YAHSHUA: THE END OF THE LAW
By Voy Wilks (1/29/88)
“For the Messiah is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:4 KJV).
What is the meaning of t his? Did the law cease to exist once the Messiah was sacrificed? Does the law no longer act as our guide to tell us right from wrong? Can we with impunity curse father and mother and still enjoy Yahweh’s blessing? Can we kill our neighbor and still consider ourselves righteous, because the Messiah is the “end of the law?” I think you will agree that we can do none of these things and remain in Yahweh’s favor. What, then, is the meaning of Romans 10:4?
The key to understanding this verse is the word “end.” In English it can mean aim, goal, purpose, result, as well as to cease. The Greek word “telos” from which it is translated, can have similar meaning. Consider the following passages.
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to Yahweh, ye have your fruits unto holiness, and the end (telos) everlasting life” (Rom. 6:22). Being made free from sin, our aim, our goal, is everlasting life.
“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: …” (1 Tim. 1:5). Did the commandment end; the commandment which says love Yahweh and love your neighbor? No. Once again, we see that the meaning is, “the purpose of the commandment” is to maintain unfeigned love. The Revised Standard Version gives it this way: “… whereas the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart …”
“Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:9). The RSV says, “As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.” And the Berkley Version: “While you obtain the salvation of your souls as the goal of your faith.”
“Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of Yahweh; that Yahweh is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:11). What is this? The Supreme Being came to an end? No, my brethren. We have seen the goal, or the purpose, of the Supreme Being in the bringing many souls, including Job, to salvation. The RSV reads as follows: “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of Yahweh …”
Now, take a second look at Romans 10:4. Many of the Jewish people in Paul’s day did not see the need for a Savior, a Messiah. They had the law which defined sin and, therefore, the way toward righteousness (Rom. 10: 1-3). But that is exactly the problem. The law only defines sin. It does not; it cannot, remove sin. What did Paul write in another place? The law is our schoolmaster to bring us to the Messiah, that we might be justified; not by the law, but by faith (Gal. 3:24). So Yahshua the Messiah was the end, the purpose, the goal, of the law (Rom. 10:4). What the law cannot do (remove sin), Yahshua can do – and will do – for all who believe in Yahweh; repent of breaking the law; confess Yahshua as the Messiah (Rom. 10:8, 9, 10); and are baptized in Yahshua’s name (Rom. 6:1-6). Once this is done, the believer is no longer under the (death) penalty of the law, but is a potential recipient of everlasting life (Rom. 6:21 – 23). The law still stands, including the fourth commandment.