“THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT”
"The law
of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord
is sure, making wise the simple.” -- Psalm 19:7
The law of God, as it is set forth in the ten
commandments, is perfect and good. In it the interests of God’s glory and man’s
good are perfectly maintained. The law is impartial and complete. It
comprehends every circumstance of life. Because it is perfect, it ought to be
kept by all men always. If men and women kept the law of God, they would love
God perfectly. The essence of obedience to the law of God, if it were perfectly
maintained, would be love, perfect love (Matt. 22:37-40).
GOD’S SAINTS
LOVE HIS HOLY LAW (Psa. 119:9). We are against legalism. We
are against making salvation, in any measure, a matter of personal obedience to
the law. But we are not against the law. We are for it. It is inscribed upon
our hearts by the finger of God (Heb. 8:10, 10:16).
Yet, ALL
WHO ARE BORN OF GOD RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ANY MERE MAN TO OBEY
THE LAW OF GOD. Those who pretend to live by the law do
not know the law. Even the most spiritual exercises of faith and love,
performed by the most devoted believers are full of corruption (Isa. 64:6).
If God’s saints cannot keep his law, after regeneration,
it is certain that no sinner can be saved by legal obedience (Gal. 1:16;
3:10-11). No man can justify himself. If God’s justifies you, you cannot
sanctify yourself. If God sanctifies you, you cannot preserve yourself. And if
God preserves you, you cannot glorify yourself.
Knowing that righteousness cannot come by our
personal obedience to the law, we rejoice in the fact that THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS FULLY SATISFIED THE LAW FOR GOD’S ELECT (Rom.
8:3). His obedience is our righteousness. His death is our atonement. His name
is “The
LORD our Righteousness.”
Now ALL
WHO BELIEVE ON CHRIST FULFIL THE LAW BY FAITH IN HIM (Rom. 3:31; 8:4). When
we come to God by faith in Christ, we establish the law, for we offer to God
that which the law requires, perfect righteousness and perfect satisfaction.
And God is well pleased. Christ is ours. And we are complete in him (Col. 2:9-10).
And IN
CHRIST WE ARE COMPLETELY FREE FROM THE LAW (Rom. 6:14; 15; 7:4; 8:1; 10:4;
Gal. 3:13, 24, 25; Col. 2:13-16). We are free from the law’s ceremonies, its
covenant, and its curse.
“Free
from the law – O happy condition!
Jesus provides
a perfect salvation!”
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #811
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S.
Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net