We have been occupied with the law which God gave to Moses. We have seen that it is “holy,” but it cannot make man holy. It is “just,” but it has no power to make man walk according to its just requirements. It is “good,” but it has no power to make man good.
Again, it was ordained to life, but it has no power to give life to the sinner dead in his sins. Man must therefore have been left hopeless in his ruin, had there been no other way of life provided. But thanks be to God, a door was opened up to poor, lost sinners—a way was made to God the Father. Jesus is that “door,” Jesus is “the way,” and whosoever will may come through Him.
This most important question being settled, there comes next the question as to the walk of the believer. Many of God’s dear people who know they cannot get life through the keeping of the law, yet speak of it as their “rule of life,” not recognizing that the One alone who gives life is to be, their rule and guide, and the perfect pattern to which they should seek conformity. God’s law was given to the children of Israel that they might know through it how sinful they were, and that their hearts were capable of murder, theft, covetousness and other wrong things. It pointed out what was right and what was wrong, but wherever man has attempted to walk according to it he has failed.
Thus we see the law not only could not give life, but no more could it enable man to walk right; and this is as true now as when it was given. Now, however, since grace has come by Jesus Christ, God tells us in plainest language “Ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14), This being true, why should we put ourselves in a position in which God does not put us? Why should we place ourselves under galling bondage when God would bring us into blessed liberty? (Gal. 5:1). To put ourselves under law is to put ourselves under the curse, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Gal. 3:10).
Who is there that continues in “all things written”? Who is there that loves God with all his heart? And who that loves his neighbor as himself? Not one!
Putting ourselves then under the law, we are cursed by it. Solemn thought!
In what relation, then, we may ask, does God set us with regard to the law? He tells us we are “become dead to the law by the body of Christ.” Dead to the law! Dead! Does not that seem strange? Does someone ask, How does that come about? Listen to what God says about it. He tells us we are “crucified with Christ”—we are “dead with Christ.” Yes, that is the way. Christ, our Substitute, died in our stead, and now, through Him, we “become dead to the law.” Suppose a man were guilty of murder and by the law of the land he must die; once that he is executed the law can do no more—its power is at an end. Just so our old master, the law, has no longer power over us, for we have died in Christ- It cannot now curse us, and ours is a great deliverance to be freed from such a master. It is because of the character of the law, “holy, just and good,” and man’s inability to meet its righteous requirements, and because of the power it has to curse those who do not fulfil its demands, that it becomes the hard master it is to those who are under it. So God, in His goodness, makes it very plain to us, telling us not only that we are “dead to the law,” but also that we are “delivered” from it, because we are dead to it. Rom. 7:6 (marginal reading) Let us carefully distinguish how God puts it. The law is not dead, but I am dead to it by the body of Christ. Rom. 7:4, 6.
If, then, we are delivered from the law, are we left without responsibility? Assuredly not. Death has severed the tie that bound us to our old master, but we have not been left in a position to follow our own will. God tells us that we are “married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” Our responsibility is according to the position into which we are brought—the higher the position the greater the responsibility. Turned “from darkness to light” and from “the power of Satan unto God,” “forgiveness of sins” through the blood of Jesus made known to us; brought into relationship with God as Father; having a standing in favor with Him; “an inheritance among them which are sanctified” granted us—surely our position is high, our responsibility great!
And now it is for us to “serve in newness of spirit,” not in “the oldness of the letter;” and serving thus we will find His yoke easy, and service to Him a delight.
Not under law, but under grace! Not under bondage, but in the blessed liberty of grace, seeking to live for Him who has made us His own, and who has won our hearts to Himself!
ML 10/04/1903