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This bible study refutes the false idea that not being under the law is an excuse for not keeping the Sabbath day commandment. It is based rock solid on the word of God. Its purpose is only to glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you notice any errors you may contact us. If you wish to read the Greek in this study, and you haven't yet installed the font, then go to the bible study page and do it now, or alternatively you may download it here.
ROMANS 6:14-15 (Paul)
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law1, but under grace.
15 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law1, but under grace? God forbid.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:20 (Paul)
20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those who are under the law1,
as under the law1, that I might gain those who are under
the law1;
GALATIANS 3:23-25 (Paul)
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law1, shut up to the faith that should
afterwards be revealed.
24 Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
GALATIANS 4:4-5 (Paul)
4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law1.
5 To redeem those who were under the law1, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
GALATIANS 5:4 (Paul)
4 Christ is become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace.
GALATIANS 4:21 (Paul)
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law1, do you not hear the law?
GALATIANS 5:18 (Paul)
18 But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law1.
Note: Many people quote, "We are not under the law", as a reason for not keeping the Sabbath day; but what does the expression "not under the law" mean? In each of these scriptures the words translated under the law1 (Gr. upo nomon, Gtr. hupo nomon) literally mean "under law". The definite article "the" does not occur in any of them. This is not significant unless we are trying to argue that being "under law" is not referring to the law of Moses, but rather the principle of law. However, the law of Moses does seem to be included in it, so there are several facts that we ought to bring out:
(1) Being "under the law" is contrary to grace (Romans 6:14-15).
(2) Being "under the law" is contrary to faith (Galatians 3:23-25).
(3) Being "under the law" is contrary to being an adopted son of God (Galatians 4:5).
(4) Being "under the law" is contrary to being led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18).
The obvious conclusion to draw from all of this is that some of those who Paul wrote to were seeking to be justified by letter obedience to the law, and the phrase "under the law" means "under the law as a means of salvation and justification". In this case, they would not only agree to circumcision, which Paul clearly taught against (Romans 2:28-29; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 5:2; 5:6; 6:15), but also to the animal sacrifices which were supposedly required to justify them under the law (See #4.04). The last three of these points come from Paul's letter to the Galatians, where he also said to them:
(Galatians 3:1) "O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"
His accusation against them was very serious. A Christian, however is saved by grace (Acts 15:11; Ephesians 2:5; 2:8), and justified by grace (Romans 3:24; Galatians 5:4; Titus 3:7). He is saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8; 1 Timothy 2:15), and justified by faith (Romans 3:28; 5:1; Galatians 3:24). He is obedient to the law through the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14), not the letter of the law in the flesh (See Intro 3 (2)). We do not keep the Sabbath day in order to be justified, any more than we keep any of the other of the ten commandments to be justified. We keep them because we love God, and wish to please him, and be obedient to his word. Through the spirit of Christ in us, our love for God is expressed by our obedience (See #1.25). Therefore, there is no justification in the phrase "not under the law" for not keeping the Sabbath day.
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