"CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW"

"CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW"
Romans 10:4

Don Fortner


Legalists continue to cavil and cry, "Antinomianism!" "Licentiousness!" But we are not inclined to give up our liberty or be brought into bondage. God forbids it (Col. 2:16). And our hearts rejoice to read these words of inspiration. The Spirit of God had no fear that believers would twist his meaning into an excuse for sin. He simply declares "CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW!" Take those words as they stand in the text. Let no one persuade you that the Holy Spirit meant to say, "Christ brings men into the bondage of the law." God always says what he means and means what he says. "Christ is the end of the law." That means, Christ is the fulfillment of the law's types, the accomplishment of the law's prophecies, the fullness of the law's requirements, the satisfaction of the law's justice, and end of the law's dominion. Go in any direction from this point, go as far as you can, and you will not stretch the text too far. "Christ is the END of the law!"

"CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS!" God's holy law cannot require greater righteousness than God's elect have by the imputation of Christ's righteousness to them (Rom. 5:19). And the law cannot require any additional righteousness from us. Jesus Christ is "the Lord our Righteousness." And we have been made the righteousness of God in him (Jer. 23:6; 33:16; II Cor. 5:21). The law gives us no justifying righteousness. The law gives us no sanctifying righteousness. And the law gives us no glorifying righteousness. Christ alone is the righteousness of his people! The law of God is not a motive for righteousness, a basis of righteousness, or a rule of righteousness to God's saints in this world. Christ is!

"CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH!" Unbelievers are under the law. Believers are not. Unbelievers are under the curse. Believers are not. Unbelievers must have the law to make them behave. Believers do not require it (I Tim. 1:9). If you would be free from the law's just curse, condemnation, and guilt, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. If you trust the Lord Jesus Christ, you are not now and cannot ever be brought back under the galling, terrorizing yoke of the law. Thanks be unto God! WE ARE FREE!

Don Fortner is pastor of
Grace Baptist Church
Danville, KY