Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet Outreach

Lawlessness: The Real Reason

Barron’s Law Dictionary defines “law” as “the legislative pronouncement of the rules which should guide one’s actions in society […] derived from a combination of the divine or moral laws […].”
What about YHWH’s law?

WHAT IS “LAW” AND ITS PURPOSE?
The law of YHWH is the transcript of His character, a description of His will. Without the law, there is no sin. Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law. [1 John 3:4]

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. [Romans 4:14, 15]

WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF YHWH’S LAW?
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is knowledge of sin. [Romans 3:20]

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. [Romans 7:7]

IS THE LAW OF YHWH THE ETERNAL, UNCHANGEABLE STANDARD OF HIS GOVERNMENT?
The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. [Psalm 111:7, 8]

My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. [Psalm 89:34]

YHWH’s law is the basis of His government. It ensures peace, order, harmony and unity in the universe. A broken law brings sorrow, suffering, bondage and death.

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF NOT OBEYING THE LAW?
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. [Proverbs 5:22]

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? […] For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Romans 6:16, 23]

LAW…AND GRACE? UPON WHAT PRINCIPLE ARE THE LAWS OF YHWH’S GOVERNMENT BASED?
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. [Psalm 89:14]

Many seek the ruler’s favor; but every man’s judgment cometh from YHWH. [Proverbs 29:26]

My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place. All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against YHWH, the habitation of justice, even YHWH, the hope of their fathers. [Jeremiah 50:6, 7]

HOW IS HUMANITY MADE AWARE OF YHWH’S LAW?
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts between themselves while accusing or else excusing one another. [Romans 2:14, 15]

But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. [James 1:22]

In the Creation, YHWH wrote His law in Man’s heart; for that reason it is referred to as the law of nature in Romans 2:14.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GRACE?
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth […] [Romans 1:16]

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. [Ephesians 2:8]

Grace is the power of YHWH to atone for our past failures. It is the unmerited favor to bring us back into harmony with the Creator. Grace has always existed. It means pardon, mercy, love and kindness (e.g., Genesis 6:8; Romans 4:1-4; Ephesians 2:4-8). By faith, we accept the grace of YHWH (Romans 3:28). Grace is promised to those who turn from disobedience to obedience (e.g., Romans 2:13; Psalm 103:17).

WHAT IS THE CONVERTED PERSON’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAW?
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. [Romans 7:22]

O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day. [Psalm 119:97]

I have longed for thy salvation, O YHWH; and thy law is my delight. [Psalm 119:174]

WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO VIOLATE THE LAW?
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be subject to the judgment of God. [Romans 3:19]

Those who willfully violate YHWH’s law are not under grace. They are under the condemnation of the law, and thus guilty before YHWH. YHWH’s law and His grace are not in competition. A believer in the Savior lives the law (e.g., Psalm 119:34; Romans 3:31) and loves the law (e.g., 1 John 5:2, 3; Psalm 40:8). A Christian meditates upon the law and continually recognizes it in its full dimensions (e.g., Psalm 1:2; Psalm 119:60).

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Does God’s Grace Blot Out the Law?
The Eternal Law of God

Inclusion of a specific resource link does not necessarily indicate an endorsement of the originating ministry.

Many are thy tender mercies, O YHWH: quicken me according to thy judgments. [Psalm 119:156]