Justified by the law?

There are some pseudo-Christian religions that advocate adherence to subsets of the law of Moses: "But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses" (Acts 15:5). This error is based in part to on an incorrect interpretation of "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18). They focus on the first part of this verse—till heaven and earth pass—and not on the last part—till all be fulfilled. Yes, for those not in Christ, the law is indeed still in effect; however, Jesus fulfilled the law. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17). "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Galatians 5:14). "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6). What's more, God the Father directly commands us to heed Jesus over the law and the prophets. For "The law and the prophets were until John [the Baptist]: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it" (Luke 16:16). Moreover, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:1-2).

And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and [Elijah] talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for [Elijah]. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:3-5)

Even Moses prophesied of Jesus Christ and commanded us to obey his voice: "And the LORD said unto [Moses] ... I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him" (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). "O foolish [pseudo-Christians], who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh" (Galatians 3:1-3)?

Let us first define the law—the law of Moses: "for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). The law starts with the Ten Commandments and includes all the statutes and judgments instituted by Moses, as can b seen in the scriptures below:

And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest ... And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone ... And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments ... And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. (Exodus 34:1, 4, 28, 32)

And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. (Deuteronomy 4:13-14)

"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart" (2 Corinthians 3:7-15). "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin ... Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:19-20, 28). "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). "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. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:10-14).

If we are in Christ, we are under the New Covenant; therefore, we cannot be double-minded and try to operate under the Old Covenant as well. As scripture clearly states, the Old Covenant dealt with "carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation" (Hebrews 9:10). In Christ, our conscience should be purged from dead works "to serve the living God" (Hebrews 9:14). "And for this cause [Jesus Christ] is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15). "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years" (Galatians 4:9-10). "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor [modern day Jews] were able to bear" (Acts 15:10)? The yoke of the law or any part of the law is a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1); but as Jesus says, "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). How do we worship God in spirit and in truth by elevating one day above another or by abstaining from certain foods? Are not these the works of the law? "But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed" (Romans 9:31-33).

Again, we know that in Christ "no man is justified by the law in the sight of God" for "the law is not of faith" (Galatians 3:11-12). We also know that "the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster" (Galatians 3:24-25). "Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless" (Matthew 12:5)? "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). As such, physical sacrifices like Sabbath days were simply a precursor, a sign, to the house of Israel (Matthew 12:39) of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we can all be sanctified. "I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them" (Ezekiel 20:12). Jesus prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth" (John 17:17-19). Therefore, by faith we believe that Jesus Christ ushered in the rest promised to the children of Israel: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29). Notice, Jesus brings the promised rest—rest for your souls—that God promised to the children of Israel. "And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest" (Exodus 33:14); however, "ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you" (Deuteronomy 12:9).

Sabbath Day

"Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest" (Exodus 23:12). The birth of Jesus Christ began the "seventh day"; that is, the birth of Jesus Christ began a new "day," a new generation, in which those that believe in him enter into his rest. "A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation" (Psalm 22:30). And "in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work ... shall surely be put to death" (Exodus 31:15). For "I can of mine own self do nothing" (John 5:30), "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his" (Hebrews 4:10). Notice that in the generations preceding the birth of Jesus, six "days" have passed. Each group of seven generations equates to a day: so all the generations from Abraham to David are two "days"; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are two "days"; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are two "days."

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1)

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:17-18)

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. (Luke 21:32)

"For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day" (Matthew 12:8). "For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house" (Hebrews 3:3). Therefore, he is calling unto us to find spiritual (instead of physical) rest—for our souls—by believing in him. "And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:18-19). "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. ... There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" (Hebrews 4:1, 9-11). "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear" (Isaiah 28:11-12). In Christ Jesus every day should be a sabbath—holy day: we should live every day to enter into his rest by faith and cease from our own works of the law. "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's" (Romans 14:8).

Abominable Unclean Thing

Just like the Sabbath day was a physical example of a spiritual reality, so too were the various unclean animals that the children of Israel were restricted from eating under the law. The purpose was clear: "that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean" (Leviticus 10:10). That is, the physical examples were set to teach the children of God that there are spiritually clean things (holy) and spiritually unclean things (evil). Thus, under the New Covenant we are told to eat that which was at first physical but is now spiritual.

Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst ... Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world ... It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:31-35, 49-51, 63)

Under the Old Covenant, manna and other foods designated as clean were given to the children of Israel; however, under the New Covenant our clean food is the Word of God—the truth. "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3). Similarly, certain other foods under the Old Covenant were designated as unclean; however, unclean foods under the New Covenant are not physical foods as before; but rather, spiritual foods like false knowledge, false thinking, false decisions, false judgments, false beliefs, false practices, false identities, unclean spirits (devils) and the ways of unbelievers.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

Did not God, before the law, tell us that "every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things" (Genesis 9:3)? Moreover, after the law, did not God tell us that "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" (Acts 10:15)? Did not Jesus say, "not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man" (Matthew 15:11)? "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean" (Romans 14:14). "But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse" (1 Corinthians 8:8). Even David noted that "Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death" (Psalm 107:17-18).

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

God commands us to "Hate the evil, and love the good" (Amos 5:15); thus, one of the tasks of Christian religion is to "teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean" (Ezekiel 44:23). "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14). Not even the formerly unclean swine (Leviticus 11:7) could tolerate unclean spirits inhabiting them: "And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea" (Mark 5:12-13). If swine were truly unclean, would not the unclean spirits be at home in them? The swine, however, preferred death to infestation of unclean spirits.

Again, "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Galatians 2:16). "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men" (Colossians 2:20-22)? Therefore, "do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain" (Galatians 2:21). "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18). "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine" (1 Timothy 1:9-10). "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof" (Hebrews 7:18). "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation" (Hebrews 9:10). "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the [old] covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord" (Hebrews 8:7-9).

Conclusion

A final note to those to whom this section applies: no new doctrine supersedes or changes the doctrine of Christ. Any prophet or "prophetess" claiming to speak for God cannot add or take away from the doctrine of Christ.

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Under the New Covenant, Jesus simplifies the commandments: "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:29-31). "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20). "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14). Therefore, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son" (2 John 1:9). See "The spirit of Error" and "Tithes & Offerings" for more on operating outside of faith.

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