The Requirement of the Law

The Requirement of the Law

“That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

The usual understanding is that Jesus fulfilled the law in our place, so we would not have to fulfill it. But we see that Paul writes the exact opposite. What is the requirement of the law? It is: You shall not covet! The law is only satisfied after covetousness has been put to death. On this point the law was weak because of the flesh. The law was not weak if someone stole, committed adultery, or killed someone. It could punish and do away with such things; yet it was weak when it had to deal with someone who did not commit such acts, but who coveted instead.

In the old covenant there were many who were blameless according to the law. Saul was one of them. Phil. 3:6. However, they could not fulfill the requirement of the law. Jesus was the first in whom God could do this work. The desires were in the flesh; therefore we read about the flesh with its passions and desires. Gal. 5:24. Whenever victory over sin is preached there are usually some who are in agreement when it concerns sinful deeds, but then they say, “But what about our thought life?” This is where the desires come to the fore, and we realize that the law is not satisfied if our thought life is impure, even though we do not commit the deed. On this point God’s people are completely puzzled and helpless. Most people do not believe in victory in deed, and even less so when it comes to their thought life. Consequently they draw a line across Paul’s words and change it to mean that Jesus has fulfilled the law in our place.

What did God do to make it possible for us to fulfill the requirement of the law? He sent “His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.” Rom. 8:3. The law could not condemn sin in the flesh. It could only condemn it after it had entered the heart, but by then one was already impure. Jesus never became impure. Sin was condemned in His flesh; therefore He could keep His thought life pure.

God did not do this for Jesus’ sake; He did it for our sake. After the work was finished in Jesus He could send His Spirit; therefore sin can now also be condemned in our flesh by the leading of the Spirit. We do not need to nourish sin in our heart first with the result that our thought life becomes impure before it is put to death. Not at all! The law, “You shall not covet,” is fulfilled in us who walk according to the Spirit. Sin in the flesh is put to death, and our thought life is kept pure. The law was too weak to lead people to perfection—into the new covenant. Heb. 7:11, 19.

Only a few people live this hidden life with Christ in God. Most people live before the face of man and are satisfied when they are blameless according to the law. Yet they never enter into rest because the desires of the flesh smolder in their hearts and minds, and they have their hands full trying to live up to the standard of Christianity that is applicable in their assembly.

It is impossible to find all the sin that dwells in the flesh through the law with which Moses came. It only reveals part of it. However, Jesus came with the truth. John 1:17. Now we can find all the sin that dwells in the flesh through the leading of the Spirit—these are the laws that the Spirit writes in our hearts and minds. This is a way, a walk, and a development. We are called to follow Jesus by taking up our cross daily and denying ourselves.

On this point Israel is an example to us when they conquered the land and the Lord promised to lead them to their enemies. They conquered place after place and slew everything that drew breath. But if they took anything that was accursed, they suffered defeat. No one can gain the victory if he loves the world or the things of the world. The requirement for following Jesus is to forsake everything.

It was the Captain of the Lord’s host who led Joshua to the enemy, just as the Spirit enlightens us so we can see sin in our flesh. However, if we nurture sin in our thought life, the dying of Christ will not work in us, and we will never enter into rest. It will only result in a life of bondage, trying to suppress the desires and attempting to be blameless according to the law. This points to a lack of faithfulness in the hidden life. One does not walk before the Lord’s face.

It was the same with Israel. After Joshua and the elders had died, Israel was not faithful to God by slaying everything that drew breath; they made their enemies pay tribute instead. Judges 2. Therefore Israel never had rest in the land. Their enemies would rise up and gain the upper hand, and then Israel would cry out to God, and He would help them. It was a life of victory and defeat, a striking picture of most Christians’ lives. The reason is that they love the world and the things of the world. They do not truly live for God.

The exceedingly great and precious promises speak of becoming a partaker of the divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:4. For us to become partakers of the divine nature, the dying of Christ has to make an end of the desires—the passions in the flesh. 2 Cor. 4:10-11. This is the salvation of the new covenant. This will result in a pure thought life, true rest and joy. This is the salvation God gave us by sending His Son.