I think what Paul is saying by "we establish the law" is in regards to the blood of Christ and the requirement for atonement, by admitting that we have indeed failed the law and therefore in need of being delivered from the consequences of that failure we in effect do "establish the law" that is is good and Holy.
How does Faith ESTABLISH the law? Rom.3:31
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Joanie I have to agree and disagree.... Christ is our focus you are correct... and by the power of the Holy Spirit by Grace through Faith I agree.. but it is Christ that taught us to Keep GOD's Commandments so by hearing and doing you are being Christ like through the Spirit and not the flesh that is at enmity with GOD's law.
So By Keeping His sayings He knows we love Him and truly believe His blood is for remission of our sins and to reconcile us with Heavenly Father.
Galatians 3:11-12
[FONT="]11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.[/FONT]
[FONT="]12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
The Lord Jesus made it clear that He is the focus. Paul expounds on this.
Men want the law to be the focus because it is what they understand. We don't understand faith and giving up on our own understanding.
What can we do to be pleasing to God? Walk in our own understanding pretending we are following a spiritual law?
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
See Galatians 3:12
[/FONT]
[FONT="]11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.[/FONT]
[FONT="]12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
The Lord Jesus made it clear that He is the focus. Paul expounds on this.
Men want the law to be the focus because it is what they understand. We don't understand faith and giving up on our own understanding.
What can we do to be pleasing to God? Walk in our own understanding pretending we are following a spiritual law?
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
See Galatians 3:12
[/FONT]
ya know? 
we establish God's Law in that we don't lower the bar to the point of our own performance, thinking we're 'gettin' it done'.
ever.
the bar is set pretty high.... perfection! only the perfectly obedient need apply.
God opens our eyes, shows us how deeply we have failed, and our desperate need of Christ... of the righteousness that only comes by faith in Him.
nice post.
we establish God's Law in that we don't lower the bar to the point of our own performance, thinking we're 'gettin' it done'.
ever.
the bar is set pretty high.... perfection! only the perfectly obedient need apply.
God opens our eyes, shows us how deeply we have failed, and our desperate need of Christ... of the righteousness that only comes by faith in Him.
nice post.
I hear what you are saying loveme1. For myself., I don't focus on the law or my behavior. I've seen that focusing on my behavior and how well I conform and can stand up to the 10 commandments or the "standard"... I fail. Just as the OP states when we focus on ourselves we fail., when we focus on Christ... we are more than conquerors THROUGH Christ who loved us.
For me., the focus is a major truth and consideration for success., and apparently I'm not alone in the belief of where the focus has to be in order to live a life where sin is defeated and Christ is up held. Many of us have seen the futility of living out our Christian lives by still being intertwined with self introspection instead of Christ inspection. We must look to Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We see Gal.2:20-21 and realize the truth of those verses for our lives today.
I'll repost the OP so it can be read again. I like the way the author plainly puts up the verses and the focus being Jesus. I've also discovered that good Bible teaching and teachers always focus on Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the very BEST teacher and He ALWAYS points to and focuses on Jesus. So how can we do any less. How can we focus on ourselves and expect success?
The Bible makes some interesting comparisons between faith and law:
Summary: You can live by faith or law but not both. It’s one or the other. But what about this…
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Rom 3:31, KJV)
The scriptures declare again and again that faith has nothing in common with law, and living under one nullifies the other.
So what is Paul saying here? Is he contradicting himself when he says faith establishes the law? Here’s the same verse in another translation:
Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. (Rom 3:31 , NASB)
Like most grace preachers, Paul was slandered as someone who spoke against the law. He was labeled with the dreaded A-word: antinomian, meaning anti- or against the law. This is his response to that baseless accusation.
Sidebar: If you have never been accused of being an antinomian, perhaps that’s a sign you’re preaching a different gospel from Paul. Personally, I get accused of being an antinomiam on an almost weekly basis. For the record, I am for the law. I agree with Paul who said the law is holy, righteous and good (Rom 7:12). And I also agree with him when he says the law is not for the righteous but the sinner and ungodly (1 Tim 1:9). The law is a signpost to Jesus (Gal 3:24).
Paul says again and again that we are to live by faith, not law, but living by faith does not make one anti-law. On the contrary, it is by faith that we establish or support the law.
