Those who walk after the Spirit do have God fulfilling the Law in them (Ro 8:4),
Romans 8:3-4 KJV
3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The Law fulfilled in us, not by us.
so that they do fulfill the whole Law (Ro 13:8-10),
Romans 13:8-10 KJV
8) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9) For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
What does it mean that love fulfills the Law? Does it mean that Christians keep all the Mosaic commandments? Does it mean that the purpose for the Law is met, even though the specific commandments are not in view?
What does it mean to you?
hence the Law is not overthrown (Ro 3:31),
Romans 3:30-31 KJV
30) Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31) Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
What do you mean when you say "the Law is not overthrown"?
Paul's argument here is that the necessity for faith shows that the Law is in fact valid and in force. Because everyone HAS TO have faith because everyone has broken the Law. Faith validates the Law by it's necessity.
because we are "doers of the Law" who will be justified by doing good (Ro 2:6-16), as opposedt to being told, "Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness! I never knew you!"
Romans 2:4-15 KJV
4) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6) Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8) But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10) But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11) For there is no respect of persons with God.
12) For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13)
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15) Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
No one - no one - not one - has kept the Law completely. Paul's statement here is absolute. Only the doers of the Law shall be justified, that is, by the keeping of the Law. Not "sometimes doers of the Law", not "neo-doers of the Law", but only those who keep the Law, in it's entirety, in the ways God meant the words, not this hokey "tie a rope so you can go further on the Sabbath", or some other subterfuge.
He's saying no matter whether you have the Law or you don't, you are still dead in your sin, and will be condemned by God.
This is just as James teaches : Abraham's faith was completed by his good works inspired by his faith, and he was justified by his good deeds, which meant he was justified by faith, because faith is completed by good deeds the way a body is completed by a spirit or a spirit is completed by a body.
James wrote concerning the demonstration of our faith to others, and in this way, our works justify us, but not before God. He knows our hearts, we don't earn salvation from God by doing good works.
James 2:18 LITV
But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith out of my works.
We don't have to make a physical demonstration of our faith to God, so that we can prove to Him what we believe, and whether we trust Him. The fact is, He knows full well whether He's given us rebirth or not.
When we are "under Grace", Paul expects sin will not "Master" us--ie, make us it's slaves--so, again, being "under Grace" is "the new way of serving".
Amen!!
Romans 6:1-2 KJV
1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Much love!
