Legalism vs. Lawlessness

Legalism defined is: Strict, literal adherence to the law.
Lawlessness defined is: the condition of without law, because ignorant of it, because of violating it, contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

If I understand what I read, we are told that the law cannot save, but nowhere in scripture does it state that we are to stop keeping the 'Law' of God. The term 'legalism' is often used in regard to rigidly following the 'Law' assuming it has the ability to save or keeping it will somehow make us closer to God. There is only one 'Way' to the Father and that through Jesus Christ. There is some confusion about whether or not we are to continue in the law of Moses, i.e., the 'Law' of God; handed down and commanded to Israel to 'adhere to strictly' as well as remind the generations that follow to keep. Through Jesus, we are able to keep His 'Law' through the grace He has given us. Yet, how is it we have strayed so far from keeping the'Law' as Christians?
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Matthew 7:23 . We're still not allowed to break God's laws by committing murder, adultery, using God's name in vain, erecting idols, dishonoring our parents, lying against our neighbors, etc. So where do we get the idea that we can fudge on some and not on others. The word of God tells us that the letter of the law kills, but does that mean don't adhere to it? It also states that the spirit of the law brings life; what 'Law' is the above scripture referring to?

The reason; the motive for the 'Law' was to reveal that we were in sin because before the law we did not know it. "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20. "because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. "Romans 4:15. Before the 'Law' there was not a previous set standard to follow. We were breaking the 'Laws' of God thereby separating ourselves from Him, but before the 'Law" we were not aware of our condition which carried the requirement of death, shed blood, to correct. Therefore, out of God's mercy, and to prevent our unnecessary death, He made us aware of the condition of sin. Jesus, who qualified that condition, says that He did not come to do away with the 'Law', but to fulfill it. The 'Law' is not made obsolete, but does that mean we are no longer required to fulfill the 'Law" ourselves? Paul says, of being allowed to sin, "Heaven forbid!" or "By no means!" We still cannot commit murder or any of the other above listed laws. The confusion may come because we misunderstand statements like, "to do away with" and "to fulfill" in regards to the 'Law'. When Jesus came to fufill the 'Law', He met the requirements, not so that we wouldn't have to, but because 'we could not'. We could not, perpetually, for all time, end sacrifices for sin through blood sacrifice, but Jesus could. We could not offer a pure, undefiled sacrifice, that once slaughtered, could forever end the continual need to pay our sin debt, but Jesus could. And because He did, He made a way for us to go to the Father and fulfill the rest; confession, repentance and ongoing 'sanctification'. We each have a responsibility to 'walk out our own salvation' according to the "Word" of God; the "Law" of God. To say that we are not bound by the 'Law' is to deny the fulfillment of Christ. Because of His sacrifice we are now, as His disciples, bound by the 'Law' of Christ. The term 'lawlessness' in Matthew 7:23, 13:14, 23:28, 24:12, Romans 6:19, II Cor. 6:14, Heb. 1:9, and I John 3:4 , refers to being 'without the Law', being in sin; and God hates it. We are to live according to the 'Law' of grace. "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Romans 6:14.

Depending on the ritual/letter of the 'Law' to save us when a better "Way' has been made available to us is to be ignorant of the fulfillment of Christ. It does not negate the purpose and responsibility of keeping the 'Law'. "What then, shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? Certainly not!" Romans 6:15. We are still bound to it because of our relationship to Christ. Now, instead of being under the 'Law' as a yoke which brings death we are now bound by love for God's 'law' which has brought us life through Christs' fulfillment of that 'Law' and because of that love we obey the law. We now understand why David said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." Psalm 119:105. David confesses that he loves God's 'Laws', statutes, commandments, ordinances, His word (Torah! Way! Truth! Life! Law!), the Way everlasting! He has dicided that God's ways are better than his own and because he saw and understood the promise that was to come. Jesus! He shows us that grace holds us at a higher standard of living than the law does:

Mt 5:21-22
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Mt 5:27-28
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Mt. 5:33-37
"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Mt 5:38- 42
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Mt 5:43-45

43"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Just rememer what Jesus said;

Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.