To apprehend aright the place of the law is a difficult thing; because we must be fully led by the Holy Spirit in order not to be ourselves in some sort under law, as to our feelings at least. We must have rightly seized the power of the work and resurrection of Jesus otherwise one would be lawless if not under law. We are in no wise under the law. Grace does not recognize any participation of the law in our hearts. But how is this if we acknowledge the law as good? Because Christ exhausted it in His death He was under the law up to His death, and in His death; but evidently He is not so now. He may employ the law to judge those who have been under the law; but we are united to Him. As Adam was not head of the old race until after his fall, so Christ is only head of the new race as risen from among the dead. He places them in His own position as a risen Man: they begin with Christ there. They quite acknowledge the power of the law, but in that it has put Jesus to death—there where it has lost all its power, and its dominion over the soul. We belong to Another.
We can employ the law, if there be need, against the wicked; because, having the divine nature, we can handle the law, and it cannot inflict its mortal wound upon the divine nature from which it has emanated. We can show where man is if under the law, in order thereby to bring out the perfection of redemption: it is what the apostle does in Romans and Galatians, in order to make it clear that we are no longer under the law, because we are dead with Christ. Through the law we are dead to the law; we are crucified with Christ. A Gentile was never really under the law. In becoming a Christian he takes Christ at a point where He had done with the law; but, having received the Spirit of Christ, he has no longer need of the law to discern the perfection of redemption, he has intelligence to understand the things accomplished in the history of the Messiah—His perfect work. But this is far from being clear in the minds of Christians; for in fact the greater part among them have made of Christianity a law, and have put themselves under the law. They must come out thence in order to enjoy peace. For them the discussion as to what the law is becomes a very important thing, and very opportune on that account.
Besides, the human heart so naturally places himself under law, that it is very important for every soul to be well enlightened on the subject. The law, let us always remember, reveals to us nothing of God, except that a law implies a judge. It gives the measure of our responsibility. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God” and “thy neighbor": that is the law.
It may be said that the gospel gives new motives for our fulfillment of the law; but these motives are drawn from a fact which gives to Christ all that right over our hearts to which the law could lay claim, and by death puts an end to the power of the latter; for we are dead and risen with Christ. We shall do or avoid many of the things found in the law; and the summary of it which has been given us remains the principle, or rather the fruit, of the life of Christ in us. It is now fulfilled in all that flows from that life; but we are in no wise under the law, for we are one with Christ, and Christ is not under the law.
The law condemns not only conduct but men. The law says not only “Cursed is everything,” but “Cursed is every one who continueth not,” etc. Thus we must be under the curse if we are under the law. But it is because we are not under the law that we can make use of it, if needs be. The Jews attempted to apply it against the adulterous woman; but they were under the law in the flesh. The law pierced their hearts to death and condemnation. Christ made use of it, or at least allowed it its efficacy; because, though He was born under the law, it could not touch Him for condemnation, the life of God in Him being perfect. United to Him in the Spirit we can make use of it, because we are beyond its reach by the death and resurrection of Christ, enjoying His life in our, souls. This is why people are always more or less under the law until they have understood the resurrection of Christ, and also whenever the flesh obscures the, power of redemption.
The practice of righteousness flows from the life of Christ in us. But in this life we are by the Spirit united to Christ, and enjoy the righteousness of God and before God, being made well pleasing in the Beloved. The resurrection therefore is the pivot of it, for it is the proof of expiation, and it introduces Christ according to the power of this eternal life (in which we participate) into the presence of God. Around the person of Christ, regarded as risen, all the truths found in the word revolve. The union of the church with Him is the completion of them. In the tomb resurrection leaves behind all that could condemn us, and ushers the Lord into that new world of which He is the perfection the head, and the glory. Now we are united to Him J. N. D.