The Bible's 'law' (Hebrew torah) is God's instruction — particularly the law given through Moses. The law is 'holy, and just, and good' (Romans 7:12) but cannot save (Romans 3:20). Christ fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17); Christians live by the Spirit.
The law is one of the most important biblical topics. (1) The law was God's gift to Israel. Deuteronomy 4:8. The law revealed God's character. (2) Three traditional parts. (a) Moral — Ten Commandments. (b) Ceremonial — sacrifices, festivals. (c) Civil — Israel's national laws. (3) The law was holy and good. Romans 7:12. But it could not save. Romans 3:20 — 'by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified.' (4) The law showed need for Christ. Galatians 3:24 — 'the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.' (5) Christ fulfilled the law. Matthew 5:17 — 'not come to destroy, but to fulfil.' (6) Christians are not under the law for salvation. Romans 6:14. But the moral law's content remains. (7) Christians fulfill the law through love. Romans 13:8-10 — 'love is the fulfilling of the law.'
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
“For what the law could not do... God sending his own Son... condemned sin in the flesh.”
Honor the law for what it is — God's good instruction. Recognize it cannot save you — that's Christ's work. Live by the Spirit, which fulfills the law through love. Receive Christ's righteousness as gift.
God's instruction — particularly the law given through Moses. Includes moral commands (Ten Commandments), ceremonial law (sacrifices), and civil law. 'The law' can also refer to the whole Old Testament (Torah = first five books).
Not as the way of salvation (Galatians 2:16). Ceremonial and civil aspects find fulfillment in Christ. The moral law's content is restated in NT teaching. Christians walk by the Spirit, fulfilling the law's heart through love.
(1) Reveal God's character. (2) Restrain evil. (3) Show humans their sin (Romans 3:20). (4) Drive sinners to Christ (Galatians 3:24). (5) Guide believers in Spirit-empowered life. The law cannot save; it points to the Savior.
No. Matthew 5:17 — 'not come to destroy, but to fulfil.' Christ kept the law perfectly, fulfilled its demands, and bore its curse for sinners (Galatians 3:13).