“UNDER THE LAW,” AGAIN

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 17, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 16.

“UNDER THE LAW,” AGAIN.

Some of our esteemed correspondents have expressed themselves as grateful for what has been said on the expression “Under the Law,” both in the SIGNS and the tract entitled “Under the Law or under Grace—Which?”

From two others come dissent, who contend that “under the law” may mean one thing in one place and another in another; that “under the law” may mean in one place condemned by the law, and in another subject to the law, amenable to the law, and is parallel to the expression, “in the law.” Let us consider the question again briefly.

1. The apostle expresses man’s relations to the law by the following expressions: (a) “Without law” (Greek, anomos), Rom. 2:12; 1 Cor. 9:21; (b) “in the law” (Greek, en to nomo); (c) “in law” (Greek, en nomo, ennomos), Rom. 2:12; 1 Cor. 9:21; (d) “under the law” (Greek, hupo nomon), Rom. 6:14; 1 Cor. 9:20; Gal. 3:23; 4:5; 5:18.

2. The first of these terms is used of the heathen, those without a written law. They are really lawless ones, literally without law, described in Rom. 1:18-32. The second of these terms, “in the law” (literally, in law), is used in Rom. 2:12 of the Jews to distinguish them from those who had no written law. The Jews acknowledged their obligation to law. The third of these terms, in the law, en to nomo, within the law, literally, is used in Rom. 3:19 to show that all in the world, Jew and Gentile, stand within the scope of the law of God, and are amenable to it. The rendering “under the law” is incorrect. The term en to nomo includes both classes mentioned in Rom. 2:12. The term “under law” refers to those who are held by the law, in subjection to it, condemned by it, not at liberty; for hupo means under. If the apostle in Rom. 6:14; 1 Cor. 9:20; Gal. 3:23; 4:5; and 5:18, had designed to express the idea of in the law, amenable to it, he would without question have used the term which meant just that.

3. If these four expressions, so clearly distinct, are used in their literal meaning, all is clear and consistent. If they are used interchangeably, they give ground for endless striving about the law.

“Without law” is used properly of the sinners without a written law, lawless ones, having cast off all law; they are amenable to God’s law, and are condemned by it. Paul met them on their own ground, as being in nature even as they. 1 Cor. 9:20.

“In (or within) law” expresses the condition of the Jews, who acknowledged their duty to obey the oracles God had committed to them. Rom. 2:12. Within the law (Rom. 3:19) expresses the fact that all on earth are amenable to the law of God, whatever their condition; and being amenable to it, all are condemned by it.

“Under law” (not the law) (1 Cor. 9:20) represents the condition of those sinners who acknowledge law, yet who are sinners, to distinguish them from those who have no written law. But those under the law need winning to Christ.

“Under law” elsewhere represents the condition of being subjected by the law, condemned, shut up, by it. In Rom. 6:14 it sets forth a condition opposite that of under grace. In Gal. 3:23 it represents the law as confining the sinner in a prison, from which there was but one escape,—faith in Christ. In Gal. 4:4, 5, it reveals the wonderful fact that Christ took upon Himself our condition that He might save us from it. 2 Cor. 5:21. In Gal. 4:21 it shows that those who love sin, or the flesh, are in love with their bonds of condemnation. In Gal. 5:18 is clearly revealed that under the law is a condition that is not known by those who are led of the Spirit.

4. Now, is the Christian, the justified, regenerate man, under the law? Is the law above him? Does it shut him up? Does it hold him in subjection? Is he condemned by it? (That he is amenable to the law, that it is his duty to keep it, we are not endeavoring to prove; both men and angels are obligated to obey God.) But is saved man under the law? Does the law hold over him the Damoclean sword of justice?—Nay, not so. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1. The law had slain Paul, and held him in death (Rom. 7:7-12); but in Christ man is free from its condemnation.

Listen again to what God does for the regenerated man: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them.” Eze. 36:26, 27. “I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.” Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10. So it was with Christ Jesus. Ps. 40:7, 8. To Him, to His children, God’s law is a law of liberty. They are led by the Spirit, which has written the law in their hearts; and, “if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Gal. 5:18. But if one is not led of the Spirit, he is walking after the flesh, and is under the law, condemned by it.

But, blessed be God, who has lifted us out of our fallen condition, and brought us by the very condemnation of the law to the faith that is in Christ Jesus. For the Spirit of God is in the law of God, and the Spirit that is in the law to convict leads us to Christ, in whom the Spirit is to sanctify and cleanse.