"Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them" (Romans 10:5)

There is a difference between the righteousness that the Law offers and the righteousness that comes by faith. Paul started out this chapter by saying the Israelites were zealous for God but their zeal wasn't based upon the truth of Jesus and because of it they sought to establish their own righteousness based upon the law ( Romans 10:2, Romans 10:3 ). Then in verse four he made an amazing declaration that Christ was the end of the law so we could be righteous and holy by faith ( Romans 10:4 ). This is an amazing truth but difficult to accept unless one's heart is in alignment with this truth from God's word.

Our relationship with God has always been based upon a heart change even at the time that the Law was given this was the objective. Moses warned the Israelites when he gave them the law that the man who obeys them will live by them ( Leviticus 18:5 ). It wasn't based on Ten commandments, it was more extensive and based on over four hundred laws and precepts. If you religiously followed one law then you had to follow all laws. Moses warned them about this. However he also understood that this revelation of God's decrees was simply intended to get them ready for the promised Messiah and not to be a means to an end. It outlined everything Jesus would be and it showed us how He would be the perfect sacrifice before God in our stead. Moses warned that if anyone was trusting in the law to save them, they would soon discover how impossible it was. If you live by the law then you will die by the law.

James said the same thing, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" ( James 2:10 ). The Law is an all or nothing thing. So in that sense it is impossible to live by it because of the sinful nature with which we were born. Fortunately for us we do not have to live this way because "but the righteous will live by his faith" ( Habakkuk 2:4 ). The Amplified Bible put it this way, "but the [rigidly] just and the [uncompromisingly] righteous man shall live by his faith and in his faithfulness" ( Habakkuk 2:4 Amp ). Meaning that faith in Christ is how we must live and this fulfills the law in our own hearts. Because the law looked forward to Christ and made him its object. Jesus brings us into relationship with God and our heart changes and aligns to His in the process.

What does Jesus say about the Law? When questioned about it Jesus responded, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" ( Matthew 22:37-40 ). Fulfilling the first commandment can only be accomplished with true lasting heart change. We cannot love God with all of our hearts when it is only an intellectual ritualistic thing. To love God takes every ounce of our being we can only do this when our heart is aligned to his heart. This only happens when we experience the love of Christ. John said, "we love because he first loved us" ( I John 4:19 ). Our love is a natural response to His love towards us. We can love him with everything we are because through grace we are a redeemed and holy people. By loving God in this way we fulfill the intent of the law because we are looking to him for everything and not relying on ourselves.

In the same way, because of His love pouring out of us we can love others where before we couldn't. In fact we can love others more by accident than on purpose. This is because we are living our lives from a real change of heart that focuses on God for everything. It is not a self centered thing. Love flowed from the cross and overflows into our hearts and we have become like Him through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. Paul encourages us with the same thought, "The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." ( Galatians 3:14 )."Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." ( Romans 13:8 ). This love is based upon Christ who is the end of the law ( Romans 10:4 ).

Today, I am thankful that Moses foresaw the coming Messiah and challenged the Israelites to look forward to Him in faith instead of living by the dictates of the Law. I am thankful that Christ has come in the flesh to redeem mankind. By trusting in Jesus you are saved and loved and equipped to love one another. May this revelation of Jesus Christ bless you today, amen!

"Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4)

Throughout the course of Paul's letter to the Romans he wrote extensively about how the Law could not justify us before God. Rather the true intent of the law was to point us to Christ. After building his case against mankind in the first two chapters, Paul wrote in Romans 3, "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference" ( Romans 3:21, Romans 3:22 ). He showed that this way had always been God's plan from the very beginning. Both the Law and the Prophets testified about Jesus as the means for justification. We were never supposed to cling to the Law to bring us into right relationship with God. The Law was meant to condemn us; this is why Paul said in Corinthians "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" ( II Corinthians 3:6 ). Then went on to call the Law the "ministration of death" because that is what it was ( II Corinthians 3:7 ). It only brought us death. It accused us before God, it showed us our guilt before God and it magnified our sin before God. It could never justify us, instead it silenced us and held us accountable ( Romans 3:19 ).

In today's passage Paul exclaims, "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes" ( Romans 10:4 ). Through faith, the law's power is broken over us. We no longer stand accused by it because through Christ the law is completely fulfilled in us. And if it is fulfilled then it no longer applies. Paul said in Romans 6 that as believers we are no longer under the control of the law we are now under the control of grace ( Romans 6:14 ). This is an amazing truth to understand. Colossians says, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross" ( Colossians 2:13-14 ). Part of our redemption is that God cancelled the written code that accused us. He nailed it to the cross with our sin and defeated it once for all. It is done and it is over. What a blessing this is!

Religion on the other hand wants to keep you in bondage under the law. Religion wants you to feel guilty and unworthy, but Christ wants you to be free. Paul chided the Galatians, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" ( Galatians 5:1 ). He was speaking about those who were returning to the Law after coming to faith in Christ. He had said in the previous chapter, "how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? ( Galatians 4:9 ). We need to understand this freedom and live and breathe it. We cannot return to that which Christ has freed us from.

Understanding the implications of this profound truth will completely free you in every sense of the word. We are called to live a life of freedom and this includes after we come to Christ. Many understand salvation by grace, but no sooner than they accept the transformation of Christ's salvation they put on the yoke of slavery again. Many start out accepting this grace that Christ offers only to return to the Law as a means to live. We pick it up again to dictate the Christian life instead of living in the freedom to which we were called. As Christians the Law is not for us it was nailed to the cross with Jesus. We do not need it as a basis of how to live because we have the Holy Spirit as our guide to lead us into all truth ( John 14:26, John 16:13-15 ). Paul said that "Christ is the end of the law ..." ( Romans 10:4 ), and this rings true especially for Christians.

Today I am so thankful that my righteousness came through Christ. I am glad that he has cancelled the written code that stood and accused me. He has become the end of the Law in my life so that I can live by faith. Today, I pray that you understand this blessed truth and experience this freedom in your life, amen!