“CHRIST THE END OF THE LAW.”
NOT once but many times are we referred to Rom. 10:4 when anything is said concerning the claims of God’s holy law. But almost invariably only this is quoted, “Christ is the end of the law.” The text is a blessed one—a conclusion from all previous argument in that wonderful Gospel treatise, the Epistle to the Romans. The apostle surely does not mean by it that the law is come to an end, that it is no more. Notice what he has already shown:— 1. That the law will be the standard of judgment of all that have known it, in the last day. Rom. 2:12, 16. 2. That the law is identical with the will of God; for he who is instructed out of the law knows God’s will, approves the things most excellent, and has in the law the form of the knowledge and the truth. Verses 17–20. 3. That “the doers of the law shall be justified” before God. Verse 13. 4. That none in the world have kept the law, and therefore all are condemned by the law. Rom. 3:19. 5. That the law can not, therefore, save them; it in fact reveals that they are totally unfit to be saved; that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” and that the knowledge of all this comes by the law. Verses 20, 23. 6. But that God in His goodness brings to man, who can get no righteousness from the law, on account of his sinfulness and weakness, righteousness in Jesus Christ by faith. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ into all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference.” Verses 21, 22. But to this righteousness the law bears blessed witness. 7. That this righteousness does not, can not, turn man from the law, because it places it in his heart; for whereas, previous to his reception of righteousness by faith, he was out of God’s way, after it the law is established where it before was not, namely, in his heart. Verse 31. To this agree the words of the Lord thru the prophet: “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. 36:27. 8. That while grace takes us from the dominion of sin, from under the condemnation of the law, it grants no privilege to commit sin, or transgress the law; for “to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.” Rom. 6:16. 9. That we are made righteous by Christ’s perfect obedience to that same law, in order that He might live in us, bringing forth fruit to God, and fulfilling in us the righteousness of the law. Rom. 5:19–21; 8:4. 10. That what is taught in general in chapters 1 to 6 is given as the apostle’s own experience in chapter 7. He found himself condemned and slain by the law, but the law was not therefore bad, nay, it is holy, just, and good, and slew Paul only because he was a sinner. Its holiness revealed to him his utter weakness, sinfulness, and lost condition, with but one avenue of escape,—“Jesus Christ our Lord.” “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak thru the flesh, God [did by] sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin [that He might take it away], condemned sin [by His own glorious obedience] in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Rom. 8:3, 4. The law, therefore, still exists. It is alive to slay the old man of sin and to witness to the genuineness of the righteousness by faith. It is established in the heart of the erstwhile sinner, and is fulfilled in his life. It has not come to an end. What then means the text, “Christ is the end of the law”? One of the meanings of the word “end” is object, purpose: as, for instance, “The end [object, purpose] of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (1 Tim. 1:5); or, “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end [object, purpose] of the Lord” (James 5:11). No one believes that the above texts speak of the abolition of so good a commandment, or that the Lord has ceased to exist. So with Rom. 10:4, “Christ is the end [purpose, object] of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” The law is our schoolmaster, pedagog, to lead us unto Christ. It can not give the sinner righteousness; the sinner can not get it from the law that condemns him; but thru God’s mercy the very condemnation leads him to Christ Jesus, shuts him up to that only way of escape. And he who believes finds in Jesus Christ the righteousness which the law demands. But he who seeks Jesus Christ for any other purpose will find Him not. He is the end or object of the law, but only for righteousness, to every believing soul.