From the Pulpit: Are Christians lawless?

One of the areas modern Christians seem most confused about is the place the law of God has in the life of the believer. Immediately many of you reading this are probably bristling up and shouting out – “the Bible says we are not under law”. You’re right it does say that. “You are not under law but under grace” (Rom 6:14). But before we say that this phrase settles the issue, we must understand the implications of that, and what the Bible says in other places as well. 

The Apostle John defines sin as transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4). If Christians have no relation to the law of God, they do not sin either. Well, I am sure you see that doesn’t make any sense. There has to be some sense in which Christians are not under the law, yet still have a relationship with the law (1 Cor 9:21). The rest of September, I plan on dealing with law and Christian living. 

Let’s first define our terms. As John said, sin is transgression of the law of God. By the law of God I mean the moral law – the moral prescriptions that God has given His creation. The moral law is called moral because it is a reflection of the character of God, Himself. Therefore as the Creator, His standard of right and wrong is based upon His own character. So in a real sense we cannot separate God from the moral law.

A summary of the moral law is given to us in the 10 commandments. These moral laws were of course given to Israel, but because they are simply a reflection of God’s character they are always binding moral prescriptions for God’s creation. This moral law was not only given to Moses at Sinai, but is also written on the hearts of all people (Rom 2:15). You mean God’s standard by which He evaluates people is the 10 commandments? Yes. How are you doing? Well, if you examine yourself with a tender conscience I am sure you will admit to breaking God’s law, and that is bad news because we know God will judge sinners.

But I have good news! Jesus fulfilled the law in our place and went to the cross and to die for our lawlessness and He rose from the grave. Now God can justly forgive sinners who in repentant faith turn to Jesus. We are “justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Rom 3:28). When it comes to being right with God, we are “not under law but under grace”.

For sure when it comes to being accepted by God in salvation, we are not under the law. We are “not under law but under grace,” but that does not mean that the Christian life has no relationship with the law. Christians are not free to sin. Next week we will unpack how the law relates to Christian living.