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The Judaizers had claimed that all
ere a
requirement for Christians.
Saint Paul corrects this by contrasting the two
types of works.
Some people wrongly assume
“Works of the Law”
refers
to the moral law.
When we closely study the context we see can see this is not true.
The Law can refer to three different things.
1. There is the Old Testament ceremonial laws like
circumcision.
2. And there is God’s Moral Law, the
10
commandments, the
law of Christ.
(3. Also there is civil or national law, but this is
not relevant here.)
Jesus Christ is all holy and virtuous. And He calls
us to follow Him and live that way too. We trust in
Faith that God’s call to holiness is better than any
earthly pleasure. By the help of His grace we are
called to be steadfast in faith and embrace that
life. Only by dying to ourselves and embracing the
cross of Christ can we be united to Him. Only
by allowing His grace to come into us and make us
holy can we be
resurrected to new life in Christ.
2 types of works
1. We may try using solely our power to earn
salvation by performing self-righteous deeds, but
none of these acts will be of value.
2. On the other hand, by receiving the grace of
Jesus Christ by faith in Him we can perform truly
good works that are empowered by His free grace.
Titus 3:5
“…he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in
righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by
the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy
Spirit…” RSV
Ephesians 2:8-10
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and
this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—
not because of works, lest any man should
boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
From the above quotation we can see that there are
two types of works. There are works that we can do
on our own - such as works of the law - which do not
save us, and there are “good works” that are only
made possible by the infinite power of God’s grace
working in our lives.
2 Different Laws
Hebrews 7:11
“Now if perfection had been attainable through the
Levitical priesthood (for under it the people
received the law), what further need would there
have been for another priest to arise after the
order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after
the order of Aaron? For when there is a
change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a
change in the law as well.”
1. There is the Levitical law in the Order of Aaron
found in the Book of Deuteronomy.
2. Before this, there is the
Moral Law that Abraham
lived by faith. See Below.
God had been revealing His goodness, His holiness to
His chosen people. Those called to be in union
and in covenant with God were called to embrace this
holiness in one's own life. The fulfillment of this
is only possible by the help of the sanctifying
Grace won for us by Jesus Christ. We can see
examples of Abraham choosing to live a holy life.
See Below.
Only later are the Israelites given the Levitical
ceremonial laws. See Exodus 32:26f. and
Chapter 34.
1. The ceremonial ritual laws in the Old Covenant.
The quotation above from Hebrews 7 is an example of
“the law” being used to mean the Old Testament
ceremonial ritual law rather than the Moral Law.
The Levitical priesthood (see Ex. 32:29, Deut. 9:16,
10:8, and 18:1.) comes after the golden calf
incident in Exodus 32. The Whereas, the
Moral Law
was being revealed from the beginning as is evident
in the life of Abraham. See above.
Later, this moral law is summarized
in the 10 Commandments which are listed in Exodus
chapter 20.
Galatians 3:17-18
“This is what I mean: the
law,
which came
four hundred and thirty years
afterward, does not annul a covenant previously
ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
18
For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no
longer by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by
a promise.”
Therefore, the
“Law,”
which was received under the
Levitical
priesthood, can’t mean the moral law. Instead, it
means the Old Testament ceremonial ritual laws, e.g.
the
animal sacrifices, circumcision, dietary and Levitical observances, etc. See Leviticus. Again
this illustrates the two different “laws ” that the
Bible speaks about.
Deuteronomy (Second Law) comes from “deutero” -
meaning second, and “nomy” - meaning law.
2. The Moral Law is based on Love.
Abram -
Abraham's Moral Life :
Genesis 12.
Abram obeys the Lord and in faith begins his
migration to Canaan.
Hebrews 11:8-9
“By
faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go
out to a place which he was to receive as an
inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where
he was to go.
9
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as
in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac
and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.”
Genesis 12:2-3.
God blesses Abram and through him all the nations
find blessing. In order for nations to find blessing
in Abram he had to be close to God because it is
from God that all blessings flow. God is all
holy.
Genesis 12:7-8. Abram builds altars to God to
offer to Him sacrifice, worship and to invoke His
name.
Genesis 13:8-9. Abram is generous to his
nephew Lot and allows him to chose the land that
appeared most pleasing.
