The righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in believers through their position in Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, not by their own law-keeping.
Romans 8:4 states the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Les Feldick teaches that believers gain this position in Christ by believing the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit then produces the inward desire and power to live as the Law demands.
Romans 8:4 — This is the key verse that directly answers the question, showing the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in believers who walk after the Spirit.
Romans 13:8 — This verse reveals that loving one another fulfills the Law, explaining the practical way the Law's righteousness is realized in believers.
Paul writes in Romans 8:3-4 that God, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. This shows that the fulfillment of the Law's righteousness is connected to a Spirit-led walk, not to human effort. Romans 13:8 declares, "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." Verse 10 adds, "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." The Bible therefore presents love as the active expression of fulfilling the Law.
Les Feldick teaches that the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in believers only because of their position in Christ, which they gain by believing the Gospel. The Law itself was perfect, holy, and righteous, but it was weak and beggarly—it could only condemn and had no power to help anyone keep it. In this dispensation of grace, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and becomes the believer's guideline for Christian living. Rather than a set of rules written in cold stone, the Spirit works from within, giving believers a desire to live pleasing to God and taking away the desire to rebel. This is not license; it is the power of the Holy Spirit keeping believers from stealing, lying, coveting, and immorality. Les emphasizes that everything the Law commanded is now fulfilled out of a heart of love, not by compulsion. The believer automatically adheres to the moral content of the Law, and loving one another fulfills the Law.
No. Les Feldick makes clear that being free from the Law does not mean we now have license to sin. Quite the opposite. Because the Holy Spirit now indwells the believer, He keeps us from wanting to steal, speak falsely, covet, or commit immoral acts. The Law could not do this—it only condemned—but the Holy Spirit provides the power to live righteously.
The Holy Spirit becomes the believer's guideline for Christian living. Unlike the Law, which was cold and severe and gave no help, the Holy Spirit is warm and loving. He indwells the believer, gives a desire to live pleasing in God's sight, and takes away the desire to be rebellious and wicked. The presence of the Godhead within the believer keeps him from the things the Law forbade.
Paul writes in Romans 13:8 that he who loves another has fulfilled the Law. Les Feldick explains that everything the Law commanded is now to be done out of a heart of love, not by commandment. The believer is automatically going to adhere to the things given in the Law—not stealing, not committing adultery, not having idols—because of the inward working power of the Spirit.
Position in Christ by Believing the Gospel
Les teaches that the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in believers who have gained their position in Christ by believing the Gospel.
Righteousness of God by Faith
Les contrasts the righteousness of God with law-keeping, showing it comes by the faith of Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Walking Not After the Flesh but After the Spirit
Les emphasizes that Romans 8:4 connects the fulfillment of the Law's righteousness to walking in the Spirit, not after the flesh.
Love Fulfills the Law
Les applies Romans 13:8, showing that the believer who loves another has fulfilled the Law.
The Holy Spirit as Our Guideline
Les describes the Holy Spirit as the believer's inward guide and power, replacing the cold, condemning Law.
The Spirit Keeps Us From Sin
Les explains that the indwelling Holy Spirit keeps believers from the very things the Law forbade, such as stealing, lying, and coveting.
Heart of Love, Not Commandment
Les says the believer adheres to the Law's commandments out of a heart of love, not because of outward compulsion.
The Law Only Condemns
Les notes that the Law has no power to save or help; it only condemns, making the Spirit's power necessary for righteous living.
Romans 8:3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
This verse explains why the Law could not secure righteousness, leading to the fulfillment described in verse 4.
Romans 8:4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
This is the central verse showing that the Law's righteousness is fulfilled in believers who walk by the Spirit.
Romans 13:8: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
This verse directly links loving one another to the fulfillment of the Law.
Romans 13:10: Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
This verse reinforces that love is the practical fulfillment of the Law's demands.
The righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in believers through their position in Christ obtained by faith. The Holy Spirit gives the inward power and desire to live a life that meets what the Law demanded. Walking after the Spirit rather than the flesh is how Romans 8:4 describes this fulfillment.
No. Les Feldick says that being free from the Law does not mean license. The Holy Spirit indwells believers and keeps them from sins such as stealing, lying, coveting, and immorality. The Law could not do this; the Holy Spirit does.
Romans 13:8 says that he who loves another fulfills the Law, and Romans 13:10 says love is the fulfilling of the Law. Les explains that the believer keeps the commandments out of a heart of love rather than by compulsion.
Watch the Teaching: Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means