What are the works of the Law?

What are the Works/Deeds/Letter of the Law?

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

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.

The law that is a shadow of good things to come" is referring to animal sacrifice because he is talking about "those sacrifices" that are offered year by year. These sacrifices were never able to justify men {Heb 10:4} because they could not purge the conscience and make us perfect.{Heb 10:1})

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.

Heb 10:4

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

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 rams could not take away sins, So the Father had to send his Son to condemn sin in the flesh of his body:

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;

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.

Yache was literally offered as a sacrifice for our sins to replace the weak and unprofitable animal sacrifices of bulls and rams that could not purge our conscience.

Heb 10:10

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

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, and there is no more offering of animal sacrifices needed for sins since we are sanctified by faith in Christ's sacrifice. The sacrifice of Yache is the righteousness of Alahayim that actually justifies us because it purges our conscience so that we can serve Alahayim while the law of animal sacrifices are weak and cannot take away sins nor make us perfect. Paul taught of the righteousness of Alahayim through faith in Christ sacrifice without the law of animal sacrifices wherein was no profit.

Rom 3:21

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

(When he says "being witnessed by the law and the prophets" it lets us know that he is referring to the atonement that Yache was to come and do, {Luke 24:44-49} not do away with the commandments because Yache showed his disciples that he came to fulfill the sacrifice that 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}. The next verses confirms the righteousness of Alahayim is faith in Christ who is propitiation through faith in his blood)

Rom 3:22

Even the righteousness of Alahayim which is by faith of Yache Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Rom 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of Alahayim;

Rom 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Yache:

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;

So now one can see the dichotomy of what Paul was preaching to all nations. He was preaching that the righteousness of Alahayim, which is faith in the atoning blood of Yache Christ, is the justifier of them that believe in him, {Rom 3:26} and do his laws {Rom 2:13} hence the Law of Christ {1 Cor 9:21} is also known as the Law of Faith. {Rom 3:27} In the faith of Yache’s sacrifice, the work one is required to do is be 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}. Paul said the just shall live by faith {Rom 1:17} because faith in that blood would justify them in conscience to forget their former sins knowing the suffering that Christ suffered in the flesh for them enables them to live a just life unto Alahayim by ceasing from sin. {1 Pet 4:1-2} On the other hand, "the works of the law" which are the sacrifices of bulls and rams according to "the Letter," could not bring this justification for us to have a clean conscience to cease from sin to serve Alahayim because of the guilty conscience. This is the reason why "the Letter" killeth.{IICor 3:6} Now one understands how believing in Yache is the righteousness of Alahayim that justifies us as oppose to the works of the law .

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 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 Christ that justifies us, not the blood of animals.)

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 animal sacrifice not the commandments 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}

Why were the sacrifices instituted?

The animal sacrifices were a good shadow of things to come in the kingdom. We were kept under animal sacrifices until the sacrifice of Christ would come in the time of reformation to establish the New Testament:

Heb 10:1

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;

Heb 9:10

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

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.

Moses received the full law of sacrifices contained in ordinances on Mount Sinai 430 years after Abraham had received the promises {Gal 3:17} that in his seed would all nations be blessed {Gen 22:17-18}, and that seed was Christ Yache {Gal 3:16} who was to be the atonement {Rom 5:11} and sacrifice for us {I Cor 5:7}. The promise to Abraham showed that Christ was to be a blessing on all nations because he would be an atonement for the sins of the Jews and Gentiles {Rom 4:9;3:29} that would believe and be forgiven of their former sins {Rom 3:25} because that is the blessedness that was spoken of prophetically by the prophet David. {Rom 4:6-8} The Gospel shows that the animal sacrifices, known as the works of the law, were unable to purge the conscience and this is why "by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified " since it was only "a shadow of things to come not the very image of those things." Paul had to teach the believers the truth of the matter was that the works of the law of animal sacrifice 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 in sacrifices or the hearing of the faith in Yache caused the people to receive the Spirit. There is no account of someone receiving the Spirit by the blood of bulls and rams, 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. The dialogue he has will show what he meant by works of the law in this chapter as well.

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 preaching of Yache's sacrifice. 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.

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.

The law of animal sacrifice cannot justify anyone in the sight of Alahayim by evidence that the just live by faith in Christ instead of the blood of bulls and rams.

Gal 3:12

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

If a person does animal sacrifice, they will live in those sacrifices 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:

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 3:15

Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

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.

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.

Gal 3:17 confirms that the works of the law is referring to animal sacrifice because the law of sacrifices were received 430 years after Abraham was already given the covenant of the promise of Christ, his seed that would bless all nations.

Gal 3:18

For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but Alahayim gave it to Abraham by 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 werent added because of transgression 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 animal sacrifices because they were added because of transgressions.

