JC Blog

“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins” ( Hebrews 10:1-2 )

This is a good question. For the time period this was written this would have made them stop and think. If the sacrifices, repeated endlessly, could have cleared the conscience and cleansed once for all, wouldn’t they stop being offered? While we don’t offer animal sacrifices today, this truth remains, as believers we spend a lot of time and energy wrapped up in traditions and doctrines of men instead of focusing on the person of Jesus Christ and in the finished work of the cross. While in reality, many of those things are realized in Christ and we are merely paying attention to a type and shadow of what has already come.

Here’s the contrast. If I were to come around a building with the sun to my back, you would be able to see my shadow coming. You would be able to ascertain certain things about me. You could see if I was tall or short, fat or thin, if I had long hair or short hair, there would be many things that you could get a glimpse of by the shadow that was arriving around the building before me.  However, once I appeared, you wouldn’t need my shadow to determine how I look, you would have the real thing standing in front of you. The same is true for Christ. The Law gave an outline of what Christ would be, but it merely served as a shadow to the real thing. Once Christ came, there is no need for the shadow. It is ridiculous to pay more attention to the shadow than the person.

This passage states this very clearly, “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves” To bring the point home, the writer draws attention to the fact that if they could have worked, they would have only needed to make the offering once, instead of time and time again. Pointing out that the one sacrifice would have cleared the conscience and absolved them from the guilt associated with sin. But this was not the case. This proves that the Law wasn’t the means to an end, the reality of it could only be found in Christ.

Which is exactly the point made in Hebrews chapter 10. The writer contrasts the endless sacrifices dictated by the Law with the one sacrifice made by Jesus and stresses many times that it was all that was needed to forgive sins and cleanse those who draw near, by faith, without any guilt or shame associated with sin.

“First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin” ( Hebrews 10:8-18 ).

It is an incredible thing to grasp. The Law was a rude outline expressing what was coming. Christ is the reality of it. And since He has come, there is no need to continue in the things that were a type and shadow. Paul confirms this in Colossians, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” ( Colossians 2:16-17 ).

This is an amazing truth with which to renew our minds. Through Christ Jesus, we have been forgiven and cleansed of all guilt associated with sin ( Hebrews 10:18 ). We have been freed from the sin nature that previously held us captive ( Romans 6:6  ). And we have been given the Holy Spirit to assure our hearts before God ( I John 3:19-20 ). Resting in the person of Jesus Christ is far better - in every way imaginable - than being wrapped up in the type and shadow of what has already come.

“For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever” ( Hebrews 7:28 )

The entire book of Hebrews contrasts in one way or the other the vast differences between the Old Covenant and the New. Whether it is contrasting Jesus’ priesthood with the Levitical priesthood or the outcome of those priestly duties, the result is the same, the New Covenant is far superior in every way imaginable ( Hebrews 8:6 ).

The point of the entire book is to show us that the Covenant of the Law is inferior to the Covenant which Jesus ushered in and secures for us. In fact the writer goes to great lengths to describe that this Covenant is backed by an oath from God that it is eternal and permanent. Because of the oath, God will never revoke or change his mind concerning these promises ( Hebrews 6:16-18, Hebrews 7:18-22 ).

This particular verse is a prime example of this contrast. The law sets up men to intercede based on frailty and weakness, which is not very effective considering the job they are required to do. However, the New Covenant, based on the oath that Jesus is the one to make peace for us ( Romans 5:1 ), is very effective because Jesus is already perfect and sinless. In other words, he fulfilled the requirements of approaching God in perfection, so He is able to perfectly intercede on our behalf ( I Timothy 2:5 ). Not only is this so, but since He defeated death once for all His position is eternal since death no longer has claim over Him ( Romans 4:25, Romans 6:9 ). This give us both confidence and assurance of every promise made to us throughout the Scriptures because Jesus is the guarantee of everything written to us ( Hebrews 7:22 ).

When you really break it down, the Law is what strengthens sin in our lives showing our guilt and shame ( Romans 3:19-20, Galatians 3:10-11, Galatians 3:21 ). Then when you consider that those set up to make intercession are subject to the same weaknesses, we can see the need for a new system. “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God” ( Hebrews 7:18-19 ).

The better hope is Jesus. He is the only one that can make us righteous and acceptable to God ( Romans 3:22, 4:5, 16, Romans 5:1, II Corinthians 5:21, Titus 3:5-7 ). He took our sin and gave us His righteousness ( II Corinthians 5:21 ) so that we can stand justified before God ( Romans 8:30 ). Since we now can stand in His presence we also know that we have boldness in approaching Him by faith ( Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:22 ). This is by far a more superior and advantageous covenant in every way imaginable.

