The Fruits Of The Spirit … and No Law?

Does the Apostle Paul teach us in the book of Galatians that the Law is done away with?

It is said by many folks who love the apostle Paul’s writings that he taught that the Law was done away
with. The purpose of this article is to show that embracing the Fruits of the Spirit does NOT mean the
Law was done away with.

The inspiration for this article, Praise Yahweh, came from reading His Word, specifically in Galatians 5.
Many are familiar with the verses that speak of the Fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law.”

As we see, there are no laws against the Fruits of the Spirit. But does that mean that if we embrace and
live by Fruits of the Spirit there is no law for us to follow any more?

Let’s take a look at preceding verses. In Galatians 5:16-21, Paul talks about the Flesh versus the Spirit,
and how they are contrary to each other. Paul teaches that if we engage in those lusts of the flesh, we
shall not inherit the kingdom of Yahweh, and that if we live by the Spirit we are not under the law.

Are we not to obey the law if we live by the Spirit? For clarification, we can look to Paul’s letter to the
Romans, where he teaches that if we yield to Yahweh in righteousness then sin is no longer our master
(Romans 6:11-15). A righteous person is not under the influence of sin and is free from the penalty of
breaking the law, and by grace we may obtain eternal life through Yahshua Messiah our Master
(Romans 6:18-23; see also Ephesians 2:1-8). This is consistent with what Paul says in Galatians 5:1-5
about how Messiah has made us free, and how through the Spirit we can obtain righteousness by faith.
Paul again mentions the Spirit, urging us to live and walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). This is
consistent with the teaching of Yahshua that we need to follow the law and also focus on matters of the
heart, the “weightier matters” (Matthew 23:3, 23).

Two of the often-emphasized Fruits of the Spirit are love and faith, that these are all we need and
therefore the law is done away with. But is that what Paul teaches here? Is that what the Scriptures tell
us?

First, let us take a look at what Paul says about love and the law: Galatians 5:14. “For all the law is fulfilled in
one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

These verses are consistent with what Yahshua teaches about love and the law (Matthew 22:36-40) and
what Paul says in Romans: Romans 13:8-10. “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth
another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal,
Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly
comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to
his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

So, if we love, we fulfill the law; therefore, if we love, the law done is away with? Does that make
sense?

This same word “fulfill” used by Paul in Romans 13:8 is used by Yahshua in Matthew 5:17, a verse
many use to “prove” that Yahshua did away with the Law. Not only does Yahshua say he “did not come
to destroy the law,” but also, the Greek word for fulfill is pléroó which is Strong’s # 4137, and means
“to fill, complete, to make full.” Yahshua came not to destroy the law, but to make it full; and in
Matthew 5:18-19 we see that Yahshua teaches how not one detail of the law will pass away, and that we
are to do and teach them.

In addition, Yahshua says He was baptized by John the Baptist in order to “fulfill” all righteousness
(Matthew 3:15). Did Yahshua do away with righteousness? Certainly not!

Now let us take a look at what Paul says on faith: Galatians 5:6, “For in Yahshua Messiah neither circumcision
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

This is consistent with what Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians: 1Corinthians 7:9, “Circumcision is
nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of Yahweh.”

We see here how Paul urges us to keep the commandments of Yahweh; therefore, the idea that Paul says
the law is done away with by faith does not make sense, as he said in this verse that keeping the
commandments of Yahweh is important to all believers, both to the Jews (the circumcised) and the
Gentiles (the uncircumcised).

Ah yes, but doesn’t say in Romans 1:16-17 that to all who believe, the Jews and Gentiles, “the just shall
live by faith…”

Notice Paul does not say that we need faith alone. In Romans 3, Paul describes how we absolutely do
need to keep our faith in Yahshua Messiah, who was sent to us by the grace of Yahweh, and that if we
believe in Him we are justified; both Jew and Gentile believers are justified by faith. However, Paul
makes it very clear at the conclusion of this chapter that this faith in Yahshua Messiah does NOT void
the law, but “we establish the law” (Romans 3:31). The Greek word for “establish” is histemi, which is
Strong’s # 2476 and means “to make stand, to stand”.

In summary, Paul did not teach that the Law was done away with, but taught that love and faith are in
harmony with the Law. In fact, Paul calls the law “holy, just and good” and “spiritual” (Romans 7:12,
14).

Let us continue to show obedience to the law of Yahweh as Paul did (Acts 24:14) and as Yahshua taught
us to do (Matthew 5:19; 7:21). And may we embrace the Fruits of the Spirit and live by them.

by: Judy Stern