Why? Was it because they did not try hard enough? Was it because they were hypocritical in their professed allegiance to the law? Was it because they were mistaken about what the law required? No! The answer is given where the question is asked: "Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone" (Romans 9:32).

They sought righteousness "by the works of the law" (v. 32). What does this mean? It means that they understood the requirements of the law but did not

understand how or did not have the ability to carry out those requirements. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). If one responds to the law and has not learned that it is impossible for him to keep it he will miss its true purpose: to give the knowledge of sin. It was given to Israel to stop every mouth and cause all the world to become guilty before God (cf. Romans 3:119). In order to break into small pieces the matter of keeping the law, so man could realize that he was guilty, for this is the law's real purpose (Galatians 3:16).

In other words, it showed that man is a transgressor, even in his best state and during his strongest and sincerest efforts to live up to what the law requires. The very strength of sin is the law (1 Corinthians 15:56). And because the law makes sin strong it makes it to have the very sting of death. It is sin that kills (Romans 6:23). It is the law which gives sin the power to kill.

"Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by law" (Galatians 3:21). How utterly wrong it is to think that law can make men righteous! It was never intended to do that. "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe" (Gal. 3:22). May we reword that statement according to the original language: "But the scripture locked up all things together under sin, in order that the promise of faith (growing out as the product of faith) of Jesus Christ might be given to them who are believing."

It does not say "through faith" but produced by faith. The next verse explains about this faith. This is "the faith" which was not revealed until Jesus came. Men had faith in Old Testament days, but this was their own trusting God because of His promises. But Paul reveals a faith, His own faith, which was perfect and became the means for perfectly pleasing God and effectively fulfilling the promise. The promise had been made to Abraham and it included many things, particularly an effective faith bringing to pass a perfect obedience which could be accounted to those who would forsake their own strength and efforts and trust Him completely. (I would like to say this better, and in different words, but maybe your rereading the last sentence may help, as you study Galatians 3:22, 23).

The Law States God's Requirements
The standard of righteousness which the law gives was and is God's standard, but it is not an effective means of producing that righteousness because the law has a weakness: the flesh (see Romans 8:3 at the beginning of this article). The law was designed to drive Israel to God for mercy. Through confession and repentance they were brought to trust Him, and therein lay their deliverance. Israel had provisions made in the law for animal sacrifices. This gave men hope that provision was made in God's wisdom.

If they had spiritual sight they could see that a sacrifice was made on the innocent for the guilty. They were not supposed to trust the animal, nor believe its blood actually washed their sins away. Not until Jesus came was it truly clear that the animals were only pictures of the sacrifice which does wash sin away.

So even for the Jews before Christ came His sacrifice became the sufficient means of their salvation and justification Romans 3:23-28. And the sacrifice was made available through faith. This was true in the Old Testament and it is true today. The promise is clearer today, but it is no different insofar as our appropriating it through faith. Our advantage is that the faith of Christ has been shown us and we have incentive to trust Him which was not as clear to the man who looked at a picture of it, the animal sacrifice.

The standard then and now is the same, but in Christ we see it clearly. The righteousness required for justification is no different, but its availability is more evident. The law was holy, just and good (Romans 7:12). Its weakness lay in men, not in the law nor in God Himself. The law had power to kill but no power to give life. It is still so.

Paul's Ministry Established the Law
"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (Romans 3:31).
By showing that law imprisons men in their sins, forcing them to cry for mercy, and trusting God for deliverance from prison, the law served acceptably. Does this void the law? No, it establishes it. Jesus said He did not come to destroy it, but to fulfill it. It is a misunderstanding of the cross to speak of it as having repealed the law, or even lessened its force. It was nailed to the cross; it was taken out of the way, so what does this mean?

The Greek word for "make void" is katargeo, often rendered destroy, but meaning to lessen its effect. This may mean destroy, as the fig tree in Luke 13:7. See "without effect in Romans 3:3, "loosed" in Romans 7:3; "are delivered" in Romans 7:6; "bring to naught" in 1 Corinthians 1:28; et al. It is the explaining away of the Word of God, including the law, which creates the controversy.

Judaism had formed a view of the commandments which allowed a Jew to feel he had satisfied the claims of the law, yet without peace of heart and without deliverance from sin (cf. Phil. 3:5-6). Yet, one schooled in this law admitted that he "had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet" (Romans 7:7c). And that same law caused this man, Saul, to exercise himself in all sorts of evil desires or lusts (Romans 7:8). In other words, the law stirred the flesh into its true nature. Otherwise sin might have remained dead (not active). Ignorance of the law, or of God's Word may allow some men to appear good, as they are completely satisfied with themselves (Romans 7:9) But this does not make the law sin, nor the Bible the cause of our baseness (Romans 7:7).