This Covenant is backed by an oath, not the law, “Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant” ( Hebrews 7:22 ). And the oath is founded on better promises, “But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises” ( Hebrews 8:6 ). This is why the contrast between the law and the oath is so great and is very important to us to understand because we are heirs of the New Covenant, founded and secured in Jesus Christ. “For the Law sets up men in their weakness [frail, sinful, dying human beings] as high priests, but the word of [God's] oath, which [was spoken later] after the institution of the Law, [chooses and appoints as priest One Whose appointment is complete and permanent], a Son Who has been made perfect forever” ( Hebrews 7:28 AMP).

“The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God” ( Hebrews 7:18-19 )

The solution to the chasm that sin created is not the Law. As this passage clearly declares using it in this way is weak, useless and ineffective. Paul called the Law the ministry of death ( II Corinthians 3:7 ). So relying on it to bring us into fellowship with God, bridging the gap caused by sin, only brings us death and condemnation.

On the other hand, if it is used in accordance to its true purpose then we will be justified by it. “the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law” ( Galatians 3:24-25 ). The Law was set aside when Jesus ushered in the New Covenant because it was useless in bringing a person into perfect fellowship with God ( Hebrews 7:11 ). The Law defined our sin in relation to God’s holiness. So in essence it accused us before God, bringing further separation instead of reconciliation. Which is why Paul told Timothy, the Law was not made for the righteous man, but for sinners ( I Timothy 1:8-9 ). It showed us the need for a savior. So trusting in Christ to save us is the better hope that this passage is describing by which we draw near to God for reconciliation.

Paul made this very observation about the purpose of the Law in Romans 7, “What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. ( Romans 7:7-13 ).

The main point that the writer is making is that to draw near to God we must set aside the Law, because the Law strengthens sin in our lives increasing its hold on us instead of bringing us the reconciliation we need.  Instead we should cling to the better hope by which we have full access to God.

This blessed hope is in the person of Jesus Christ who has paved the way for us to enter blamelessly into the God’s very presence ( Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:19-22 ).  His blood has completely wiped away the effects of sin in our lives once for all ( Hebrews  9:12, Hebrews  9:14, Hebrews  9:26, Hebrews  9:28, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 10:18, Hebrews 10:22 ). This is why we have this access. Jesus imputed His righteousness to us when we believed; the righteousness required to fulfill the entire law. Adherence to the law couldn’t make us righteous because of our sin nature ( Galatians 3:21 ). However Jesus fulfilled it because He was sinless. Then He gave us His Spirit to replace that sin nature when we were born again, which is how He imputed His righteousness to us. This is why He is the better hope by which we can come before God.

When we understand this, it gives us boldness and confidence before God instead of uncertainly and fear. Under the Law, the High Priest was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies and into the presence of God once a year when he made atonement for the people. However, when Jesus was crucified on the cross the curtain that had separated the people from God’s presence was torn entirely in two from top to bottom ( Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:24 ). This was done by God himself showing us that Jesus paved the way for us to come with full assurance of faith and clean consciences ( Hebrews 10:22 ). His body is now the curtain by which we can freely enter at will ( Hebrews 10:20 ).

This is why the law is set aside when we are saved, because its purpose has been fulfilled in bringing us to Christ to be justified by faith. Now that Jesus is our High Priest, He assures this access eternally. “For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever” ( Hebrews 7:28 ). Jesus is the better hope which gives us confidence before God.

“For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law”
( Hebrews 7:12 )

About a year ago, I sat through a series at church about the Ten Commandments. Each week the pastor would give his message on the next commandment instructing the congregation how to follow it and live it out in their lives. I spent the entire time wondering why a teaching series like this existed. I came to the conclusion that the Church as a whole is missing vital information concerning everything that took place at Calvary. This passage declares that when there is change in priesthood by necessity there also must be a change in law. And if there has been a change in the law, why are we still acting as if there hasn’t been?

Christians still want to live under the Old Testament Covenant which is why we have this hybrid of grace and works that permeates the Church. We teach salvation by grace but holiness by Law as in the example of the teaching series on the Ten Commandments. However Paul said in Colossians, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him” ( Colossians 2:6 ). How did you receive Christ? The only acceptable answer is by faith. So it makes sense that we continue in Him in the very same way. In fact, Paul said in Galatians, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” ( Galatians 3:10 ). His point is that Jesus became the curse so we could be redeemed from the law’s curse to live by faith ( Galatians 3:13-14 ).

