What does Paul mean by "works of the law"?

For centuries it has been very popular to preach against ”works of the law”. This term obviously comes from Paul’s letters:

 

Rom. 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

 

Rom. 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works

 

While this theme is most celebrated, the real reason for Paul’s writings is neglected all along.

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Resisting works of the law today?

 

Paul wanted to address a problem that was occuring around him at that time. The priests had long taught that a person could have their sins forgiven and become “perfect” through the works of the law. This belief can be seen in Hebrews 10:1:

 

 …can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

 

Paul goes on further in Hebrews 10:11:

 

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins

 

This is the problem Paul confronted by standing against the ”works of the law”. Sacrifices are works described in the law of Moses. Jesus offered the escape from that, but many people continued the practise.

 

This problem is long gone. Paul was successful in his work. There is nobody performing works (= sacrifices) described in the law of Moses. There is also no people that believe they become perfect that way. Times have changed. Therefore there is no need any more to preach against the works of the law.

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Paul's words are used today in reference to things that have nothing to do with Paul's message. Contents have been changed, yet those preachers insist that the end results do not change. The Bible does not grant authority to anyone to change it's message.

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10 Commandments are not works of the law

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The 10 Commandments need no particular set of works. One who wishes to not take the name of the Lord in vain, does not perform some ritual or even any action to keep that command, therefore doing no works.

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On the other hand, someone who wishes to perform a sacrifice needs a set of actions for that ritual, doing specific kind of works. That difference reveals straight away that "works of the law" do not refer to Ten Commandments. They do not refer to anything to do with morals, not even any set of church practises. They are the specific works described in the Torah.

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Commonly used verses

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Now let us put this approach into use in some of the commonly used verses. Paul does not elaborate on law in every single verse, for example in Rom. 10:4

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For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

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But the definition can be found in the context. In chapter 10 he continues his speech about his breathren that begins in Rom. 9. Explanation for the mentioned "law" is in Rom. 9:31-32:

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But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.

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In this same instance there is the answer to self-righteousness. Paul refers to these same people, continuing to write about them in Rom. 10:3:

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For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

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No one else is mentioned throughout this discussion from Rom. 9 to Rom. 10 than those who seek to establish righteousness by the works of the law of sacrifice. Therefore we get the biblical answer to self-righteousness. It is the failing endeavour to achieve salvation by means of rituals.

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Faith remains the same

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Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

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Rom. 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

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"Faith" in the above verses, and wherever Paul uses it, remains the same, just like Jesus described it. Paul was simply resisting sacrifice, which does not make faith abstract. Nothing can change God's truth as Jesus taught it.

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For righteousness there is only the law of God, to be revealed in faith. Rom. 1:17:

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For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 

It is this righteousness that established the Universe. The same is also needed for man to live in it.

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Terms and phrazes

 

Over the years many terms out of the original context have become grounded in religious talk, like ”legalism”. There can be no legalism of biblical context today. Likewise the ”saved by works” versus ”saved by grace” debate is pointless, because ”works” have ended so long ago.

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Hebr. 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

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