Are we under the law? Part 2

So we've discussed how the law was for those under the Old Covenant and how it pointed to and exposed sin. Now if that's all the law does, then surely we don't need it today, right?


Brian Rosner recently pointed out in his lectures that Paul is clear that Law should no longer function as LAW, but it can still serve Christians. One way I think it can function is as love.


Romans 13:10 says, "Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
Paul prior to this verse lists three of the commandments found in the law. It seems to Paul that our debt is not by following a rule but instead a principle (cf Gal 4:1-4). The principle behind the law is love.


I think the same is true when it comes to Jesus. He comes as the Messiah (Matt 1), as the true Israel (Matt 2-4) and so fulfills the law. But then in Matthew 5-7 he calls for us to act out of love. Following rules will only leave us with the righteousness of the Pharisees. Following the principle of love will fulfill the law.


It's interesting to considering the relationship between the law of the Spirit and the law of Christ compared with the law of Moses or the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1, Gal 6:2). There is a dichotomy and yet a unity. I think this is how Jeremiah 31:31-34 works. We are taken from under the rule of the law so that as SONS (Gal 4:1-4) we can follow the principles that under gird them.


So it's important that we study the first five books of the Bible to understand how they inform our thinking on love. 
We'll need to contemplate what we learn about how we treat God, our family and others. We need to remember that we are not under law (circumcision now has no value). Instead what we want to do is to express our faith through love (Gal 5:4).