A further confirmation of this distinction can be seen by considering Paul’s statement that
…whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Romans 14:23.
Well then, if the “law is not of faith” and “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” then the law must also be sin! But the same apostle declared,
Is the law sin? God forbid! Romans 7:7.
This would be an irreconcilable contradiction if we did not distinguish between the “schoolmaster” and the “old covenant”.
So, the enmity that divided man and God, and man and man, was the principle of self-justification (human pride) trying to pass itself off as obedience to God’s commandments.
Martin Luther once wrote the following:
The desire of self-justification is the cause of all the distresses of the human heart.
He was right! But this desire of self-justification, which leads men to turn the law into a yoke of bondage, should never be confused with the law as God intended it to be: a schoolmaster to lead unto Christ. Those who would enter into eternal life will make use of the Law as God intended it: to teach them of their need of the Saviour, and their need of His power to bring them back into harmony with God.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14
