Doctrines of Demons, Part 2: Christ Abolished the Law

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1

Cornerstone or Contradiction?

Western Wall of Temple Mount, Jerusalem courtesy of Lodo via Flickr

Doctrines of Demons, Part 1 →

Of all the doctrines of demons, the belief that Christ abolished the Old Testament law is one of the most damaging. It opposes Scripture, leads believers away from the faith, and perpetuates lies. Errant teachers use it to support a wide range of sinful activity, and in the end it simply fails every test of logic. Even if you’ve unwittingly agreed with this doctrine, repent.

When discussing whether Christ abolished the law or fulfilled it, two scriptures rise as central to the debate. At first glance they seem contradictory, but upon further study they are simply two faces of the same cornerstone.

• Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

• Ephesians 2:14-18 “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

Surrounding Contexts

Whenever scriptures appear to contradict, a closer observation is in order. Study scripture knowing that its Author placed every word with purpose. God trusts his readers to be inquisitive and intelligent. And always contemplate scripture’s purpose within its surrounding context.

Consider the verses around Matthew 5:17-18. A few lines after Jesus says, “I did not come to destroy but to fulfill,” he not only confirms the law still stands, but greatly expands its application. He states, “You have heard…‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). Whoa! Right there Jesus confirmed the validity of that Old Testament commandment and expanded it to include issues of the heart. He does the same for several other commandments at the same time, including murder, marriage, oaths, and love. Throughout his ministry, Jesus ratified the Old Testament law, repeatedly showing it as applicable today and expounding upon its teachings.

Let’s examine Ephesians 2:14-18 similarly. It states Jesus, “abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments.” However, the surrounding context has nothing to do with whether the law stands or is abolished. Instead, the background topic is that both Jew and Gentile now access God through Jesus, that he is our shared cornerstone. In fact, common imagery is found throughout this section of scripture illustrating a destroyed wall between Jew and Gentile, and that both races are now being built together into a new structure, a temple of God. This concept of oneness is the foundation upon which this scripture must be interpreted.

“OK, but it still says the law is abolished.”

Yes, but no. Remember, study scripture within the surrounding context. In this case the law is abolished to the extent that it was a divider between Jew and Gentile. How? Because Christ fulfilled it!

Using Ephesians 2:14-18 to assert that Christ abolished the entire Old Testament law is like a landowner standing on his property with a landscaper. The property boundaries are well marked, and the landowner tells the landscaper, “I’m going to plant a new garden, so please remove all the trees.” The landscaper then cuts down not only the trees on the landowner’s property, but also the neighboring property, the town park down the street, and the state park in the next county. After all, he was instructed to, “remove all the trees.” No. We cannot twist God’s word in ways it was not intended. This scripture asserts that the Old Testament law is abolished as a barrier between Jew and Gentile, as a hindrance from our access to God.

God’s Readers

God doesn’t expect us to sit with mouths open as he shovels in truth after truth. Scripture exhorts us to not be babes but to grow up in the principles of God (Hebrews 5:13-14). Thus, consider Ephesians 2:14-18 critically, using tests of logic and reason:

1. Enmity is the specific item named that is abolished. This is the division between Jew and Gentile. In fact, these verses state enmity is destroyed twice. “The law of commandments contained in ordinances” is a descriptor of this enmity. The law is not that which is destroyed.

2. Why would Jesus state the law’s validity right before his death, then Paul contradict his Savior’s clear instruction just a few years later? That’s illogical.

3. Why would God spend so much effort detailing all aspects of Old Testament law just to abolish it in one verse? Old Testament law is recorded in over 79,980 Hebrew words, and God is going to delete it with 25 words of Greek? That does not stand to reason.

4. And if the law is destroyed, what replaces it? Grace? Well, yes. But as fulfillment thereof. Because if the law is destroyed, so is grace. How? Without the law there is no sin, and grace is no longer grace. “I would not have known sin except through the law,” (Romans 7:7).

5. To where does the assertion that Christ abolished the law lead? It is often used by believers unwilling to repent of sin which is clearly against the law (fornication, homosexuality, etc.). If homosexuality is now OK, then so is murder and rape. You cannot cherry-pick one sin without approving of them all.

6. I’ve heard it said, “Well, if you say the law still stands, then you better keep all of it.” No! That’s the point. We can’t keep the law. The law still stands, but Christ fulfilled it. He took our place upon that cross as a sacrifice to fulfill the law. What greater statement of validity regarding the law could Jesus make other than submitting to it unto his death?

7. I once read, “When Christ died, he said, ‘It is finished,’ meaning the law can now pass away because all is fulfilled (Matthew 5:18).” This not only twists Jesus’s dying words, but fails the other tests of reason above.

God Doesn’t Change

The law still stands as Jesus declared.

• “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31

• “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled…” Romans 8:3-4

• “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19

• “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” Malachi 3:6

So, what does it mean that Christ fulfilled the law? The law still stands, but Christ took our punishment it requires in our stead. Praise God for the gift of his Son!

Christian, the only proper response to living counter to the law (living in sin) is repentance. It’s that simple, no matter what the sin may be. Living unrepentantly is the same as crucifying Jesus over and over, and it places us in danger of being rejected and cursed (Hebrews 6:4-8). Do not twist scripture to endorse something it was never meant to support. The Holy Spirit lives in you. It speaks the truth to you. Listen to it, obey it, and receive its blessing.

Photo Credits

Western Wall of Temple Mount, Jerusalem courtesy of Lodo via Flickr