How do we establish or uphold the law? By trusting in Jesus who kept the law perfectly and by whose perfect sacrifice we are made righteous:
So the law was put in charge of us until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. (Gal 3:24-25, TNIV)
Those who trust in their law-keeping performance may scorn those of us who are walking by grace, but the fact is we are 100% lawful while they are the lawbreakers.
You do NOT establish the law by:
You DO uphold the law by putting your faith in the One who fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law on your behalf and who offers you his perfect righteousness as a gift.
Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Rom 10:4)
Romans 3:31 says we uphold the law by faith. Period. If you’re not convinced, it may help to look at the verse in context:
No one is righteous. All have sinned and fall short – even the law-loving Jews. The law doesn’t make you righteous; it makes you conscious of sin so that you may be justified freely by grace. (my paraphrase of Romans 3)
Live by the law and you dishonor both it and Jesus. According to Romans 7, living by the law is spiritual adultery. It’s cheating on the One who died to set you free from the law’s heavy demands .
The law points to Jesus. If you are relying on Christ and his perfect work, then you uphold the law and honor the reason for which it was given.
___________
Read this in email this morning from Paul Ellis. Great web site and excellent writer.
- We are justified by FAITH, not by LAW (Rom 3:28, Gal 2:16)
- Abraham and his heirs are blessed on account of FAITH, not LAW (Rom 4:13-14)
- You can live by FAITH or LAW (Rom 4:14)
- No one who relies on the LAW is justified for the righteous live by FAITH (Gal 3:11)
- The LAW is not of FAITH (Gal 3:12)
Summary: You can live by faith or law but not both. It’s one or the other. But what about this…
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Rom 3:31, KJV)
The scriptures declare again and again that faith has nothing in common with law, and living under one nullifies the other.
So what is Paul saying here? Is he contradicting himself when he says faith establishes the law? Here’s the same verse in another translation:
Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. (Rom 3:31 , NASB)
Like most grace preachers, Paul was slandered as someone who spoke against the law. He was labeled with the dreaded A-word: antinomian, meaning anti- or against the law. This is his response to that baseless accusation.
Sidebar: If you have never been accused of being an antinomian, perhaps that’s a sign you’re preaching a different gospel from Paul. Personally, I get accused of being an antinomiam on an almost weekly basis. For the record, I am for the law. I agree with Paul who said the law is holy, righteous and good (Rom 7:12). And I also agree with him when he says the law is not for the righteous but the sinner and ungodly (1 Tim 1:9). The law is a signpost to Jesus (Gal 3:24).
Paul says again and again that we are to live by faith, not law, but living by faith does not make one anti-law. On the contrary, it is by faith that we establish or support the law.
How do we establish or uphold the law? By trusting in Jesus who kept the law perfectly and by whose perfect sacrifice we are made righteous:
So the law was put in charge of us until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. (Gal 3:24-25, TNIV)
Those who trust in their law-keeping performance may scorn those of us who are walking by grace, but the fact is we are 100% lawful while they are the lawbreakers.
You do NOT establish the law by:
- trying to keep it (you can’t)
- adopting it as a standard for holy living (it’s a recipe for inferior living, see Heb 10:1)
- mixing it with grace (you’ll end up lukewarm and alienated from Christ)
- thinking your rule-keeping pleases the Lord (trusting in your flesh never pleases him)
- posting it on your Sunday School wall (it’s a ministry that condemns!)
- telling yourself “it’s part of our Christian heritage” (it never was!)
You DO uphold the law by putting your faith in the One who fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law on your behalf and who offers you his perfect righteousness as a gift.
Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Rom 10:4)
Romans 3:31 says we uphold the law by faith. Period. If you’re not convinced, it may help to look at the verse in context:
- verse 28: You are justified by faith, not by law
- verse 29: In any case only one nation received the law, yet God is God of all
- verse 30: God will justify both the Jew and non-Jew by faith
- verse 31: Does that mean God’s gift to the Jews was wasted? Not at all! As long as you end up with Jesus, then you uphold the law
No one is righteous. All have sinned and fall short – even the law-loving Jews. The law doesn’t make you righteous; it makes you conscious of sin so that you may be justified freely by grace. (my paraphrase of Romans 3)
Live by the law and you dishonor both it and Jesus. According to Romans 7, living by the law is spiritual adultery. It’s cheating on the One who died to set you free from the law’s heavy demands .
