UNDER THE LAW | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 30, 1901

“UNDER THE LAW.”

“What does the expression mean?” “What is it to be under the law?” “Who are under the law?”

These and similar questions are asked by several correspondents, and we reply to all here.

1. The expression in our common version does not always mean the same thing; for it represents different Greek terms. We give each occurrence as follows: (a) “Under the law” (Rom. 3:19) comes from the Greek expression, en tō nomō, literally, “in” or “within the law,” subject to its provisions. (b) A second instance is 1 Cor. 9:20, 21, where “under the law” occurs four times. In the last of these instances, “under the law to Christ” (verse 21), the expression is from the Greek ennomos, literally, “within the law,” subject to the law to Christ. (c) The other three expressions in verse 20 are from hupo nomon. So also are the seven expressions in Rom. 6:14, 15; Gal. 3:23; 4:4, 5, 21; 5:18. Hupo means under, inferior to, beneath, in subjection to; hupo nomon is literally under law.

2. The term “under the law” in Rom. 3:19 clearly shows that “within the law” is its meaning: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” This clearly teaches two things: (1) That all the world is subject to the claims of the law, in duty bound to obey it, and (2) that all have transgressed it, as it shuts the mouths of all, or proves them all guilty.

3. In 1 Cor. 9:21 Paul declares that he is “within law to Christ.” As Christ freed Paul, Paul was obligated to be Christ’s servant, subject to His rule. But note that in neither of these cases is the expression, in the language in which Paul wrote it, “under the law.”

4. The other expressions are literally in Greek, “under law.” The first is Rom. 6:14, 15, and is as follows:—

“For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”

The apostle declares that sin shall not have dominion or lordship over us. Why?—Because we are not under the law. “Under the law,” therefore, is under the dominion of sin; it is to be condemned by the law; for the law condemns the sinner. “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 3:20. “Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law.” Chapter 7:7. But what does grace do for the repentant sinner?—“Being justified freely by His grace thru the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Chapter 3:24. Grace forgives; it bestows upon us, thru faith, “the righteousness of God without the law,” but the witness to the truth of that righteousness is the law that condemned. Verse 21. The law can not give the sinner it condemns the righteousness, but it is a blessed witness that the righteousness wrought by Christ Jesus is all-sufficient. It could not be other than this; for the righteousness that Christ gives is His own perfect obedience to that law. Chapter 5:19. The broken, perverted law is the law of death to the sinner, as he stands before it in his own nakedness; but, received thru Jesus Christ, it is “the law of the Spirit of life.” Chapter 8:2. And the sinner under God’s showers of grace is bound by all the goodness he receives to serve God. But if he believes that because he is not under law but under grace, he can sin,—transgress the law (1 John 3:4),—the apostle shows him that as soon as he does that he becomes again the servant of sin (Rom. 6:15, 16).

Having this expression in his own life, knowing the condemnation of the law, the apostle could go to them that were under the law—condemned—as one of them, even the chief of sinners, that he might win them to Christ. 1 Cor. 9:20. Like Christ, he put himself in their place.

This same truth is taught in Gal. 3:23:—

“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.”

So it is with every sinner. Romans 7 draws the life picture. From sin there is but one way of escape, and that is thru Jesus Christ. The law is the jailer, the warder, the keeper, the pedagog, the hard master, till liberty, blessed liberty from the power of sin, is found in Jesus Christ. In sin the flesh rules the life and hates the law. Rom. 8:5–8. But in the Spirit the soul is lifted above the power of the flesh, and gladly, naturally, bears those fruits in perfect harmony with the law. For “if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law,” not condemned by it; for “against” the fruits of the Spirit “there is no law.” Gal. 5:18–23. “The righteousness of the law” is fulfilled in those who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom. 8:4.

All this is plain, isn’t it, that “under the law” is condemned by the law; that it is a state of sin and condemnation? Do men desire this?—Yes and no. The apostle addresses the Galatians (4:21), “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law.” We could not understand that they desired the pure condemnation of itself; but they wanted to do that which would bring that condition which could bring nothing else save condemnation. They wanted to save themselves in some other way than the way ordained of God. Sometimes the sinner loves his pleasure, his folly, but not its consequence, death. Yet wisdom says, “All they that hate Me love death.” Prov. 8:36. They love that which brings death, and loving it they love death. Men love that which brings them under condemnation, and so love and choose the condemnation.

There is one other text in which the expression occurs; it is as follows:—

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that He might redeem them which were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Gal. 4:4, 5.

This is a most blessed truth. It reveals what Christ did for us. Altho knowing in His own heart and life no sin, perfectly righteous and loyal to God, He took upon Himself our nature, was born of a woman, born under the law, for our sakes. Condemned?—Yes; for “Him [Christ] who knew no sin He [the Father] made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21, R.V. “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities. . . . All we like sheep have gone astray; . . . and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:5, 6. He was born under the law to redeem those under the law. He worked out man’s redemption where man worked out his destruction. He came under the condemnation of the law for our sakes, that He might put the law within our hearts, even as it was in His. Ps. 40:7, 8; Heb. 8:8–11. He became partaker of our nature for a time that we might be partakers of His nature for all eternity. But in it all He was unsullied with sin; He swerved not in His loyalty to God. He kept God’s commandments, and abode in His love. John 15:10. And those who love Him walk in His footsteps. 1 John 2:6; 5:3.

Why is it that men hate God’s-law? Enoch and Abraham and Moses and Joshua and Elijah and Jesus and Paul and John, and all the holy of Sacred Story, loved it. Why do men hate it? The Word furnishes but one answer: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God; neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8:7. But God will give a new mind, praise to His grace and power, in which He will write His holy law; a mind that will say, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3.

Reader, which mind have you? Which is the safe mind to have in that great day? Which is the blessed mind to have now and forever?