Without the Law, There is No Righteousness

I've noticed a certain reaction, whenever I cite from the Old Testament something which conflicts with another person's theology: "That's Old Testament, and we're under grace, not under law." Of course, that ignores the fact that most of the Old Testament  is not Law. It is also an abuse of Paul (Romans 6:14), who also said, "Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law" (Romans 3:31). So, the Apostle had no fantasy that the Law had no place in the life of a Christian (compare Matthew 5:19). From where, therefore, does this antinomian heresy arise?

It seems that everyone forgets the offer that Satan made to Adam: "God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). We print thousands of pictures each year of the tree, the serpent lounging among its branches, while Even holds out an apple to Adam. It wasn't about the fruit! It is the words that are significant, and, in them, Satan offered - deceptively, of course - moral autonomy. The temptation to which the first man fell wasn't an apple, but rather the false promise of autonomy, to decide right and wrong for himself, rather than to receive the judgment of his Creator. Antinomianism is the same lie, but now distributed by men who claim to represent, not Satan, but God! Notice the element that those two words, antinomian and autonomy, share: "nomos," the Greek work for law. "Antinomian" means "against the Law," that is, God's law. "Autonomy" means "self law," again an opposition to God's Law.

What basis does God give for the righteousness that our lives should display (James 2:14-17)? God says, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). Jesus paraphrased these same words in Matthew 5:48: "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." In contrast to Satan, God says that our righteousness is centered on Him, not ourselves. the Apostle Peter quotes and applies those same words from Moses: "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (I Peter 1:14-16). If Peter quotes the Mosaic Law to support his point, then he, at least, didn't believe that it has no role in the life of the Christian! He was no antinomian!

I give here the words of Paul, Peter, and Jesus against antinomianism. "Let God be true though every one were a liar" (Romans 3:4).