Righteousness by Faith not Law

Although the Law and Prophets have not been abolished, and none of the commandments have passed from the Law (Mt 5:17-19), observing the Law does not justify anyone.  We are justified by faith in Christ alone.

How False Teachers Sneaked In
The apostle Paul tells how false teachers entered the Church in Jerusalem during the first century, teaching justification through the Law.  Paul says that prior to the time when this heresy was introduced, he and Barnabas had brought Titus, a Greek believer, to Jerusalem with them. He met privately with those among the apostles and elders that were of reputation, so that he could share with them the gospel he preached among the Gentiles. Yet none of the Jewish apostles or elders there required Titus to be circumcised.  They apparently had no problem with Titus remaining uncircumcised.

But then some false brethren sneaked into the Church, while Paul was there with Titus, to spy out the liberty that they had in Christ Jesus, in order to bring them into bondage. They wanted to push Paul and Titus back into observing the Law as a means of justification.  Yet Paul refused to yield in subjection to them for even an hour.  Paul states:

“Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.” (Gal 2:1-5)

Peter's Fall from Grace
Although Paul and Titus did not give in to these false brethren, who were Judaizers, they apparently affected the apostle Peter, also known as Cephas. He made the mistake of going back to the Law for a while.  The apostle Paul tells the story of what happened:

“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Gal 2:11-14)

We learn from Paul that these Judaizers came from James, and were known as the party of the circumcision.  But prior to their arrival in the Church, Peter used to eat with Gentiles. Remember, the Lord revealed to him that he was not to call anything unclean that He had called clean.  The Lord had sent Peter to the Gentile home of Cornelius to preach the gospel and they had all been baptized with the Holy Spirit.  Peter had learned from the Lord that it was not a problem for him to associate with Gentiles.  It was only after the entrance of the Judaizers into the Church that Peter yielded in subjection to their heresy. 

When he left his base in Jerusalem to visit Antioch, where Paul was based, Paul noticed that Peter began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.  Out of his fear of what the Judaizers would say of him if he associated with uncircumcised Gentiles, he withdrew from them, even though they were justified believers in Christ. As Peter set the bad example, the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.  It was at that point that Paul saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel and knew he needed to confront Peter publicly to his face.

Paul said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”  In other words, Peter had been living like a Gentile himself, rather than like a Jew as he actually was.  And now through his behavior among the Gentiles he was compelling the Gentiles to live like Jews.  He was compelling them through peer pressure to observe the Law, when Peter, himself a Jew, was not even observing.  This was clearly hypocrisy, which nullified the grace of God.

What Paul said to Peter in that confrontation teaches us many things.  He said:

"We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly." (Gal 2:15-21)

Paul’s first point was that he and Peter were biological Jews who knew that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus.  Even they had believed in Christ Jesus, so that they might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law.  Both Peter and Paul knew that no flesh will be justified by the works of the Law.

Paul’s second point was this: “If, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!” He meant that when a Jew, like he or Peter, seeks to be justified through faith in Christ, they would become aware in the process that they are not observing the Law.  They would be conscious of the fact that they were sinners, breaking God’s Law.  Even so, it did not mean that Christ promotes sin.  He never will. 

Rebuilding What You Have Destroyed
Then Paul likened their Law breaking to the literal process of breaking or destroying something. He said, “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.” In other words, if he or Peter would begin to go back and try to reconstruct, or put back together, the Law that they had broken when they sought justification by faith in Christ, they would only be proving that they themselves had in fact transgressed the Law and broken it in the first place. 

Dead to the Law
Therefore, he was saying that they should not do so. Instead, it was through the Law that Paul died to the Law, so that he might live to God.  Paul knew that the Law itself would declare him a lawbreaker if he sought to rebuild it after he had broken it.  So he could never turn back to it again, once he sought justification through faith in Christ.  He had died to the Law, so that he might live to God.  There was no other way.

How did Paul die to the Law?  He explained, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” When Paul was baptized into Christ, he died with Christ.  At that point, as a dead man, he became dead to the Law and freed from it.  And from that point, it was no longer Paul who lived, it was Christ who lived in him.  He lived by faith alone in the Son of God, who loved Paul and gave Himself up for him.

