Luther is often accused of being a spiritual anarchist because of his doctrine of law and gospel. This is because he said such radical things about the place of the law in the life of the Christian, as a Christian. Quite simply the law has no place in the life of the Christian when considered from the perspective of the gospel. He says that the law has no jurisdiction over us when we are in Christ and that the law does not apply to us at all, etc. (Lectures on Galatians, passim). However, Luther is not alone in his radicalism. John Chrysostom plainly teaches a similar doctrine, although he cannot articulate the distinction between Law and Gospel in the same way that Lutherans do. Yet, he's quite clear that the law has no place in the article of salvation. We are freed from the curse of the law and its dominion, not by our own efforts or works, that by the work of Jesus Christ. Christ has not come to redeem the law but to redeem poor sinners from it. He fulfilled the law not to renovate it, but to give renewal and new life to those who cannot fulfill it. He fulfilled the law that it might be fulfilled for you and in your place.

Our Lord Jesus Christ places Himself under the law with all of its burdens and requirements purposely to fulfill the law in our place. What we could not do because of our weakness under the law, He did. In that way, the promise given by God to His people of old, and abrogated by them in every possible way, was conferred upon us in its perfect completeness in the person and work of Christ. In this way, God is seen to be truthful, because He fulfills His promises to us; always despite our unworthiness. This is how God both is and appears to be righteous in the world (Rm 3:26). We break our promises continually (watch out for vows!). He never goes back on His promise. He always keeps His promise; even if it costs Him His own precious Son.

God's fulfillment of his promise is always dependent upon Him; never upon us. If he were dependent upon us, that would make it eternally and absolutely contingent. The law is about contingency. The gospel is about God's certainty for our sake in the work of Christ. We must not and cannot cling to the law, nor should we spend our time bickering over it and about it. The gospel is the message that alone saves. This is because God is true. And us? Not so much.