Hi' Bob,

Thanks' very' much' for' the' kind' concern' you' and' George' have' for' me' about' the' Sabbath.' However,' I' don’t' share' George' s' convictions,' bless' his' heart.' They' don’t' marry' with' the' Scripture' that' I' am' reading.' Let' me' tell' you' that' God' can' show' us' in' minutes' by' His' Holy' Spirit' that' which' would' otherwise' take' months' or' even' years' to' learn' so' I' don’t' buy' the' time' restriction' but' I' am' aware' of' the' foolishness' of' jumping' the' gun;' that’s' why' I' remain' open' minded' despite' the' convictions' I' am' expressing' at' the' moment.' And' after' all,' I' am' simply' sharing' what' I' am' finding' at' the' moment.' I' may' change' tomorrow' if' the' Lord' shows' me' something' to' the' contrary.' Let' it' be' known' to' George' that' I' do' respect' his' views' about' the' Sabbath' and' I' don’t' doubt' his' sincerity.' If' he' is' right' then' one' day' the' Spirit' will' lead' me' back' to' the' Sabbath.
'
' Right' now,' however,' I' have' so' much' Scriptural' evidence' to' support' the' converse' that' my' conscience' doesn’t' trouble' me' anymore.' Believe' me,' Bob,' I' for' one,' must' have' evidence' beyond' reasonable' doubt,' before' I' am' prepared' to' make' a' change,' I' am' a' stubborn' man' to' convince.' So' far' from' being' troubled,' rather' the' reverse' in' fact!' I' would' fear' to' be' keeping' the' Sabbath' for' to' do' so' I' am' persuaded' is' to' adorn' a' yoke' of' bondage' and' send' out' the' wrong' signals' about' what' grace' is.' No,' I' am' rejoicing' in' the' FREEDOM' the' true' Gospel' gives,' the' truth' that' in' Christ' the' Law' and' all' its' obligations' were' fulfilled' and' that' if' I' abide' in' Him' He' will' impute' and' impart' the' sweet' fruits' of' His' spirit,' His' righteousness' in' me' which' include' the' spirit' of' the' Law.' which' is' infinitely' higher' than' a' temporary' written' code.'

Compare' Gal' 3:19-20.' The' Law' was' for' indeed' a' boot' camp' to' restrain' the' disobedient.' But' the' righteous' in' Israel' did' not' need' the' Law' save' only' that' it
' pointed' out' there' need' for' Christ.' Christ' has' taken' us' out' of' boot' camp' and' has' set' us' down' with' Him' in' heavenly' places.' His' righteousness' transcends' all' Law' and' is' epitomized' by' the' Royal' Law' of' agape' Love' that' was' written' in' His' heart,' written' in' Adam' s' heart,' written' in' Abraham' s' heart' by' nature,' and' will' be' written' in' the' hearts' of' the' redeemed' by' nature,' here' and' in' Heaven' where' there' will' be' no' need' for' written' law' for' God' s' redeemed.

Let' me' say' something' about' unclean' meats.' I' have' investigated' that' recently' it' its' a' very' simple' one' to' resolve.' As' far' as' these' are' concerned' I' am' satisfied' that' three' are' unclean' and' clean' meats' alright.' That' was' made' very' clear' from' when' the' animals' went' into' the' ark.' So' anyone' who' expresses' respect' for' these' Bible' laws,' is' doing' himself' a' favor!' Isn' t' it' logical' that' a' God' who' created' man,' who' loves' mankind,,will' also' have' given' guidance' on' the' best' "fuel"' for' his' body?' And' what' to' avoid?' And' Christians' especially,' in' whom' dwells' the' Spirit' of' God,' who' are' His' "Temple",' who' are' Christ' s' Body,' ought' to' give' heed' to' the' Bible' s' dietary' laws!' However,' as' far' as' salvation' is' concerned' we' are' not' to' make' the' non-eating' of' unclean' meat' or' the' keeping' of' the' a' holy' day' a' matter' of' judgment.' The' doctrine' of' abstaining' from' meat' today' is' of' the' devil.' 1' Tim.' 4:1-5:'

"There' can' be' no' doubt' that' in' the' apostasy' here' referred' to,' those' things' would' be' forbidden,' not' because' they' were' injurious' or' hurtful' in' their' nature,' but' because' it' might' be' made' a' part' of' a' system' of' religion' of' self-righteousness,' and' because' there' might' be' connected' with' such' a' prohibition' the' belief' of' special' merit."' ––' Barnes.'