The law points to Jesus. If you are relying on Christ and his perfect work, then you uphold the law and honor the reason for which it was given.
___________
Read this in email this morning from Paul Ellis. Great web site and excellent writer.
Reposted to help us stay on topic.
All is well my dear, I'm sharing freely and have to say my journey is by following the Good Shepherd.. what day goes past when the spirit does not bring to mind something to lead you on the path of Righteousness? If you think I'm focusing on the law and not Christ alone then you are entitled to but I can say that the Messiah is my Master and His Testimony is my foundation.. it includes the Commandments but not as in stone but as written within me upon my heart. If it were not I would be under the law and not at liberty by GOD's Grace to love and worship in Spirit and Truth.
Be blessed.
Exactly., Amen Grandpa! Man understands law. It takes the renewing of our minds to actually be transformed into walking out the truth that Christ worked in us. We have been given the truth., We have been given all we need and it's our daily job and journey to work out our own salvation in all seriousness of mind and heart and dedication. We "work OUT" what Christ has put IN us. That is our calling to be who we are IN Christ.
For years we walked according to our flesh so we are experts at how to think from our minds and our limitations. But now we are called to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To work OUT ; love... to work OUT ; patience..... To work OUT peace.... and all the other fruits of the Spirit. He has not given us the spirit of fear PUT OF POWER AND LOVE AND A SOUND MIND. We have those things in us... now we are to learn about them and how to walk them our in our daily lives.
This is done by grace through faith. We can't do it without the Holy Spirit leading us in the way. Our old ways and habits of thinking have left their mark., BUT our old man was crucified on the cross so he is DEAD DEAD DEAD and has NO power over us unless we yield to our old habits of living. Today we only have the memory and old habits of our old man that will always seek to be the way to go because it's familiar to us humans. We think based on default. We are so used to thinking in the human way that we don't know there is a new and living way to be now.
That is why it's VITAL to look to Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Through the Holy Spirit who always points to Jesus. What a plan!!! Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to be with us and to teach and guide and direct us so we are not alone in this journey.
As I mentioned previously. I'll say it a little different. The law exposes the benefits (blessings) of faith. The law doesn't give us faith, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit of God Almighty through Christ Jesus.
"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." (Deuteronomy 28:2)
We should all have faith in the Word of God as being totally true, and then we will be blessed accordingly. I'm NOT advocating works without faith, I'm advocating works by faith. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17) If we have dead works we also have dead faith.
It's a weighty matter that is in the law that Jesus Himself defined to the Pharisees. They are not separate accordingly. Jesus is actually the One who clarified the relationship between the law and faith. Didn't He?
"and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: (Matthew 23:23)
Jesus put it together the right way. Why would we want to try to explain it different than our Saviour did?
"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." (Deuteronomy 28:2)
We should all have faith in the Word of God as being totally true, and then we will be blessed accordingly. I'm NOT advocating works without faith, I'm advocating works by faith. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17) If we have dead works we also have dead faith.
It's a weighty matter that is in the law that Jesus Himself defined to the Pharisees. They are not separate accordingly. Jesus is actually the One who clarified the relationship between the law and faith. Didn't He?
"and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: (Matthew 23:23)
Jesus put it together the right way. Why would we want to try to explain it different than our Saviour did?
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The Bible makes some interesting comparisons between faith and law:
Summary: You can live by faith or law but not both. It’s one or the other. But what about this…
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Rom 3:31, KJV)
The scriptures declare again and again that faith has nothing in common with law, and living under one nullifies the other.
So what is Paul saying here? Is he contradicting himself when he says faith establishes the law? Here’s the same verse in another translation:
Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. (Rom 3:31 , NASB)
Like most grace preachers, Paul was slandered as someone who spoke against the law. He was labeled with the dreaded A-word: antinomian, meaning anti- or against the law. This is his response to that baseless accusation.
Sidebar: If you have never been accused of being an antinomian, perhaps that’s a sign you’re preaching a different gospel from Paul. Personally, I get accused of being an antinomiam on an almost weekly basis. For the record, I am for the law. I agree with Paul who said the law is holy, righteous and good (Rom 7:12). And I also agree with him when he says the law is not for the righteous but the sinner and ungodly (1 Tim 1:9). The law is a signpost to Jesus (Gal 3:24).
