Is the law abolished?

I often attempt to throw too much into a message.  People say it's like a firehose.... So this is my solution. Further clarification in a blog post.  So if you are ready this, it means you are a theology geek, or you want more!  Glad you are here!  So, the question raised by Galatians 4 is along the lines of the Law. Is it abolished?  Jesus didn't come to abolish it, but in a sense it is is obsolete... How so? Read on!

Jesus' statement about fulfilling the law and Paul's teachings about the new covenant can seem paradoxical at first glance. Let me break this down:

1. Jesus fulfilling the law: When Jesus said He came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17), He meant that He perfectly obeyed it and fulfilled its righteous requirements on our behalf. He also fulfilled the prophetic and typological aspects of the law that pointed to Him.
2. The role of the law under the new covenant: a) Moral guide: The moral aspects of the law still serve as a guide for righteous living. b) Revealer of sin: The law helps us recognize our sinfulness and need for a Savior (Romans 3:20). c) Pointer to Christ: It demonstrates our inability to save ourselves, directing us to rely on Christ (Galatians 3:24).
3. In what sense is the old covenant obsolete: a) As a means of salvation: We are no longer under the law as a system for earning righteousness or salvation (Romans 6:14). b) Ceremonial aspects: The ceremonial laws (sacrifices, dietary restrictions, etc.) are no longer binding, as they were fulfilled in Christ (Colossians 2:16-17). c) Civil laws: The civil laws specific to ancient Israel are not directly applicable to believers today.
4. The new covenant's relationship to the law: a) Internal vs. External: Under the new covenant, God writes His law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33), making obedience an internal desire rather than mere external compliance. b) Spirit-empowered obedience: We now have the Holy Spirit to help us live out God's will (Ezekiel 36:26-27). c) Fulfillment in love: The essence of the law is fulfilled when we love God and our neighbors (Romans 13:8-10).
5. Continuity and discontinuity: There's both continuity (God's unchanging moral standards) and discontinuity (the way we relate to those standards) between the old and new covenants.

In summary, while the old covenant as a system of relating to God is obsolete, the underlying principles of God's law are still relevant. However, under the new covenant, we approach the law not as a means of earning salvation, but as a guide for living out our salvation, empowered by the Holy Spirit and motivated by love for God and others. The law now functions more as a description of the life of faith rather than a prescription for earning God's favor.
This understanding helps us navigate between the extremes of legalism (trying to earn God's favor through law-keeping) and antinomianism (disregarding God's moral standards altogether). We're called to live in the freedom of Christ while still honoring God's righteous standards, all through the power of the Holy Spirit.