God’s Law, Not Man’s

This article is not discussing whether or not we should follow man’s law but rather, that we are under the judgment of God, not man. Each of us stand condemned before God whether or not we are Jews and it’s His judgment that matters, not man’s. While we are to follow the law of man and God tells us to be good citizens and do our best, ultimately, God has all authority.

This can be a complex and complicated issue especially if we do not read within context but with that said, we must remember that it is not by a law, the Mosaic Law, in this situation that matters but rather, a relationship with Jesus Christ and the faith in Christ. We know this from what we are told in Galatians 2:16, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

–Galatians 2:16

Many doctrines and laws of man have confused many believers and probably, scared some curious nonbelievers away from a life with Christ. We see in Galatians that no man is justified by works whether it’s in the law or elsewhere which is important to hold on to because many pastors, church leaders, and other believers have bought into the idea that it’s not grace that we live under or faith that we are saved by but rather, it’s works that gets us to Heaven. This is a false doctrine, an unholy law, as no man or woman can buy their way into Heaven.

Romans 10:4 inform us that “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” We see different times in Romans that Paul lets us know that whether you are under the law or not, both Jews and Gentiles, need a Savior and this is true for each of us today. We know that we all sin and have been told that we are undeserving of God’s grace but He gives it to us, still. We know from God’s nature that God is no respecter of man or status or any other title or position and He loves us all the same which is what Peter tells us in Acts 10:34: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:”

Romans 2:12 teaches “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” We see here that because we have all sinned regardless if we are within the law or not, we shall be judged as we all are victims of the original sin that led to the fall of man. Scripture tells us that all of us come short of His glory for we all have sinned but God doesn’t hold this against us as long as we accept Him within our hearts as Savior: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;”

–Romans 2:12

We can go on and on about such an important topic and if you are not careful, there can be a lot of confusion found. Personally, I have had to step back and say, “Okay God, show me” because I have allowed too many of the world doctrines to influence my beliefs. There is nothing wrong with listening to other people but scripture must outweigh anything that anyone here below has to say and century after century has revealed many false teachers and false prophets.

In order to understand God’s Law, Not Man’s completely, we need to read and understand, among other scriptures, Galatians 2:16: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” In short, no man is justified through their works or of any law or doctrine belief as we are justified through our faith in Christ.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

–Galatians 2:16