“31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.”
This verse answers an expected question: If salvation is by faith and not works, what use is the law? It is important here to first determine which law is Paul speaking about when he maintains that the law is upheld. Is he speaking about God’s moral law, the Jewish ceremonial laws, or both? We have already discussed how adherence to the Jewish ceremonial laws is no longer required in the New Covenant. (See Feb 14 Devotional, Romans 2:12-13, Introduction to the Law and Feb 21 Devotional, Romans 2:25-29, Circumcision of the Heart) Paul will also cover this more in Chapter 4. It must be then, that it is God’s moral law that is upheld.
Paul explains that our salvation by faith alone does not render the law useless. Even though justification comes through faith in Christ, this does not nullify the law.
“‘Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.’” — Matthew 5:17-20
Jesus explains in these verses that no part of the Law has become obsolete. Rather, the law is being fulfilled! Jesus did not come in the flesh to change, abolish, or break the law, He came to fulfill its every demand, perfectly! Therefore, when Christians talk of being freed from the law’s demands, we are not absolving ourselves of our responsibilities to follow God’s law. Instead, we are clinging to Christ who fulfilled every portion of the law with perfect mastery in our stead.