What are the works of the Law?

What are the Works/Deeds of the Law?

According to scriptures, the Works of the Law, and Deeds of the Law are referring to the sacrifices and offerings of the Law that were instituted of old time due to transgressions {Gal 3:19} against the Law {1 Joh 3:4} given to Moses on Mount Sinai. {Exodus 24:5-8; Gal 3:17,19}

Gal 3:19

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.

Moses was the mediator on mount Sinai who received the law of sacrifices ordained by angels {Deut 33:2} and added to the Law of the commandments to atone for sins because of the transgressions of the commandments of the Law. The covenant of obeying Ahayah's voice and keeping his commandments came before the law of sacrifices ordained by angels:

Jer 7:22

For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
Jer 7:23

But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your Alahayim, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

Walking in all the ways of his commands will be well unto us because the law and commandment are holy:

Rom 7:12

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Paul taught the commandments of the law are not sin because we need the laws to have the knowledge of what sin is:

Rom 7:7

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Alahayim forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Rom 3:20

................: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

We have the knowledge of sin by the law of the commandments and when a person has knowledge that they have sinned by the law, there are "deeds" that were added because of transgressions that they must perform to atone for their sins:

Lev 4:22

When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his Alahayim concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;
Lev 4:23

Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:

The offerings are "the deeds" of the law, when one has knowledge of a sin committed by the Law of the commandments:

Rom 3:20

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

No person could be justified by the deeds of offering a sin offering because the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins:

Heb 10:4

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

On the other hand, Paul taught doing the laws of the commandments can justify us in the Lord's sight because the doers of the laws are justified as oppose to "the deeds" which are sacrifices for sins, cannot justify anyone:

Rom 2:13

(For not the hearers of the law are just before Alahayim, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Hence, the law of sacrifices, not being able to justify us, were just our school master to prepare us for Christ, whose sacrificial offering could justify us by faith in his blood:

Gal 3:24

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Sin is the transgression of the law, {1 Joh 3:4} so for transgressions, the law of sacrifices and offerings for sin were added as our school master until the promised seed, Christ, to whom the promise was made would come:

Gal 3:19

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.

Gal 3:17

And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of Alahayim in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

The law of sacrifices that were added because transgressions of the Law of the commandments were given 430 years after Abraham's seed, Christ, was promised, so the law of sacrifices cannot make the promise made to Abraham's seed ineffective:

Gal 3:16

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Hence, Christ's sacrificial offering could justify us by faith in his blood:

Gal 3:24

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

We are no longer under those deeds of carnal ordinances of sacrifices for sins now that the justification by faith in Christ's blood has come because the law of sacrifices were just a shadow of good things to come that could not take away sins or make us perfect:

Heb 10:1

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Heb 10:4

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Paul explained why the law of sacrifices could not take away sins or make us perfect:

Heb 9:9

Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

The man that did the service of the sacrifices could not be perfect because by the deeds of the law he could not be justified. {Rom 3:20} He confirmed they couldn't make one perfect in conscience and take away sins by the fact that they had to continue offering for sins yearly:

Heb 10:2

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

Heb 10:3

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

The sacrifices that couldn't purge the conscience were just imposed until the time of reformation when the promised seed would come who could purge the conscience and take away sin:

Heb 9:10

Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

The time of reformation is when Christ establishes a New Testament by his blood as High Priest of good things to come in his kingdom:

Heb 9:11

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Heb 9:12

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 9:13

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

Heb 9:14

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to Alahayim, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living Alahayim?

Heb 9:15

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

The blood of Christ through the eternal Spirit purges the conscience from dead works to serve the living Alahayim for the redemption of the transgressions of the commandments that were under the first testament of the blood of bulls and goats sprinkled upon the children of Israel. {Exo 24} For this reason, the Letter, which are the sacrifices, killeth because it cannot purge the guilty conscience, but the Spirit giveth life because Christ's offering through the the Spirit purged the conscience to live and serve Alahayim:

2Co 3:6

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Christ was sent to do what the law of sacrifices could not do by taking away sins that are past and purging the conscience from sins to condemn sin in the flesh:

Rom 8:3

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, Alahayim sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

The law of animal sacrifice was weak because the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins to purge the conscience of sin, so the Father had to send his Son to condemn sin in the flesh by his own body through death:

Heb 10:5

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

Heb 10:6

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Heb 10:7

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O Alahayim.

Heb 10:8

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

Ahayah didn't have pleasure in the sacrifices and offerings offered by the law of Moses because they were just added as a figure and shadow of good things to come as oppose to Christ, his Son in whom he was well pleased.{Matt 3:17} whom he fortold he would give for a covenant of the people. {Isa 49:8}

Isa 49:8

Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

Yache was willing to be that covenant for the people:

Heb 10:9

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O Alahayim. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Heb 10:10

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Yache Christ once for all.