This must be our practice as well.  We must die to the Law when we are crucified with Christ.  Then it is no longer we who live, and since we are dead, we cannot observe the Law.  All we can do is live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us.  Then it is no longer I myself who lives, but Christ who lives in me.  It’s His life in me that’s setting me free and making me holy.

We must not go back to observing the Law, which is hypocrisy, since we do not actually observe the whole Law, but only certain parts. Doing so nullifies the grace of God, and those who do so stand condemned like Peter (2:11).  Paul explained how it condemns us when he wrote to the Galatians:

“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them.’ Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, ‘The righteous man shall live by faith.’ However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, ‘He who practices them shall live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’-- in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  (Gal 3:10-14)

His first point was that everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them is cursed.  He who practices them shall live by them. It’s all or nothing.  If you seek to perform some things in the Law for the sake of justification, but not all, then you are cursed.  The fact is that the Law justifies no one in the sight of God.  So it is a futile effort to seek to be justified by the Law.  Therefore, don’t put yourself under a curse by trying to be justified that way.

What should we do then?  Since we know the Law is not of faith, our justification will never include observing the Law. The righteous man shall live by faith. Our faith must be in Christ alone.  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. Instead of going back to observing the Law as a means of justification, putting yourself under a curse, rather live by faith in Christ.  He became a curse for us, when He hung on that tree, and redeemed us from the curse of the Law.

Freedom in Christ by the Spirit
Praise God, we are free from the Law! So let's not turn back again to observing it and be enslaved by it all over again.  We do not need to be circumcised or observe special days and months and seasons and years. (see Gal 4:9-10)

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." (Gal 5:1). However, we must not use our freedom as a cover up for evil.  As Paul wrote: "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Gal 5:13)  And as Peter said, "Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves." (1 Pe 2:16).

It is possible to be justified by faith in Christ and then live according to the sinful nature, pleasing the sinful nature, and committing acts of the sinful nature.  But those who live like that will ultimately be destroyed, if they don't repent, as Jesus and the apostles taught.  Paul listed some examples of the acts of the sinful nature, and warned that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (see Gal 5:21).

That is why I have already been teaching all along in my other articles that we must obey God and keep His commandments.  What matters is the keeping of the commandments of God (see 1 Co 7:19). But this is done by faith in Christ, as we live by the Spirit, walking in love, living for righteousness, not through the flesh.  As Paul wrote:

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law."  (Gal 5:16-18)

Living by the Spirit and being led by the Spirit is a matter of sowing seeds to please the Spirit, in order to bear the fruit of the Spirit and ultimately reap eternal life. As Paul said:

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Gal 6:7-8)

Apart from Christ you can do nothing.  It’s only His life in you that will please the Father, not what you can do for God.  Our obedience must never be an attempt on our part to be justified. But a true disciple will obey the Lord’s commandments, and the Holy Spirit does take from the Law as He leads us in the way to live that is pleasing to God. That is part of being led by the Spirit, taught by God, allowing Him to speak to us through the whole Bible. It is not seeking justification through the Law.

The Risk of Abusing God's Amazing Grace
In fact, the Lord Jesus Himself respected and fulfilled the entire Law.  And now because He lives in us, He works His desires, which are still the same, except for the sacrifices, rituals, ceremonies, food and drink ordinances, observation of special days, week, months, and years, and the separation of Jews and Gentiles. Actually we must fear God even more now than they did under the Old Covenant, because we are being led and evaluated by The Holy Spirit.  Therefore, there is greater risk of abusing God's amazing grace.

This is what the Lord told brother Yong-Doo Kim, whom I have written about previously in my article, Baptized by Blazing Fire -- a Korean church's testimony.  Brother Kim wrote in Baptize by Blazing Fire Book II:

"When God gives us a chance, we must take it, no matter what. Jesus said, 'That particular saint mocked God and troubled the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if she does not mourn and sincerely repent, she will not be entering heaven.  If the judgment of the congregation members is hard, then how much more will I judge the Pastors who are committing adultery? The ministers must repent to the point of death. Currently, the ministers of today are mocking God, they say, "These are the days of grace, and the gospel sets us free, just repent and one will be forgiven unconditionally!" These are the days one needs to be in fear more than the days of the Old Testament.' The Lord warned us that the day is coming when we will all have to give account for our deeds."