In this reasoning from Paul (Romans 7:7-14) For this same reasoning we need the testimony of the whole Bible, including the law today.
I suppose there are psychology thinkers who believe that men would not do the things forbidden in the law, if there had been no law, no Ten Commandments. Men, however, are not sinners because somebody else sins, or somebody mentions it, or somebody forbids it, but because their nature is to sin. Sin dwells in all of us because of the sin of Adam (Romans 7:17, 20, 21).

Perhaps nobody realizes this truly unless and until he has surrendered himself to the Lord. Just how wicked man is only seems to appear to the man who loves righteousness. And the degree he loves righteousness, loves God, and loves His Word, in that degree he will recognize sin in the world, decry that sin, and cry out for men to come to the light.

This brings us back to the righteousness of the law. Our leading text in Romans 8:1-4 mentions this. That righteousness far exceeds anything the Jews of Christ's day imagined. They felt that they were near to its perfection. The law claims its own perfection in these words: holy, just and good (Romans 7:12). It is simply impossible for men to see the righteousness stated in words when they do not want to see them.

I feel that this is confirmed by the attitude of so many judges of American courts, all the way up to the Supreme Court of the United states. They are able to pass over the clear language of that man-made document, the Constitution of the United States, and make rulings which are contrary to the letter and the spirit of that document. By inserting an opinion into the area of civil rights they are able to declare the murder of the unborn a right which women have. They declare the use of prayer and of Bible terms to be forbidden in areas supported by tax moneys because these may offend the religious beliefs of those who are not Christians.

It seems never to occur to them that Christians are citizens too and may be offended by having timeworn practices and usage denied them. Do not they have civil and religious rights? Men will always be offended by the cross (See the December Reminder). Will our right to preach this be denied us unless we do it privately? How many ways may Satan use to curtail or prevent the preaching of the gospel?

Nailed to the Cross; Taken Out of the Way
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colossians 2:14).
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Colossians 2:16,17).

What Christ Did at the Cross
So many have only learned that he took our sins and bore them in His own body on the tree. This is true, but there is much more. He became a substitute for us sinners, so we do not have to perish in hell for our own sins. But this includes sins which we commit after we have trusted him, as well as those which we had done before. This is the marvel of grace! This is the manifestation of His love! It was not enough to put us back on the footing which Adam had before he sinned and fell. If we have a Substitute, one who has taken our place, Who died for our sins – and we understand this is true – then we have One who has taken our place in other areas where we are helpless.

It is not enough to think that God changed the rules which we live under. That is not what is meant when it says he took the law out of the way, nailing it to His cross. It means that for those of us who have trusted Him, and who keep trusting Him, He still is our Savior. He is our life. He not only intercedes for us when we sin, but if we have truly died with Him and been raised with Him to walk in a new life (Romans 6:4), then He becomes our life. This means that not only has He made us alive, but He produces in us the life which shows in our activities, in our thoughts, in our emotions. This is accomplished by the Holy Spirit Who comes to dwell in the church and as we have "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16); we show His disposition; the spirit of Christ, and manifest His life in us.

It does not mean that we are as perfect as He is. We must grow up spiritually to be more like Him, but we never attain to the perfection of Christ. John said as much (1 John 1:8-10). We refer to such a Christian life as "the resurrection life." It is explained in Romans 6:5-12. Christ has died, is raised, and now lives unto God (v. 10).

Our being buried with Him in baptism declares our death to sin. The old man and his way of living is no longer to be our way. We were raised up to walk in a new kind of life, the life of Christ. When it says we were baptized into His death, it means that the old self is crucified, and is powerless, "that the body of sin might be destroyed" (v. 6), "that henceforth we should not serve sin." The "body of sin" is a reference to the old self, the sin nature. It is not dead in the sense of no longer being able to sin, but it is curtailed by the life of Christ, insofar as we trust Him and walk in Him. This is a walk of faith. It is a walk mindful of Him, trusting Him, looking to Him and His grace to give us the victory and make us like Him.