Yache was literally offered as a sacrifice for sins by his blood in the second testament to replace the blood of the weak sacrifices and offerings offered by the law of Moses in the first testament that could not purge our conscience from sins, and thus establishing the Law of Faith in His blood as a propitiation for sins that are past:

Rom 3:25

Whom Alahayim hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of Alahayim;

Heb 10:18

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

By His one offering we are given remission of former sins by faith in his atonement. This takes away the first testament of bulls and goat's blood so there is no more offering of animal sacrifices needed for sins since we are sanctified for sins that are past by the offering of the body of Christ once and for all nations that believe. The sacrifices of the believers in the Body of Christ are by communion:

1Co 10:16

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

1Co 11:24

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

The believers literally treat the communion as a sacrifice by precept:

Acts of Peter chapter 2

Now they brought unto Paul bread and water for the sacrifice, that he might make prayer and distribute it to everyone.

The Body of Christ eat his body and drink his blood of the new testament as a sacrifice and no longer needed to perform the sacrifices of the law:

Col 2:16

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

There were sacrifices and offerings in respect of feast days that were all just a shadow of things to come, but the Body is of Christ's sacrifice as we seen with Paul. The righteousness of Alahayim through faith in Christ sacrifice without the law of animal sacrifice was manifested by Paul:

Rom 3:21

But now the righteousness of Alahayim without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

(The atonement that Yache was to come and do {Luke 24:44-49} was prophesied in the law and the prophets {Luke 24:44-49} so that men may repent and have remission of sins that are past {Rom 3:25} and bring forth fruit worthy of repentance by turning from the power of Satan unto Alahayim. {Acts 26:16-18}.

Luk 24:44

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Luk 24:45

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Thus he fulfilled the prophecies concerning him regarding his death and resurrection. He did not destroy the commandments of the law nor prophets because there are more prophecies he must fulfill and the law shall endure until all be fulfilled:

Mat 5:17

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Paul was simply preaching that the righteousness of Alahayim is faith in the atoning blood of Yache Christ and that is the justifier of them that believe in him {Rom 3:26} and the doers of the laws {Rom 2:13} of the commandments of the Law shall be justified:

Rom 3:26

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Yache.

Rom 2:13

(For not the hearers of the law are just before Alahayim, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

The law will endure until all things be fulfilled so justification comes by faith in Yache's blood and being a doer of the law as an example of a believer {1 Tim 4:12} and a living sacrifice {Rom 12:1-2} by awaking to righteousness and not sinning {1 Cor 15:34}. We must obtain justification by believing and being doers of the law because we cannot be justified without both:

Rom 2:12

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

Paul said the just shall live by faith {Rom 1:17} in Christ's blood to justify them in conscience to forget their former sins by so there is no boasting in the works of performing animal sacrifices since by the deeds no flesh shall be justified:

Rom 3:27

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

(Paul was clear that there was nothing to boast in the works of the law for because it is the law of faith in the blood of Christ that justifies us, not the blood of bulls and goats or offerings of meat and drinks.)

Rom 3:28

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

( The deeds of the law is referring to sacrifices and offerings for sins by the law of Moses, not the commandments of the law because we actually have to do the commandments of the law to be justified {Rom 2:12-13} but we do not have to do the animal sacrifices to be justified {Rom 3:28} because they cant take away sin {Heb 10:4} to justify us {Rom 3:20} and the just shall live by faith {Rom 1:17} in Christ. {John 6:40}

Paul's Teachings

Paul had to teach the believers the truth of the matter was that the works of sacrifices and offerings by the law would not justify anyone, nor was it necessary to be circumcised as an adult to be saved when one believes in the preaching of faith in the blood of Christ Yache.

Gal 3:1

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Yache Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Gal 3:2

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

The question shows that Paul was speaking about whether the works of the law of sacrifices or the hearing of the faith in Yache's sacrifice caused the people to receive the Spirit. There is no account of someone receiving the Spirit by the blood of bulls and goats, but the scriptures show that the hearing of faith in Yache has caused men to receive the Spirit in Acts :10:34-45. So it is evident the answer is the hearing of faith is how we receive the Spirit.

Gal 3:3

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

As adults, circumcising their flesh would not make them perfect after the hearing of faith is what gave them the Spirit.

Gal 3:4

Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

Gal 3:5

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

He asked them if it was by animal sacrifice that the disciples performed miracles among them or was it by the hearing of faith in Yache's sacrifice. The answer was by the hearing of faith. He goes on to explain that just like Abraham was accounted righteousness by faith in Alahayim, so shall we be accounted righteousness by faith today .

Gal 3:6

Even as Abraham believed Alahayim, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Gal 3:7

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Gal 3:8

And the scripture, foreseeing that Alahayim would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Gal 3:9

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Gal 3:10

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

In Galatians, Paul was referring to the sacrifices and offerings as "the law" that was added because of transgressions of the commandments of the law 430 years after Abraham received the promise:

Gal 3:19

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.

