There’s a moment in the Christian life when everything shifts—when you suddenly realize that trying to earn God’s favor by ticking off commandments is like chasing the wind. Paul’s declaration that the law has ended for righteousness to everyone who believes in Christ isn’t just theological jargon; it’s revolutionary freedom. This isn’t about dismissing the law as irrelevant but understanding that its role as the path to righteousness has been fulfilled and laid to rest. It’s about grace doing what the law never could—making you right with God, not by your effort but by faith in Jesus alone.
Why the Law Could Never Make Us Righteous
Before Christ, the law was the standard, the mirror, the curse. It showed Israel their sin, their inability, their dire need for a Savior. But it never had the power to change hearts or grant righteousness. Think about it: if simply obeying the law made someone righteous, Paul wouldn’t need to write entire epistles exposing our failure to live up to it.
The law acts like a spiritual traffic cop—telling us where we can’t go, but offering no power to move forward. The moment you try to earn God’s favor by works, you trap yourself in endless striving. It’s a treadmill with no finish line. No wonder Paul says in Romans 3:20 that “by the works of the law no flesh will be justified.” Being “right” with God has to come from somewhere else.
Christ Finished the Law’s Demanding Work
Here’s the kicker: Christ didn’t just fulfill the law; He ended it for those who trust Him. The phrase “end of the law” is loaded, but Paul doesn’t mean destruction or abolition in a chaotic sense—he means the law’s purpose as a covenantal authority for righteousness has reached its limit. Christ’s perfect obedience is credited to us, His death covers our penalty, and His resurrection opens a new way.
Doesn’t that just blow your mind? The weight of the law lifted from our backs—not because we’re better trainers—but because Jesus completed what we could never do. No more trying harder. No more guilt that spins you into despair. The law served its purpose, and grace takes the stage as the sole basis of righteousness.
What About Moral Standards? Is Anything Left of the Law?
Some Christians hear “end of the law” and think the moral compass is now obsolete. Not true. The guiding principles of God’s character don’t vanish—they’re just no longer the means to justify. The law becomes love, written into our hearts by the Spirit.
Knowing the difference matters. The law as a covenant of works ended; morality as an expression of grace continues. We don’t obey because we fear judgment or crave approval—we obey because we have been made new creations, empowered by grace to reflect Christ’s nature.
This is the beauty of rightly dividing the Word. The law portrays God’s holiness and shows us sin. Grace reveals God’s mercy and grants us the righteousness we lack. Both parts build a complete picture. To ignore the law is to misunderstand God’s holiness. To ignore grace is to live under condemnation.
The Danger of Legalism After Christ
I’ve seen well-meaning believers fall into legalism, confusing the law’s role after the cross. It’s tempting to lean back on “what I do” rather than “what Christ has done.” But legalism is a spiritual noose, tightening your grip on condemnation while pretending it’s freedom.
The true believer delights in obeying God—not out of fear or compulsion, but gratitude for what grace has accomplished. The law’s voice fades from condemning us to inviting us into love-driven obedience.
Paul warns about those who “rely on the law” (Galatians 5:4). They cut themselves off from grace, and ironically, the law becomes a cage instead of a guide.
How Faith Works Into This Picture
Faith is the lens that brings whole righteousness into focus. Not a vague “believe in yourself” or “have a positive attitude” kind of faith, but faith resting firmly on Jesus’ finished work.
When we understand Christ ended the law for righteousness, faith becomes the vehicle through which righteousness is received and the Spirit indwells, empowering the believer to genuinely walk holy. This is why Paul can say in Romans 10:4, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
I dare say this is the best news the Gospel offers: that test, that impossible standard, no longer defines us. Jesus does.
Living in the Freedom of the Finished Work
Okay, if the law ended for righteousness, does that mean lawlessness? Not at all. The grace life isn’t license to sin because “Jesus paid your debt.” That’s a misunderstanding that sows confusion and cheap grace. When you truly grasp you’re justified by faith and not works, obedience flows naturally—not forced, not shallow, but deeply rooted in love.
There’s a huge difference between “trying to earn” and “wanting to please.” The relationship changes everything. The law as a covenant becomes an internalized marker established by the Spirit, not an external burden.
It’s like being freed from prison but choosing to honor the guards-not because you have to, but because the whole system changed you.
Putting It Into Practice: What This Means for You
Maybe you’re stuck in that legalistic rut—maybe you’re worn out trying to measure up and failing. Maybe you’re just discovering that Christ’s righteousness is your identity rather than your performance. This message changes everything.
Start by embracing that the law served to bring you to Christ, but now righteousness is by faith alone. Let go of self-effort; it’s a dead end. Rest in the freedom that your standing before God is secure—“not by works, so no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:9). Then live from that place.
Obedience isn’t about earning favor. It’s a response—because grace is so astounding it flips your heart upside down. Want to grow? Don’t look at rules as walls. See them as reflections of God’s perfect heart, which you get to imitate out of thankfulness.
The {!!a href=”https://versefortheday.com/”!!}daily scripture guides and meditations often help me anchor that truth, reminding me that God’s Word breathes freedom.
Where Does This Leave the Law Today?
The law’s “end” doesn’t mean ignorance of God’s commands. Instead, it means those commands no longer dictate our righteousness or acceptance before the Father. They now reveal God’s character and train us to live as His beloved children.
The Spirit writes God’s laws on our hearts, well beyond mere external compliance. This is a grace move that invites rest into our souls. The law served to define sin; grace serves to erase it and empower holiness.
Paul’s teaching flips the old religious mindset on its head. It argues that those obsessed with “keeping the law” as a means to be right with God miss the point entirely. They miss the greater reality that Jesus produced a new covenant in His blood—one that brings righteousness not by human effort, but by divine provision alone.
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All this freedom is scary and beautiful at once. To be justified by faith and not works means no more spiritual performance anxiety. It means God views you through the lens of Christ’s perfect righteousness. So, when you stumble, you don’t collapse—you repent and rise, covered by grace.
Keep coming back to that. The law served its purpose. Grace isn’t just better—it’s everything.
If you’d like a fresh daily reminder of these truths, check out the inspiring scriptures shared on the Verse for the Day website. Let them carry you into deeper understanding and confidence in God’s finished work.
Faith isn’t about what you can do. It’s about what Christ has done—and that changes everything.