Christ the End of the Law

Galatians 2:19  For I through law have died to law that I might live to God.

Romans 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to everyone who believes.

Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; For with the heart there is believing unto righteousness, and with the mouth there is confession unto salvation.

Thank God for his living word!  I was reading some verses today in Galatians chapter 2 and was very touched with verse 19 in particular.  Which says “For I through law have died to law that I might live to God”.  Paul, the author of the book of Galatians and half of the new testament was a devout jew prior to being a believer in Christ.  And according to jewish tradition was completely zealous for the law, that is the mosaic law (ten commandments) given through moses (John 1:17).  But after his conversion to Christ he testifies something quite mysterious in Galatians 2:19.  The law requires that sinners die according to God’s righteous requirement.  The penalty of sin was death.  So the apostle Paul says “I through law have died to law”.  But the good news is that we don’t have to die anymore because Christ already died for us on the cross!  He died a vicarious death taking upon him all of the sins of the world.  The death of Christ fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law! Please read Romans 8:3-4 for reference.  Therefore Paul says that Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to everyone who believes.  This means that our relationship to the law has been terminated and we are righteous before God by believing into Christ! He is the standard.  Its not a bunch of do’s and don’ts.  How awesome is that.  Although some might say, well, what about the law?  If we go out and kill someone are we still righteous?  Doesn’t the ten commandments say we shouldn’t  kill?  Well, my answer is first Matthew 5:17 where Christ says “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill”.  Christ did not abolish the law, he fulfilled it when he died for us on the cross.  So Christ is the END of the law UNTO righteousness to everyone who believes.  Unto means resulting in.   This is a loaded topic so there’s more to come.  What good news!  Praise the Lord for Christ!