The standard of righteousness is no different than when we were under the law, but we are made conscious, through the mind of Christ, that we are not our own. He is living in us by His Spirit, so long as we are walking where the Spirit dwells and works, that is, in His body. But if our minds turn to commandments, that is, to the laws of Moses, and we discipline our flesh to conform to the standard, since that is what the law called for, then we have left the mind of Christ and in our hearts are depending on our own selves to keep the standard. This is certain failure. Enough such flesh walking will sever us from Christ, meaning that we seek to be righteous through walking by commandments, and we find grace not being supplied us any longer. Complete defeat as to Christian living results (Read Galatians 5:4).

The law never made men righteous before Christ came; it cannot make men righteous today. It is holy, just and good, but it produces only death, proving that man without Christ is only a sinner. "If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law" (Galatians 3:21). The law is not against the promises of God, but it is against us, contrary to us. This obviously means that it labels our sin nature as helpless and produces death in us.

The other side to this truth is glorious. "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him" (Romans 6:9). So if we have truly been crucified with Him and buried with Him and raised with Him, death will have no further dominion over our spiritual lives. "He that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" (Romans 6:7, 8). Are you missing the blessing by taking this to mean that we have a resurrection of the body guaranteed in the future and we shall live with Him in heaven or in the kingdom to come?

May I suggest that the resurrection life taught here is to be lived now. It is put in different words in 2 Corinthians 4:10:

"Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our body."

If I mistake not this is saying that as the death of Christ is experienced in me, His life will show in me also. His death in us means that the grace of life is now wrought in us. In other words, just as He was raised by the power of God, we live with Him by the same power of God towards us (1 Corinthians 13:4).

Paul was speaking of this power in Him and in the Corinthians and he was not speaking of the age to come, but now, in this life, His power is mighty in us. We do not feel this often, or as we should, because we are not walking by faith as we ought. Our lives are not hid with Christ in God, much of the time, as they ought to be (cf. Colossians 3:3, 4).

So What Is the Status of the Law?
Its demands are completely met and satisfied for that person who has accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. But it is still around, still has its condemning power, still gives sin its strength, still shows its sting in death.

It is only the man in Christ, meaning the one who is in covenant position, is a part of the body of Christ, the church, and is walking by faith, for whom it no longer has its power. Its testimony is still the same: Man is a sinner, lost, helpless. It easily takes over every time a man heeds its testimony and does not allow the Christ to be His only supply of grace and life.

Grace and truth came by Him; the law came by Moses and at a time when Israel was mindful of Egypt and complaining for their lot in the wilderness. Because even a saved man, one also in covenant position, the law still wields power over him when his mind neglects that he died in Christ and has been raised to walk the new life in Him. The righteousness of the law is good. It is an expression of the righteousness of God. That same righteousness is called for in a believer, but his sin nature can not be subject to the law, though he may try (Romans 8:7).

The law makes its appeal only to the flesh, and the flesh cannot respond in righteousness, so the believer must learn that he died with Christ and manifest it by baptism. Then he can get the victory over the law.

It is good to know that Jesus took the law out of the way for him who has come to Him and obeyed him, but this does not mean that the law was repealed, abrogated, discarded, or abolished. Its nature is not changed in any way. However, more than this ministry for the saints, those in covenant relationship, it is still serving for those who are lawless, disobedient, ungodly, a sinner, unholy, profane, a murderer, and the list continues (1 Timothy 1:9,10). It is not made for a righteous man, so it requires a lawful usage if it is to accomplish any benefit (1 Timothy 1:8). This language is true of the law of Moses, but specially applies to civil laws when they are in harmony with the doctrine of the gospel.

The truth of the New Covenant and the church provide a definite continuity with other covenants, including the law of Moses. This continuity is very important. Because God does not change, the degree of requirements He makes on men does not change. What has changed is the grace which came by Jesus Christ. As sin has abounded grace does much more abound. This called for greater grace, as against the law which came by Moses. So now we have a better sacrifice than those pictures seen in animal sacrifices. We have a better priesthood. The promises to the believer today are better. The law never could give life, else righteousness would have been by the law. But life and righteousness have come by Jesus Christ. Please note a distinction between being made alive and giving life. One is to be quickened, that is furnished grace to walk in resurrection life.

• Psalm 119:25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
  
• Psalm 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way.
  
• Psalm 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
  
• Psalm 119:50 This [is] my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
  
• Psalm 119:88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
  
• Psalm 119:93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
  

By comparing these verses, all by the same inspired man, even in the same Psalm, it can be seen that there is a recognition of a quickening prior to the moment of the testimony (see verse 93), and there is a desire that this infusion of life may also be added further. It is the same Hebrew word in each case. Granted, the quickening already known or experienced may not have been just the initial experience of trusting the Lord, but even so there is taught here a continuing experience of grace unto life. The word is "life" or "live," "revive." Certainly God is the Author of such life. Without His drawing men are not able to come to Him (John 6:44), and this seems to apply to all men, so it must apply to initial faith.

