"Indeed, the end of the Law, for Christ's righteousness to all believing."1
All those who believe in Christ receive righteousness. this word for all, means a part of, or a totality of all those who have faith in Christ, thus these are the remnant, the elect, and all promises of God pass through the Seed, Christ. All who believe receive the end goal; righteousness. This word for end, means "reaching the end (aim)," it is well-illustrated with the old telescope which is extended to function at full effectiveness.2 Paul writes Israel was kept under guardian of the Law until the end goal, Christ, thus the aim or end of the Law is righteousness in Christ, "by grace through faith."
"Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness"3
The Jew of the flesh had divine adoption, glory, covenant, law giving, service, and the promises. But they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, adhering to the "letter of the law" they established their own righteousness, finding justification in following laws, rules, and traditions of men, and at the same time ignoring God’s righteousness. Thus they created an image of God made to that of man, though they knew God they glorified him not as God but worshiped this man made creation not giving glory to the creator. "They are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge, being ignorant of God’s righteousness"
"And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, even as he has given us commandment."4
In the wilderness many Israelites died not because of sin but because they failed to have faith. When the serpent was lifted up all they had to do was look to the serpent for salvation. Such is a picture of Jesus, we are dead in sin, Christ has been lifted up for our salvation. I can be obedient to commandments but if it is not of faith then I seek a righteousness by works not by faith, this is what the Pharisees did. John writes the command is to believe and such belief is the work of God, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."5 Jesus came according to the flesh and now has preeminence, He is above all things, thus all who look to Him, who believe in Him receive abundant grace and the free gift of righteousness, which is not based on works of the law.
"Indeed, the righteousness of God is revealed by faith to faith, as it is written, moreover, the righteous shall live by faith.”5
Said the Pharisee, "I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I receive."6 Said Christ, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisee you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.7 The righteousness of God is revealed by faith, "but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works."8 There was a righteousness under the Law, achieved by faith, belief was counted to them as righteousness. Though death reigned through the one man, Adam, through the one man, Christ, we receive grace and the gift of righteousness, to reign in life.
"For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"9
We see the purpose of grace, that we might reign in Life. This life is in Christ, it is abundant life, though one is dead he is being raised in Life, so we see one being transformed. In death one will not reign, but being United in Christ's death one has dominion over death, so death no longer reigns. In life we have dominion over death, there is no fear nor condemnation in Christ. We also learn to reign or have dominion over sin, under grace and through the gift righteousness we receive by faith in Christ. It is an amazing and profound concept Paul writes. As God told Adam do not eat this fruit or you will die, the Law said this is adultery, it is a sin and if you commit this sin you will surely die. But we see that did not stop man from sinning, in fact sin abounded, why? He raised us up, "so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."10
"Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?"11
To those who were under the Law, the Jew of the flesh, Christ died in their place, releasing them from the covenant of the Law.12 In baptism we are united with Him in His death, thus death no longer has dominion or jurisdiction, so also grace might reign through righteousness, unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. How does death no longer have dominion? because we are not under the Law but under grace. The Law exposed sin and had its power through the fear of punishment, the fear of death, it condemned one for unrighteousness. In Christ we receive righteousness as a free gift, "being justified by His blood." Being united in His death means death no longer has dominion, and there is no condemnation, thus in grace we will reign through righteousness in Christ. It is being rooted and founded in Love or "faith working through love."
"that as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."14
This word for reign is from basileús, "king" – to reign as king. We see another purpose of grace, that we might reign through righteousness in Christ. We stand in grace which we have access to by faith, for such a purpose; to reign in life. "For sin you will not have dominion over, indeed under the law but under grace."15 This word dominion is from kýrios, "lord." A king has dominion, he is lord over his jurisdiction. Our reign is through our Lord (Master) Jesus (Savior) Christ (Anointed One), "Christ is the end of the Law, in order to bring righteousness to everyone who believes." A man who finds treasure in a field would sell all he has to have jurisdiction over that land so that the treasure belongs to him, such is the Kingdom of heaven. If I possess such a treasure in my heart I would give all I have to have dominion over this body, such is my reasonable service. In grace and through righteousness in Christ, I will reign in Life, I am made alive in Christ.
