The Righteous Requirement of the Law

In order to understand the Law and the Gospel, and the Biblical relationship between them, we must start with an accurate understanding of what the Law requires. God required perfection in the animals sacrificed, as evidenced in Ex 12:5, 29:1; Lev 1:3, 3:1, and 4:3, just to name a few. God’s standard was spotless and without blemish, not just “pretty good”. If God required perfection in the sacrificial animals, can we expect Him to require anything less in His judgment of people? Matt 5:48 describes the standard of righteousness that God requires. “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Does God have degrees of sin? Are some transgressions little ones that aren’t that crucial, while other transgressions are major where God cannot look the other way? James 2:10 tells us that breaking any part of the law, even a small item like showing partiality to one person over another, makes us guilty of breaking the whole law. Paul agrees that the obligation of the Law requires keeping the whole Law, not just part of the Law (Gal 5:3 and Gal 3:10).

Just in case anyone is feeling secure that they are prepared for judgment because of their lawkeeping, let’s look to how Jesus describes sin. In Matthew 5:21-48 Jesus clarifies sin to include not just the action, but also the desires of the heart. Adultery is a sin, but so is lust. Murder is a sin, but so is insulting someone. Even seeking revenge when we are hurt or wronged is a sin.

Christ pointed to two great commandments: loving God with all your heart and loving others/neighbors/enemies. Some want to focus the discussion of sin on the stone tablets rather than Christ’s teachings during His incarnation. Perhaps this is because it is much easier to verify that we and others are obeying the commandments written on stone than it is to obey the command to love AS CHRIST LOVED US. In the parable of the good Samaritan, the two religious types who passed by didn’t break any of the ten commandments, but they didn’t display love and compassion for others. So sin is even more than what we do and what we desire, it can also be the good things that we don’t do. How many opportunities to do good for others have you walked past because it didn’t fit in your time and budget? Are you aware that this sin is just as sinful as murdering those same people (think back to James 2:10)? But sin doesn’t even end there. Romans 14:23 tells us that anything we do, even if it is lawful, is still sin when it is not done in faith.

Perfect obedience would also require that we consistently and continually act with exactly the same amount of love that Jesus has shown. There is nothing to suggest that anything less than total and perfect obedience in all ways is acceptable in God’s judgment.

What about the good things that we do, aren’t those worth something in God’s eyes when it comes to judgment?Isa 64:6 indicates that even our “good” actions are nothing better than filthy, unclean rags when presented to God. If God wants us to do good works, why does He view even our best deeds as filthy rags? Because all of our actions are tainted by sin. Our motives aren’t 100% pure. Our pride still finds its way into these works.

The Bible describes pretty clearly how our righteousness appears to God

Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. (Eccl 7:20) 

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. (I John 1:8-10) 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

If God’s righteous Law requires that we are spotless and that we are as perfect as He is perfect, and if Scripture (as well as our own observations) is clear that no one is without sin, that we continue to fall short of His standards; how can a person possibly meet the requirements of the Law?

This is the correct relationship between Law and Gospel. Grace isn’t grading on a curve or changing the standards so people can achieve them. Grace isn’t winking at sin. The standard of judgment had to be met. It was, by Christ. His righteousness passes judgment. That same righteousness is freely credited to us so that in judgment God accepts Christ’s righteousness as ours. We are saved from judgment based on His righteousness that occurred in His life, not based on our own righteousness or life. This is called the Substitionary Atonement. †

Rick Barker
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One comment

  1. Rick, that is such an important and powerful passage: “Grace isn’t grading on a curve or changing the standards so people can achieve them. Grace isn’t winking at sin. The standard of judgment had to be met. It was, by Christ. ”

    I hear people say, “We’re forgiven because of what Jesus did; now live in this fact.” But they omit any mention of needing to repent and receive the forgiveness for sin that Jesus’ sacrifice bought for us. God’s grace isn’t just eradicating the debt of sin. His grace is dependent upon His taking into Himself the weight of our sin AND paying its price. It’s not cheap grace.

    Thanks for your thoughts above.

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