Is the law dead in the New Testament?

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Jim_Baur

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Forgive such a basic and fundamental question.

Is the law dead in the New Testament?

I tried to search for the answer, but failed.

I am hoping to find an explicit statement, one way or the other.

THANKS
 
Jesus fulfilled the law in His flesh. The purpose of the law is to show us we are sinners in need of a Savior. Paul says the law can save no one. The law is external focusing on keeping rules, while our faith in Christ is internal transforming us through the Spirit.

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
 
ok… I feel like you are essentially asking about salvation by faith or by works… is that it? sorry for my confusion
 
Max75

No! I am not thinking about faith and works.
I am working through Romans, especially chapter 7.
In the first part of the chapter 7 St. Paul uses the comparison of marriage, death, and a widow. My curiosity is with the law there. Is the husband the law?

If the law is dead, killed, destroyed, abolished, then the law might be a candidate in the comparison.

I know that it one case, Eph 2: 15, one translation says the law is destroyed.

But I am wondering if there are explicit statements.

Sorry about the poor writing, but it is really difficult for me.

THANKS
 
The Old Covenant was never revoked, even though it was made obsolete and replaced by a new and better covenant. The law must still be fulfilled but the right way now, by grace, by love, by communion with God, ‘apart from Whom we can do nothing’, John 15:5. We follow Jesus into this union/communion, and become transformed into law abiders, obedient because we want to, obedient because we love.
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”a and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Rom 13:8-11

From the Catechism:
121 The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. Its books are divinely inspired and retain a permanent value, for the Old Covenant has never been revoked.

The Law is powerless to justify us; it “kills” if we try to obey by our own efforts, apart from God, because we can only fail in the end, or put on a pretense of holiness at best.
 
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Matthew 5:17.

The old law is fulfilled. Complete. It is finished.

It was God who made the first covenant. God who came again and established the new. The world has dramatically changed from the keeping of the old law. Testament enough I think to its passing.
 
Jim_Baur said:
No! I am not thinking about faith and works.

I am working through Romans, especially chapter 7.

In the first part of the chapter 7 St. Paul uses the comparison of marriage, death, and a widow. My curiosity is with the law there. Is the husband the law?

If the law is dead, killed, destroyed, abolished, then the law might be a candidate in the comparison.
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No. See Romans 7 verses 4 and 6. It’s not the law that is dead, it’s us: “you were put to death to the law … but now we are released from the law, dead to what held us captive.”

The law continues to exist, but no longer has jurisdiction over us who are believers in Christ.
 
Not dead, but fulfilled, through the New Covenant, which is Christ Jesus.
 
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