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Not Under the Law? John MacArthur Weighs In

Posted by Scott Brown on June 17, 2010

Our church recently studied Galatians via our expositional preaching ministry on Sunday mornings. We engaged this study while in the middle of doing exposition on Deuteronomy which helped to clarify the nature and purposes of the law.

John MacArthur explains the often misunderstood idea that we are, “not under the law”

There is a popular notion afoot that assumes that the moral law is not binding on us. MacArthur writes,

“The phrase "under the law" occurs at least ten times in Paul's epistles, so we know it is a crucial concept in his theology. In Galatians 3:23, for example, He writes, "Before faith came, we were kept under the law" (Gal. 3:23). Now, however, he says as Christians we are "not under the law" (Gal. 5:18).

I often hear Christians recite the phrase "not under the law, but under grace" as if it meant no standard of law whatsoever is ever binding on believers. Grace is seen as a grand permissiveness, contrasting with the uncompromising moral standard of the law.”

John MacArthur further explains this in, “How Does Grace Free Us From the Law”


comments to "Not Under the Law? John MacArthur Weighs In"
Great quote from MacArthur on the proper understanding of the Mosaic Law. Here is more from MacArthur on the implications for the Sabbath: ============= "Because keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments, it may be helpful to comment on that part of the moral law. ... Because Christ fulfilled all righteousness and has become our righteousness, the purpose of Sabbath observance ended at the cross. ... Every day has become holy to the Lord. In demonstration of that fact the early church met together every day for worship (Acts 2:46). But before long their primary worship meetings were held on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:2), which came to be called the Lord's Day (Rev. 1:10) because of its association with Jesus' resurrection. ... As Paul made clear, however, there is no longer any special day of worship (Rom. 14:5-6; Col. 2:16-17). Worship on Tuesday, Thursday, or any other day of the week is no less biblical or spiritual than worship on the Lord's Day. Sunday is not the "Christian Sabbath," as some claim, but is simply the day of worship most Christians have observed since New Testament times, a special time set aside for spiritual exercises. The moral aspect inherent in the Sabbath law is the heart of true worship." From "The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew 1-7", pp. 256-257. =============
Posted by Gary Gaskins on 06/17/10

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