The' SDA' did' exactly' that' and' we' must' shed' this' evil' mind-set.'
' Actually' I' refuse' to' eat' meat' in' the' UK' because' I' don’t' want' to' become' a' mad' bull!!' But' the' point' is' that' in' Christ' we' are' under' His' authority.' the' law' of' the' Spirit' of' life,' and' are' free' to' choose' by' the' direction' of' His' Spirit' what' we' eat' imposing' vegetarianism' is' not' permitted' by' New' Testament' scripture' and' the' fact' that' the' SDA' and' other' organizations' do' this' shows' the' spirit' they' have' spurring' them' on.' And' yes,' although' it' would' not' be' wise' to' eat' pig' or' drink' alcohol' (my' article' on' Alcohol' in' the' Bible' still' stands' as' far' as' I' am' concerned)' it' is' not' a' salvation' issue,' for' the' kingdom' of' heaven' is' not' about' food' and' drink.

Bob,' I' am' still' studying' the' Sabbath' in' great' detail' slowly' verse' by' verse' and' I' will' share' the' results' with' you' once' I' am' done.

' I' value' our' friendship,' Bob,' and' the' fact' that' we' can' talk' freely' about' these' things' without' attacking' each' other.' Both' of' us' and' I' am' sure' George' too,' want' to' do' God' s' will' and' that’s' nots' the' reason' we' differ.

Always' your' brother' in' His' love
' Brian

' March' 7,' 2009

Brian,'

Can' I' admit' that' I' have' learned' so' much' from' you?' I' feel' humbled' by' the' fact' that' in' my' trying' to' open' your' eyes' to' the' little' that' I' knew' about' the' falsity' of' a' Church,' you' have' in' turn' opened' my' eyes' to' the' graciousness' of' Christ,' who' died' for' just' this' reason.'
' Forgive' my' naiveness,' but' in' a' comment' that' you' made' about' the' righteous' and' Law' abiding' in' Israel,' that' the' Law' was' not' given' for' their' sakes....I' ask' about' Christ,' didn' t' HE' come' to' fulfill' the' Law' (as' it' was)' and' being' sinless,' as' sinners,' are' we' to' follow' His' lead?'
' I' also' have' to' wonder' if' all' this' that' we' have' recently' learned' about' the' SDA' Church,' does' it' really' matter' or' can' it' be' overlooked' in' light' of' Christ' s' grace?' Of' course' I' am' quite' aware' that' SDAs' are' a' LONG' ways' from' being' in' that' camp!'
' I' am' asking' the' above' because' you' have' turned' my' head' around' in' a' circle' that' I' fear' may' soon' become' a' square' knot!' And' as' I' am' finding' out,' it' is' not' enough' to' tell' people' about' the' evils' of' EGW' and' the' SDA' Church,' but' in' forming' a' relationship' with' Christ' that' allows' one' to' unbuckle' forever' the' yokes' that' have' kept' us' from' advancing' and' learning' these' Truths.'