My expression initial faith, or first faith, is not understood by some, evidently because they do not conceive of faith as being any other than that, or that the one trusting of Christ the first time is something which continues all through their lives. Our experience should teach us better than that. Men are admonished to continue in faith, for much depends upon it (1 Timothy 2:15).

Faith may be hypocritical, it may be dead (not working), even in saved men, that is, men who have once believed. Do you assume that if you believe in Christ you always will? Well, be not deceived. I have talked with more than one who had forgotten that he was once purged from his old sins (2 Peter 1:9). We know that if one has ever trusted Jesus he has been saved. Also, we know that this work of God is forever, reaching beyond this age (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

"I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before him."

So a one-time faith may bring salvation, because God does it, and there is no losing it, ever. But this does not mean that men should assume that they are believers and are trusting God. They may suddenly be called back to faith and, in an emergency, may pray, but if they have not been walking by faith, t here is little guarantee that God will grant just what they ask. (Cf. Romans 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:7).

Resurrection life can be ours while we still live in these bodies. For this sense study the real purpose of baptism (Romans 6:1-13). Our dying with Christ is by faith, now! Our living with Him is by faith, now! This passage surely says as much.

A Woman's Place
Am I getting bold? Some women will laugh at the idea that The Reminder should carry an item on this subject. Some men also. I do not write what is merely an opinion. We want God to say.

"The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." (Titus 2:3-5)

We take note that a man's place is also much discussed in the Word. Some of it is in the verses before and after the passage here quoted. This paper makes a constant appeal to believers, men and women, to take God at His Word. His way is wise and certainly best. He judges His people and His judgment may seem harsh, even wrong to us. Why? Because we judge according to our own experience – what we have seen, heard, undergone in our upbringing, in our country, in our state and community, in our lives up to now. So we weigh factors by that knowledge. But that is not all. Not only is what we think we know to be considered in making a judgment, but we weigh by our feelings. Hence our own person, our families, our neighbors, and peers, factor into the picture. This is faulty judgment if that is all that determines our decisions.

One more word from outside comes into the picture: our culture. Those of us alert to recognize the trend of the times should know that a lot of thinking has crept into our understanding and our feelings. The culture embraces the government, the schools, the media, social mores, and so many factors we may hardly even consider. But they are there. God knows about all of these and may – I say, may – make some allowances in what He allows. For example, He gave a law of divorce "because of the hardness of (men's) hearts" (Matthew 19:8). It should be noted that such hardness often grieved the Lord (Mark 3:5). Just because someone actually seems to get by with his sins is no evidence that he always will get by. There is a judgment to come. "From the beginning it was not so," Jesus said (Matthew 19:8). God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He does not change (Malachi 3:6).

So while God allows men certain leeway, perhaps to give them occasion to repent, His original purpose does not change. Most of the changes in life, in customs, in circumstances, are influenced by men and by Satan. What God says and asks of us is still the very same thing, so far as His Person and Nature are concerned. The details of His requirements are different, having undergone a metathesis (Hebrews 7:12).

A metathesis is a change which God makes or allows. He changed the priesthood, for example, so that its application is somewhat different than in the Old Testament. The tribe of Levi was established for the priesthood in Israel, certain limitations being specified, but this was not God's original purpose. The whole nation was to be "a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" (Exodus 19:6). But the general order in Israel showed they were not qualified to fill this task. Each man should be a priest in his own family, but God had to limit the priesthood to Levi because of their sins.
Now, under the New Covenant, the church, made up of a remnant out of Israel plus a Gentile engrafting of believers, has become a royal priesthood.

"But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

Such a change put the priesthood within the church, God's covenant people, not in all the saved. Such changes are understandable, and for a reason in harmony with God's purpose. So God may not be ironclad in His purpose, but His stated will is not to be thrust aside for that reason.
A democratic people like to think of equality as the order in all things. But all humans are not equal. In some senses, yes, every life is valuable. But is every life equally valuable? Rights, in our constitutional system, are limited by many factors, as age, education, health, life prospects, etc. Just as

Satan impugned the motive of God when he spoke to Eve as to what God had said, so today Satan has injected a series of question marks as to our rights. God may seem to be allowing the disparities which have thus been injected into our culture and our lives. Do I have to spell out the unreasonableness in some of the court rulings in this area, setting children's rights above their parents. using affirmative action rulings to bring down those who have made progress in favor of those who may not have used their opportunities. The emphasis puts women into jobs they may not be qualified to fill, crippling the majority for the benefit of the handicapped or less efficient. Many others clog the courts today.

