Romans 4:14-15, Is There No Law?

Romans 4:14-15 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Cicero in De Republica acknowledged the universality of God’s law as summarized by the Ten Commandments rendering man without excuse not to be judged by it. He testified rightly, “There is indeed a true law, right reason, conformable to nature, diffused among all, unchanging, eternal, which by commanding, urges to duty, by prohibiting, deters from fraud; not in vain commanding or prohibiting the good, though by neither moving the wicked. This law cannot be abrogated, nor may anything be withdrawn from it; it is in the power of no senate or people to set us free from it; not is there to be sought any extraneous teacher or interpreter of it. It shall not be one law at Rome, another at Athens; one now, another at some future time; but one law, alike eternal, unchangeable, shall bind all nations and through time; and one shall be the common teacher as it were, and governor of all – God, who is Himself the Author, the Administrator, and Enactor of this law.”

And so the Apostle Paul truthfully declared that if salvation comes by keeping the law then it is meaningless to talk about justification by faith. This law refers to the Ten Commandments, the moral law, given to Israel at Mount Sinai.

The law, in fact, does not justify the sinner but condemns him. In truth, even by his best effort, man is unable to keep the law fully. Hence, God judgement comes upon the transgressor who disobeys the law. He is without excuse but pronounced guilty.

Recall,  the Apostle Paul said in Romans 4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

In other words, if a man can obey the law perfectly, then God’s grace is not needed. Salvation does not have to come by faith in God’s promise. But God has it all worked out for us. A careful observation of sinful man will help us to come to a truthful conclusion that he cannot keep the law to earn his salvation.

I recall the testimony of an elderly lady who realised the futility of waking up early to pray to her gods after 30 years. True peace and joy eluded her until she came to accept by faith the promise of God that salvation comes freely through Jesus Christ. She was gloriously saved when she renounced her idols and realise she is a sinner when she understood the impossibility of Ten Commandments. God’s light finally came upon her soul. She was so happy. From that Sunday when she first accept Christ, she testified how God, by His grace, enabled her to come to church for worship every Lord’s Day. What a wonderful salvation.  Amen.