Paul says again and again that we are to live by faith, not law, but living by faith does not make one anti-law. On the contrary, it is by faith that we establish or support the law.
How do we establish or uphold the law? By trusting in Jesus who kept the law perfectly and by whose perfect sacrifice we are made righteous:
So the law was put in charge of us until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. (Gal 3:24-25, TNIV)
Those who trust in their law-keeping performance may scorn those of us who are walking by grace, but the fact is we are 100% lawful while they are the lawbreakers.
You do NOT establish the law by:
You DO uphold the law by putting your faith in the One who fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law on your behalf and who offers you his perfect righteousness as a gift.
Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Rom 10:4)
Romans 3:31 says we uphold the law by faith. Period. If you’re not convinced, it may help to look at the verse in context:
No one is righteous. All have sinned and fall short – even the law-loving Jews. The law doesn’t make you righteous; it makes you conscious of sin so that you may be justified freely by grace. (my paraphrase of Romans 3)
Live by the law and you dishonor both it and Jesus. According to Romans 7, living by the law is spiritual adultery. It’s cheating on the One who died to set you free from the law’s heavy demands .
The law points to Jesus. If you are relying on Christ and his perfect work, then you uphold the law and honor the reason for which it was given.
___________
Read this in email this morning from Paul Ellis. Great web site and excellent writer.
- We are justified by FAITH, not by LAW (Rom 3:28, Gal 2:16)
- Abraham and his heirs are blessed on account of FAITH, not LAW (Rom 4:13-14)
- You can live by FAITH or LAW (Rom 4:14)
- No one who relies on the LAW is justified for the righteous live by FAITH (Gal 3:11)
- The LAW is not of FAITH (Gal 3:12)
Summary: You can live by faith or law but not both. It’s one or the other. But what about this…
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Rom 3:31, KJV)
The scriptures declare again and again that faith has nothing in common with law, and living under one nullifies the other.
So what is Paul saying here? Is he contradicting himself when he says faith establishes the law? Here’s the same verse in another translation:
Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. (Rom 3:31 , NASB)
Like most grace preachers, Paul was slandered as someone who spoke against the law. He was labeled with the dreaded A-word: antinomian, meaning anti- or against the law. This is his response to that baseless accusation.
Sidebar: If you have never been accused of being an antinomian, perhaps that’s a sign you’re preaching a different gospel from Paul. Personally, I get accused of being an antinomiam on an almost weekly basis. For the record, I am for the law. I agree with Paul who said the law is holy, righteous and good (Rom 7:12). And I also agree with him when he says the law is not for the righteous but the sinner and ungodly (1 Tim 1:9). The law is a signpost to Jesus (Gal 3:24).
Paul says again and again that we are to live by faith, not law, but living by faith does not make one anti-law. On the contrary, it is by faith that we establish or support the law.
How do we establish or uphold the law? By trusting in Jesus who kept the law perfectly and by whose perfect sacrifice we are made righteous:
So the law was put in charge of us until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. (Gal 3:24-25, TNIV)
Those who trust in their law-keeping performance may scorn those of us who are walking by grace, but the fact is we are 100% lawful while they are the lawbreakers.
You do NOT establish the law by:
- trying to keep it (you can’t)
- adopting it as a standard for holy living (it’s a recipe for inferior living, see Heb 10:1)
- mixing it with grace (you’ll end up lukewarm and alienated from Christ)
- thinking your rule-keeping pleases the Lord (trusting in your flesh never pleases him)
- posting it on your Sunday School wall (it’s a ministry that condemns!)
- telling yourself “it’s part of our Christian heritage” (it never was!)
You DO uphold the law by putting your faith in the One who fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law on your behalf and who offers you his perfect righteousness as a gift.
Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Rom 10:4)
Romans 3:31 says we uphold the law by faith. Period. If you’re not convinced, it may help to look at the verse in context:
- verse 28: You are justified by faith, not by law
- verse 29: In any case only one nation received the law, yet God is God of all
- verse 30: God will justify both the Jew and non-Jew by faith
- verse 31: Does that mean God’s gift to the Jews was wasted? Not at all! As long as you end up with Jesus, then you uphold the law
No one is righteous. All have sinned and fall short – even the law-loving Jews. The law doesn’t make you righteous; it makes you conscious of sin so that you may be justified freely by grace. (my paraphrase of Romans 3)
Live by the law and you dishonor both it and Jesus. According to Romans 7, living by the law is spiritual adultery. It’s cheating on the One who died to set you free from the law’s heavy demands .
The law points to Jesus. If you are relying on Christ and his perfect work, then you uphold the law and honor the reason for which it was given.
___________
Read this in email this morning from Paul Ellis. Great web site and excellent writer.
In the early church years, Jews wanted to live the Law & still be christians. They were called judiazers, I believe.
I see Paul's points in his writings because of the early judiazers, but I don't see how this has any importance with the modern church that doesn't believe in the works of the Law at all.
I guess what I'm trying to say without trying to hurt feelings is I really don't see the real point of the article if christians today don't obey the Old Testament anymore.
Am I making any sense here?
Sure you make sense Livingit. I think it has to do with the law in our minds being the 10 commandments as well as anything that is contrary to rightness and goodness of body and mind and intentions of our hearts. We Christians want to be found worthy. The Bible even says that we should examine ourselves. But that has been mistaken by me for many years. Examining ourselves to see if we are in the faith is not about seeing how well we perform. It's about seeing Jesus. Not our behavior. We have been so ingrained in our thinking to see US and not Jesus.
How can we do right if we are not looking to Him? And that actually means being vitally united to Him in salvation and then in our learning of Him each day. We have the DESIRE to do and be but without Him we can't even do or be as believers. We can't do it in our own strength even with the deepest desires. Knowing who we are IN Christ is the first task., that in itself is a biggie!! We have the truth in us but working it out daily is our calling. Our calling is not to obey the law.., it's to be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we begin doing that., all the rest falls into place as an added bonus.
So true Joaniemarie.... you are either married to the New Husband or trying to revive the dead Husband.
The New Covenant being the New Husband and The Old Covenant the dead Husband.
Let us drink the New wine always knowing it is Better.
GOD said He would make A New Covenant where He would write His law on our inwards.. the saints are those that Keep the Commandments of GOD and Have the Testimony of the Messiah.
Obviously if if you have not been born again you would still be at enmity with God's Law as taught in Romans 8.
Mostly because you still aren't getting it.
The Law requires those things, judgment mercy and faith, but it doesn't give them. So then how does a Christian get these things?
Romans 7:4-6
[FONT="]4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.[/FONT]
[FONT="]5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.[/FONT]
[FONT="]6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.[/FONT]
The Law requires those things, judgment mercy and faith, but it doesn't give them. So then how does a Christian get these things?
Romans 7:4-6
[FONT="]4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.[/FONT]
[FONT="]5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.[/FONT]
[FONT="]6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.[/FONT]
As a believer., I've been taught to highly respect the law. And I always have and will. But today I realize I'm no longer under the law anymore. For me., the law is not even a consideration anymore. The law is good and right and holy.. But it is to serve a purpose and once the purpose is served., we walk away from it. As loveme1 brought out the truth of these verses., we are no longer married to that husband anymore. So we are no longer subject to him. We are free from the law of sin and death. We have a new husband.
I was shocked to find out that the law brings death. And yet., how many churches are teaching their born again members the law? Doing long Bible studies about the law?
Teaching how to obey the law., how to do the law and conform to the law... They are ministering death to their congregations without even knowing it.
I was shocked to find out that the law brings death. And yet., how many churches are teaching their born again members the law? Doing long Bible studies about the law?
Teaching how to obey the law., how to do the law and conform to the law... They are ministering death to their congregations without even knowing it.
Thank you for that good post Grandpa!! I love the truth you presented in such a timely way! We have been delivered from the law that we once held to and now we serve in newness of the SPIRIT!!!! Not in the OLDNESS of the letter!!
The reason I'm so joyful about this is we are actually new creations with new tools!! It's a confirmation of our newness that God has given us an endless supply of truth to learn about and gives us the ability in Christ through the Holy Spirit to walk in this new and living way!! The confirmation that we are not married to the law anymore and that our devotion is to Jesus. Makes my heart sing!!
