Spiritual Law

Robert Meredith

There are some who claim that man is not under spiritual law today; but let us do as God declares and search the scriptures (John 5:39) and reason together (Isaiah 1:18).  If man is not under spiritual law, but sin is transgression of the law (1 John 3:4), then man today could not sin.  However, the Apostle Paul wrote by inspiration that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23).Therefore, all must be under spiritual law.

  There is a passage found in John 1:17 which some contend teaches that man is not under law today.  John, the beloved apostle, wrote, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”  This passage does not teach that man is not under spiritual law, it teaches that we are not under the law delivered by Moses, the law of Judaism, the Mosaical law.  In addition, notice the last part of this verse.  It says, “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”  Grace is unmerited favor.  Truth in a spiritual sense is God’s Word (John 17:17), and it is law (Psalm 119).  Jesus brought to us the New Covenant by His atoning death (Hebrews 9:15-17).  Therefore, John

1:17 simply teaches that we are not under the Old Law but a better one.

  The New Testament calls this new law by several names.  It is “the law of faith” (Romans 3:27); “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2); “the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2); and “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25).  Jesus died on the cross giving His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28), and establishing the better covenant (Hebrews 8:6-13).  Now the New covenant is the guide for our lives and that which will judge us in the Day of Judgment (John 12:48).

  Furthermore, logic shows that we are under spiritual law because God’s Word informs us what to avoid and how to live (Titus 2:11-12).  In Colossians 3:5-6, Paul, writing to Christians, commanded them to put to death certain sins.  The Apostle John, near the end of the book of Revelation, wrote, “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).  What will happen if one does not keep His commandments/laws?  He will not be allowed into heaven.

  Today spiritually no one is under the Law of Moses (Colossians 2:14).  But everyone is under the perfect law of liberty (Matthew 28:18; James 1:25; John 12:48).  Let us strive to know it, live it and teach it, realizing that “Jesus is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).  If we are to obey Him then there must be something to obey:  the Law of Christ.