The Law of God, Today

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
— Romans 3:31 (NKJV)

Among many believers today, there is much confusion concerning the place of God’s law. Some believe that there is no difference between the Old and New Testaments, while others think that the law has been completely abolished. However, the truth lies in the balanced teaching of Scripture.

When we study the Old Covenant, we see that the law can broadly be divided into three parts:

1. The Moral Law — represented by the Ten Commandments.
2. The Ceremonial Law — dealing with rituals, sacrifices, and temple worship.
3. The Judicial (or Civil) Law — governing the national life of Israel as a theocratic nation.

Some people assume that all these laws are no longer relevant today. But that cannot be entirely true, because the New Testament still upholds moral principles such as “Do not steal,” “Do not kill,” and “Do not bear false witness.” Clearly, not all aspects of the law have been done away with. The key, therefore, is to discern what has been fulfilled in Christ and what still applies to us today.

Jesus said that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). What does this mean? Under the Old Covenant, a person’s right standing before God depended on perfect obedience to the law. In contrast, under the New Covenant, Christ has fulfilled the demands of the law on our behalf. By faith in Him, we are justified—not by keeping the law, but by His finished work on the cross (Romans 3:20–22).

This does not mean the law is useless. Rather, it means that while we are not justified by obeying it, the moral principles it contains still serve as a guide for holy living. We now obey God’s commands not to earn righteousness, but as an expression of our love, faith, and gratitude to Him.

The ceremonial laws, on the other hand such as sacrifices, rituals, and dietary restrictions, were symbolic, pointing forward to Christ’s redemptive work. These have been completely fulfilled in Him and are no longer binding on believers. The book of Hebrews explains that Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all, making further sacrifices unnecessary (Hebrews 10:10–14).

In summary, the moral essence of God’s law remains, but its ceremonial and judicial aspects have been fulfilled in Christ. As believers, we now uphold the law through faith; living by the Spirit, who empowers us to walk in righteousness and love.

Reflection:
Am I living in the liberty of grace while still honoring God’s moral standards?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of justification through faith in Christ. Help me to walk in the freedom of grace without neglecting Your moral truth. Teach me to live by Your Spirit, fulfilling the righteousness of the law through love and obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.