Not By The Law!

Now Paul, seeming to know what is coming next, moves again to the Law, but this time he very specifically points out the purpose of the law. Read the passage of scripture that we are about to explore. For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, Romans 4:13-16

This mighty man of God here states that the promise did not come to Abraham and his offspring through the law. As I have asserted before, I do so again, the law had yet to be given in written form, but merely at this point was written upon the hearts of men only in the form of the conscience. God did this as well, knowing that if righteousness came through adhering to the law, that faith would be of no use, and his promise to Abraham would be null and void. Why is that though?

The reason that I believe it is that way is contained in verse 15 of this passage. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. Romans 4:15 You see the law brings wrath, not righteousness. For by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 The purpose of the law was not to bring us into right relationship with God, but rather to give us the knowledge of how badly messed up our relationship is with God. For when the law came, we could finally understand what sin was. Sin is transgression, or breaking, of God’s law. And breaking his law brings his wrath to abide on us. However, his free gift of grace and mercy imputes to us righteousness through, from, and by Christ’s perfect atoning sacrifice. See the righteousness comes not only to the adherent to the law, (Jesus being the only one who ever adhered it fully), but also to the who shares the faith that Abraham had in God.

So then, while we know that we must always walk worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1), our righteousness does not depend up it, but rather on our faith in the one who is Perfect, Holy, Upright, and Blameless.

Mighty God,
While I know that you have called me and set me apart to do good works for you, may I always know, and revel in the knowledge that my righteouness comes not by works of the law, but by faith in Him, Jesus Christ, through whom the law was fulfilled. May I always walk worthy of that calling, by humbling admitting to you that it is not by my works, but by Jesus, and his imputed righteousness that even I can look upon you and cry out Abba, Father. May it be so in the name of Jesus, Amen.