End of the Law

Romans 10:4, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

What does this mean? Luther says it well, “Nothing else than that all who believe in Christ are justified through faith and receive His Spirit and grace” (Church Postil, sermon for New Year’s Day on Galatians 3:23-29, Luther’s Works 76:13-14). The law demands holy perfection—righteousness, but because we are sinners we cannot fulfil the law. So, Christ has fulfilled it on our behalf, and He gives us His righteousness by faith—He justifies us. Therefore, the demand of the law that we obey to acquire righteousness has ended. Now that we are justified, we are free to do what we were created to do—to do the works of the law not for righteousness, but for our neighbour (see FC SD VI, Concerning the Third Use of the Law).