Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Righteousness"

GRACE CARLSON

 

Day 5: Wednesday, March 10, 2010

 

Overview

The author states in Wednesday’s lesson that it is not enough to just think of righteousness as a legal declaration, but it must also be revealed in our lives. He states that righteousness is connected to obedience, and this notion is not inconsistent with salvation by faith. He uses the example of Lucifer and Adam and Eve; while their obedience did not earn them their place in heaven or the Garden of Eden (respectively), their disobedience caused them to “lose” what had been given them. The author ends the lesson with a quote, “Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine” (Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 312).

 

Observations

First, let’s clarify exactly what kind of “obedience” the author is referring to. The accompanying E.G. White Notes clearly states what the author is implying by obedience.

“Righteousness is defined by the standard of God’s holy law, as expressed in the ten precepts given on Sinai. That so-called faith in Christ which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God, is not faith, but presumption” (Steps to Christ, pp. 61, 62).

This excerpt clearly states that true righteousness is measured by whether we are obedient to the Ten Commandments. But is this Biblical? Let’s take a look.

The key to understanding the role of the Ten Commandments is to understand that the old testament law was given to the nation of Israel. Some of the laws, like the sacrificial system, were given as guidelines to show how to worship God and atone for sin. Some of the laws, like the Ten Commandments, were give to Israel so that they could know how to obey God. Some of the laws, like the food and clothing rules, were to distinguish the Israelites from the other nations. None of the old testament law is binding to us today. They were only for the nation of Israel.

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4)

"But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." (Galatians 3:23-25)

"By abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace." (Ephesians 2:15)

Christians are no longer under the old testament law, but rather the law of Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:21 discusses this:

"To those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law."

Matthew 22:37-40 describes what the Law of Christ is, and how it fulfills and encompasses the entire Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

The purpose the old testament law was to demonstrate our inability to keep the law, and for our need of a Savior (Romans 7:7-9 and Galatians 3:24). It was never meant to be eternal, or as a universal law for all people. The Ten Commandments must be treated as a unit with the old testament law. If Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system part of the law, He also fulfilled the rest of it.

The Bible is CLEAR that our righteousness is dependent upon our faith in the Lord Jesus, and not whether we keep the commandments of God as the E.G. White Notes indicate. Furthermore, to refer to the faith that God calls us to as “so-called faith” as presumption and not real (taken from the Steps to Christ excerpt written above), is not only in error, but deceitful. That “so called faith” is the ONLY faith that saves us.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not of works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)

 

Summary

1. Righteousness is not connected to the obedience of the Ten Commandments.
2. Old Testament Law was given to the nation of Israel.
3. Christians are now under the Law of Christ.
4. The entire Old Testament Law was fulfilled at the cross; one cannot separate out the law, it is a unit.
5. Faith is the ONLY way to receive Christ’s righteousness.

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

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