In the Bible, “the Law”
most often refers to
the commandments and instructions
God gave to Israel through Moses,
especially as recorded in
the first five books of the Old Testament
(the Torah).
More broadly,
it can refer to God’s revealed will,
the moral standards of the Old Testament,
or the entire Old Testament system.
Understanding the Law is essential for
grasping both the seriousness of sin
and the greatness of the gospel.
The Hebrew word torah means instruction or teaching. The Greek word nomos is used in the New Testament for the Law. Scripture speaks of the Law in several related ways:
- The Mosaic Law — The full body of commandments given at Sinai (moral, ceremonial, and civil).
- The moral law — The enduring ethical standards that reflect God’s character (summarized in the Ten Commandments).
- The Law as a covenant system — The Old Covenant arrangement of commandments, sacrifices, and blessings/curses.
- The Law as Scripture — Sometimes “the Law” refers more broadly to the Old Testament writings.
The New Testament teaches that the Law was given for several important purposes:
- To reveal the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity (Romans 3:20; 7:7).
- To restrain evil in society.
- To point forward to Christ as the fulfillment of its types and shadows (Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 10:1).
- To serve as a guardian or tutor until Christ came (Galatians 3:23-25).
- To show the need for a Savior, because no one can keep the Law perfectly (Romans 3:19-20; Galatians 3:10-11).
The Law is holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12), but it cannot justify or give life (Galatians 3:21).
¶ The Law and the Believer
In the New Covenant, the believer’s relationship to the Law has changed:
- Christ has fulfilled the Law on behalf of His people (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4).
- Believers are no longer under the Law as a covenant of works or as a means of justification (Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:18).
- The moral requirements of the Law are fulfilled in those who walk according to the Spirit (Romans 8:3-4).
- The Law still reveals God’s character and continues to instruct believers in righteous living, but it is no longer a yoke of bondage or a system for earning acceptance with God.
Love is the fulfillment of the Law (Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14).
- Exodus 20:1-17
- Romans 3:19-20, 28
- Romans 7:7-12; 8:3-4
- Romans 10:4
- Galatians 3:10-13, 19-25
- Galatians 5:13-14, 18
- Matthew 5:17-18
- Hebrews 10:1
The Law is a gift that reveals both the character of God and the depth of human need. It was never intended as a ladder by which sinners could climb to God. Instead, it exposes sin and drives people to Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the Law and bore its curse. For the believer, the Law continues to instruct in holiness, but acceptance with God rests entirely on the finished work of Christ, not on personal law-keeping.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.