Difficult Texts

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."


Does this text teach that the Ten Commandment law came to an end through the ministry of Christ? By no means. The word "end" is used here in the sense of "end objective" or "goal." The objective of the law is to lead us to Christ.

Please notice how the same word is used in James 5:11: "Ye have ... seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." This doesn't mean the Lord has come to an end. It means that the whole end objective of His life is to show pity and mercy.

Again we read, "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:9. Here the end objective, or goal, of one's faith is the salvation of his soul. It has nothing to do with faith actually coming to an end. One more example: "Now the end of the commandment is charity." 1 Timothy 1:5. It means that obedience to the commandment will lead one to chari~. In the same sense, Christ is the "end of the law" because the law leads people to Christ. The law did not come to an end.

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