Christ the End of the Law
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
When men try to handle the law of God, they
invariably pervert it, and fit it to their own ideas. The only way to have
its perfection appear is to submit to it, allowing it to rule. Then it will
work itself out in the life. "It is God which worketh in you both to
will and to do of His good-pleasure." Philippians 2:13.
We
have seen that the end or object of the law is the righteousness which it
requires. So it is said that Christ is the end of the law "for
righteousness." The law of God is the righteousness of God (See Isaiah
51:6, 7). But this righteousness is the real life of God Himself, and the
words of the law are only the shadow of it. That life is found only in
Christ, for He alone declares the righteousness of God (Romans 3:24, 25).
His
life is the law of God, since God was in Him. That which the Jews had only
in form, is found in fact only in Christ. In Him the end of the law is
found. Does any one say that "the end of the law" means its
abolition? Very well; when they find the abolition of Christ, they will have
found the abolition of the law, and not before. Only a study of the life of
Christ will reveal the righteousness which the law of God requires.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not
come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17).
The
perfect righteousness of the law is found only in Him. It is in Him in
absolute perfection. Therefore since Christ dwells in the heart of the
believer, in Him only is the end of the law attained. "This is the work
of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent" (John 6:29).
"With the heart man believeth unto righteousness."
Waggoner on Romans, pgs. 163, 164 |