Gal 3:20

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but Alahayim is one.

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 animal sacrifices were not against the promises of Alahayim because they had to be instituted in order for Christ Yache to come fulfill them. Yet if the law of animal sacrifices could have truly purged the conscience to give life, then the righteousness of Alahayim would have been by animal sacrifice, but he will go on to explain that animal sacrifice could not have given life because all were under sin and we understand why by precept because the blood of bulls and rams could not take away sin.

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 animal sacrifice 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 animal sacrifice was a teacher to prepare us to believe in Christ that we may be justified.

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.

Gal 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Gal 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Yache.

Gal 3:29

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

What are the deeds of th law?

Paul also explained to the Romans that the deeds of the law, which is animal sacrifice, cannot justify us either because the righteousness of Alahayim is the law of faith in the blood of Yache.

Rom 3:19

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before Alahayim.

The law of animal sacrifice reminds us that they we have sinned because one is required to bring a sacrifice to atone for ones sins according to the law in Leviticus chapter 4-7 because we are guilty before Alahayim. The law of animal sacrifice was made to reprove sinners of their guilt, but the blood of bulls and rams don't clear the conscience.

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.

The deed of the law, which is animal sacrifice, could not justify anyone from their sins {Heb 10:4}. It just showed that one was knowledgeable of sin by the offering of an atonement.

Rom 3:21

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

Now the righteousness without the offering of bulls and rams is manifested.

Rom 3:22

Even the righteousness of Alahayim which is by faith of Yache Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Rom 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of Alahayim;

Rom 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Yache:

The righteousness of faith in Yache justifies us freely without the necessity of bulls and rams to sacrifice.

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;

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 3:27

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

Rom 3:28

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

Paul was teaching there is no boasting in the works of the law because no one is justified by the deeds of the law since we are justified by the law of faith in Christ Yache.

What is the Letter of the law?

Paul also showed that "the Letter" is referring to animal sacrifices in his letters.

Rom 2:17

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

He is referring to the commandments when he says law in this chapter by evidence of what he says in the rest of the chapter.

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 also 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 animal sacrifice.

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?

This shows he was referring to the commandments because stealing is against the commandment.

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. Now he is going to attest that the person who makes the boast of the commandments and yet breaks them is is blaspheming the name of Alahayim. This is because it is hypocrisy to teach another and not do it ourselves.

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, but if you don’t keep the commandments, then one’s circumcision is uncircumcision because one’s heart was not circumcised to keep the commandments. This further shows that in this chapter “the law” is not referring to animal sacrifice, 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 commandments by faith in Yache they will be counted as circumcised in heart because they obey Alahayim by their faith even as the just shall live by faith. In the next verse he is going to show that the letter of the law is not in reference to the commandments because the Jews who trusted in the letter of the law (animal sacrifice) and circumcision were still transgressing “the law” which is the commandments.

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?

This is why Paul said the Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life because the Letter of the law which is animal sacrifice cannot take away sin so it will lead to one’s death, but the Spirit purgeth the conscience and putteth the commandments into our hearts that we may live a life in righteousness unto Alahayim by the obedience of faith in Yache Christ.

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 has written the commandments on our heart)

2Co 3:4

And such trust have we through Christ to Alahayim-ward:

(and it is through faith in Yache that the Spirit has put the laws in our heart so that we may live through our renewed mind and obedience by faith, so the Apostles trusted in Christ that the people had the laws in their hearts.)

2Co 3:5

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of 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.

(We know testaments require the death of the testator. {Heb 9:16-17} The New Testament, we know is the blood sacrifice of Yache {Heb 9:14-25} which leads unto life by living a life unto Alahayim having the Spirit writing on the tables of our hearts. On the opposite side, is the Letter, which is the animal sacrifice of the bulls and rams by Moses in the Old Covenant that could not take away sins and purge the conscience so it killeth. {Heb 10:1-4})

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:

(The ministration of death on the stones given to Moses were to be done away as oppose to the same writtings on our hearts by the ministration of the Spirit which are everlasting)

2Co 3:8

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

(The ministration of the Spirit is more glorious having written the commandments on the fleshly tables of our hearts.)

2Co 3:9

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

We know the ministration of righteousness is referring to the propitiation of righteousness that Yache made by sacrificing his body because He is the righteousness of Alahayim and by this righteousness the commandments are written in our hearts by the Spirit. This ministration of righteousness by faith in Yache writing the commands on our hearts exceeds the ministration of condemnation through bulls and rams written on stones in glory.

So in closing, the Works/Deeds of the law and the Letter, all refer to animal sacrifices, not the laws, commandments, statutes, and judgments themselves.