Blessings' always,' Brian,'
' Bob

March' 8,' 2009

' Bob,

Your' last' letter' and' Georges' correspondence' gave' me' such' joy.' Thank' you' for' what' you' expressed.' May' all' credit' God,' our' Lord' and' Master.' What' I' value' above' all' is' the' kind' spirit' that' you' and' George' have' shown' toward' me.' I' will' respond' to' you' both' in' detail' about' what' you' have' written' me.' Thank' you.' But' Bob,' right' now' I' am' on' cloud' nine,' no' CLOUD' TEN!' Why?' Because' your' very' question' about' Christ' fulfilling' the' law' and' what' that' means' for' you' and' I' was' the' very' question' I' placed' before' the' Lord' when' this' morning' when' I' was' on' my' knees' in' prayer.' Its' amazing' thing' is' that' within' minutes' I' had' the' answer' before' me' presented' so' clearly' that' I' whooped' for' joy!'

I' have' been' struggling' to' understand' the' Gospel' and' its' relation' to' Law' and' thought' I' had' the' paradigm' clear' in' my' mind' but,' brother,' I' never' understood' it' so' clearly' as' I' do' now.' AT' LAST' THE' VEIL' HAS' BEEN' REMOVED' FROM' MY' EYES.'

All' the' reading' from' Scripture' and' Bible' commentaries' have' been' saying' the' same' thing' over' and' over' again.' Paul' was' right,' Luther' was' right,' Canright' was' right,' John' Gill' was' right' et' al!' But' my' poor' mind' was' suspicious.' My' past' education' has' so' cramped' my' ability' to' think' except' in' one' direction' only' that' I' struggled' to' get' my' head' round' it.' And' now' I' know' beyond' all' shadow' of' a' doubt' that' New' Testament' Christians' are' not' under' any' of' the' Old' Testament' Laws' and' by' that' I' do' mean' ALL' LAW,' including' the' entire' Mosaic' system,' and' I' say' this' with' holy' boldness,' tempered' by' much' fear' and' trembling.' Bob,' please,' please' read' the' following' article,' very' carefully,' which' I' believe' the' Lord' directed' me' to' read.' It' is' the' clearest' statement' I' have' ever' read,' on' what' is' otherwise' a' veritable' minefield,' and' presents' with' amazing' deftness' both' the' true' Gospel' (the' one' the' Adventists' never' taught)' and' how' we,' as' New' Testament' Christians' fulfill' all' Law' that' has' ever' been' given.' It' answers' in' simple' fashion' all' the' arguments
' that' have' leveled' about' keeping' the' Law' and' which' so' tied' my' brains' in' a' square' knot' (O,' I' like' that' Bob!)' and' exploded' all' the' myths' Adventists' teach' about' the' Law.' PRAISE' GOD' FOR' THE' PERFECT' LIBERTY' WE' HAVE' IN' CHRIST' IN' WHICH' ALL' THE' LAW' AND' THE' PROPHETS' IS' FULFILLED!'

Bob,' this' I' do' believe' this' an' answer' to' our' questions' about' fulfilling' the' law.' I' now' understand' that' we' ourselves' cannot' follow' Christ' s' example' through' any' code' because' we' cannot' imitate' Him' by' focusing' on' trying' to' be' like' Him' by' our' works,' or' obedience' to' a' holy' code,' rather' we' receive' it' all' through' Him' by' grace' alone.' He' imputes' His' very' life' against' our' lives' and' imparts' into' us' His' very' life' by' the' Spirit' of' His' Grace' and' when' we' are' in' Him' and' He' is' in' us' then' we' are' complete' in' Him' and' are' ready' for' translation.' Then' we' are' under' and' fulfilling' the' perfect' law' of' liberty,' the' law' of' the' Spirit' of' Life' in' Christ' Jesus' which' transcends' and' embraces' all' law' that' has' ever' been' made' and' fulfills' the' very' character' of' God' in' us!'
' But,' Bob,' do' read' what' follows' and' may' your' joy' be' full' one' day' as' mine' is' right' now.' Not' one' word' of' what' follows' is' mine.' I' will' share' the' source' with' you' later' if' you' wish.' What' is' important' is' not' the' author' but' the' truth' that' is' presented' Sufficient' to' say' that' the' author' is' now' deceased.

