Now that I am saved, do I still need to keep the law?
The short answer to your good question is “NO”, you do not need to keep the law. Let’s look at what the scriptures say that show us we are not bound by the law. Romans 8:1-3, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”
The Law could never save us. In fact, it was never meant to save anyone. Galatians 3:19 tells us, “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” Galatians 3:24-25 goes on to say, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” The law was given because of the sins of the people. It was ultimately given to show men their sinfulness and need of a savior. After receiving Christ as our savior through faith in Him, the law is not needed. Indeed, as we have already read, having Christ as our savior, we are now “free from the law of sin and death.” We read in Romans 10:4, “For Christ is THE END OF THE LAW for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Salvation comes through faith in Christ, not by the works of the law. Galatians 2:16 says, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Knowing that, should we try to live according to the law in order to please the Lord? Again, the answer is NO. Let’s consider the words of Galatians 3:11, “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” The Apostle Paul states in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
In truth, we could NEVER keep God’s perfect law. No man ever did, except for the Lord Jesus Christ who came to “…redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:5). Why did Christ come to redeem those who were under the law? Because the law could not redeem, it could only condemn. As believers on the Lord Jesus, our standard is to seek to please our savior, it is not to try to obey the points of the law.
Some have asked if we, as believers, should not we obey the Ten Commandments? Let me be clear and point out that the Ten Commandments, and all the law, were given to the Jews, not to the Gentiles. We read in Leviticus 26:46, “These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made BETWEEN HIM AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.” While all men are transgressors of the perfect and holy Law of God, only one group of people on earth were ever commanded by God to live according to that law. However, with a careful study of the New Testament, you will find that each of the Ten Commandments are given to us in the epistles of Paul. ALL, except one! In the New Testament writing of Paul, we are never told to observe the Sabbath.
We are not to live according to the Law of Moses, rather we are to live according to the “perfect Law of Liberty.” (James 1:25) (CC) (602.6)