Does Paul Teach that the Law is Not Applicable for the New Covenant Believer?

It is common to hear among Christians that Paul teaches that the law is not applicable for the believer.  Although there are a number of verses written by Paul that are difficult to understand and are commonly understood to teach against the law, when viewed in their context this is shown to be untrue.  It should not be surprising for one to see Paul misunderstood, because many in the first century also misunderstood him.   This is the very reason Peter warned believers about Paul’s writings. 

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  (2 Peter 3:14-17)

Peter states that in his day, the unlearned and unstable were wresting or twisting the difficult Scriptures written by Paul.  Their twisting of the Scriptures resulted in “the error of the wicked.”   The word, “wicked” is the Greek word ἄθεσμος which means lawless.  In other words, Peter is saying that there were individuals in his day twisting Paul’s writings to say he promoted lawlessness.  To be lawless means one is in rebellion against the law of God. 

Peter, in this context desires for his readers to be found, “without spot and blameless”.  This is not referring to positional righteousness because they have already obtained righteousness as believers.    Instead, he wants these believers to be doing the things of God.  He thus warns his readers, that if they are not careful, they too could follow after these unlearned and unstable individuals and be “led away with the error of the wicked”.  He did not want these believers to do the same and follow the error of lawlessness. 

According to Peter, one should be wary of an interpretation of Paul that they think presents the idea that the Law of Moses is not applicable to the New Testament believer.  Why?  Because Peter indicates that a true understanding of Paul’s writings supported following the law.   

With this understanding, one should not be surprised to see the leaders at the Jerusalem church say that Paul was misunderstood by certain Jewish believers in Jerusalem.   These zealous law-following believers thought Paul was against the law of Moses, but the church leaders knew that this was not true.

 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. (Acts 21:19-24)

The leaders of the Jerusalem church were telling Paul that many have been misinformed.  However, Paul could potentially clear up this misunderstanding by participating with four other men that had taken a vow before the LORD and appear with them, supporting them, in the temple.  They assured Paul that if he did so, these misinformed believing Jews would see that they were wrong and that Paul in fact does walk orderly and keeps the law.  What is very clear from this text is that the church leaders understood Paul was for the law and not against it.  They understood that Paul still believed and taught that the law was applicable for the New Covenant believer.

It is interesting to note that Stephen faced the same false accusation that he preached against the Law of Moses.  Notice in Acts 6:9-14 how they had to bring in false witnesses to back up this claim:

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.” 

 Thus, it was a false claim that Stephen was against the Law of Moses and was trying to change the customs of Moses.

Why is it that many in Christianity misunderstand Paul when it is clear he was not opposed to the law, but instead promoted it and lived it?  I believe it is because many have been wrongly told and believe theological systems that teach the law or the Torah has been done away with.  In other words, they start with the assumption that the law is no longer applicable today.  With this understanding and approach, they wrongly understand Paul’s difficult teachings to be against the law.  But like Peter said, it is the unstable and unlearned that twist Paul’s writings to promote lawlessness. 

Paul is very clear in Romans 3:21 that faith in the Messiah does not do away with the law.  He says, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”  Paul is for living out the law of God!