ARE WE UNDER THE LAW? — HOW THE LAW IS FULFILLED BY ABIDING IN JESUS

May 22, 2026 12 Min Read

Many people believe the Law was given just to show us that we cannot keep it (Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:19), or they think that grace is a free pass from the Law (Romans 6:1–2). Both misunderstandings miss the deeper truth.

Scripture shows that the Law was never given to be a mere checklist, and grace is not a license to disobey. The Law was always about love, communion, uprightness, and becoming acceptable before God—and it is fulfilled perfectly only by abiding in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:4; Galatians 2:20).

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THE LAW’S ORIGINAL PURPOSE: TOTAL LOVE & COMMUNION

Jesus did not redefine the Law. He revealed what it always was.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength… and your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37–40; Mark 12:30–31; Luke 10:27)

This was not a later summary—it was the essence of the Law from the beginning (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18).

• Love of God = vertical (Deuteronomy 10:12; Joshua 22:5)
• Love of neighbor = horizontal (Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 17:17)

Together, they form the CROSS

The Law was given so humanity could:
• Love God with all the heart — not part of it (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37)
• Love one another as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18; John 13:34–35; Romans 13:8–10)
• Walk in God’s holy rhythm (Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 23)
• Remain undefiled (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
• Be upright, acceptable, and pleasing to Him (Psalm 15:1–5; Micah 6:8)
• Live in communion and hear His voice (Isaiah 30:21; John 10:27)

It was always about restoring the broken relationship humanity inherited from Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8–10; Romans 5:12–19), re-establishing fellowship with God and with one another (Genesis 2:16–17; Colossians 1:21–22).

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JESUS IS NOT JUST THE LAW-GIVER — HE IS THE LAW IN THE FLESH

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14; Hebrews 4:15)

The Law was always the expression of God’s Word—and Jesus is that Word embodied.

• He didn’t abolish the Law (Matthew 5:17–18; Romans 3:31)
• He didn’t relax it
• He walked it perfectly (John 8:29; 1 Peter 2:21)

“I did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.” (Matthew 5:17)

Jesus fulfills the Law by:
• Loving perfectly  (John 15:9–10; 1 John 4:10–11)
• Obeying the Father completely  (John 6:38; Philippians 2:8)
• Walking in total purity  (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 1:19)
• Laying down His life for others  (John 10:11, 15; Ephesians 5:2)

He didn’t lower the standard—He became it.

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WHAT ABIDING IN CHRIST ACTUALLY MEANS

Jesus never said “try harder.”
He said “abide.”

“Abide in Me… apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5; John 14:23)

Abiding is not passive belief — it is remaining in Christ’s life, covenant, and God-given rhythm (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:6–7).

We abide through:
Washing of feet — humility and love in action (John 13:1–17; Philippians 2:3–4)
Communion in His body and blood — covenant participation, remaining clean and undefiled (John 6:53–56; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26)
Remaining in His love through obedience (John 15:10; 1 John 2:5)

These are not works to earn righteousness — they are means of remaining ordered, upright, and in fellowship, just as Jesus Himself walked.

Abiding means staying where God meets His people (Psalm 91:1–2; Matthew 18:20).

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COMMUNION IS COVENANT PARTICIPATION, NOT SYMBOL ONLY

“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17)

Communion is where:
• The old man stays crucified  (Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20)
• The conscience is cleansed  (Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7)
• Fellowship is preserved  (1 Corinthians 11:24–26)

This cleansing is ongoing, not merely positional (Hebrews 10:22).

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CRUCIFYING THE FLESH — OR VIOLATING ABIDING

Paul and Hebrews speak with clarity.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh.” (Galatians 5:24; Romans 6:6)
“They crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” (Hebrews 6:6)

When we:
• Return to the flesh (Romans 8:13)
• Justify sin (Romans 6:1–2)
• Treat grace as license (Titus 2:11–12)

We are no longer living the crucified life, but violating communion by refusing to remain dead with Christ.

Grace is not permission to sin —
Grace is power to stay crucified.

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WHY BREAKING EVEN “THE LEAST” COMMANDMENT MATTERS

“Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments… will be called least in the kingdom.” (Matthew 5:19)
“Whoever keeps the whole Law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (James 2:10)
“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:18)
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.” (Matthew 12:33)
“By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:43–45)

You cannot partially fulfill righteousness.
You cannot keep most of the Law.
You cannot fulfill the Law without walking exactly like Jesus.

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THE LAW IS FULFILLED ONLY BY CHRIST LIVING IN US

“The mind set on the flesh does not submit to God’s law—indeed, it cannot.” (Romans 8:7)
“Put to death what is earthly in you.” (Colossians 3:5)
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

This was promised long before Paul wrote:

“I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.” (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 11:19)
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you… and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules.” (Ezekiel 36:26–27)

Paul explains the mechanism, not an exception:

“God sent His Son… so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3–4)
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6)

The Law is fulfilled because Christ lives in us. Anything less would break it.

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HEARING GOD REQUIRES UPRIGHT COMMUNION

“Your iniquities have separated you from your God.” (Isaiah 59:2)
“My sheep hear My voice.” (John 10:27)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

Hearing God is tied to:
• Walking in the light (1 John 1:7; Ephesians 5:8)
• Remaining undefiled (2 Corinthians 7:1; James 1:27)

Not legalism — living fellowship.

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THE WORLD RECOGNIZES JESUS BY OUR LOVE — FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION

“By this all will know you are My disciples—if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19–20)
“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Love is not just a private virtue—it is the visible witness to the world.

Every act of humility, service, and sacrificial care declares who Jesus is: the Living God, King of kings, and the One who laid down His life for His people (John 3:16; Ephesians 5:2).

When we love as Christ loves, we are actively fulfilling the Great Commission:

• Every act of true love shows Jesus is alive (Romans 5:5)
• Every reconciliation and servant-hearted deed displays His kingdom authority (Matthew 25:40)
• Every time we forgive, bear with, and serve, we manifest the heart of God (Colossians 3:12–14)

Love becomes both proof and proclamation:
It proves we belong to Jesus and proclaims to the world that He is who He said He is.

The Law is fulfilled, the cross is made known, and the gospel is lived outwardly, not just preached.

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FINAL TRUTH

• The Law forms the cross  (Galatians 6:14)
• The cross restores communion  (Colossians 1:21–22)
• Breaking one command exposes human inability  (James 2:10)
• Abiding keeps us upright and acceptable  (John 15:10)
• God writes His Law on our hearts  (Jeremiah 31:33)
• The Spirit causes obedience  (Philippians 2:13; Ezekiel 36:27)
• The flesh must stay crucified  (Galatians 5:24)
• Christ living in us fulfills every command  (Romans 8:4)
• Love — total love — is the proof  (1 John 4:12)