| Romans 3:31 31 Do we then render inoperative the law through faith? Absolutely not, instead we establish the law.4 [A man who walks in the royal law of love, is prompted and energized by God what to say and what to do, so that his every action and word is from loving obedience to the will of God. He no longer walks by laws that restricted his flesh, having crucified his fleshly nature and having died to the law through the many laws received as commands from the Lord, which progressively reduced his fleshly life's actions, words, and thoughts until gone. Truly such a man loves the LORD your God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his mind, and with all his strength; and loves his neighbor as himself. Such a man fulfills the law and establishes the law — thus honoring the law. From the Word of the Lord within: "We establish the law with honor."] | |||||||||
4 Do we then render inoperative the law through faith? Absolutely not, instead we establish the law. So the law has not been made void. You must obey the moral parts of the Law, which is not works of law. The other word-for-word Bible translations also make it clear: (click to see)
New King James reads: Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
New International reads: Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Amplified reads: Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law.
New American Standard reads: On the contrary, we establish the law.
Paul's letters have been misunderstood to eliminate all the law, and nothing could be further from the truth, unless you have progressed so far as to be under complete control of the Spirit of God. Jesus was asked, What must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus replied: keep the commandments. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. He listed the moral core of the law that is on every man's heart. Then he told him he must sell his possessions, give to the poor, take up the cross, and follow him. To follow him is to wait, listen in silence, hear, and obey, thus to receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21.
While our selfish spirit is still alive, not yet completely crucified on the inward cross of self denial, we must still do for others, what we would have them do to us; we must still love our neighbor as ourselves; we must not steal, lie, murder, commit adultery, covet, etc. Your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees. As you advance spiritually by keeping his commands that you hear him speak to you, the love of God is finally perfected within you, 1 John 2:5. Then love fulfills the law, and we establish the law. To fulfill the law is to completely comply with it, making it even more valid and stronger. You go past the law, walking under complete control of the Spirit. From the Word of the Lord within: "There are no laws when you are under complete control of the spirit; you walk in love in obedience as prompted — you don't walk in restricted flesh." The Law was applied to fallen man, who lost the life and guidance of God; no law applies to a man who has been restored to the spiritual image of God.
And until we can hear the Lord and follow his counsel to become changed, the inner law on every man's heart, (which inner law includes the moral core of the Mosaic law), is our schoolmaster, a reminder to us of our problems, and a motivator to repent from our old ways and to seek divine help to be even more different, and thus to become pleasing to God. While the inner law on the heart of every man, which includes moral core of the outward law, is our schoolmaster, we know the state Paul described he once was in: "For I understood not what I did, for not what I intended to have practiced, instead I did what I hated." Rom 7:15, and then "Now if what was intended not, I did, it is no more me that did it, but the sin that dwelled in me. Rom 7:17." Paul passed through both of these states, and everyone must pass through these stages before they arrive at the liberty of the sons of God to enjoy Christian freedom. (Paul's final state was: it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.)
Without obedience, you cannot know Jesus: By this we know that we know him: if we keep [obey] his commands. 1 John 2:3
Without obedience, you cannot love Jesus: If a man loves me, he will keep my words [obey me, practice my teachings]. John 14:23
Without obedience you are not a friend of Jesus: You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. John 15:14
Without obedience, you cannot have been born again while still sinning: Whoever has been born of God does not sin. 1 John 3:9.
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