Introduction

A' great' cause' of' confusion' today' concerns' the' place' of' the' Mosaic' law' in' the' New' Testament' believer’’s' life.' While' this' short' study' cannot' begin' to' cover' all' the' issues' involved,' it' is' my' hope' that' it' will' shed' some' light' and' remove' some' of' the' confusion.

One' of' the' profound' emphases' of' the' New' Testament,' especially' the' epistles' of' Paul,' is' that' Christians' are' no' longer' under' the' rule' of' the' Mosaic' law.' This' truth' is' stated' in' no' uncertain' terms' and' in' various' ways' (see' Rom.' 6:14;' 7:1-14;' Gal.' 3:10-13,' 24-25;' 4:21;' 5:1,' 13;' 2' Cor.' 3:7-18),' but' in' spite' of' this,' there' have' always' been' those' who' insist' that' the' Mosaic' Law,' at' least' the' Ten' Commandments,' are' still' in' force' for' the' Christian.' In' regard' to' the' relation' of' Christian' ethics' to' the' Mosaic' Law,' Luck' writes:

There' are' Christian' teachers' of' repute' who' consider' the' Mosaic' law' to' be' the' present-day' rule' of' life' for' the' Christian.1' A' view' not' infrequently' found' among' earnest,' orthodox' believers' is' that' although' we' are' not' saved' by' the' law,' once' we' have' been' justified' by' faith,' then' the' Mosaic' law' becomes' our' rule' of' life.' Those' holding' such' a' view' generally' make' a' sharp' division' of' the' Mosaic' law' into' two' parts,' which' they' distinguish' as' the' moral' and' the' ceremonial.' The' ceremonial' portion' they' consider' as' having' found' its' fulfillment' in' Christ' at' His' first' advent,' and' thus' as' having' now' passed' away.' But' the' moral' portion' of' the' Mosaic' law,' say' they,' is' still' in' force' as' the' believer’’s' rule' of' life.' The' treatment' given' to' Christian' ethics' by' some' highly' respected' authors' is' indeed' but' little' more' than' an' exposition' of' the' Decalogue.

It' seems' exceedingly' strange' that' Bible-believing' Christians' should' advocate' such' a' view,' when' the' New' Testament' makes' it' abundantly' clear' that' the' believer' in' Christ' is' not' any' longer' under' the' Mosaic' law' in' its' entirety……' Indeed' after' having' been' delivered' from' the' law,' to' deliberately' place' ourselves' once' again' under' its' [control]' is' said' to' be' falling' from' grace.

But' let' it' be' immediately' understood' that' this' does' not' mean' to' say' that' we' should' necessarily' behave' in' a' manner' just' opposite' to' what' the' Mosaic' law' commands——that' we' should' kill,' steal,' bear' false' witness,' etc.' Long' before' the' law' was' given' through' Moses,' it' was' utterly' wrong' to' do' such' evil' things.' .' .2

By' contrast,' the' age' in' which' we' live,' the' church' age,' has' often' and' rightly' been' called' the' age' of' grace.' This' is' not' because' God’’s' grace' has' not' been' manifested' in' other' ages,' but' because' in' the' coming' of' the' Lord' Jesus' Christ' we' have' the' ultimate' manifestation' of' God’’s' grace.'

Titus' 2:11-12.' For' the' grace' of' God' has' appeared,' bringing' salvation' to' all' people.' It' trains' us' to' reject' godless' ways' and' worldly' desires' and' to' live' self-controlled,' upright,' and' godly' lives' in' the' present' age,

Grace' becomes' an' absolutely' inseparable' part' of' the' believer’’s' life' in' Christ.' In' the' coming' of' Christ' and' His' death' on' the' cross,' the' Mosaic' Law' as' a' rule' of' life' was' terminated.' The' believer' is' now' to' live' in' the' liberty' and' power' of' God’’s' grace' by' the' Spirit,' not' the' rule' of' law.' This' new' liberty' must' never' be' used' as' an' occasion' to' indulge' the' flesh' or' sinful' appetites' (Gal.' 5:13)' nor' does' it' mean' the' Christian' has' no' moral' law' or' imperatives' on' his' life,' but' simply' that' he' or' she' is' to' live' righteously' by' a' new' source' of' life' as' asserted' in' Romans' 8.

