June 28th, 2018

A New Righteousness

“Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”  Rom. 10:4

The law, given by God to Moses for Israel, pointed to Jesus the Messiah.  The law is good; in fact, Paul writes that is it “holy.”  The law served one of its purposes in bringing attention to sin, as shown by the Ten Commandments.  It is much like telling a child not to touch the hot burner on a stove.  Thought it is important to instruct the child, now it had drawn the child’s attention to the hot burner on the stove.  Many children touch it and get a burn.

Jesus Christ came to complete and fulfill the law to bring a new kind of righteousness.  Paul was writing in Romans 10 about Israel seeking to establish its own righteousness, as it did not know God’s righteousness.  Christ came to fulfill the law and offer this new righteousness of God in Him.  And it was available to everyone who believed.  It was no longer limited to Israel.  This righteousness was by faith.

Paul will continue this theme in Romans, writing about the spirit of the law.  There is nothing wrong with telling our children to not touch the hot burner on the stove.  It also is important to tell them to look to Jesus.