Ps 19:7 – The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Gods law, which is His commands and precepts, has always been, and continues to be, absolutely perfect in every way. Even today, under the new covenant and in the age of grace. We might be tempted to think that Gods law under the old covenant was somehow flawed and deficient and that the new covenant was introduced to “correct” it’s problems, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact Jesus said: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 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 (Matt 5:17-18). Jesus went on to strongly rebuke anyone who would break any of the commandments or teach others to do so.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:19).

The fault was not with God’s law, but with the weakness of men through the flesh to keep it.

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: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom 8:2-3)

In Heb 8:8-9 it states: For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with THEM…. Again, the fault was not with the law, but with men and their failure to keep it. The distinction is an important one. If a ruler created onerous laws that were impossible for the people to keep, that would be considered tyranny, the fault would be with the laws themselves. Gods law is perfect, but men failed to keep it in their own strength, so when we come to faith in Christ, He gives us special strength and ability to walk in His commands and precepts, it’s called Grace. Grace is the divine power and ability given to men by God to enable them to do what they were unable to do in themselves. If you look up the definition of the word Grace, at its heart is this: “The divine influence on the heart, and its reflection in the life”. In fact look at what Grace is meant to accomplish in the life of the believer: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, TEACHING US that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD (Tit 2:11).

The new covenant under grace doesn’t replace the law, it establishes it. We aren’t excused from the righteousness of the law, but are given special ability by the Holy Spirit to walk in righteousness when we put our faith in Christ and follow him. Christ imputes and also imparts His righteousness to us, not by the works of the law, but by faith. The outworking of that faith, if it’s real, will result in us fulfilling the righteousness of the law, first in position, then in actual conduct and practice. We are considered positionally righteous, and If we are indeed maturing in the faith, we will grow more practically and perfectly into that position throughout our remaining days on earth and it will be reflected in godly conduct and behavior.

This is why God will judge all men according to their deeds, because their deeds/works are the measure of their faith. Faith doesn’t eliminate the need for good deeds, it establishes them and makes them possible. We are not justified by the performance of good works, but by faith….which results in good deeds/works as a fruit.

Rom 2:6-7 – Who will render to every man according to his *deeds*: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.

Rev 20:12 – And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, *according to their works*.

This judgment spoken of here in Rev 20 is often referred to as “The great white throne judgment” and it is commonly taught that Christians will not be a part of it because of its reference to “works”. I think this is an egregious flaw in evangelical theology that stems from a misunderstanding of what faith really is and how it functions in the life of a believer. Saving faith in Christ, if it is real and genuine, will produce the fruit of good works. Those works are the measure that will be used to determine if our faith is real, genuine and effective unto salvation. The Apostle James clearly explained this relationship between faith and works in chapter 2 saying: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith BY MY WORKS. As Christians, we will all be required to “show our faith by our works”. Jesus said that any branch that does not abide in Him and bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire (Jn 15:6).

This should motivate us all to have and maintain a deep, abiding relationship with the Lord so that we will maintain a fruitful walk of righteousness and holiness that is real, tangible and observed because it’s all coming to judgment and we will all give an account of ourselves to God as it states in Rom 14:12.