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The Law of Christ
What does it mean to "serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter"? What is the Christian's relationship to the Law of Moses? What is the "law of Christ"? How are love and law related? Are the commandments of the Old Testament still relevant in the Christian life? What does it mean to be "free from the Law"? How does love "fulfill the whole law"? These questions, and many others, are considered in The Law of Christ.
Too often Christians have looked to something other than Christ for their supreme rule of duty. They have centered their lives around a "list of rules" rather than His "new commandment" to love. Not realizing that the goal of all Christian instruction is love, they have too often valued Bible knowledge, preaching ability, "ministry," and "gifts" above the one thing that matters most in the Christian life. Yet, according to the New Testament, love is the fulfillment of "the whole law," and no amount of sacrifice, knowledge, or even faith means anything apart from it. The goal of this book is to point believers to their perfect Savior and standard, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Himself love incarnate, and who alone can enable them in some measure to love as He loved.
"Questions about the relationship between believers and the law of God continue to perplex biblical scholars and serious Christians alike. Charles Leiter shows himself well-informed of both the relevant biblical scholarship and the theological issues in this clearly written, helpful study. Unlike many other treatments of the topic, he succeeds in uniting insights from the Old Testament laws themselves with Christ's words in the Sermon on the Mount and discussions of law in the Pauline epistles. The result is a truly biblical theology of law that I recommend highly to pastors and other students of Scripture." --Stephen Westerholm, McMaster University (Author of Israel's Law and the Church's Faith: Paul and His Recent Interpreters)
"It is a rare and wonderful blessing for me to recommend a book that not only honors the Scriptures, but also has been used by God as an instrument of transformation in my own life. Therefore, it is with great joy that I recommend this book to you." --Paul David Washer, HeartCry Missionary Society
Too often Christians have looked to something other than Christ for their supreme rule of duty. They have centered their lives around a "list of rules" rather than His "new commandment" to love. Not realizing that the goal of all Christian instruction is love, they have too often valued Bible knowledge, preaching ability, "ministry," and "gifts" above the one thing that matters most in the Christian life. Yet, according to the New Testament, love is the fulfillment of "the whole law," and no amount of sacrifice, knowledge, or even faith means anything apart from it. The goal of this book is to point believers to their perfect Savior and standard, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Himself love incarnate, and who alone can enable them in some measure to love as He loved.
"Questions about the relationship between believers and the law of God continue to perplex biblical scholars and serious Christians alike. Charles Leiter shows himself well-informed of both the relevant biblical scholarship and the theological issues in this clearly written, helpful study. Unlike many other treatments of the topic, he succeeds in uniting insights from the Old Testament laws themselves with Christ's words in the Sermon on the Mount and discussions of law in the Pauline epistles. The result is a truly biblical theology of law that I recommend highly to pastors and other students of Scripture." --Stephen Westerholm, McMaster University (Author of Israel's Law and the Church's Faith: Paul and His Recent Interpreters)
"It is a rare and wonderful blessing for me to recommend a book that not only honors the Scriptures, but also has been used by God as an instrument of transformation in my own life. Therefore, it is with great joy that I recommend this book to you." --Paul David Washer, HeartCry Missionary Society
356 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2012
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201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 3, 2023
Second read-through review:
With a few more years of growing in sanctification and love for the Lord under my belt, I read this again... and if anything, it was EVEN BETTER. I followed Leiter's arguments more, so my original review saying that I hadn't fully gotten on-board with his paradigm is obsolete now. Last time I read this book, the results were that I had more joy and freedom in the Lord. This time, I'm experiencing the same joy and freedom--and seeing even more practical outworkings in my life as I seek to follow "the ministry of the Spirit."
Leiter is one of those authors who can exposit Paul's letters so that I can see just how actually glorious and earth-shattering Paul's letters are. (Normally I get lost in/frustrated with Paul's writing style.)
I think this is probably one of my favorite books of all time. Top 5 for sure. It helps me understand the whole storyline of Scripture, how better to counsel people who ask me my opinion, and how absolutely mind-blowing the Gospel really is. It helped me understand the difference of Old Covenant vs. New Covenant theology and why that's important, and though Leiter lands pretty solidly in New Covenant territory, it would be valuable reading for either camp.
The whole book is great; sometimes I lose the forest for the trees back in the appendices, but they also show just how much thought and consistency Leiter's claims involve.
****
Sometimes when a book is paradigm-shifting, or even shattering, it feels wrong to review it at all. "This book reviewed ME; how can I turn around and assign it a paltry rating?" I feel this way about many books, and this is one of the foremost.
