Romans 3:31, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

This morning, many claim that the Old Testament no longer applies to us. While the ceremonial law of Moses has been completely fulfilled by Christ, the moral precepts were not done away with at Christ's advent. Therefore, to say that the Old Testament has been done away with and vanish is a leap that will not stand to Scriptural examination (as shown by this verse). The New Testament builds on the principles started in the Old by showing the perfect manifestation of those principles in the Person of Jesus Christ. The law was a shadow pointing toward Him.

He declares Himself that His purpose was not to destroy the law but to fulfil it. In the close of this chapter, Paul states that the law has not been done away with. From the opening of the book, the major point that Paul is building is of things done by faith. He is about to launch into the 4th chapter and talk about Abraham's actions by faith and hope. He declares that the gospel is only viable when faith is present. In all of the points that he brings out, faith is at the forefront by which we see the Person of Christ. However, lest any egg-head should come along and say, "Well, Paul's teachings completely nullify the law." Paul states that such is the void of truth. The righteousness which is by faith does not destroy the law. The righteousness which is by faith ESTABLISHES the law. The law declares that a man should not kill. The person without faith will try to get as close to breaking it (by the letter) as he can without suffering consequences. The person that is trying to walk by faith and not by sight desires to not even be angry with his brother without a cause. The righteousness which is by faith, desires the spirit of the law and not just the letter. The law declares that we should not commit adultery. The faithless person will flirt, look, lust, etc as far as possible without suffering any consequences. However, the person walking by faith desires and tries to not even look upon a woman with lust in his heart. Yea, these actions are not destroying or nullifying the law, but they are establishing the underlying purpose of the law. The law was not written for the letter to be kept alone, but it was written to teach what our thoughts and intents should be on. Jesus reveals the express purpose of the law while on this earth. Many Pharisees were busy keeping the letter of it, but their heart was far from the Lord. Today, man can be bribed into keeping a mere fraction of the law, but the disciple of Christ desires to keep more than he currently does. This righteousness which is by faith knows that Christ has kept the perfect law, and our desire is to be like Him. If His mind was to keep His mind, heart, AND actions from sin, so should our mind be. May we ever press forward in keeping the law of righteousness, not to get something in return (such as eternal life) but out of thankfulness to Him for giving us all things (eternal life).