Righteousness without Law
by Bill Williams, 12/98
The following article is presented here with the author's permission.
It originally appeared on the Simple Truth Forum December 11, 1998. Comments and questions
may be directed to Bill Williams and/or to
Simple Truth Ministries.
Being that some would write concerning their understanding as to the requirement of the
Gentile believers to keep the Law of Moses, I thought to likewise do so. Being also that
those that purport that we should keep the Law of Moses, do so with such extreme
condemnation of those who do not hold to their views, I will likewise, address what I
believe they ought to do with their opinions as to the keeping of the law.
Hear a mere portion of what the NT has to say to the churches and saints of God, as to
the keeping of the Law of Moses.
Acts 15:5 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.
There has always been those that would deny the grace of God that comes through the
Lord Jesus. They would bring the people into the bondage of the law. They are of a
Pharisaical spirit that is hardened to the mercy and truth of the grace of God. They would
have the saints of God become judges of evil thoughts, envying one another, striving
against one another.
Acts 15:6-11 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this
matter.
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and
brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by
my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost,
even as he did unto us;
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which
neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved,
even as they.
To bring the Gentiles under the yoke of the law is to TEMPT GOD. To bring the Gentiles
under the yoke of the Law of Moses is an attempt to cast a stumbling block in front of the
saints of God, whereby offense is caused. This offense would discourage the Gentile
believers from following the Lord Jesus. Such discouragement would cause the Gentile
believers to fall away.
Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have
troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep
the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
To teach that the Gentiles should be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses is
SUBVERSION. It is also contrary to the sound doctrine of the Apostles.
Acts 21:24-25 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them,
that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were
informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and
keepest the law.
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they
observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols,
and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
As was stated by James to Saul, Acts 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, WE
HAVE WRITTEN AND CONCLUDED THAT THEY OBSERVE NO SUCH THING.
Those, who would bring the people under the law, do not know what the law says. Hear
what it says by way of him who knew the law perfectly.
Rom 3:19-28 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.
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by
the law and the prophets;
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe: for there is no difference:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare
his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law
of faith.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the
law.
The law cannot work righteousness. The law was not given to be kept, but given to
condemn.
Rom 4:15-17 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no
transgression.
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might
be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is
of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he
believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as
though they were.
So then we see that we are not the children of Moses, by the law, but children of
Abraham, who pleased God without the law. Not so??? Then hear the words of the Apostle to
the Gentiles.
Rom 4:23-5:1 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up
Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ:
Our peace is dependent upon the faith we have in Christ Jesus. For by the law we were
at war with God. No one can be at war with God and win. God's power and ability to bring
every soul into subjection is without question. He rules over the living and the dead. His
dominion is absolute. It is by the law that that dominion is exercised, justifying the
sentence of death, declared by God. So then, we who were enemies of God, by wicked works
in our minds, by the law are not free from that condemnation pronounced upon us by God, in
accordance to that law.
Rom 6:14-15 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law,
but under grace.
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God
forbid.
Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that
the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Righteousness is not by law, but by faith. By faith, I have believed Jesus died for my
transgressions. By faith, I conclude that I was dead, dead in trespasses and sins. The
wages of my sin were absolute and unavoidable. By the law I was condemned and without
hope. By the law, I had no peace, for I had no righteousness.
Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man
which doeth those things shall live by them.
No man, not the Lord Jesus himself could find perfection by the law. However, by faith
in the operation of God, Jesus delivered himself into the hands of God, allowing the work
of faith to perfect him. Whereby he perfected all that come to God by him. By the law are
we perfected? God forbid. For by the law our imperfections are magnified, and by it, we
are slain. But, by the faith of the Son of God, we are made righteous, dead to sin and its
consequences.
Rom 10:6-12 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not
in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the
dead.)
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that
is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over
all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Therefore, we conclude that by faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord
Jesus Christ, we are justified, as Abraham who believed God. For as Abraham received the
mark of faith, receiving his son from the ashes, so we that have believed God raised Jesus
from the dead, have the same faith as faithful Abraham. I have believed, therefore I have
spoken. What have I spoken? "I believe Jesus is Lord, and that God raised him from
the dead." Therefore, I am at liberty from the law, by which Jesus was condemned;
though he sinned not. It was for my transgressions, imposed on me by the law, that he was
condemned. How then, shall I reinstate that law, which crucified my savior, as though I
should have any confidence in the flesh? I, in doing so, reinstate that which would damn
me to eternal death. I refuse to give place to such for one instant. Contrary to such, I
will live and exercise myself to the liberty that is in Christ Jesus.
Gal 2:16 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.
Shall I contradict the Apostle, claiming justification by the works of the law? Shall I
insist that by the Spirit I am still in subjection to the Law of Moses? God forbid. Such
is the convoluted precepts of those that glory in man. I will rather glory in my God,
through faith in Jesus Christ. Hear again the paradox of any attempt to bring the saints
of God under the law.
Gal 2:19-21 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain.
Many quote the words of Jesus, completely ignorant of his intent and purpose. They
harden their hearts, saving over their conscience to the transgressions they, themselves
commit, insisting they keep the law. No man ever has kept the law, whether in the flesh or
by the Spirit, never will. However, Jesus fulfilled the law, learning obedience through
suffering, and by faith died to the law, at the river Jordan. He then nailed the law to
his cross, never to be resurrected. For the man who is resurrected is beyond the reach of
the law. Once a man has died, being condemned by the law, he cannot be touched by the law
again. He has fulfilled its sentence, and the law can require nothing to further his
punishment. Therefore, righteousness cannot come by the law. Nevertheless, by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, righteousness is imputed upon all that believe in God by
him.
1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead,
Gal 3:11-12 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.
THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH.
SHOUT IT!!! THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH.
AGAIN, THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH.
Gal 3:13 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:
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in
Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it
should make the promise of none effect.
The bringing in of the law could not disannul the righteousness, which was imputed to
Abraham 400 years before Moses. Likewise, those that would bring us under the captivity of
the law cannot disannul the righteous brought to us by the faith of the Son of God, 2000
years after his resurrection.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God
gave it to Abraham by promise.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the
seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand
of a mediator.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a
law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
RIGHTEOUSNESS DID NOT, CANNOT COME BY THE LAW.
LIFE DID NOT, CANNOT COME BY THE LAW.
ONLY CONDEMNATION CAN COME BY THE LAW.
Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
ARE YOU DEAF TO THE VOICE OF THE LAW?
Gal 5:3-5 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor
to do the whole law.
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law;
ye are fallen from grace.
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
THE BOTTOM LINE: If you teach that
the saints of God are to keep the law of Moses, Christ is of no effect to you. You should
put your hand to your mouth and be silent. When you cause a man to be circumcised in the
flesh, in order to keep the covenant of Moses, you cause a brother to fall from grace.
Shut your mouths you ignorant ones, who would bring the captivity of wickedness upon the
people by reinstating that thing which made us the enemies of God.
God bless the saints of God, who trust in the grace and power of God that comes by
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the man, who nailed the ordinances and commandments of the
law to his cross.
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