At one point during the first few chapters of this book, I looked at my husband and said, "I know I've read Galatians several times, but it's like I've never read it before!" That's how amazing Leiter is at highlighting and explaining passages I honestly tend to skim over or take for granted. He rarely uses sources outside Scripture, and the result is a book that is not only informative but also highly devotional. I was encouraged and even moved by several chapters. It's amazing that theology I used to consider secondary or abstruse can have that much of an impact on how I live practically. And Leiter makes this stuff easy to understand: not really as abstruse as I thought at all. Finally, the appendices are not simply extra material; they are just as important and thought-provoking as the meat of the text.
And just to give my review a little extra oomph, let me say that my husband started reading this book after me, beat me to the end, and then immediately started re-reading it again. So yeah, he liked it too. :-)
I was a little confused just a few times toward the end, when he assumes readers are completely on board with his initial argument (or when he assumes I have a better memory than I actually do) and makes claims based on premises I'm not sure about yet. For me, this happened more often in the last few chapters, and sometimes in the practical application sections of the appendices. But my mild confusion is not enough to subtract a star! I'll just pay more attention on my next read... because I WILL be reading this again.
With a few more years of growing in sanctification and love for the Lord under my belt, I read this again... and if anything, it was EVEN BETTER. I followed Leiter's arguments more, so my original review saying that I hadn't fully gotten on-board with his paradigm is obsolete now. Last time I read this book, the results were that I had more joy and freedom in the Lord. This time, I'm experiencing the same joy and freedom--and seeing even more practical outworkings in my life as I seek to follow "the ministry of the Spirit."
Leiter is one of those authors who can exposit Paul's letters so that I can see just how actually glorious and earth-shattering Paul's letters are. (Normally I get lost in/frustrated with Paul's writing style.)
I think this is probably one of my favorite books of all time. Top 5 for sure. It helps me understand the whole storyline of Scripture, how better to counsel people who ask me my opinion, and how absolutely mind-blowing the Gospel really is. It helped me understand the difference of Old Covenant vs. New Covenant theology and why that's important, and though Leiter lands pretty solidly in New Covenant territory, it would be valuable reading for either camp.
The whole book is great; sometimes I lose the forest for the trees back in the appendices, but they also show just how much thought and consistency Leiter's claims involve.
****
Sometimes when a book is paradigm-shifting, or even shattering, it feels wrong to review it at all. "This book reviewed ME; how can I turn around and assign it a paltry rating?" I feel this way about many books, and this is one of the foremost.
At one point during the first few chapters of this book, I looked at my husband and said, "I know I've read Galatians several times, but it's like I've never read it before!" That's how amazing Leiter is at highlighting and explaining passages I honestly tend to skim over or take for granted. He rarely uses sources outside Scripture, and the result is a book that is not only informative but also highly devotional. I was encouraged and even moved by several chapters. It's amazing that theology I used to consider secondary or abstruse can have that much of an impact on how I live practically. And Leiter makes this stuff easy to understand: not really as abstruse as I thought at all. Finally, the appendices are not simply extra material; they are just as important and thought-provoking as the meat of the text.
And just to give my review a little extra oomph, let me say that my husband started reading this book after me, beat me to the end, and then immediately started re-reading it again. So yeah, he liked it too. :-)
I was a little confused just a few times toward the end, when he assumes readers are completely on board with his initial argument (or when he assumes I have a better memory than I actually do) and makes claims based on premises I'm not sure about yet. For me, this happened more often in the last few chapters, and sometimes in the practical application sections of the appendices. But my mild confusion is not enough to subtract a star! I'll just pay more attention on my next read... because I WILL be reading this again.
October 15, 2014
This book truly puts the Old Covenant and its attendant laws in perspective, compared to the law of Christ under the New Covenant. Christians are not a people of Old Covenant laws, but a people that are led by the Spirit and living according to a Person, not the letter of the law.
After second reading:
It was even better after the second reading. The depths that this book reaches within the New Covenant are astounding. I would recommend this book to every Christian who is serious about the New Covenant!
After second reading:
It was even better after the second reading. The depths that this book reaches within the New Covenant are astounding. I would recommend this book to every Christian who is serious about the New Covenant!
October 29, 2025
Second time reading through this gem, and it was better than the first!
Leiter truly hits the nail on the head here with all things regarding the Law and the place of the law for New Covenant believers. His book is riddled with scripture, Christ-centered, and puts away all "systems" (dispensational, covenantal) and looks at this from a purely Biblical deduction approach.
