Did the death of Jesus on the Cross cancel the law of God?
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 that He “did not come to destroy” the Law, but to fulfill it. To fulfill something does not mean to cancel or do away with it. It means to accomplish, achieve, or carry it out. Jesus did not come to do away with the Law, but to show us that we can keep it, by God’s power.
Nowhere in the Bible—and especially the New Testament—does it say that Jesus’ death on the Cross cancels or omits the Law of God from the Christian experience. In fact, Jesus said:
“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Matthew 5:18
Has Heaven passed away? Has Earth passed away? Have all that is in the Scriptures been fulfilled? The answer is no, so therefore, God’s Law still stands.
No wonder Paul said that we should “establish the law” (Romans 3:31). He also writes, “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Romans 7:12. God’s Law should still be upheld in a Christian’s mind today. It is not the means by which we are saved, but a schoolmaster and a guide that leads us to our Savior (Galatians 3:24).
We are not saved by the Law; we are saved by the grace of Jesus (Ephesians 2:8–10). However, the outworking of our love for Him is the keeping of His commandments (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).