Brother Kim continued, "As I write on this chapter, I am experiencing many hours of dismay and dissension. Jesus said, 'Do we then nullify the law by this faith. Not at all! Rather we uphold the law.' (Romans 3:31). In fact, we are living our daily life within the Lord’s amazing grace. However, living in His grace does not mean our sins just disappear. We are abusing God’s grace if we do not repent. A daily repentant life is the fastest and shortest route to God’s mercy and compassion."

Furthermore, when the first century apostles and elders in Jerusalem met to decide the case regarding the Judaizers requiring circumcision of Gentile believers, their final written decision contained provisions taken directly from the Law.  They ended their letter to the Gentiles with the following instructions: "You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell." (Act 15:29).  Let's not abuse God's amazing grace!  

The Obedience of Faith
I encourage you to read the other articles I have written on the need for obedience in Working God's Way and Eternal Destinations, as well as right here in Seeking the Lord, especially the following ones, beginning with the first three articles in the left-hand column:

Is Obedience Optional? The Law of Christ  Faith Works! The Law Fulfilled in Us The Law Established Through Faith The Cost of Discipleship The New Covenant Costly Grace Deleted Scriptures in the Bible? Did Jesus Nail the Law to the Cross? The Law is Good if Used Lawfully The Ways of Life

The Obedience of Faith Striving to Enter the Kingdom of God Aim for Perfection Righteous Deeds and White Robes Doing What is Right Your Rewards Are Based on Your Practice Partaking of the Divine Nature Walking in the Perfect Will of God Pressing on Toward the Goal Obedience by the Spirit What Then Must We Observe?               The Flesh vs. the Spirit

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

Author's note:  Also see The Spirit's Law of Life, The Spirit of the Law, and Baptized with the Spirit. You can access the Main Directory for Seeking the Lord, or my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."  Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

The Spirit of the Law

Dear God-seekers, in my previous article, The Spirit’s Law of Life, I indicated that the Law of the Spirit and the Law of Christ agree with the Law of God.  Having posted that, I feel the need to write to you today about the Spirit of the Law to ensure that I am making myself clear.

I can say with the apostle Paul that I worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as a follower of Jesus Christ, and I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets. I have the hope in God that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” (Ac 24:14-16)

If you need to know God’s definition of sin, read the Law and Prophets. For starters, in order to get an elementary level of understanding, go back and read The Ten Commandments, and realize that none of them have been abolished, not even the Fourth Commandment -- not one (Ex 20:1-17; Mt 5:17-20).

So am I suggesting we seek by the flesh to fulfill only the letter of the Law? Certainly not! The letter kills but the Spirit gives life.  As the apostle Paul said:

"He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Co 3:6)

The Scripture states elsewhere, "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves." (Heb 10:1a).

As a Gentile follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am not looking for instructions about circumcision, various gifts, sacrifices, food, drink, and ceremonial washings (although I can still learn about God through those passages).  Nor am I looking for laws to perform with regard to religious festivals, New Moon celebrations, or Sabbath days, since all of these are "things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." (Col 2:16, 17). 

By the way, the word for the Sabbath is the Greek word "sabbaton," which means "the Sabbath (that is, Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension...the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications: - sabbath (day), week."  (Strongs). The apostle Paul's statement that "no one is to act as your judge in respect to...a Sabbath day," simply means not to let any man judge you with regard to this.  You must not let any man judge you with regard to how we keep the Sabbath, as the Pharisees did in accusing Jesus of breaking it by healing on that day, or doing anything else that is good and right in God's sight, or breaking traditions of men on that day.  You must keep it holy according to God's Word, and He will be the one to judge you if you truly break it.  One application of this is let no man judge you for not keeping the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week, as some people are known to be quite judgmental of others in this regard.  As I said, you must do what is right in the sight of God.