Everything Comes Alive
All those who believe in Christ receive righteousness. this word for all, means a part of, or a totality of all those who have faith in Christ, thus these are the remnant, the elect, and all promises of God pass through the Seed, Christ. All who believe receive the end goal; righteousness. This word for end, means "reaching the end (aim)," it is well-illustrated with the old telescope which is extended to function at full effectiveness.2 Paul writes Israel was kept under guardian of the Law until the end goal, Christ, thus the aim or end of the Law is righteousness in Christ, "by grace through faith."
"Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness"3
The Jew of the flesh had divine adoption, glory, covenant, law giving, service, and the promises. But they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, adhering to the "letter of the law" they established their own righteousness, finding justification in following laws, rules, and traditions of men, and at the same time ignoring God’s righteousness. Thus they created an image of God made to that of man, though they knew God they glorified him not as God but worshiped this man made creation not giving glory to the creator. "They are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge, being ignorant of God’s righteousness"
"And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, even as he has given us commandment."4
In the wilderness many Israelites died not because of sin but because they failed to have faith. When the serpent was lifted up all they had to do was look to the serpent for salvation. Such is a picture of Jesus, we are dead in sin, Christ has been lifted up for our salvation. I can be obedient to commandments but if it is not of faith then I seek a righteousness by works not by faith, this is what the Pharisees did. John writes the command is to believe and such belief is the work of God, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."5 Jesus came according to the flesh and now has preeminence, He is above all things, thus all who look to Him, who believe in Him receive abundant grace and the free gift of righteousness, which is not based on works of the law.
"Indeed, the righteousness of God is revealed by faith to faith, as it is written, moreover, the righteous shall live by faith.”5
Said the Pharisee, "I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I receive."6 Said Christ, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisee you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.7 The righteousness of God is revealed by faith, "but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works."8 There was a righteousness under the Law, achieved by faith, belief was counted to them as righteousness. Though death reigned through the one man, Adam, through the one man, Christ, we receive grace and the gift of righteousness, to reign in life.
"For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"9
We see the purpose of grace, that we might reign in Life. This life is in Christ, it is abundant life, though one is dead he is being raised in Life, so we see one being transformed. In death one will not reign, but being United in Christ's death one has dominion over death, so death no longer reigns. In life we have dominion over death, there is no fear nor condemnation in Christ. We also learn to reign or have dominion over sin, under grace and through the gift righteousness we receive by faith in Christ. It is an amazing and profound concept Paul writes. As God told Adam do not eat this fruit or you will die, the Law said this is adultery, it is a sin and if you commit this sin you will surely die. But we see that did not stop man from sinning, in fact sin abounded, why? He raised us up, "so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."10
"Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?"11
To those who were under the Law, the Jew of the flesh, Christ died in their place, releasing them from the covenant of the Law.12 In baptism we are united with Him in His death, thus death no longer has dominion or jurisdiction, so also grace might reign through righteousness, unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. How does death no longer have dominion? because we are not under the Law but under grace. The Law exposed sin and had its power through the fear of punishment, the fear of death, it condemned one for unrighteousness. In Christ we receive righteousness as a free gift, "being justified by His blood." Being united in His death means death no longer has dominion, and there is no condemnation, thus in grace we will reign through righteousness in Christ. It is being rooted and founded in Love or "faith working through love."
"that as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."14
This word for reign is from basileús, "king" – to reign as king. We see another purpose of grace, that we might reign through righteousness in Christ. We stand in grace which we have access to by faith, for such a purpose; to reign in life. "For sin you will not have dominion over, indeed under the law but under grace."15 This word dominion is from kýrios, "lord." A king has dominion, he is lord over his jurisdiction. Our reign is through our Lord (Master) Jesus (Savior) Christ (Anointed One), "Christ is the end of the Law, in order to bring righteousness to everyone who believes." A man who finds treasure in a field would sell all he has to have jurisdiction over that land so that the treasure belongs to him, such is the Kingdom of heaven. If I possess such a treasure in my heart I would give all I have to have dominion over this body, such is my reasonable service. In grace and through righteousness in Christ, I will reign in Life, I am made alive in Christ.
Everything Comes Alive