All of this has gone contrary to God's revealed order in His Word. Women are made eligible for every job. In time the rest of society will be compelled to accept such disparate factors. A woman cannot be a pastor, but the law of the land, enacted by judges. rules that she may. In time doubtless even churches who do not allow such will be compelled to submit. Will we be moved by the threat of losing our tax exempt status, so we will ordain women or do things not taught in the Scriptures?

The ground I have covered to illustrate what may change our thinking regarding one's place is quite extensive. We measure by "what people think" or will think, if we take a stand on Truth.

We have been taught to make politically correct decisions. What we ought to do is make decisions agreeing with the will of God. Do we fear what people think? "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25). We are considerate of people's feelings but not so as to violate the Lord's will in dealing with them.

God's order from the beginning is that a woman be in subjection to her own husband. Before she has a husband she lives under the authority of her father.

Our passage at the beginning of this article has the older women teaching the younger women to be sober, evidently meaning calm and submissive, as they themselves have been in behavior as becometh holiness. "Sober" is from sophronizo, derived from sozo, to save, protect, and phren, to rein in, to curb. Hence the sense of the compound word is "to get control" (of one's self), "to correct" We say, "get control of yourself," "be in control," that is, be calm. The older women must teach the younger women this, being first a pattern of the same. Then "teach them to love their own husbands." It does not say slavishly submit, but love him. He will see your calm spirit, be anxious to help you. Every good wife knows this is the way to her heart.

Teach them to love their children. "Love" and "children" is a compound, just one word. "Love" and "husbands" is one word. The "love" portion of each word is the same. It carries with it the ideas of several English words, be gentle, affectionate. Used singly it is nearly always translated "friend." You know those feelings which this word stirs. Jesus was anxious to think of His disciples as "friends" (John 15:13,14). The word includes a willingness to lay down one's life for that friend. So, if he does not please you, what do you do? Announce you are getting a divorce? Use a club or threat over him? These actions say you do not love him. But you promised before witnesses and before God you would love him till death. He is not worthy? The children are brats and not worthy? Does this excuse you?

Teach them to be discreet. What is discreet? It is the adjective for "be sober." Show a calm, collected spirit, a state of mind reflecting a humble heart and full control.

Teach them to be chaste. This is pure, clean. without fault.
Teach them to be "keepers at home" from "home" and ouros, a guard. One who watches over the house, takes care of the home. The sense is immediately recognized by any woman who has taken the position of wife and mother. "To be good." A whole long list of adjectives fit here: good in nature, in disposition, useful, helpful, willing, kind, etc.

"Obedient to their own husbands." To submit, to be under authority, to subject one's self to, to be under (another). Does this not say that her husband has the last word, and there should be no other words? This is God's order. And all of this is "that the word of God be not blasphemed." Any rebellion against God's order puts one in the position of defying God. Yes, this is strong language. Maybe the woman just cannot bear his brutality, his unreasonableness. We are speaking of two people who love each other. If he has lost his mind and does not respect her at all she does not have to live with him; she may depart (1 Corinthians 7:13,14). But if she does she may not be married again (1 Corinthians 7:10,11). And if he be pleased to live with her, she is not to leave him, but only if her own safety is at issue. If God has called these two, each is to remain under the Word God has given them (1 Corinthians 7:17).

It is my considered opinion that most wives who love their husbands find this to be the happiest position for their lives. Most men feel it is best also. But we realize that some husbands are not believers; some wives are not believers. These are not free to make new regulations, but such may find it very difficult to live under God's arrangements. This is why much prayer, much wisdom, much restraint, must enter into wedding arrangements before they are made.

Two factors may seem to modify the strong language found here:

1) As we pointed out, God may allow certain relief in view of unbelief. His language is very clear and anything which seems to change it must be considered in context.

2) A few cases may be pointed to which may seem to change the stand we see taken here by Paul as he wrote to (Titus 2:3-5), quot4ed above. In the Old Testament we see a woman highly commended for going into business, dealing with the public, manufacturing garments, trading for property, developing a farm, she works hard, even long hours. She fed the poor, her husband and children praised her, and she feared the Lord. The daughters of Philip and Anna are further examples.