This is why we must pay attention to Jesus and everything that took place at His death and resurrection.  “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess” (Hebrews 3:1). Why? Because the covenant of grace that He ushered in is far superior in every way than the old system of the law. “But the ministry Jesus has received is superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises” ( Hebrews 8:6 ). If we, as New Testament believers, have better promises, then it only makes sense that we know what they are and operate out of them instead of the old system that is aging and ready to disappear ( Hebrews 8:13 ).

This comes as a shock to many people but the old system did not work. Look at this passage from scripture. It actually says this very thing – the old system was broken “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord” ( Hebrews 8:7-9 ). The time for change came with Jesus.

The old system of Laws only dealt with the external ( Hebrews 9:10 ) which is why it could never work. Take an apple tree, for example; when the fruit is ready to be picked you might find evidence that it had a worm. However if it is early enough in the season when you pick the apple, there is a chance that the worm is still inside. This is because the apple actual grows around the worm and the worm ruins the apple from the inside out. The law was geared toward the flesh, but since the core was bad, it showed us that we were already defeated and in need of a savior. This is why God had to deal with the heart of man, not merely external behavior which manifests because of what is inside. This is why there was a need for a new Covenant and new system.

“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear” ( Hebrews 8:10-13 ).

Jesus dealt with the core of mankind which is why we must be born again, so that our nature is no longer according to the flesh which is corrupt. Instead it is according to spirit fashioned after Jesus’ in true righteousness and holiness ( Ephesians 4:22-24 ). He put the law of God on the inside of us, writing them on our hearts and minds so that we can know all his ways, it becomes part of us; cleansing us from the inside out, not just a system of rules to live by. This is the change in law. It is not of the letter which condemns, it is of the spirit which gives life. “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” ( II Corinthians 3:6 ).

As believers, our covenant is glorious, which is why it seems inconceivable that anyone would choose to return to the old system of being under the law. “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone [The Ten Commandments], came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ( II Corinthians 3:7-8 ). The point here is that Jesus ushered in a new system with His priesthood, then gave us the Holy Spirit, which allows us to live in a completely different way. Not by a list of “dos and don’ts” but by His Spirit. “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” ( Romans 8:6 ). Unlike the commandments which arouse the desire to sin ( Romans 7:11 ), living by the Spirit of God actually produces the righteous requirements the law describes ( Romans 8:4 ), which is why the new system under Jesus’ priesthood actually works!

“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” ( II Corinthians 3:12-18 )

So instead of spending ten weeks doing a study on the Ten Commandments, which actually puts a veil over our hearts and dulls our minds to the things of God, we should spend time focused on Christ and the change that came with His priesthood. We do not need to be told what the law of God is, through Christ these things have been written on our hearts and exist in our minds and will be evident in our lives by walking and living by the Spirit of God ( Jeremiah 31:31-33, Hebrews 8:10-13, Hebrews 10:15-16 ). We should always look at the law through the filter of Christ which will always confirm what is spoken to us through the Holy Spirit. This is why by necessity there had to be a change in law when there was a change in priesthood. Through Christ a better hope is introduced by which we can draw near to God ( Hebrews 7:18 ).

“Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything” ( Hebrews 3:3-4 ) 

When the Law was given, it was given to the people by Moses. He acted as a mediator between God and man. He was God's steward overseeing the administration of the written code. Moses was truly a faithful servant over God's house leading the Israelites by example. But Jesus is worthy of greater honor than Moses because He is not a servant entrusted with overseeing the covenant, Jesus is the covenant. Everything that the Law and the prophets foretold was about Jesus. He is the spoken Word of God and He was always the plan for redemption.

Covenants Are God’s Way of Protecting Us

God has always made covenants with His people. If you look back through the scriptures you will see several accounts of these promises. The amazing thing is, these covenants were initiated by God and based solely on His word. In other words, mankind's behavior did not nullify the pledge God made to them. Take Abraham for example. God came to him and told him, that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and He would give him a great span of land as his inheritance. He asked nothing in return from Abraham. Then God ratified this covenant with a heifer, a goat, a ram, a dove and a young pigeon ( Genesis 15 ). The only thing required on Abraham’s part was believing God. The scripture records, "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." ( Genesis 15:6 ). Faith placed in the Lord and what He did was the only requirement.

The important thing to understand is that God is the one who initiates the covenant. He makes the promise, ratifies it and then stands behind it never changing His mind. The New Covenant, which Jesus ushered in is in the same fashion as the covenant made with Abraham. It is not based on anything we can do, it is based on what God did. Ratification of this promise was made by Jesus' blood. Now Jesus is the guarantor of this covenant, since He lives, this promise offered to us can never be broken or revoked and God will not change His mind about it. Even though the world gets increasingly worse, with more evil and sin, God will never renege on this covenant of grace offered to us through Jesus.