Genesis 14:1-17. Abram fights the battles of
the Lord, fighting for Justice to free Lot who was
held captive.
Genesis 14:18-23. Abram tithes to Melchizedek,
the priest of God Most High.
Genesis 15:6
“Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it
to him as an act of righteousness.”
Genesis 17:1-5
“I am God the
Almighty. Walk in my presence and be blameless.
Between you and me I will establish my covenant
...”
When Abram prostrated himself … your name shall
be Abraham”
Genesis 181-15
Abraham shows hospitality and generosity to
three visitors. Gives help to those in need. He
shows honor and respect.
Genesis 18:17-19
The LORD reflected: “ … and all the nations
of the earth are to find blessing in him?
Indeed, I have singled him out that he may
direct his sons and his posterity to keep
the way of the LORD by doing what is right
and just, so that the LORD may carry into
effect for Abraham the promises he made
about him.”
The other nations will find blessings
through Abraham by God's will from Whom all
goodness comes.
Genesis 18:20-33
God in His goodness
inspires Abraham to bargain for the innocent
in Sodom.
By accepting the
impulse to do so from God, Abraham shows his
integrity and holiness.
And by doing so
Abraham pursues and works for both Justice
and Mercy.
Galatians 5:13-16
“through love be servants of one another.
14
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, “You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15
But if you bite and devour one another take heed
that you are not consumed by one another. 16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify
the desires of the flesh.
17
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit
…”
Saint
Paul contrasts the 2 Laws
Saint Paul contrasts the
Old Covenant ritual
law, circumcision, with the
Moral Law of the 10 commandments
(which is eternally binding.)
1 Corinthians 7:18-19
“Was any one at the time of his call already
circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of
circumcision. Was any one at the time of his call
uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For
neither circumcision
counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but
keeping the
commandments
of God.”
And again St. Paul contrast
the
Jewish ceremonial ritual laws
with the
Law of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:20-21
“To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win
Jews; to those under
the law I became as one under the law—though
not being myself under the law—that I might win
those under the law. To those outside the law I
became as one outside the law—not being without law
toward God but under the
law of Christ—that
I might win those outside the law.” RSV
Galatians 5:16,19-22
“But I say,
walk by the
Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the
flesh…19 Now the works of the flesh are plain:
fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,
sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger,
selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy,
drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as
I warned you before, that
those who do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness…”
Galatians 5:3-6
“I testify again to every man who receives
circumcision
that he is bound to keep the
whole law. You
are severed from Christ, you who would be justified
by the
law; you
have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit,
by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness.
For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of
any avail, but faith
working through love.”
Galatians 6:2
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the
law of Christ.”
The “law of Christ” is keeping the 10
commandments.
1 John 5:2-3
“By this we know that we love the children of God,
when we love God and obey his commandments. For
this is the love of God, that we
keep his
commandments.”
Matthew 19:16-19
“And behold, one came up to him, saying, 'Teacher,
what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?'
And he said to him, '… If you would enter life,
keep the commandments.' He said to him,
'Which?'
And Jesus said,
'You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery,
You shall not steal…' ” RSV
Galatians 5:24
“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified
the flesh with its passions and desires.”
So, if we do not reject the passions of the flesh,
then we do not belong to Jesus Christ. If we sin,
we must confess it and repent.
Galatians 6:7-10
7
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever
a man sows, that he will also reap.
8
For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh
reap corruption; but he who
sows
to the Spirit will
from the Spirit reap
eternal life.
9
And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due
season we shall reap,
if we do not lose heart.
10
So then, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to
all men…”
We will be judged by whether we remained in saving
grace by our faith in Jesus Christ and imitating Him
and abiding by the moral law and doing truly good
works empowered by His grace.
2 Corinthians 5:10
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil,
according to what he has done in the body.” RSV
Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the
angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious
throne.
32
Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he
will separate them one from another as a shepherd
separates the sheep
from the goats,
33
and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but
the goats at the left.
34
Then the King will say to those at his right hand,
‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35
for I was hungry and
you gave me food, I was thirsty
and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you
welcomed me,
36
I was naked and you clothed me …
(41) Then he will say to those at his left hand,
‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his angels;
42
for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was
thirsty and you gave me no drink
…
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but
the righteous into eternal life.”
