Our True Freedom from the Law – Part 1

How the Bible seems to take two sides on the issue of the relevance of Torah obedience

This past weekend, I taught on a subject that is very dear to my heart, a teaching I’ve entitled, Our True Freedom from the Law.  This teaching tackles the idea that Christians are free from the Law—meaning, we do not need to obey the Law of Moses.  Most adherents to this worldview point to the following passages as prooftexts for their persuasion:

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14).

Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God (Romans 7:4).

But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter (Romans 7:6).

After viewing these three statements, it would seem that anyone who believes the Law of Moses is still relevant is clearly wrong.  Despite the seeming unassailability of the idea that the Law was done away with, when one approaches the Bible from a Jewish, pro-Torah perspective, such a conclusion can easily be refuted.  After all, the Bible was written by Jews who lived in the land of Israel and spoke Hebrew.  Therefore, it’s important to approach the Bible as would the people who wrote it.  As an introduction to this topic, I’d like to present a question for your consideration.

What should we do when the Bible seems to contradict itself?  This is a very important question, because there are numerous passages in the Bible that seem to contradict each other.  For example, I’ve quoted three passages above that seem to conclude that a Christian has no obligation to keep the Law of Moses.  The majority of Christians today believe that the Law of Moses was “for the Jews back then.”  Most believe that we are no longer “under the Law,” and that as Christians we are “under grace.”  A huge problem results when we interpret Romans 6:14 and 7:4-6 to mean that the Law was abolished, because there are other passages in the Bible that clearly say the exact opposite.  Here are a few:

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).

The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever (Psalm 119:160).

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Concerning Matthew 5:17-19, there are many prophecies in the Tanakh[1] that remain unfulfilled!  That being the case, how could the Law of Moses have been done away with.  Furthermore, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 was written when there were no “New Testament” Scriptures!  All the early believers had was the Tanakh.  Whenever you read anything in the Apostolic writings[2] about the word Scriptures, you need to think Tanakh.[3]  That being the case, we see that the apostles were constantly relying upon the Tanakh as their primary source of doctrine and instruction in righteousness.  The idea that they believed the Torah had been done away with, yet they went everywhere preaching from it (as well as the rest of the Tanakh) is untenable.

So what do we do with these seemingly contradictory passages?  Do we choose one side over the other?  That seems to be what most Christians have done, choosing to side with the Apostle Paul’s paradigm over Yeshua and His ideas about the relevancy of the Torah.  Let’s look at another seeming contradiction.  Paul seemed to teach that the Torah had a negative effect on those who tried to obey its dictates.  Please note the following passages:

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Romans 5:20).

For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death (Romans 7:5).

But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire . . . (Romans 7:8a).

I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died (Romans 7:9).

And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death (Romans 7:10).

For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me (Romans 7:11).

Has then what is good (the Torah/Law) become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful (Romans 7:13).

Did you notice how each of these verses seems to suggest that the Torah has a negative influence on those who try to obey it?  In these verses we learn that the Torah 1) causes offenses and sins to abound, 2) arouses sinful passions, 3) produces all manner of evil desires, 4) revives sin in our lives, 5) brings death, 6) deceives us, and 7) causes sin within us to become exceedingly sinful.  Hmmm.  Not too positive, ehh?  So, it seems that the Torah can have quite a negative effect on someone.  Well, that’s all fine and dandy, but that’s not all the Bible says about the Torah and those who obey its commands.  Suppose we compare the verses above with the following:

¹ Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD!  ² Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!  ³ They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways (Psalm 119:1-3).

How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your word (Psalm 119:9).

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You (Psalm 119:11).

My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word  (Psalm 119:25).

And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts (Psalm 119:45).

This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life (Psalm 119:50).

I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life (Psalm 119:93).

I am afflicted very much; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word (Psalm 119:107).

Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope (Psalm 119:116).

Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word (Psalm 119:154).

Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble (Psalm 119:165).

In this small sampling from the Tanakh, we learn that the Torah has quite a positive effect on those who keep it!  For example, in these few verses we learn that the Torah 1) helps to prevent defilement and helps you to NOT do iniquity, 2) helps one cleanse his way, 3) helps to keep you from sinning, 4) brings life not death, and 5) brings liberty and peace.  Let me state emphatically “These verses in the Psalms absolutely, without question contradict what Paul stated in the previous passages quoted from the book of Romans”.  Let’s compare Romans 5:20 and 7:13 with Psalm 119:1-3.

1. In Romans 5:20 and 7:13 we learn that keeping the Law causes offenses/sins to abound/increase.  Furthermore, we learn that sin, through the commandment [of the Law] will become exceedingly sinful.

2. In Psalm 119:1-3 we learn that those who keep the Law “do no iniquity”!

These passages are clearly contradictory.  Let’s compare Romans 7:10 with Psalm 1.  In Romans 7:10 we learn that obedience to the Law leads to death.  However, Psalm 1:1-3 paint a totally different picture concerning the person who obeys the Law.  These verses suggest those who keep the Law experience life in all of its fulness!  Again, a complete contradiction. As you can see, we get a totally different viewpoint of the Torah once we’ve considered these verses from the Psalms.  Furthermore, I’m sure you would agree that they are obviously very contradictory when compared to the statements Paul made!  So, what should we do?  Which one do you choose to believe?  Is one correct and the other wrong?

More importantly, have you ever really considered what Paul is saying in the verses quoted above?  Notice what Romans 5:20 states: “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”  I want you to look at that verse and really think about it.  Does anything seem strange to you about that verse?  Let me put it this way.  Why would Adonai give us commandments that cause sin to increase and offenses to abound???  Again, really think about what Romans 5:20 is saying!  It’s literally stating that the Torah causes offenses and sins to increase!  Does that make any sense at all?  Do you know of any other situation where laws are given in order to make the people disobey more!  I thought the purpose of a law was to curb wrong behavior.  Yet Romans 5:20 clearly states that one of the purposes of the Torah is to cause offenses and sins to increase.  That, my friend, should certainly cause you to wonder, WHY?  And I mean a big, fat WHY?

I submit to you that you will never understand what Romans 6:14, 7:4 and 7:6 mean until you come to grips with two things:

1. You need to learn how to properly deal with passages that seem to contradict one another.

2. You need to understand under which context Adonai’s Torah is a blessing, imparting life, and under which context it causes sin to increase.

Once you handle those two situations properly, you will be able to understand what Paul meant in Romans 6:14, 7:4 and 7:6!  Please consider this introductory article carefully.  In the weeks to follow you will be delighted to find the answers to the contradictions I’ve introduced you to in this article.  Until the next article, please think about the contradictions I’ve noted above on your own.   Also, ask yourself, “Does Adonai’s word really cause sin to increase in people’s lives, and if so, why would He want that”?  After all, shouldn’t the goal of passing laws be to curb bad behavior rather than make it worse!?

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[1] What most non-Jewish believers know as the “Old Testament.”  In Hebrew, the consonants in the word Tanakh actually form an acronym.  The Tanakh is divided into what is called the Torah, Prophets (Nevi’im), and Writings (Khetuvim); hence, T-N-Kh.

[2] Commonly called the New Testament writings.

[3] Except perhaps 2 Peter 3:16 where Peter may be referring to some of Paul’s writings as Scripture:  “as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”