Faith's Power: Upholding God's Law

In Romans 3:29-31, Paul addresses the question of whether faith nullifies the law of God. He emphatically answers, Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. This statement raises questions from both religious Jews and his critics, who accuse him of nullifying or abolishing the law. Paul clarifies that justification by faith alone does not overthrow the law but upholds its true purpose and provides the way forward in fulfilling it. He emphasizes that both Jews and Gentiles access God through faith, and by doing so, they confirm, establish, and uphold the law's original intent. The law serves various purposes, including showing what sin is, arousing sin, condemning, crucifying the sinful nature, and ultimately, bringing people to Christ.

Justification by faith alone does not overthrow the law

The Apostle Paul teaches that justification by faith alone does not overthrow or do away with the law of God but upholds it. This is because justification by faith alone reveals the law's true purpose and provides the way forward in fulfilling it.

Paul contends that there must be only one way of justification because there is only one God. This was not objectionable to his Jewish contemporaries, who believed that Yahweh was the one true God. However, Jews who denied Christ disagreed with Paul on what the one way of justification entailed. For them, it was submission to the Mosaic law, including circumcision. Paul argues that Gentiles cannot be justified by the law of Moses if they have never been under that law. He asserts that there is only one God, and therefore only one way of justification—by faith and not by the law that separates Jew and Gentile.

John Calvin comments that the moral law is confirmed and established through faith in Christ. He explains that the law was given to lead man to Christ by showing him his iniquity. Without faith, the law cannot be fulfilled, and it will only increase man's condemnation. Calvin further writes that after justification comes sanctification, which prepares our hearts to keep the law. Justification upholds the law in that once we are justified and receive the Holy Spirit, we can begin to do what the law requires.

Paul's teachings on justification by faith alone do not knock down the law but stand it up. It means that we will do what the moral law of God requires if we pursue it by faith, as those who are already justified. By getting right with God first by faith alone, we will be changed from the inside out and will begin to love what the moral law requires.

Paul uses the analogy of a roller coaster to illustrate this point. He compares the law to a roller coaster track, not a ladder. The law is not meant to give a ladder for climbing but a track for riding in the power of the Holy Spirit. By trusting in Christ and receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, we can fulfil the requirements of the law.

Faith upholds the law's purpose in justification

The Apostle Paul teaches that justification by faith alone does not overthrow or do away with the law of God but upholds it. Paul contends that there must be only one way of justification because there is only one God. This is not objectionable to his Jewish contemporaries, who believe in Yahweh as the one true God. However, Jews who deny Christ disagree with Paul on what this one way of justification entails. For them, it is submission to the Mosaic law, including circumcision. Paul argues that Gentiles cannot be justified by the law of Moses if they have never been under it. He asserts that justification by faith alone does not overthrow the law but upholds it in justification.

John Calvin comments that the moral law is confirmed and established through faith in Christ, as it was given to lead man to Christ by showing his iniquity. Only by denying that our doing of the law can justify us will we uphold the God-ordained purpose for the law in our justification, which is to drive us to Christ.

Paul's message about getting right with God by faith alone, without climbing the "tracks of the roller coaster" that is the law, does not nullify the commandments but establishes them. This is because getting right with God by faith changes us from the inside out, and we begin to love what the moral law requires, fulfilling it not as works of merit but as the fruit of faith.

In conclusion, faith upholds the law's purpose in justification by revealing the law's true purpose of leading us to Christ and providing the way forward in fulfilling it through faith, not works.

Faith does not nullify the commandments

The Apostle Paul teaches that justification by faith alone does not overthrow or do away with the law of God but upholds it. It reveals the law's true purpose and provides the way forward in fulfilling it.

Paul's teachings in Romans 3:27-31 are often interpreted as saying that a person gets right with God by faith alone, and not by works of the Law. This has led to the assumption that Paul is nullifying the commandments of the Law. However, Paul refutes this claim, stating, "Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law."

Paul's message of justification by faith alone does not nullify the commandments but establishes them. It is only by faith that we can do what the moral law of God requires of us. We get right with God first by faith alone, and then live in that freedom of love and acceptance, being changed from the inside out. We begin to love the very things the moral law requires, and they become established in our lives.

John Calvin comments on this, saying that the moral law is confirmed and established through faith in Christ. The law was given to lead man to Christ by showing him his iniquity, and without this understanding, it cannot be fulfilled. Only by denying that our doing of the law can justify us will we uphold the God-ordained purpose for the law in our justification, which is to drive us to Christ.

Therefore, faith does not nullify the commandments but upholds and establishes them. It is through faith that we are able to fulfil the requirements of the law.

Faith establishes the law

According to the Apostle Paul, justification by faith alone does not abolish or contradict the law of God but instead upholds and confirms it. This is because faith is the means by which people are driven to Christ and begin to follow His commands, thus fulfilling the law's true purpose.

Paul's teachings on justification by faith alone are not in conflict with the law. Instead, they serve to uphold and establish it. This is because faith is what ultimately leads people to Christ and enables them to follow His commands, thereby fulfilling the law's true purpose.

The law serves several purposes, including showing what sin is, arousing sin in people, condemning sin, crucifying the sinful nature, and ultimately, bringing people to Christ. Paul emphasizes that both Jews and Gentiles can access God through faith, and it is this shared faith that confirms, establishes, and upholds the original intent of the law.

In conclusion, faith establishes the law by revealing its true purpose and providing the means for people to fulfil it. Faith is the mechanism through which people are brought to Christ and begin to follow His commands, thus fulfilling the law's true intent.

Faith upholds the law's original intent

Faith upholds the laws of original intent in several ways. Firstly, faith reveals the law's true purpose and provides the way forward in fulfilling it. Faith does not overthrow or do away with the law of God but instead upholds and establishes it.

The Apostle Paul teaches that justification by faith alone is the only way to be made right with God. This is not based on our own goodness or works but solely through faith in Christ. This teaching is in line with Jewish monotheism, which asserts that there is only one God and, therefore, only one way of justification.

Paul clarifies that Gentiles, who are not bound by the Mosaic law, can still be justified by faith, demonstrating that faith upholds the law's original intent of leading people to Christ. He emphasizes that boasting is excluded because justification by faith reveals that our righteousness comes from God and not our own efforts.

John Calvin, commenting on Paul's teachings, explains that the moral law is confirmed and established through faith in Christ. Without faith, the law can only irritate our sinful desires and increase our condemnation. However, when we come to Christ through faith, we find the perfect righteousness of the law, which becomes ours through imputation.

Sanctification follows justification, and it is only after we are justified and receive the Holy Spirit that we can begin to obey the law. Thus, faith upholds the law by providing the means for its fulfillment and establishing its true purpose, which is to drive us to Christ and transform us from within.

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