John 14:21
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them is
the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be
loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal
myself to him.”
1 John 2:3-6
“The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep
his commandments.
4
Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his
commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5
But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly
perfected in him. This is the way we may know that
we are in union with him: 6
whoever claims to abide in him ought
to live (just)
as he lived.”
1 John 5:1-3
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is
begotten by God, and everyone who
loves the father
loves (also) the one begotten by him.
2
In this way we know that
we love the children of
God when we love God and obey his commandments.
3
For the love of God
is this, that we
keep his commandments.”
Matthew 7:21-27
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who
does the will
of
my Father in heaven.
22
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we
not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out
demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in
your name?’
23
Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew
you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
24
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and
acts on them will be like a wise man who built his
house on rock.
25
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew
and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it
had been set solidly on rock.
26
And everyone who listens to these words of mine but
does not act on them will be like a fool who built
his house on sand.
27
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew
and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was
completely ruined.”
Revelation 21:27
“But nothing unclean
shall enter it, nor any one who practices
abomination or falsehood, but only those who are
written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
by John Bergsma
John Bergsma writes a very interesting article
showing how the Dead Sea Scrolls support St. Thomas
Aquinas position that the “works of
the law” that Paul talks about in Romans and
Galatians is referring to, essentially, the
ceremonial law.
Denzinger : Quotations from Council of Trent
Chap. 15. By Every
Mortal Sin Grace is Lost, but not Faith
1544
Against the crafty
genius of certain men also, who "by pleasing
speeches and good words seduce the hearts of the
innocent" [Rom. 16:18], it must be
maintained that the
grace of justification, although received, is lost
not only by infidelity [can. 27], whereby even faith
itself is lost, but also by any other mortal sin,
although faith be not lost [can. 28], thereby
defending the doctrine of the divine law which
excludes from the kingdom of God not only the
unbelievers, but also the faithful who are
"fornicators,
adulterers, effeminate, liers with mankind, thieves,
covetous, drunkards, railers, extortioners" [1 Cor.
6:9 ff.], and all others who commit deadly
sins, from which with the assistance of divine grace
they can refrain and for which they are separated
from the grace of God [can. 27].
1569
Can. 19. If anyone shall say that nothing except
faith is commanded in the Gospel, that other things
are indifferent, neither commanded nor prohibited,
but free, or that the
ten commandments
in no way pertain to Christians: let him be anathema
[cf. n. 800].
1570
Can. 20. If anyone shall say that a man who is
justified and ever so perfect is not
bound to observe the
commandments of God and the Church, but
only to believe, as if indeed the Gospel were a mere
absolute promise of eternal life, without the
condition of observation of the commandments: let
him be anathema [cf. n. 804].
Latin
15. 'Quolibet mortali peccato amitti gratiam, sed
non fidem'
1544
Adversus etiam hominum quorumdam callida ingenia,
qui 'per dulces sermones et benedictiones seducunt
corda innocentium' (Rom 16, 18), asserendum est, non
modo infidelitate (can. 27), per quam et ipsa fides
amittitur, sed etiam quocumque alio mortali peccato,
quamvis non amittatur fides (can. 28), acceptam
iustificationis gratiam amitti: divinae legis
doctrinam defendendo, quae a regno Dei non solum
infideles excludit, sed et fideles quoque 'fornicarios,
adulteros, molles, masculorum concubitores, fures,
avaros, ebriosos, maledicos, rapaces' (cf. 1 Cor
6,9s), ceterosque omnes, qui letalia committunt
peccata, a quibus cum divinae gratiae adiumento
abstinere possunt et pro quibus a Christi gratia
separantur (can. 27).
1569
Can 19. Si quis dixerit, nihil praeceptum esse in
Evangelio praeter fidem, cetera esse indifferentia,
neque praecepta, neque prohibita, sed libera, aut
decem praecepta nihil pertinere ad Christianos: an.
s. (cf. DS 1536s).
1570 Can. 20. Si quis hominem
iustificatum et quantumlibet perfectum dixerit non
teneri ad observantiam mandatorum Dei et Ecclesiae,
sed tantunt ad credendum, quasi vero Evangelium sit
nuda et absoluta promissio vitae aeternae, sine
condicione observationis mandatorum: an. s. (cf. DS
1536s).
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