The commandments of the law weren't "added because of transgressions" because it is through the commandments that one knows what a transgression is {Rom 7:7-10} since sin is the transgression of the law. {I John 3:4} This helps understand "the law" Paul is referring to is the sacrifices that were added because of transgressions of he commandments:

Gal 3:17

Gal 3:17 and 19 confirms that the works of the law is referring to the sacrifices and offerings for sins, not the actual commandments of the law, The law of sacrifices for sins that were added to the Law cannot justify anyone:

Gal 3:11

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of Alahayim, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Paul was not saying a man who does the commandments of the Law cannot be justified because the doers of the law shall be justified. {Rom 2:13}

Rom 2:13

(For not the hearers of the law are just before Alahayim, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

He is not contradicting himself because doing the commandments of the law justifies us before Alahayim but the works {Gal 3:11} and deeds {Rom 3:20} of the law, which are the sacrifices and offerings, cannot justify anyone before Alahayim.

Rom 3:20

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:

He was saying the works and deeds of the law cannot justify anyone in the sight of Alahayim because the just live by faith in Christ instead of the blood of bulls and rams.

Rom 1:17

For therein is the righteousness of Alahayim revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Gal 3:12

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

The law of sacrifices and offerings is not of faith and the person does those sacrifices, they will live in those sacrifices which cannot take away sins {Heb 10:4} rather than living by faith in Christ Yache.

Gal 3:13

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

The Curse of the law of sacrifices were that they could not purge the conscience from sin:

Gal 3:14

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Yache Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Gal 3:21

Is the law then against the promises of Alahayim? Alahayim forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Paul explained in Gal 3:21 that the law of sacrifices were not against the promises of Alahayim because they had to be added because of transgression as our school master to bring us unto Christ Yache who as to come fulfill them. He showed if the law of animal sacrifices could have truly purged the conscience from sin to give life, then the righteousness of Alahayim would have been by the law of sacrifices but since the sacrifices could not take away sin, all were under sin waiting upon Christ to come set them that believe free:

Gal 3:22

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Yache Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gal 3:23

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

We were kept under sacrifices and offerings for sin until the faith should be revealed:

Gal 3:24

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The sacrifices and offerings were teachers to prepare us to believe in Christ that we may be justified by that faith.

Gal 3:25

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 3:26

For ye are all the children of Alahayim by faith in Christ Yache.

Paul explained faith in Christ makes of children of Alahayim, not living under the school master of doing sacrifices and offerings for sin.

Understanding "the Letter" ?

Rom 2:17

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of Alahayim,

Rom 2:18

And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

The commandments is what give us understanding of Alahayim’s will and the things that are excellent which helps understand that Paul is referring to the commandments in this chapter.

Rom 2:19

And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

The commandment enlightens the eye to guide the blind, and the law is a light for them that are in darkness, so it confirms he is referring to the commandments here, not the sacrifices and offering.

Pro 6:23

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Psa 19:8

The statutes of AHAYAH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of AHAYAH is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Rom 2:20

An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

The scriptures were given to instruct and teach, {II Tim 3:17-18} so it further confirms that he is referring to the commandments.

Rom 2:21

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Rom 2:22

Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

These are all things that are forbidden according to the commandments. The person who makes the boast of the law and yet breaks them is blaspheming the name of Alahayim because it is hypocrisy to teach another and not be doers of the law ourselves.{Rom 2:13}

Rom 2:23

Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou Alahayim?

Rom 2:24

For the name of Alahayim is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Rom 2:25

For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

Rom 2:25 shows that being circumcised is actually profitable if you actually keep the commandments of the law, but if you don’t keep the commandments you are uncircumcised in heart. This further shows that in this chapter, “the law” is not referring to sacrifices and offerings, but the commandments, statutes, and judgments.

Rom 2:26

Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

In Rom 2:26, he testifies that if the Gentiles keep the righteousness of the law by not breaking the commandments, statutes and judgements, they will be counted as circumcised in heart because they live by faith {Rom 1:17} being servants in obedience unto righteousness. {Rom 6:16}. In the next verse he is going to show that "the letter" is not in reference to the commandments because the Jews who trusted in "the letter" and circumcision were still transgressing “righteousness of the law” which are the commandments, statutes and judgements.

Rom 2:27

And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

Paul shows "the letter" and "the law" are two different things because the Jews were by "the letter" but transgressors of "the law." The Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life because the Spirit purges the conscience through Yache's blood from sin and writes the commandments into our hearts that we may live a life in righteousness unto Alahayim by obedience through faith in Yache Christ.

2Co 3:6

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2Co 3:3

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living Alahayim; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

So the Spirit giveth life because She has written on our hearts. On the opposite side, the Letter, which kills, was the ministration of death written on stones:

2Co 3:7

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

Through Christ, the ministration of death which held us bringing forth fruit unto death was to be done away:

Rom 7:5

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Rom 7:6

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

We are delivered from the ministration of death through the law of sacrifices and offerings according to the letters written on the stones given to Moses to serve Alahayim in newness of spirit by the ministration of the Spirit's writings on our hearts:

2Co 3:8

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

2Co 3:9

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

This ministration of righteousness by faith in Yache written on our hearts by the Spirit exceeds the ministration of condemnation through the Letter written on stones in glory because it frees us from sin and purges our conscience to bring forth fruits unto righteousness:

Rom 6:22

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to Alahayim, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.