Can you comment on the law of Christ?
Introduction. Paul wrote, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6: 2). Indeed, Christ has a law (cf. 1 Cor. 9: 21). Moses gave the Ten Commandment law to Israel (Deut. 5). The people had to obey Moses (Deut. 18: 18-19; Acts 3: 22-23). The same passages point to a greater prophet, Jesus, and declare: "...Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." What "he shall say unto you" constitutes Jesus' law.
There can be no sin if there is not law. The presence of God's grace today has been perverted by many to mean the absence of law. However, if there is no law, there is no sin. Hear Paul, "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression" (Rom. 4: 15). Sin is lawlessness or the breaking of law (1 John 3: 4). Since we are all declared sinners by God, there must be law in this dispensation (Rom. 3: 23).
The perfect law of liberty. The unique truth about Jesus' law is that it is a "perfect law of liberty." "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty..." (Jas. 1: 25). Jesus' law is a perfect law of liberty because it offers the perfect motivation and example for obedience, the freedom of onerous commandments, and grace as opposed to the sinlessness required for justification under Moses' Law (1 Pet. 2: 21; John 13: 34; 1 John 5: 3; Eph. 2: 8-10). Even though Christ's system is a system of grace, commandments and obedience are also required (indicative of the presence of law, 1 John 5: 3; Heb. 5: 8-9).
Conclusion. The attitude we have regarding Christ and His authority reflects our attitude toward Jesus' law (1 John 5: 3; Jas. 2: 10).
There can be no sin if there is not law. The presence of God's grace today has been perverted by many to mean the absence of law. However, if there is no law, there is no sin. Hear Paul, "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression" (Rom. 4: 15). Sin is lawlessness or the breaking of law (1 John 3: 4). Since we are all declared sinners by God, there must be law in this dispensation (Rom. 3: 23).
The perfect law of liberty. The unique truth about Jesus' law is that it is a "perfect law of liberty." "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty..." (Jas. 1: 25). Jesus' law is a perfect law of liberty because it offers the perfect motivation and example for obedience, the freedom of onerous commandments, and grace as opposed to the sinlessness required for justification under Moses' Law (1 Pet. 2: 21; John 13: 34; 1 John 5: 3; Eph. 2: 8-10). Even though Christ's system is a system of grace, commandments and obedience are also required (indicative of the presence of law, 1 John 5: 3; Heb. 5: 8-9).
Conclusion. The attitude we have regarding Christ and His authority reflects our attitude toward Jesus' law (1 John 5: 3; Jas. 2: 10).