Since we know Paul agreed with the Ten Commandments, and everything written in the Law (Ac 24:14-16), and he upheld the Law (Rom 3:31), and he said that what matters is the keeping of God's commandments (1 Co 7:19), we know he was not suggesting we break the Fourth Commandment.  Some think he may have been referring to the plural form of Sabbath (as in "Sabbaths"), rather than the weekly "Sabbath Day."  If so, that would refer to other “special Sabbaths”, like what we would call national holidays that occur throughout the year.  Likewise, he may have meant "weeks," such as "the Three Weeks of Sorrow" and "the Seven Weeks of Comfort".  If so, that would explain why he said that these are "things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." (Col 2:17). Therefore, I am not suggesting we break the Fourth Commandment. But we are living according to the Spirit that gives life, and not the letter.  That means that we most surely honor the Lord’s day and keep it holy (1 Co 16:2; Re 1:10).  (See my blogs Resting from Work, Keeping Sundays Holy, Keeping Sundays Holy - Part II, and The Lord's Day).

Moreover, it’s a higher standard spiritually than what is written. Remember, Jesus explained God’s standard regarding the commandments in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5).  God looks at the thoughts and intentions of the heart, and His standard is high. This means we should always uphold the spirit of the law, and ask the Lord what His heart is for us today for His holy people with respect to these things. His heart is always that we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourself. (Mark 12:29-31) His heart is always that we restrain sensual indulgence (Co 2:23) by the power of the Holy Spirit, taking up our cross. His heart is always that we pursue holiness, know the Truth, and seek His righteousness (Mt 6:33; Heb 12:14, Ro 14:17; Jn 8:32-36; 14:6). His heart is always the message of the cross, repentance and forgiveness of sins, believing the gospel of the kingdom, and following Jesus in His eternal purposes (1 Co 1:18; Ac 2:38; Jn 3:16-21; Jn 4:24) Lk 13:5; Lk 24:46-47). His heart is always preaching the gospel of salvation to all creation, and rescuing lost souls from perishing in hell. (Mk 16:15; Lk 15:1-7; 2 Pe 3:9). His heart is always to destroy the works of the evil one (1 Jn 3:8). His heart is always for us to do good, do what is right, obey His commands, help the weak, the orphans, and the widows, and keep ourselves unstained by the world. (Ps 82: 3-4; 1 Jn 3:7-8; 5:3; 2:15-17; Jas 1:27).

The Holy Spirit may lead you to celebrate a special Sabbath found in the law, as a time of putting aside everything else to seek Him personally or corporately, or He may lead you to celebrate a Jewish feast found in the law as a time to worship the Lord Jesus, who is typified in all the feasts. But if you are not led to do so, don't let any man judge you with respect to such things.

By the same token, you will be viewed as odd or even judged, in these last and evil days, if you do not celebrate the so-called Christian holidays on the certain days -- and in the worldly ways -- that the apostate Church celebrates them. But if you are going to look for feasts and holidays to celebrate by gathering together, and you feel a need for that, then why not look at the Hebrew feasts that are already in Scripture? Aren’t they good enough?

Obedience is Essential for Disciples
Here are just some of the other blogs I have written, which provide a clear and biblical response to the concerns that my obedience doctrine is legalism, especially the first three in the left-hand column:

Is Obedience Optional? The Law of Christ  Faith Works! The Law Fulfilled in Us The Law Established Through Faith The Cost of Discipleship The New Covenant Costly Grace Deleted Scriptures in the Bible? Did Jesus Nail the Law to the Cross?

The Obedience of Faith Striving to Enter the Kingdom of God Aim for Perfection Righteous Deeds and White Robes Doing What is Right Your Rewards Are Based on Your Practice Partaking of the Divine Nature Walking in the Perfect Will of God Pressing on Toward the Goal Obedience by the Spirit

Putting it All Together
We should believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets.  The Lord Jesus did.  The apostle Paul did.  The apostle John did. The apostle James did.  If you think I am being legalistic, then you will have to also call the Lord Jesus and the apostles legalistic!

