3670 - Under the Law

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 20, 1912

3670 — Under the Law

Paul, in his masterly argument in the 3d, 4th, and 5th chapters of Galatians, used the expression "under the law." What do you understand this to be?

"Under the law" means, we are sure that our correspondent will find, wherever used, except once, under the condemnation of the law. That exception is in Rom. 3:19, where it means subject to the law. The term is not the same in the original. "Under the law" comes from "hupo nomon;" literally, "under law." The expression in Rom. 3:19 comes from "en to nomo;" literally, "in the law"—that is, within its jurisdiction. But the text points out this fact,—that all are condemned by it.

Now those under the law are not within the blessings of God's grace. They have not accepted of the grace which pardons sin, but when the grace which pardons sin is accepted, it takes a man out from under the law; and therefore Paul declares, "Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace." God's grace has forgiven the sin, and the law does not condemn. And he goes farther than that: "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid." See Rom. 6:14, 15. Not to sin is to keep the law; and that is the object of God's grace under the new covenant. It is to write His law in the heart, so that we shall rejoice in it. (See Heb. 8:8-10.) God's law, therefore, is no longer over us a condemner; it is within our heart as a cherished friend. We are not over it, nor is it over us; we are with it—in harmony with it. (See "Bible Students' Library," No. 163, "'Under the Law,' or 'Under Grace'?" in which this question is discussed much more fully.)