The word “end” is mentioned numerous times in the Holy Scriptures.  In each case the meaning of the word depends on two factors: 1) the context in which it is used and 2) who is using the word and from what mindset the user is speaking or writing.  The honest speaker or writer will search out the various Biblical ways in which “end” can be used and determine from the context how it should be used.  The dishonest user will use the word in the way that confirms his preconceived notion.  It helps to have a Bible concordance which provides the Greek and Hebrew word that corresponds to the context demanded by the Scriptural passage.  I recommend Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Holy Bible.

The word “end” in the Holy Scriptures has several meanings.  Normally the word indicates that something is complete and nothing else needs to be done.    The end of a journey means that travel has ended and the traveler has stopped.  The end of a book means that there are no more words and the reader has stopped reading.  In other cases “end” indicates purpose.  For example: “to this end (for this purpose) Christ died” (Rom. 14:9).

Then there is the ultimate meaning of “end” found in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Rome.  In the first chapter Paul reminds his Gentile congregation of the apostasy of the Jews who had once known God but had fallen away from Him.  The list of their sins (vss 21-32) is extensive and deadly.  In the sixth chapter Paul is reminding the people that, in the past before they had embraced the Lord they had been exactly like the backslidden Jews in that they had been involved in the same sins.  In verse 21 he states: “the END of those things (sins) is death.”  Here the meaning of “end” refers to the RESULT of their sins.  Then in the following verse he mentions the “end” of the opposite type of activity (holiness).  Here he refers to obeying God “unto holiness, and the end (result of holiness), (is) eternal life.”  In these instances the Greek word for “end” is telos, meaning result or outcome.  Note that the activities and their results are exact opposites.  THERE IS NO GRAY AREA IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.  One is either right or wrong, holy or evil, with God or against Him.  He does not accept mixing.  Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 and Matthew 6:23 and 24.  Here God tells us that we are whole-heartly with Him or no-heartedly with him.  In God’s world, “half-hearted” does not exist.  In professing Christendom half-heartedness describes the so-called “Christian walk”–her mode of operation.  Those who embrace that walk call themselves “sinners saved by grace.”

Most religious people accept the aforementioned meanings of the word under consideration–“end.”  However, when it comes to the Law, that same word–telos–mysteriously changes and takes on a meaning–death, end of existence–which is reserved strictly for the Law of God, meaning the entire Old Testament, with a few exceptions.  In the New Testament which, we are told, has no reference for the Law, the concept of Law-keeping is met with ridicule and rejection.  In the New Testament Church there only grace and faith have a place.  The Law is anathema–rejected and outlawed.

The primary verse used by Law-deniers is Romans 10:4 where Paul states that: “for (faith in) CHRIST is the END (telos) of (puts an end to obeying) the LAW for (in order to attain) RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  However, he writes that the END (telos–result) of RIGHTEOUSNESS is ETERNAL LIFE (Rom. 6:11).  The word (telos) as used in both cases, means result or outcome.  So what is the problem?

The problem is two-fold: 1) no one can obey the Law–be righteous and holy because of Adam’s sin-transferal miracle.  And even if it was possible to obey God, His Law was destroyed forever, having been “nailed to the cross.”  If this is true, holiness is impossible to achieve.  So how can the end (telos) of holiness (obedience to the Law) result in eternal life?  If obedience to the Law results in holiness, and holiness results in eternal life, and the Law was nailed to the cross, the no one can receive eternal life.

Paul’s Holy Spirit-inspired words: “Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness” (Rom. 10:4) has been construed to mean that if one accepts Christ as one’s Savior, one is exempt from having to obey His Law.  The exact opposite is Biblically true: CHRIST SAID THAT ONE MUST OBEY THE LAW IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THAT THE OUTCOME OF OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW IS IN FACT HOLINESS, THE END RESULT OF WHICH IS ETERNAL LIFE.  He tells us that He came to fulfill the Law, NOT TO DESTROY IT (Mat. 5:17).  In the following verse He states that not one jot or tittle can pass from the Law until all of it had been fulfilled.  Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would come to earth to magnify the Law and make it honorable (42:21).  Paul said that the Law identifies sin (Rom. 3:20), and that he would not have known what sin was except for the Law (Rom. 7:7).  He called the Law holy, just and good (Rom. 7:12), and noted that the Law identified righteousness (Rom. 8:4)–the opposite of sin, which is the transgression of the Law (1 Jn. 3:4).

When confronted with Matthew 5:17 (Jesus did not come to destroy the Law, but to FULFILL it), Law deniers always focus on the word “fulfill,” insisting that it means that Christ’s death brought the Law to an end.  However, when we examine other instances in which “fulfill” is used in the same context, the meaning becomes clear.  Let us look at some of those examples.

In Matthew 3:15 Jesus has come to John the Baptist for baptism.  John says to Him that he (John) should be baptized by Jesus.  Jesus replies that John must baptize Him in order to “… FULFILL all righteousness.”  Does Jesus mean that they must BRING RIGHTEOUSNESS TO AN END?  If this is so, and righteousness ends in salvation, then Christ’s baptism ended all righteousness and ended the possibility of salvation.  In Philippians 2:2 Paul is asking the church at Philippi to do what they were supposed to do and thereby “… FULFILL MY JOY.”  Did Paul want them to DESTROY OR BRING AN END TO HIS JOY?   In Colossians 1:25 the people were asked to FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD.  Did Paul mean for the people to DO AWAY WITH GOD’S WORD/TRUTH/LIGHT/GOSPEL?  In Colossians 4:17 Paul is telling Archippus to remember the ministry that he had received from the Lord and to FULFILL IT.  Was Paul telling him TO FORGET ABOUT HIS APPOINTED MINISTRY?  In James 2:8 the apostle tells the church that if they FULFILL THE SECOND COMMANDMENT, THEY WOULD DO WELL.  Was he telling them to DESTROY THE ROYAL LAW OF GOD?  In Galatians 6:2 Paul tells those in the church to bear each others’ burdens, thereby FULLING THE LAW OF CHRIST.  Was he telling them (and us) to stop bearing each others’ burdens as commanded by Christ’s Law?

Come, let us reason together with the Almighty.  Let us embrace His Truth and reject church doctrine.  Let us search God’s Word/Gospel/Light/Law for His Truth, believe it and obey it.  LET US BE HONEST ABOUT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.  When we are wrong, let us admit it, receive justification, undergo conversion and obey the voice of the Lord.  L.J.