Let’s get back to the Bible and seek to live our lives according to God’s Word, not according to the letter, but in the new way of the Spirit. "We have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." (Rom 7:6b). Do not rely on your obedience to the Law to save you, because it is only by grace that you are saved through faith (Eph 2:8-10).  Always remember that we can do nothing apart from the Lord Jesus (Jn 15:5), and if you keep His commandments, you will abide in His love (Jn 15:10).

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” (1 Thes 3:12-4:1).

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. The "Holy Spirit" painting © 2012 Danny Hahlbohm, all rights reserved by the artist.

Author's note:  Also see Part One of this article, called The Spirit's Law of Life, as well as my other articles called, Obedience by the Spirit, The New Covenant, and Baptized with the Spirit. You may also like Godly Attire and Adornment -- Seven Divine Revelations, Garments of Godliness, Keeping Sundays Holy, and Is Tithing Required? You can access the Seeking the Lord Main Directory or my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Did Jesus Nail the Law to the Cross?

Today I would like to address two passages of Scripture that have been widely misunderstood and misinterpreted. They come from the apostle Paul's "twin epistles" to the Colossians and the Ephesians.  Since these two epistles are so similar, they can be used to help interpret each other, much the same as we often use the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) to clarify passages within each other.

Abolishing the Enmity
The first passage is this: "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity." (Eph 2:14-16)

This passage is used by some people to teach that Jesus abolished the Law of commandments.  It is understandable how they could arrive at such a conclusion by reading into the text what they already believe, not considering the broader context of the passage, and simply using a modern English translation without checking the original grammar. So in order to avoid making the same mistake, let's do each of these carefully.

Grammar:
Let's investigate the grammar behind the expression "the law of commandments contained in ordinances," which in Greek is "ton nomon tōn entolōn en dogmasin" (τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν").

Upon examination of the original grammar in these verses, we learn that the expression "Law of commandments" comes from the Greek words nomos and entole.  Nomos is the word commonly used to refer to the Law, sometimes generally and also to a specific aspect of the Law.  It sometimes refers to the law written on our hearts (e.g., Rom 2:15; Heb 10:16).  It can also sometimes refer generally to a principle (e.g., Rom 7:21), such as the law of faith (e.g., Rom 3:27), or the law of sin (e.g., Rom 7:25). So we should make a note to self here to be careful we don't assume that this word here refers to the entire Law of Moses.

Next we discover that the Greek word "entole" means "commandments", and can also mean "an injunction, authoritative prescription, or precept".  So we can now see where this English expression "the Law of commandments" was derived from.  But as we will see in a moment, there are other ways to translate this.

We also learn that the word "ordinances" comes from the Greek word "dogma" which means "a civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical decree or ordinance". Keep in mind that an ordinance is a rite or ceremony, such as circumcision or baptism.

So based on this brief study, we find that it's possible to translate this Greek expression, "ton nomon tōn entolōn en dogmasin" ("τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν") other ways besides saying, "the law of commandments contained in ordinances."

For example, we could translate it to say "the principle of commandments in ceremonial precepts"or "the regulation of precepts in ceremonial rites." That's enough for grammar study for now.  Let's go next to the context!

Context:
In the context, this passage states that Jesus abolished something in His flesh.  Specifically what He abolished or rendered inoperative and inactive was the enmity. It was the opposition or hatred that was rendered inactive!  So now we need to determine what hatred or opposition this is referring to.

For this we have to read the context before and after this phrase.  First we'll look at what comes before it.  Paul said, "Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called 'Uncircumcision' by the so-called 'Circumcision,' which is performed in the flesh by human hands-- remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall," (Eph 2:11-14)

This passage was written to Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by those who are the so-called "Circumcision." The Jews considered Gentiles to be uncircumcised dogs.  The Gentiles were on the outside looking in. The reason for this is that the ceremonial rites contained in the Law required Jewish males to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth, and the Gentiles did not do this. Paul wrote about their terrible plight before Christ saved them.  The Gentiles were a class of unclean people, who were not allowed to enter the temple.  They were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel.  They were strangers to the covenants of promises.  They were far off from God and in the world without Him, therefore, they had no hope.

