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I. THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE LAW IS A FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH. This rests on its nature and the immutability of God. The evidence is found in nature and conscience.

1. This the Jews believed, and it lay at the foundation of their error, which was twofold.

(1)  That the law was to be fulfilled by their own righteousness.

(2)  That the form in which the law was immutable was Mosaism.

2. This error led —

(1)  To the effort to establish their own righteousness.

(2)  To their making righteousness consist in ceremonial obedience.

3. Paul taught —

(1)  That the law is immutable.

(2)  That it cannot be satisfied by our righteousness, but only by the righteousness of God.

(3)  That Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

(4)  Consequently the immutability of the law is consistent with its abrogation, because its abrogation is effected by its fulfilment.The law is immutable so far as it demands righteousness as an indispensable condition of justification. But it is abrogated so far as it says, "Do this and live," i.e., so far as it requires our own righteousness.

II. IN WHAT SENSE IS CHRIST THE END OF THE LAW.

1. Not in the sense of its completion. Telos never occurs in the sense of pleroma.

2. But in the sense of having made an end of it, abolished it. This He has done —

(1)  In so satisfying its demands that it ceases to require our own personal righteousness as a condition of justification.

(2)  In putting an end to the Mosaic institutions, so that obedience to that law is no longer necessary to salvation.

3. In the sense of being its aim or object. This means either —

(1)  That the end of the law is righteousness. Christ is the end of the law because He is our righteousness; its design is secured in Him. So that it is by faith, not works, that the end of the law is to be attained.

(2)  Or, Christ is the object aimed at in the law. It was designed to bring us to Christ.

III. CONSEQUENCES.

1. Out of Christ we are exposed —

(1)  To the inexorable demands of the law.

(2)  To its awful curse.

(3)  To its slavish spirit.

2. In Him we are righteous.

(1)  We meet all the demands of the law by pleading what He has done.

(2)  We are free from its curse as He was made a curse for us.

(3)  We are delivered from the spirit of bondage again to fear and are filled with the Spirit of adoption.Conclusion: As a result of faith in Christ our righteousness we have —

1. Peace with God, and peace of conscience.

2. Assurance of eternal life, as no one can condemn those whom God justifies.

3. A principle of obedience, for until we are reconciled there can be no holiness.

4. All the benefits of Christ's triumph. Having obeyed and suffered for us as our representative, we share in all the blessings promised as His reward.

(C. Hodge, D.D.)

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KJV: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

WEB: For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.