July 16
Christ: The End of the Law
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes”
Romans 10: 4.
And whereas it is said Christ kept the law as our example, that we by keeping it might get to heaven as he; it is false, as before was showed—"He is the end of the law.” Or [Christ] hath perfectly finished it, “for righteousness to everyone that believeth” (Romans 10: 4). No man can keep the moral law as Christ, unless he be first without sin, as Christ [was]. Unless he be God and man, as Christ [is]. And again; Christ cannot be our pattern in keeping the law for life because of the disproportion that is between him and us. For if we do it as he [did] when yet we are weaker than he; what is this but to out-vie [or] outdo and go beyond Christ? Wherefore we, not he, have our lives exemplary: Exemplary, I say, to him; for who do[es] the greatest work, they that take it in hand in full strength as Christ; or he that takes it in hand in weakness as we [do]? Doubtless the last if he fulfils it as Christ. So, then, by this doctrine, while we call ourselves his scholars, we make ourselves indeed the masters. But I challenge all the angels in heaven, let them but first sin as we have done, to fulfil the law, as Christ, if they can! [?]
Again, if Christ be our pattern in keeping the law for life from the curse before God, then Christ fulfilled the law for himself. If so, he was imperfect before he fulfilled it. And how far short this is of blasphemy let sober Christians judge. For the righteousness he fulfilled was to justify from sin; but if it was not to justify us from ours, you know what remains (Daniel 9: 26; Isaiah 53: 8-10).