The Apostle Paul played a significant role in explaining how Jesus fulfilled the Torah Law and how believers are now under grace. His teachings are central to understanding the transition from the Old Covenant, based on the Law, to the New Covenant, based on grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Fulfilling the Torah
Paul’s writings often emphasize that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. This fulfillment is understood in several ways:
- Affirmation and Completion: Jesus affirmed the Torah’s commandments and brought them to their full expression. This means that He demonstrated how to live out the Torah’s principles, focusing on love for God and one’s neighbor. Jesus’ life and teachings exemplified the true intent of the Law, which is rooted in love and righteousness.
- Prophetic Fulfillment: Jesus’ life and mission fulfilled the prophecies and the deeper spiritual meanings embedded in the Torah. He embodied the divine ideals that the Law pointed towards, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
- Transformation of the Law’s Role: Paul argues that the Law was a guide to lead people to Christ. Once faith in Christ is established, the believer is no longer under the Law as a means of justification but under grace.
Believers Under Grace
Paul’s teachings also focus on the concept of grace, which is a central theme in his letters:
- Justification by Faith: Paul emphasizes that believers are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by observing the Law. This justification is a gift of grace, meaning it is unearned and freely given by God. Paul illustrates this in his letters to the Romans and Galatians, where he argues that faith, like Abraham’s, is credited as righteousness.
- Living Under Grace: For Paul, living under grace means that believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live righteous lives. This grace enables them to fulfill the Law’s true intent, which is love. He writes that love is the fulfillment of the Law, as it encapsulates all the commandments.
- Freedom from the Law’s Condemnation: Paul teaches that through Jesus’ sacrifice, believers are no longer condemned by the Law. Instead, they live in the freedom of grace, which leads to life and peace.
In summary, Paul articulates a profound theological shift from the Law to grace, emphasizing that Jesus fulfilled the Torah by living out its true meaning and purpose. Believers, therefore, are called to live under grace, empowered by faith and love, which surpasses the mere observance of the Law.
M. J. Kelley II
