Christ Is the End of the Law: Understanding the New Covenant
- unlockthebiblenow
- Mar 6
- 5 min read
Based on the Bible Message Acts 15 Explained: Did Jewish Believers Still Keep the Law? by Scott Mitchell – Unlock the Bible Now!
One of the most common questions believers ask when studying the Book of Acts is this: Were the Jewish believers after Acts 15 still under the Law of Moses, or were they under the New Covenant?
This question reaches to the heart of the gospel itself. If the law remained binding for believers after Christ’s death and resurrection, then the cross did not accomplish what Scripture declares it did.
But the Bible teaches something very clear: Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes.
Understanding this truth removes confusion about the early church, clarifies the purpose of the law, and reveals the liberty believers now have through the New Covenant.
Christ Is the End of the Law — The Question Raised in Acts 15
The issue first appears clearly in Acts 15, when certain men from Judea began teaching that Gentile believers had to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved.
The apostles and elders gathered in Jerusalem to settle the
matter.
Peter stood and reminded them of God’s work among the Gentiles and declared:
“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” (Acts 15:11)
Peter called the law a “yoke… which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear.”
That statement alone reveals something important. Even Peter recognized that righteousness was not coming through the law but through the grace of Christ.
Yet despite this truth, some believers—particularly those from a Pharisaic background—continued pressing the law upon others.
Christ Is the End of the Law Because the Old Covenant Was Broken
The Old Covenant was not set aside arbitrarily. Scripture teaches that Israel broke the covenant.
The prophet Jeremiah foretold the coming change:
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” (Jeremiah 31:31)
If the first covenant had remained intact, there would have been no need for another.
But God promised a New Covenant, one that would deal with sin in a way the law never could.
Christ Is the End of the Law Through His Blood
Jesus Himself introduced the New Covenant during the Last Supper.
“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
The cup symbolized His blood, and His blood established the New Testament.
Paul later confirmed this same truth when explaining the ordinance of communion:
“This cup is the new testament in my blood.” (1 Corinthians 11:25)
Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the New Covenant was inaugurated.
The law pointed forward to that moment, but once the sacrifice was completed, its purpose was fulfilled.
Christ Is the End of the Law — The Law Brought Condemnation
Paul gives a powerful explanation in 2 Corinthians 3.
He describes the law as:
The ministration of death
The ministration of condemnation
Something that was done away
Meanwhile, the New Covenant is described as:
The ministration of the Spirit
The ministration of righteousness
The source of life and liberty
The contrast could not be clearer. The law exposed sin and pronounced judgment.The New Covenant brings righteousness through the finished work of Christ.
Christ Is the End of the Law for Everyone Who Believes
Paul summarizes this truth plainly in Romans:
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:4)
This statement applies universally.
It does not matter whether a person is:
Jewish or Gentile
Living during the early church
Living today
Righteousness never came through the law. It comes only through faith in Christ.
Christ Is the End of the Law Because the Priesthood Changed
Another crucial reason the law had to end is found in Hebrews 7.
Under the Old Covenant, priests came from the tribe of Levi. But Jesus came from the tribe of Judah.
Scripture says:
“For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” (Hebrews 7:12)
Christ is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron.
That means a completely new priesthood—and therefore a completely new covenant.
The Mosaic system could not continue because the new High Priest did not belong to that system.
Christ Is the End of the Law — The Law Was Nailed to the Cross
Paul explains the finality of Christ’s work in Colossians.
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us… and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” (Colossians 2:14)
The law condemned every sinner. But at the cross, Christ removed that condemnation. Because of this, believers are told:
Not to be judged concerning food laws
Not to be judged concerning holy days
Not to be judged concerning sabbaths
These were shadows pointing forward to Christ.
Now that the substance has come, the shadows no longer govern believers.
Christ Is the End of the Law — The Purpose of the Law
The law still had an important purpose.
Paul explained it in Galatians:
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.” (Galatians 3:24)
The law reveals sin. It proves that humanity cannot achieve righteousness through works. Once a person comes to Christ in faith, the law has completed its task.
Believers are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Christ Is the End of the Law — Stand in the Liberty of Christ
Throughout the early church, some believers attempted to pull others back under the law.
Paul confronted this directly—even rebuking Peter when he acted hypocritically under pressure from those promoting the law.
The gospel leaves no room for mixing law and grace.
To insist on keeping the Law of Moses for righteousness is to deny the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice.
The believer’s standing before God rests entirely on the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
The message of Scripture is unmistakable:
The Old Covenant exposed sin but could not save.
The New Covenant was established through the blood of Christ.
Jesus fulfilled the law and brought in a better testament.
Because of this, believers today are called to stand fast in the liberty found in Christ, not returning to the yoke of bondage that the law represented.
For those who have never trusted Christ, the law still stands as a witness of guilt.
But the good news is this:
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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