Romans' 8:2-4.' For' the' law' of' the' life-giving' Spirit' in' Christ' Jesus' has' set' you' free' from' the' law' of' sin' and' death.' 3' For' God' achieved' what' the' law' could' not' do' because' it' was' weakened' through' the' flesh.' By' sending' his' own' Son' in' the' likeness' of' sinful' flesh' and' concerning' sin,' he' condemned' sin' in' the' flesh,' 4' so' that' the' righteous' requirement' of' the' law' may' be' fulfilled' in' us,' who' do' not' walk' according' to' the' flesh' but' according' to' the' Spirit.

But' a' great' deal' of' confusion' exists' over' the' issues' of' law' and' grace' and' the' place' of' the' Mosaic' law' in' the' New' Testament' believer’’s' life.' However,' the' basic' principle' is' that' the' fusion' of' law' and' grace' brings' a' confusion' which' results' in' sterile' legalism.' Because' of' man’’s' natural' bent' toward' either' legalism' or' license,' the' place' and' function' of' the' Law' has' been' an' issue' in' the' Christian' community' since' the' very' early' days' of' the' church.' There' have' always' been' those' who' have' sought' to' put' the' Christian' back' under' the' Law' or' make' the' Law' necessary' for' both' salvation' and' sanctification.' As' a' result' large' sections' of' the' New' Testament' are' written' directly' to' this' issue' (see' Acts' 15' and' the' council' at' Jerusalem;' Romans' 5:10;' 6:14;' 7:1f;' 2' Cor.' 3:6-18;' and' the' entire' book' of' Galatians).' These' passages' were' written' against' a' legalistic' use' of' the' Law,' one' which' promotes' works' to' gain' points' with' either' God' or' people;' works' of' self-effort
' rather' than' a' life' lived' by' the' power' and' personal' leading' of' the' Holy' Spirit.

Of' course,' other' parts' of' the' New' Testament' are' written' against' license' and' the' misuse' of' liberty' (Gal.' 5:13ff.' Rom.' 6:1ff;' 8:4ff;' Tit.' 2:11-14).' But' the' answer' is' never' to' put' the' Christian' back' under' the' Law,' but' rather' a' proper' understanding' and' appreciation' of' God’’s' grace' to' us' in' Christ.' Christian' liberty' is' not' the' right' to' do' as' one' pleases,' but' the' power,' desire,' and' will' to' do' as' one' ought' in' and' by' the' power' of' God' and' a' regenerated' life.'

This' is' ultimately' the' focus' of' Titus' 2:11-14.' The' glorious' manifestation' of' God’’s' grace' in' Christ' instructs' and' trains' believers' in' how' to' live.3' This' grace' provides' the' incentive,' the' motive,' and' the' means.' Regarding' Titus' 2:11-14' Ryrie' writes:

The' verb' teaching' encompasses' the' whole' concept' of' growth——discipline,' maturing,' obedience,' progress,' and' the' like.' This' involves' denial' of' improper' things' and' direction' into' proper' channels.' These' five' terms——godliness,' worldly' lusts,' soberly,' righteously,' godly—do' not' describe' the' content' of' grace' teaching' so' much' as' they' indicate' the' object' and' purposeful' goal' of' that' teaching.' And' this' intent' is,' according' to' this' passage,' the' ultimate' purpose' of' the' Incarnation' of' Christ.' He' came' to' display' the' grace' of' God' in' the' changed' lives' of' his' people.' The' final' cause' of' the' revelation' of' the' grace' of' God' in' Christ' is' not' creed' but' character.4