He touches on some outworkings of the teaching of scripture that will likely make many dispensational upset, and also that will make many who hold to straight Covenant Theology upset. (10 commandments, Christ is the true Israel, etc)
Christ is all and in all! He is the pinnacle of history and His law is perfect.
This is a book I will keep coming back to again and again. Timeless and amazing!
Leiter truly hits the nail on the head here with all things regarding the Law and the place of the law for New Covenant believers. His book is riddled with scripture, Christ-centered, and puts away all "systems" (dispensational, covenantal) and looks at this from a purely Biblical deduction approach.
He touches on some outworkings of the teaching of scripture that will likely make many dispensational upset, and also that will make many who hold to straight Covenant Theology upset. (10 commandments, Christ is the true Israel, etc)
Christ is all and in all! He is the pinnacle of history and His law is perfect.
This is a book I will keep coming back to again and again. Timeless and amazing!
June 11, 2025
An important book about an important topic. Thoroughly biblical. Clear & accessible for lay readers. Devotional throughout. Above all, Christ-saturated & Christ-exalting. Recommended reading for sure.
August 25, 2019
A beautiful and thoroughly biblical look at what the new covenant in Christ means for the believer. A deep and exegetical book with a warm pastoral heart that all believers can profit from. Leiter really wants the reader to rejoice in these realities and he certainly achieved that result with me. Highly recommended.
August 29, 2022
O carte excelentă pe tema legămintelor și tranziția dintre aceastea. Deși este o lucrare introductivă, autorul reușește să dea o direcție bună cititorului în această dispută a legii și a harului, a vechiului legământ în lumina celui nou. Anexele de la finalul cărții au fost mai mult decât bine venite. Comentariul pe Romani 7 a fost foarte edificator pentru mine.
February 23, 2017
This is a must read that truly draws out the heart of the New Covenant in Jesus! Thanks Dave A. for encouraging me to read this book!
June 1, 2019
Good book. Important book. The author presents his case in a well organized and logical manner. The book is a good presentation of the biblical narrative as a whole and of Jesus as the final revelation of God who alone gives meaning to the entirety of the biblical text, most especially that of the Old Testament. Every Christian should know this but many don't: always interpret the Old Testament in the light of the New Testament, especially in the light of the teachings of Jesus. Biblical revelation is progressive... it unfolded slowly and became more clear over time, eventually being fulfilled and completely clarified by Jesus Christ. Recommended reading.
October 22, 2020
What can I say that has not been said until now by others? Well, nothing!
The Law of Christ by Charles Leiter should be read by all who claim to be and are true followers of Christ. It is a marvelous book, well written, and brings a deeper perspective and understanding of the Law of Christ.
This is a truly great book!
The Law of Christ by Charles Leiter should be read by all who claim to be and are true followers of Christ. It is a marvelous book, well written, and brings a deeper perspective and understanding of the Law of Christ.
This is a truly great book!
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July 29, 2020Essential reading for learning "The Law of Christ" - "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" - the "canon" of the New Covenant.
December 5, 2023
Awesome book to have in order to understand why we are free from the works of the law by the Grace and sacrifice of Christ.
February 9, 2025
This is an excellent breakdown of how the law relates to the Christian. Highly recommended! This should absolutely be included with any study of covenant theology.
July 15, 2013
This is a pretty good read. The author takes a position that is in the middle of a Covenantal & Dispensational view of the Law (of Moses). Actually though I think it is more in line w/dispensational thought then being the middle ground of the two. The author's position is that the Law of Moses is a unit, and is always treated as a whole (there is no ceremonial, moral, ritual division, that was a concept brought about by Aquinas). We as Christians are not under the Law of Moses but we are under the law or obligated to the Law of Christ. He does a good job describing what that means & what that looks like as it relates to our living for the Lord. The Christian does not live by the Law but by Christ, he does not look to the Law but to Christ, Christ is central and he does a great job in explaining what that looks like in everyday thought & life.
He is fairly thorough, and the Q & A in the Appendix is very helpful.
He is fairly thorough, and the Q & A in the Appendix is very helpful.
December 20, 2014
A great look into the entailments of the Old Testament law, how the New Testament understood its fulfillment, and how the believer is to live in the law of Christ--which is love.
March 2, 2016
Fantastic book and simple to understand. Highly recommend
August 23, 2016
This was an excellent book. I learned a lot and it was a great blessing! I highly recommend it if you'd like to know more about New Covenant Theology.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews