Scott Price

"For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Romans 10:4

Those who consistently declare the God's gospel of free grace in Christ will always be accused of being against the Law (the theological term: Antinomian). Self-righteous, false religion always makes salvation conditioned on the sinner at least in some small way and the smaller that way, the more subtle it is. Most in this error who fall under the category of "Sovereign Grace", "Reformed", or "Calvinistic", condition salvation on final perseverance. They, like the Pharisees of old, seek to bring men and women back under the bondage of the Law and would have them to base their assurance on baring the heavy yoke of the Law on their necks.

What about the use of the Law in our justification?

Scripture is very clear that nobody can be justified by the deeds of the Law. We are justified by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, which was obtained by His Law keeping and by the merit of His action wherein He, forever, blotted out and put away the sin of His people, reconciling them to the Father with complete satisfaction. So, for righteousness, Christ is the end of the Law (Romans 3:20a, 10:4, Galatians 2:16, 3:11, Philippians 3:9).

What about our use of the Law for sanctification?

Christ is our sanctification; "But of Him (God the Father) are you in Christ Jesus, who of God (the Father) is made us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord." I Cor 1:30-31

What is the proper use of the Law?

The Law is used in the preaching of the gospel to show our sinfulness according to Romans 3:20b, "...for by the Law is the knowledge of sin." Also Scripture further provides an answer concerning exactly what the purpose of the Law is in Galatians 3:24-26, "...the Law was our schoolmaster (tutor) to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For you are all children of God by faith in Jesus Christ." Verse 29 explains it is by promise instead of our works.

How do we establish the Law by faith?

God's people are given the gift of faith, which looks to Christ alone for their righteousness and justification. Christ is the only person who ever obeyed, honored, magnified, and fulfilled the strict Law of God. He then took on the curse, condemnation, and guilt of it as He hung on Calvary's tree for the penalty of sin God's elect, which was imputed to His account by the Father. As the Father accepts the law keeping of His perfect Son we also look to Christ and His obedience for all our acceptance and righteousness to a holy God of justice. Do not be fooled in thinking we establish the Law by trying to keep the Law by faith.

Is Grace alone motivation enough for godly, acceptable obedience?

The Reformed/Calvinistic Legalist, like the Arminian who believes you can lose your salvation, does not think grace alone is enough to motivate God's people. The Legalist will always obey out of at least one of the two improper self-righteous motives: #1) Fear of punishment and, #2) Promise of reward. These are what the Scripture calls dead works.

God's people obey out of the spirit of adoption wherein they are thankful and grateful for the love and mercy shown to them by grace. They obey by faith, faith that they are already fully accepted in the Person of Christ and by His work as their Representative to God. The justified lives and walks by faith. The Spirit of God indwells them and by the means of God's word shows them the many New Covenant commands revealed for our walk of faith. God's people are to seek and strive to cheerfully and willfully obey these commands.

The accusations will continue