In' Romans' 6:14,' Paul' gives' us' a' fundamental' principle' as' it' relates' to' the' Christian’’s' understanding' and' the' place' of' the' Law' in' a' believer’’s' life.' For' sin' will' have' no' mastery' over' you,' because' you' are' not' under' law' but' under' grace.' (emphasis' mine).' Romans' 6' deals' with' the' believer’’s' walk' or' sanctification.' In' this' regard,' under' grace' is' never' to' be' taken' as' an' excuse' to' sin' as' one' pleases' since' he' is' under' grace' (6:1-2)' and' it' is' placed' in' strong' contrast5' with' under' law.' Two' things' are' prominent' here:' (1)' these' two' (law' and' grace)' are' set' forth' as' complete' opposites,' and' (2)' the' text' also' makes' it' clear' that' the' only' way' the' believer' is' going' to' experience' true' sanctification' (victory' over' sin' plus' the' production' of' positive' righteousness)' is' by' grace' (the' work' of' God' in' Christ)' and' never' by' law.' The' reasons,' which' will' be' set' forth' below,' are' bound' up' in' two' issues,' the' weakness' of' man’’s' flesh' and' the' nature' of' the' Law' and' its' inability' because' of' man’’s' weakness' to' produce' a' truly' holy' life.' This' is' not' to' say' that' the' Mosaic' Law' is' not' good' and' holy' and' does' not' have' a' function,' but' this' too' will' be' set' forth' below.

' So' just' what' is' the' meaning,' nature,' and' place' or' function' of' the' law' in' the' New' Testament?

The' Meaning' of' the' Term' “Law”
' In' the' Old' Testament,' the' word' “law”' is' used' to' translated' the' Hebrew' word' torah,' instruction.' The' Hebrew' word' for' law' probably' comes' from' the' causative' form' of' the' verb' yarah,' “to' throw,”' “to' shoot' (arrows).”' In' the' hiphil' stem,' the' verb' horah' means' to' point,' guide,' instruct,' teach.' Hence,' the' law' is' that' which' provides' authoritative' guidance.' In' the' New' Testament,' the' Greek' word' used' for' law' is' nomos.' Nomos' means' that' which' is' assigned,' hence,' usage,' custom,' and' then' law,' or' a' rule' governing' one’s' actions.'

Thus' God’s' law' is' His' system' of' rules' by' which' He' shows' and' instructs' in' His' will' and' administers' the' affairs' of' the' world.' Obviously' the' definition' allows' for' and' even' implies' that' there' might' be' differing' systems' of' rules' at' various' times,' depending' on' what' particular' aspects' or' how' much' of' His' will' God' wishes' to' show' at' a' given' time.……A' system' of' rules' may' be' tailored' for' different' times,' peoples,' or' purposes.' .' .' 6

As' a' result,' in' the' progress' of' God’’s' revelation' to' man,' we' can' see' a' number' of' different' systems' of' law' in' the' Scripture.' These' are:

The' Law' of' Nature' (Natural' or' Inherent)
' This' is' the' law' Paul' mentions' in' Romans' 2:14,' For' whenever' the' Gentiles,' who' do' not' have' the' law,' do' by' nature' the' things' required' by' the' law,' these' who' do' not' have' the' law' are' a' law' to' themselves.' (emphasis' mine)' The' law' of' nature' is' one' which' contains' natural' revelation' of' God’’s' eternal' power' and' divine' nature' (Rom.' 1:20)' and' is' sufficient' to' condemn' those' who' reject' this' revelation,' but' not' sufficient' to' save.' Those' who' do' not' receive' this' natural' revelation' through' nature' demonstrate' they' are' unable' to' receive' the' additional' light' (special' revelation' of' Scripture)' needed' for' salvation.' If' a' man' rejects' the' revelation' of' God' in' the' law' of' nature,' he' fails' to' qualify' for' the' further' revelation' which' will' lead' him' to' Christ.7' This' natural' law' perhaps' also' falls' under' the' category' of' the' eternal' law' of' God' for' the' moral' principles' of' the' Mosaic' Law' (the' Ten' Commandments)' did' not' begin' with' Sinai,' but' are' as' eternal' and' immutable' as' the' very
' holy' character' of' God' Himself' (see' 1' Pet.' 1:16).

