“4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes, 5 since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them. 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?” that is, to bring Christ down 7 or, “Who will go down into the abyss?” that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. 8a On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart…”
What does Paul mean, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.”? (v. 4a) Since Christ has come and provided a way for sinners to be saved through faith in Jesus, the law no longer has power to declare one righteous. In fact, Paul’s entire argument for the last several chapters is that the law never had the power to make anyone righteous in the first place. The law is only capable of bringing condemnation. We all have broken the law, no one has ever been without sin. (See Romans 3:23) The law cannot save. Paul has a parallel line of thought in his letter to the Galatians where he answers the question: If the law cannot save, then how will God keep His promises to Israel?
“Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law.” — Galatians 3:21
Paul says that if salvation came to us through the law, then our redemption and righteousness would certainly be based upon our works and obedience to the law. This, however, is not the case, which is something we can be thankful for! The entirety of the Old Testament scripture is a ledger of the failures of Israel’s ability to keep the law. We are in the same predicament.
“But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.” — Galatians 3:22
That is why Jesus had to come and live a perfect, sinless life. That is why Jesus had to die our death on the cross. That is why Jesus rose from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures, overcoming death once for all. That is why Jesus has ascended to sit at the Father’s right hand and intercede for us. Those who have faith to believe in Jesus are the ones who will be saved. If it were up to us, we would not be able to save ourselves through obedience to the law, because we all have sinned and the law cannot save! Salvation had to come from something outside of ourselves. Salvation had to come from God. So, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (v. 4)
The law lost its ability to declare us righteous when we transgressed the law, when we no longer lived by the law: “since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.” (v. 5) (See also Deuteronomy 30:16-18, Leviticus 18:5, Nehemiah 9:29, and Ezekiel 20:11,13,21) The law promises life to those who live by it, those who:
“…Love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances…” — Deuteronomy 30:16b
The problem is that none of us have, or will, do that. Therefore, God must provide the way of salvation apart from the law if His elect are to be saved. Paul addresses this in verses 6-8a. Righteousness through faith is the way that God has provided for His people to be saved. Faith in what? Paul quotes Old Testament Scripture from Deuteronomy 30:
“This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.” — Deuteronomy 30:11-14
The way to salvation in Christ Jesus through faith and repentance is no secret. It’s not an enigma or some spiritually unattainable condition. No one has to go up to heaven to get it. No one has to go down into the abyss or cross the sea. Rather, it is near to each one of us. Additionally, the message of the gospel is not one that is difficult to grasp. It is simple. It does not require any great feat of strength or any unprecedented display of intellect in order to be among God’s elect. The way to salvation is simple: Confess and believe. We will continue our thoughts on this topic in the following devotionals.