Because of this, Jesus is truly worthy of far greater honor than Moses. Paul said in II Corinthians, “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!” ( II Corinthians 3:7-11 ). This is a comparison between the Law, written in stone and the administration of the Spirit written on our hearts through the covenant of grace. It is far superior and worthy of more honor than anything the Law did or could ever do.

John 1 tells us, “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” ( John 1;16-18 ). The Law was meant to accuse us and show us our guilt before God ( Romans 5:20, II Corinthians 3:6, Galatians 3:24-25 ) but the grace and truth that Jesus offers us shows us the love and forgiving nature of God. This message is incredible and since the bearer of this amazing news lives, seated at the right hand of the Father, we know that this promise is eternal. So in every sense of the word, Jesus is worthy of incredible honor and glory and He is the guarantor of our covenant of grace, initiated and offered by God, rarified and secured by Jesus forever. The only requirement is believing and accepting it. Then we too like Abraham are credited with righteousness.

Tomorrow we look at Hebrews 3:5-6; Moses Testified about Christ

Did you know that you are not bound to the Old Testament Law as a born again believer? This comes as a shock to many Christians who have made a practice of abiding by the Ten Commandments their whole lives. However, in the previous chapters of Romans, Paul clearly taught that the Law is what strengthened sin in us and arouses in us the need for a Savior. The entire Old Testament Law can be used to point us to Christ. With Christ, we have been freed from the power of sin. Therefore Paul is instructing us to offer the parts of our body to God as instruments of righteousness ( Romans 6:13 ). This is based on the New Covenant and the righteousness we obtained through Jesus. Because we are righteous under this covenant of grace we need to operate that way.

In today's passage Paul tells us that sin is not our master because of grace. While we were controlled by the old nature we were subjected to the Law as slaves. As Slaves under the Law, we experienced guilt, condemnation and wrath because we constantly failed to measure up to it. The Law also made sin come alive in our hearts ( Romans 7:9 ) and strengthened the power of sin against us ( 1 Corinthians 15:56 ), and that is why we needed a Savior, because it was impossible for us to do it on our own. However, if we choose to live and operate under the Old Testament Law as believers then we are choosing to remain in bondage to sin and forfeit the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. That is why we need to operate as New Testament believers who have been freed from the law.

Here is the good news for today: we are freed from sin and the bondage of the Law. So sin cannot master us. Understanding this freedom from both the Law and the control of our old nature is necessary to break free from the dominion of sin in our lives. When we understand that we are subjects of God's favor and mercy then we will operate that way, because what you believe is what you will do. Through the New Covenant we are under grace. That grace gives us the freedom to pursue Christ and a life of holiness will be the result. Not by works of the Law, but by being alive in Christ. When we live as though we are free of our old nature then we are living accordingly to the Spirit and we will see the fruits thereof.

Today, I pray that you understand all that is yours through the New Covenant by God's grace. I pray that you life reflects our Saviors in every way. Not by works, but because of a His grace. God bless you!

For more reading on the Purpose of the Law:
Romans 3:19-20 - The Purpose of the Law
Romans 3:21 - A Righteousness Apart From the Law
Romans 3:22-24 - By Faith We Are Justified Freely
Romans 3:28 - Justification Comes By Faith, Not Works
Romans 3:29-31 - Our Faith Uploads the Law

When I use to wait tables for a living, I use to work with a man that would send out a press release every time he did something. If he cleaned the coffee pot or delivered food to a table for you he would make sure you knew about it. He was constantly looking for a pat on the back for the tasks he performed. It was exhausting working with him, as much appreciation as he sought from co-workers.

Many people are like this, a lot of times we assign value to ourselves bases on the good deeds we do. Not only do we want recognition from our peers, many times we act as if the world owes us for our benevolence. Because of this mindset we could go through life relying on our good deeds to get us to heaven unless we know the truth from God's Word.

Paul is stressing to us that all of our good deeds and adherence to the Law is not worth boasting about. Our self-righteousness is excluded and ruled out entirely on the basis of faith. Paul just made a marvelous declaration in the previous verses that the righteousness we need has been provided to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Paul affirms that through faith in His blood we are justified and reconciled to God. So because of faith, boasting in our good deeds is useless, because faith overshadows works much in every way.

Today, be thankful that God does not respond to what we do and how we fall short. Be thankful that we respond to what God did. We don't need pats on the back from our co-workers, our value comes solely through Jesus. Through faith, we are righteous by the His blood. That is a good truth no matter which way you look at it!

