God's Inspired Law Revealed
There are many who have an idea that we are no longer under God's Law because we
are not under grace. It is true that we are under grace. We live by the gospel
of Christ. But it is incorrect to say that because we are no longer under the
Law of Moses that we are under no law at all. We are not left without God's law.
He never intended for us to be lawless.
The passages in the New Testament that say we are no longer under law have
reference, for the most part, to God's Old Law (John 1:17, etc.). There are also
many passages which clearly show we are under the law of Christ today (1
Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2; James 1:25; 2:12 ). Divine law has not been
done away with, but changed from one system of law to another (Hebrews 7:12).
The Lord had prophesied that His law would go forth, speaking of the gospel.
Hundreds of years before Christ came and fulfilled these prophecies, the people
of God were told that there was a new law coming. They were told this several
times by their inspired prophets. The kingdom that would be established would
have a law.
When Peter and the apostles preached the gospel on that ancient Pentecost, they
were preaching the law of the Lord. Describing this very day and event, Isaiah
had said, "And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us
concerning His ways, And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go
forth from Zion, And the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3). Micah had put it this way: "And many nations will come
and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord And to the house of
the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in
His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem." (Micah 5:2). Again, speaking of this same event where the law of the
Lord was to go forth from Mount Zion
and Jerusalem, Joel had said, "And it will come about that whoever calls on the
name of the Lord Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There
will be those who escape, As the Lord has said, Even among the survivors whom
the Lord calls." (Joel 2:32). Peter quoted Joel and said that the events of
Pentecost fulfilled the prophecies.
Yes, the law of the Lord has gone forth from Jerusalem into the world. Remember!
Though it is the gospel of grace, it is a law!
By Jon W. Quinn
Final Page
From Expository Files 9.3; March 2002