After showing them and all of us Gentiles our hopeless situation apart from Christ, Paul tells the good news of what Christ has done for us.  Now we have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ, who is our Peace.  He made the two groups one -- Jews and Gentiles, the Circumcision and Uncircumcision.  He broke down the barrier or dividing wall that kept these two groups separate.

Now let's shift to the context that comes after the expression we are examining.  Paul said "so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity." (Eph 2:15-16).  This settles all question about the meaning of the passage.  It's about Christ reconciling Jew and Gentile to God in one Body -- the Body of Christ.  How did He do this?  He did it through the cross.  By Christ's death on the cross, He put to death the enmity that was between these two groups of people, and between them and God.  All enmity between these parties was put to death there!

Interpretation
So we can easily interpret this passage correctly to mean: You Gentiles were in a terrible situation until Christ saved you.  You were considered unclean dogs -- the Uncircumcision.  You had no access to God's covenants of promise that the Circumcision group enjoyed.  You were separated from God, from the Jews, and without any hope.  But now that Jesus our peace has died on the cross for us, He made both groups into one!  Now that He has broken down the barrier of the dividing wall, you are no longer separated from God or His family. Our Lord did this in His own flesh on the cross, by rendering inoperative the opposition that existed between you and God and between Jews and Gentiles.  This enmity existed because of "the principle of commandments in ceremonial precepts." It was due to "the regulation of precepts in ceremonial rites," such as the rite of circumcision and the exclusion of Gentiles from all Jewish rituals.  Now that the enmity is out of the way, and those ceremonial rites are fulfilled in Christ, the two groups -- Jews and Gentiles -- are one new man in the Body of Christ.  That's right! On the cross, in His Body, Christ put to death that opposition.

Obviously this passage is not about Jesus abolishing the Law.  For Paul taught from the Law in his same epistle to the Ephesians (6:1-3), as well as his epistle to the Corinthians (14:34). In fact, Jesus Himself said, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." (Mat 5:17).  Therefore, Jesus fulfilled all the ceremonial rites for us, and in His body abolished the enmity that existed for uncircumcised Gentiles.  Now let's compare this with the corresponding verses in the second passage from the twin epistle, Paul's letter to the Colossians.

He Canceled Out the Certificate of Debt

The second passage is this: "When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Col 2:13-14)

Again, there are some who use this passage to teach that the Law of the Lord was nailed to the cross at Calvary.  We'll see in a moment that this is not correct.

Grammar:
First let's study the original words in the expression, "having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us," from the Greek "exaleipsas to kath' hēmōn cheirographon tois dogmasin ho ēn hypenantion hēmin" ("ἐξαλείψας τὸ καθ ἡμῶν χειρόγραφον δόγμασιν ὃ ἦν ὑπεναντίον ἡμῖν").

The expression "certificate of debt" comes from a Greek word cheirographon, which literally means "a handwritten, legal certificate of debt".  This is not referring to the Law of God, but rather the debt we as sinners owed to God as a result of the judgments against us in the Law.

Again we find the word "ordinances" which comes from the Greek word "dogma."  You will recall from our study above that it means "a civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical decree or ordinance, such as the rite or ceremony of circumcision".

Context:
In the context, this passage states that Jesus cancelled something by nailing it to the cross.  Specifically what He cancelled was the certificate of debt. It was the certificate of debt that was cancelled!  So now we need to determine what certificate of debt this is referring to.

In the preceding verse, Paul tells us when Christ cancelled this certificate of debt.  It was cancelled "When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions," (Col 2:13).  So once again this passage is about Gentiles, who were uncircumcised in their flesh and dead in sin.  Christ found us in this condition and made us alive together with Him.  At that time He forgave us all our transgressions.

