Chapter 28

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The antinomian attempts to live without law and the legalist without life. Neither understand the teaching of the Bible.

Order

Angelic and human beings are ordered by life (zoe) or law. In heaven and on earth, there is no other means of order.

Holy angelic and human beings are obligated to God by the rule of divine life (zoe). Conversely, the unholy are subject to God by the rule of divine law.

  Angelic Beings

The original earth existed in the kingdom of God. Its inhabitants, holy angels, were ordered by divine rule of life (zoe). After the rebellion, the original earth was destroyed and its angelic inhabitants became unholy. Consequently, they were banished from the kingdom into the “outer darkness.”

Outside of the kingdom, the unholy angels were subjected to the rule of law. It provided necessary limitations for fallen conduct and, in so doing, unveiled the righteousness of God.

Human Beings

Like the original earth, the renovated earth was created to exist within the kingdom of God. Its inhabitants, holy human beings, were ordered by the rule of divine life (zoe).

The rebellious fall of humanity caused the earth to become degenerated and darkened. Although it was reduced to a lesser state, it remained capable of accommodating unholy, fallen human beings. Therefore, the degenerated earth and its rebellious human inhabitants were banished together from the kingdom.

Like the unholy angels outside of the kingdom, the unholy human beings and their habitat were also subjected to the rule of law. It not only dictated the parameters for fallen life outside of the kingdom but served to unveil the righteousness of God. As a result, the unholy, fallen understand that they “fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

  Rule of Law

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

Originated from God, the rule of law is, “… holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” (Romans 7:12) Consequently, it is able to accomplish the purpose for which God created it.

God originated the rule of law for benefit of the fallen. The Apostle Paul explained, “But we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.” (1 Timothy 1:8-11) The fallen need order because they are “lawless and rebellious.” As a result, they habitually live in a manner that is “contrary to sound teaching.”

God designed the rule of law for benefit of the fallen. It reveals the guilt of their transgression of law (sin). Paul clarified, “… through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20; 4:15; 7:7) Thus, the rule of law serves as the means by which the fallen are able to recognize the guilt, condemnation and debt associated with sin.

Relative to the purpose for which it was originated, the Apostle Paul referred to the rule of law as the “law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:7, 9) Therefore, he emphasized that the sinner exists apart from God in the realm of death. Thus, it should be understood that the rule of law was not designed for benefit of those alive to God, the righteous, but the unrighteous who are dead to God.

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Accountability

The rule of law has a strict requirement. The unrighteous are accountable to God for its fulfillment. “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 to fulfill the requirement of the rule of law. The indwelling principle of sin or “sin in the flesh” renders them incapable of satisfying it. (Romans 8:3) Consequently, the unrighteous exist in a natural state of guilt, condemnation, and fear.

According to the Apostle Paul the unrighteous have legitimate reason to fear. God has documented all of their transgression of law. The documentation provides an undeniable record that serves to condemn. It is referred to by the Apostle Paul as a “certificate of debt.” (Colossians 2:14) Presenting an indisputable record of the unbeliever’s fallen status and a lifetime of corresponding fallen practice, the “certificate of debt” consists of “decrees against” the condemned. It is “hostile” to the fallen dead because it establishes an indefensible, legal basis for judgment and condemnation.

Requirement

The requirement of the rule of law (“law of sin and of death”) is inflexible. It demands righteousness. (James 2:10; cf. Galatians 5:3; Deuteronomy 27:26) Therefore, the rule of law requires perfect obedience to its every command, regulation, and ordinance.

Anything less than perfect obedience to the rule of law is the equivalent of unrighteousness. Therefore, one act of transgression is comparable to disobeying the entire body of law. It alone makes the transgressor worthy of condemnation.

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Motive

Given its strict requirement of righteousness, the divine rule of law has a specific motive for obedience. As indicated, the human motive for obeying the requirement of the rule of law is the fear of condemnation.

Yet the Bible explains, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear 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.”

Expressed through the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect love of God casts out the fear of condemnation. Paul revealed, “… there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) By the perfect love of God, the redeemed are released from the jurisdiction of the rule of divine law and consequently, freed from the fear of punishment and condemnation. (Romans 6:1-14; 7:1-6; 8:1-17)

Rule of Life

The need for humanity is not to fulfill the righteous requirement of the rule of law, the “law of sin and of death.” The fallen nature or “sin in the flesh,” prohibits it. (Romans 8:3; Galatians 3:21)

Instead, by revealing sin the rule of law acts as a “tutor” or “schoolmaster” to lead the transgressor to the giver of life (zoe), the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 5:21; 1 Corinthians 15:45; 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) 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.).

The fundamental need for humanity is the new law and new life graciously provided by the Eternal Covenant. Concordant with its benefit, the redeemed are “set free” from the “law of sin and of death” by the “law of the Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:2)

Set free, the redeemed do not relate to God according to the old rule of law. Instead, they are obligated to Him by the gracious rule of His indwelling life (zoe).

The new law of the Eternal Covenant, the “law of the Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus” is variously referred to in the New Testament as the “law of faith,” the “law of Christ, the “law of the Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus,” the “perfect law,” and the “law of liberty.” (Romans 3:27; 8:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2; James 1:25; 2:12) In this book it is frequently specified as the “rule of life.”

The new law of the covenant, the “law of the Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus,” graciously provides the parameters for living the new life associated with the Eternal Covenant. It is life shared with Jesus Christ, the mediator of the covenant.

The old rule of law, the “law of sin and of death” served to do nothing more than reveal the transgression of law (sin). Therefore, it is the law of the dead.

In contrast, the new law of the Eternal Covenant, the “law of the Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus,” unveils only the grace of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Consequently, it is the law of the living (zoe).

© 2023 James Hiatt

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