I recently started meeting weekly with my cousin who just became born again. We discuss a lot of things, but one thing that came up, was how the Old Testament seems dramatically different then the New Testament. I told her that she must read the Old Testament in light of what Jesus did for us in the New Testament. To her, that made perfect sense in putting all the pieces together. However, this is not a New Testament principal. The Law, was always intended to be understood, in view of the promised Messiah.

At this point in Romans, Paul is making a major shift in thinking. His statement is radical for the Jew, and for many Christians today. The righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law. For the Jew who has followed rules, regulations and the Law their entire life, this would be a hard pill to swallow.

The Jews had always hoped to obtain righteousness with God through the Law, but Paul says that this right standing is altogether independent of the Law. This might seem like a new doctrine, but Paul claims that it is what the Law and the Prophets testified about all along.

Mercy and grace was present in the Old Testament, through sacrifices prescribe by the Law. Because of this, it would have been easy to interpret that forgiveness and grace came about by fulfilling as much of the Law as they could. Paul is saying that this wasn't the Law's intent, the intent was to show the pattern of the One to come. Colossians 2:17 says, that "These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." So the righteousness of the Law was a type or representation of what was coming. And grace and righteousness came through Christ Jesus independent of the Law.

In the previous verses Paul utterly destroyed any hope of obtaining that right standing with God through adherence to the Law. Our only hope rested upon a Savior. Today we understand that the Law actually foretold of the righteousness given to us by Christ and hope that God promised to us by sending the Messiah. This righteousness was independent of the Law and it put us in right standing with God. Today, take a moment to thank God and Jesus for this righteousness that was made available for us apart from works of the Law.

For many years I had the wrong interpretation of the Law. I always assumed that people were justified by following the Law until the time of Christ, then people we were saved by grace. I thought the Law was given as the way to God in the Old Testament. However this is not the case, Paul clearly states that the Law is what strengthened sin in us and arouses the need for a Savior.

The entire Old Testament Law can be used to point us to Christ. Paul tells us, that the Law speaks to those who are under the power of it. The purpose of the Law was to show that no one could keep it and by knowing this, it stripped every excuse that could ever be made. Every mouth is silenced in comparison to the Law, because God doesn't grade on a curve. Human comparison allows the dismissal of the severity of actions, but in contrast to the law, Paul says there is no excuse.

Because there is no excuse to those who are under the Law, and through it the world is held accountable to God, we know that the Law cannot bring us the righteousness of God. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law." ( Romans 3:20 ). And James tells us, For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." ( James 2:10 ). If the Law wasn't given to make us righteous before God, why was it given?

Paul's answer... because through the Law, we become conscious of sin. We become aware of it. We recognize it. The acquaintance with the Law or condemnation of the Law, is what works us towards repentance and faith. This consciousness breaks the deception of thinking that we can be good enough to be accepted by God. The Law took away every hope of salvation except faith in a savior. This was the purpose of the Law.

This is Paul's closing argument as the prosecuting attorney. Paul finishes his case against both the Jews and the Gentiles and the impossibility of their salvation apart from Christ. He has made such a powerful case that one would think the next step is passing down the sentence of condemnation, however, now that the groundwork for the need for Christ is firmly laid, Paul will start building His case for the grace of God. What a beautiful thing!

Circumcision, to the Jew was the outward sign of being God's chosen people. God told Abraham that the circumcision of the flesh would be a token between them for the generations to come. It reminded them of the promise God had made to Abraham.

Circumcision was a big deal to the Jews. It embodied everything they were. Paul was making no small accusation by telling them, they have become as though they had not been circumcised.

Jesus faced the same mindset. In Matthew 19, we see a rich man come to Jesus and ask him what good things he should do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus' reply was to obey the commandments. The man stated that these things he had done since he was a youth. So Jesus instructed him to sell everything he owned and follow him. The man went away from there in great distress because the Bible said that he had great possessions.

This man had followed the law since his youth and in comparison to everyone else he was pretty good. Jesus revealed to him, that even though he followed the law and had the sign of circumcision, he was still lacking in the righteousness he sought after. In the end, he chose his earthly riches over eternal life.

When the disciples had heard Jesus say that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, they were amazed and utterly puzzled. They asked him who then, could be saved. Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" ( Matthew 19:26 ). Meaning that man could never obtain salvation from observing the law, it was impossible for them. But thankfully, Jesus tells us ‘with God all things are possible'. Thank God, that he provided the plan, the way and the payment for us so that it would be possible.

Because no one could perfectly keep the law, failure to do so made the Jews, as though they were uncircumcised in the site of God. That is because the Law was not given as a way to get to God. However, Jesus was given as the way. Today, if you have never trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I pray that you will quit relying on your goodness and put your faith in Him.