In the verses before this, Paul states: "and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;" (Col 2:11).  So again, just like in the Ephesians passage, here he was emphasizing the fact that they as Gentiles were uncircumcised when Jesus found them. And He circumcised their hearts with a circumcision made without hands.  This is the only circumcision that counts now.

Interpretation:

Therefore, we can easily interpret this passage like this: You Gentiles were uncircumcised, but Jesus circumcised your heart without using His hands.  You had transgressed God's righteous Law, and there were many judgments against you as a result.  You were so dead, but then Jesus came and made you alive!  When He cancelled the certificate of debt, he cancelled the punishment or judgment due to us, which separated us from God; He forgave all our transgressions.   This certificate of debt consisted of ordinances, or ceremonial laws and decrees. 

It was the certificate of debt that Jesus cancelled, that consisted of its ceremonial laws and decrees that were against us.  He did not cancel the Law, because we've already mentioned that He said He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Mt 5:17).  He also warned us about the serious consequences of annulling even one of the least of the commandments (Mt 5:19).  This passage is about those of us who were Gentiles, who were at enmity with these ceremonial laws and decrees, due to not being physically circumcised.  Now that the certificate of debt is cancelled, and its ceremonial decrees no longer stand against us, we may come near to God with a full assurance of faith.

Justification By Faith, Not the Works of the Law
Here I would just like to list some important Scriptures, regarding our means of justification before God.  I am not suggesting we seek to be justified by the works of the Law.

"For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified." (Rom 2:13)

A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. (Gal 2:16)

Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Gal 3:11)

because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. (Rom 3:20)

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. (Rom 3:28)

Putting it All Together

It should come as no surprise that the epistles of Paul are incorrectly understood, because that has been happening since the first century when they were written.  For the apostle Peter said, "As also in all [Paul's] letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. (2 Pe 3:16).  He said that Paul's writings have been distorted, along with the rest of the Scriptures, by people who are untaught and unstable. The word "untaught" comes from a Greek word that means unlearned or ignorant. That's why it's important to study to show yourself approved, and to learn to rightly divide the Word of truth.  Likewise, it is just as important to be stable in all your ways.

From these two passages (in Ephesians and Colossians) we learn that God's Law (in terms of His commandments) was not cancelled.  Neither was it abolished or nailed to the cross.

Rather, the enmity was abolished, or rendered inoperative.  All that was against us as uncircumcised Gentiles, which was contained in the ceremonial rites of the Law, is no longer in force to be used against us.  Put differently, the Mosaic Law as a covenant or system of worship is now obsolete (Heb 8:13).  This is only possible, because Christ fulfilled all the ceremonial rites of the Law at the cross; through His work there, He provided a circumcision of the heart for us that satisfies God's righteous requirements.  He has made a new covenant with His holy people.

As uncircumcised Gentiles, dead in transgressions, we owed a debt we could not pay.  Due to our transgression of God's righteous Law, there were penalties and judgments standing against us.  And now that He paid that debt, which He didn't owe, he nailed the certificate of that debt to the cross.  This action on His part has obliterated, erased, and wiped out all our debt to God for our sin!

As Paul said to the Ephesians, "He came and preached peace to you who were far away (Gentiles), and preached peace to those who were near (Jews); for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father." (Eph 2:17-18).

Finally, you cannot rely on your obedience to the Law to save you, because it is only by grace that you are saved through faith (Eph 2:8-10).  We are not endeavoring to keep up the law of Moses in conjunction with the gospel of Christ.  Always remember that we can do nothing apart from the Lord Jesus (Jn 15:5), and if you keep His commandments, you will abide in His love (Jn 15:10).

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Other Scriptures from the Holy Bible NIV version. "I Love You" painting © 2012 Danny Hahlbohm, all rights reserved by the artist.

Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, you may also like the following, which provide helpful clarification, as well as application:

Deleted Scriptures in the Bible?
The Law of Christ
Law of Love in the New Testament
Zipporah Mushala’s Second Testimony of Hell
Is Obedience Optional?
The Law Fulfilled in Us
The Law Established Through Faith
The New Covenant
Resting from Work
Obedience by the Spirit  
The Flesh vs. the Spirit

You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.