutely everything that He has spoken.

The coming of Christ into the world in NO WAY causes any part of the Old Testament to no longer be the Word of God.

Deu 8:3  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Luke 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

By saying that "we are not in ANY WAY under the law of God" makes the above three scripture passages to be meaningless and also constitutes rebellion (1 Sam 15:23).

Fred said: "In fact, any attempt to keep the law will bring the believer under the bondage of sin and death."

The Law of God IS NOT the same thing as the law of sin and death.

While it is true that if we attempt to fulfill the Law of God WITHOUT HIM, we will fail, because attempting to do so WITHOUT HIM signifies a separating of ourselves from Him, the apostasy/divorce, in which we can do nothing, but WITH HIM. ALL THINGS are possible, even the fulfilling of the Law of God. But it is done THROUGH us, not of our own nonexistent abilities WITHOUT HIM, but by and through Him living and dwelling in us and manifesting EVERYTHING that describes the behavior of His character, thus bringing us back into fellowship/relationship WITH Him and restoring us back to His image and likeness.

By making the statement that "we are not in ANY WAY under the law of God" is exactly what constitutes the demonic lie of the hyper-grace (antinomianism) heresy, and eventually concludes in the lawlessness that the Apostle Paul said "God forbid" about, of sinning so that "grace should abound".

I have encountered several such people, who even go so far as to say that "we are not even saved by ANY of the works that ANYONE has done, NOT EVEN those that were done by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross", and they are so deceived that they do not even recognize that they are preaching their own condemnation.

But the righteousness of the Law of God MUST be fulfilled in and through the Wife of the Lamb, because THAT fulfilling is the VERY wedding garments with which She is attired, and without which NO ONE will have entrance into the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.

Therefore, it is not by the works that WE have done (WITHOUT HIM), it IS by the works that HE HAS DONE and is STILL doing in and THROUGH us, and THOSE WORKS DO fulfill the Law of God.

The ONLY way that the penalty (curse) of the Law of God, which comes upon the disobedient, can be avoided, is by the Power of the Life of God dwelling within us and by Him fulfilling His own Law THROUGH us in obedience. Access to THAT Life-giving power has been made available to us by and through the works that the Lord Jesus Christ did for us on the cross by pouring out His own blood, and the Life that was/is in the blood dwelling within us to fulfill His own Law, and by fulfilling in obedience, He brings us into the blessings and promises that are contained in the Law of God, AND by THAT (His) obedience, we escape the curse of the Law upon the disobedient.

In THIS, absolutely NO jot or tittle of the Word of God is ignored or nullified, and His righteousness is fulfilled in and through us, again ONLY by His power living within us.

All of those who remain in disobedience to the Law of God are STILL under the curse, because of their disobedience, even after the way has been provided for us to become obedient.

The power of the Spirit of God liberates us from the curse of the disobedient by bringing us into obedience and THAT liberty in NO WAY brings us into the bondage of the law of sin and death, which came about because of the fall in sin.

1 John 2:3      And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 2:4      He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1 John 2:5      But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

1 John 2:6      He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not walk contrary to the Law of God, He became the very fulfillment of the Law of God and He STILL is the very fulfillment of the Law of God IN and THROUGH every one that believes in Him.

Mat 5:17         Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

The words “think not” is an imperative, it is a commandment.

What is it that we are commanded to not even think? That He came to destroy the law, or the prophets.

He is STILL fulfilling the Law of God IN and THROUGH every one that believes in Him.