Romans 10:4 explains that the Savior
is the telos (literally, “end”) of the law for all who trust in Him. One
implication is that He is the terminus of “using the law to establish one’s own
righteousness.” There are two other interpretive options worth mentioning in
connection with this verse. The first is that Jesus somehow brings about the
cessation or abolition of the Mosaic law, either historically, existentially,
or both. While it is true that the Messiah’s death and resurrection put an end
to the civil and ceremonial aspects of the law . . . its universal moral
absolutes remain authoritative and applicable for His followers. Also, as
previously explained, it is incorrect to suppose that Jesus sought to annul,
repeal, or do away with the Mosaic legal code. Accordingly, a secondly
interpretive option is preferred, namely; that telos points to Jesus
being the culmination (that is, the destination, goal, outcome, and
fulfillment) of the law (cf. Matt 5:17). The implication is that all its types
and prophecies are realized in Him, its teachings find their most perfect
expression in Him, and its demands are most fully satisfied in Him (cf. Gal
3:24). (Dan Lioy, Jesus as Torah in John 1-12 [Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf and
Stock, 2007], 35-36)
