UNDER THE LAW by F. O. Oakes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 24, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 17.

UNDER THE LAW.

By F. O. Oakes

ISRAEL, who looked to the law for salvation, failed, because they had no faith, and tried to keep the law in their own strength. Christ was a stumbling-block to them. Rom. 9:30–33. Faith in our Saviour alone justifies, and not the law. The law condemns and shows us our sins. “By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified;” and “if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Gal. 2:16, 21.

Paul teaches that the law (schoolmaster) brought the Galatians to Christ by showing them their sins, that they might be justified by faith. So it was by faith that they were justified, freed from sin, or brought out from under the condemnation of the law. Gal. 3:24. With this thought in mind, verse 25 is made plain, “But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster;” i. e., we are no longer sinners when we believe in Christ. To be sure that “under the law” means under its condemnation, read further, “If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are no longer under the law.” Gal. 5:18. The same thought is expressed in Rom. 8:1–4: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Notice he says those that are in Christ are not under condemnation.

Then to believe in Christ is to be free from sin, “no longer under a schoolmaster,” “not under the law”—not under condemnation, or whatever way you wish to express it. On the contrary, if you are not “led by the Spirit” or should walk “after the flesh,” you are certainly a sinner, and therefore condemned by the law.

We also read that the carnal mind is “not subject to the law of God”—will not obey it. Rom. 8:7. And “to be carnally minded is death,” because “the wages of sin is death.” So the spiritual mind must be subject to the law, because faith has established it in the heart. Rom. 3:31. But at the same time it is “not under the law”—under its condemnation.

So we see by the above that the sinful man is one who is both “under the law” and “not subject [obedient] to the law,” and it is plain that the expression “under the law” stands for under condemnation of the law.

To prove this further read the following: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23. “The Scripture hath concluded all under sin.” “Kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.” Gal. 3:22, 23. “Now we know that what thing soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped.” Rom. 3:19. Again: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15. He was “made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law.” Gal. 4:4, 5. He was made “sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.” Gal. 3:24. “Christ is the end [object] of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Rom. 10:4.

Thus do we have one thought expressed many ways. Therefore when we are saved, it is only by the unmerited favor of God, and we are no more condemned by the law. F. O. OAKES.

Prunedale, Monterey Co., Cal.