Chapter 22

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The antinomian says, “There is no law”. Conversely, the legalist reveals, “There is no life”. The teaching of the Bible contradicts both viewpoints. It recognizes the importance of both law and life in the eternal plan of God.

                                            Rule of Law

The rule of law originated from God. James clarified, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy.” (James 4:12)

God made the rule of law with a specific requirement. Congruent with His justice, its requirement is righteousness. Relative to the rule of law, righteousness demands perfect obedience to its every command, regulation, and ordinance. Therefore, even one small act of disobedience serves to demonstrate unrighteousness and makes the transgressor worthy of condemnation. Consequently, the motive for fulfilling the requirement of the rule of law is the fear of punishment for disobedience and as a result, condemnation.

Yet the Bible explains, “There is no fear (of condemnation) in love; but perfect love casts out fear (of condemnation), because fear (of condemnation) involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” (1 John 4:18) Producing the fear of condemnation, the rule of law is contrary to “perfect love.”

The personal concern about whether or not one can satisfy the conditions of the rule of law is valid. It provokes fear, ultimately the fear of condemnation. The Apostle John has clarified, however, that the fear of condemnation is cast out by the perfect love of God. Thus, the fear of condemnation is assuaged by the perfect love of God expressed through the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone can set free from condemnation. Paul said, “… there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, it should be emphasized that God did not create the rule of law for His righteous children. Concordant with His perfect love, they have been released from the jurisdiction of the rule of law and consequently, the fear of punishment and condemnation.

God created the rule of law for the unrighteous. According to the requirement of the rule of law, they justifiably remain in fear of punishment and condemnation. In agreement, the Apostle Paul stated, “…law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:8-9)

Redeemed by the blood of the Eternal Covenant and eternally positioned in Jesus Christ, the righteous know God personally and have received the blessing of His perfect love. As a result, the requirement of the rule of law was satisfied within, they became holy and blameless by measure of law, and were released from the jurisdiction of law and consequently, the fear of condemnation. (Romans 6:1-14; 7:1-6; 8:1-17) Consequently, they are utterly privileged to enjoy intimacy of fellowship with the God of perfect love.

The fundamental purpose of the rule of law for the unrighteous is to reveal sin or the transgression of the rule of law. “…through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20; cf. 7:7) Made aware of their sinfulness by the rule of law, the unrighteous understand that they are accountable to God for transgression.

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                                         Accountability

The unrighteous are accountable to God to fulfill the righteous requirement of His law. “Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God.” (Romans 3:19)

Nevertheless, the unrighteous do not have the capacity for perfect obedience. The indwelling principle of sin or “sin in the flesh” renders them incapable of satisfying the righteous requirement of the rule of law. (Romans 8:3) Unable to meet the divine requirement of the rule of law, the unrighteous exist in a natural state of fearful condemnation and thus, accountability to God.

According to the Apostle Paul, God maintains a record of all transgression of law by the unrighteous. It is an undeniable record that serves to condemn. In it every transgression of the rule of law has been documented. Paul referred to the documentation as a “certificate of debt.” (Colossians 2:14) Providing an indisputable record of fallen status and a lifetime of corresponding fallen practice, the “certificate of debt” consists of “decrees against” the condemned. It is “hostile” to them because it establishes an indefensible, legal basis for judgment and condemnation. Consequently, the unrighteous are accountable to God for the transgression recorded on their “certificate of debt.”

The accountability established through the rule of law was also designed for an extremely important purpose. It acts as a “tutor” or “schoolmaster” to lead the unrighteous to the Savior, the One who fulfilled the requirement of the rule of law. (Galatians 3:23-25)

The purpose of tutorship is confirmed when the unrighteous arrive at the point of redeeming faith. The Apostle Paul said, “Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish (histemi - his'-tay-mee) the [purpose of the] law.”[1] (Romans 3:31; 10:4) Thus, rather than nullifying the rule of law, arriving at faith in Christ serves to “establish,” “uphold,” or “confirm” the purpose of the rule of law (see NRSV; Goodspeed Bible; Amplified; Et al.).

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Law of Sin and of Death

Synonymous with the “law of sin and of death,” the rule of law is able to satisfy nothing more than the purpose for which it was created, the revelation of sin. (Romans 8:2) Thus, it is “holy and righteous and good.” (Romans 7:12)

As previously indicated, the rule of law or the “law of sin and of death” was not created for benefit of the righteous in the realm or sphere of the Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus. It was made for the unrighteous existing in the realm of sin and death. Consequently, it emphasizes duty, debt, and death.

The “law of sin and of death” emphasizes performance or duty for God. Contrary to intimate fellowship with God, it condemns poor performance and rewards good performance.

The “law of sin and of death” also emphasizes debt. Its legalistic practice cannot satisfy the debt of transgression. The practice of law can only provide a reminder of sin and its unpayable debt.

Further, the “law of sin and of death” emphasizes death. According to the Apostle Paul, the rule of law is a ministry of death and condemnation. (2 Corinthians 3:7, 9) Created for the unrighteous, the rule of law does not permit bearing the fruit of eternal life (zoe) or “fruit for God” but only the bearing of “fruit for death.” (Romans 7:4-5)

Emphasizing duty, debt and death, the rule of law or the “law of sin and of death” can only fulfill the purpose for which it was created. It was designed to reveal the unbeliever as guilty of transgression, burdened by an unpayable debt, and unrighteous. Thus, the rule of law (“law of sin and of death”) cannot satisfy man’s fundamental need for life (zoe). (Romans 7:10; Galatians 3:21) It can only lead the unrighteous to the giver of life (zoe); the Lord Jesus Christ.

© 2022 James Hiatt

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