The' Law' of' Eden
' While' the' term' law' is' never' specifically' used' of' Adam' and' Eve’’s' relationship' with' God' in' the' Garden,' by' the' definition' of' law,' a' system' of' principles' or' rules' that' instructs' man' as' to' God’’s' will' and' direction,' there' was' a' law' given' to' Adam.' He' was' instructed' to' dress' and' keep' the' garden,' and' to' eat' freely' of' all' the' trees' except' the' tree' of' the' knowledge' of' good' and' evil.

The' Law' of' the' Patriarchs
' Again,' because' there' was' very' specific' revelation' and' instruction' given' to' the' patriarchs,' there' was' a' law' given' to' these' Old' Testament' believers.' Though' very' little' detail' of' this' is' given,' God’’s' instructions' to' them' still' represent' His' law,' the' system' of' principles' and' rules' designed' to' direct' their' lives.' This' is' illustrated' in' Genesis' 26:5' which' says,' Abraham' obeyed' Me' and' kept' My' charge,' My' commandments,' My' statutes' and' My' laws.'

The' Law' of' Moses' Given' to' Israel
' The' Mosaic' Law' is' what' we' are' most' concerned' about' in' relation' to' the' New' Testament' believer.' This' consisted' of' 365' negative' commands' and' 248' positive' for' a' total' of' 613' commands.' These' may' also' be' divided' into' three' parts' or' sections' (see' below)——the' moral,' the' social,' and' the' ceremonial.' As' such,' it' covered' every' possible' area' of' the' life' of' Israel.' It' should' be' stressed' that' the' moral' principles' embodied' in' the' Mosaic' Law' given' at' Sinai' were' merely' the' codified' expression' of' the' eternal' moral' law' of' God' as' it' was' given' to' Israel' to' govern' her' life' as' a' nation' in' order' to' experience' God’’s' blessing' under' the' Abrahamic' covenant.' For' more' on' this' aspect,' see' below.

Human' Law' as' Prescribed' by' Man
' There' are' obviously' various' forms' of' human' laws,' those' prescribed' by' man' through' human' government' or' custom' (see' Luke' 20:22;' Acts' 19:38).' While' human' government' is' an' institution' ordained' by' God’’s' will' or' law,' some' of' the' laws' of' man' are' direct' expressions' of' the' will' of' God,' but' still' constitute' laws' by' which' men' are' often' bound' by' the' governmental' system' in' which' they' live.' Of' course,' where' such' laws' conflict' with' God' s' laws,' then' we' are' obligated' to' obey' God' instead' (Acts' 4:19-20).

The' Law' of' Christ,' the' Law' of' the' Spirit' of' Life
' The' fact' that' the' Mosaic' law' has' been' terminated' does' not' mean' that' there' is' no' law' in' this' age' of' grace' even' though' the' nature' of' this' law' is' quite' different' from' the' standpoint' of' incentive,' motivation,' and' means.' In' fact,' the' epistles' speak' of' the' perfect' law' of' liberty' (Jam.' 1:25),' the' royal' law' (Jam.' 2:8),' the' Law' of' Christ' (Gal.' 6:2),' and' the' law' of' the' spirit' of' life' in' Christ' Jesus' (Rom.' 8:2).' This' consists' of' the' many' imperatives' found' throughout' the' epistles' which' comprise' this' law.' These' too' cover' all' areas' of' the' believer’’s' life' to' direct' him' in' the' will' of' God' in' today’’s' world.

The' moral' principles' embodied' in' the' law' of' Moses' Paul' calls' the' righteousness' of' the' law' (Rom' 8:4),' and' shows' that' such' principles' are' the' goal' of' the' Spirit-directed' life' in' the' same' context' in' which' he' teaches' the' believer' is' not' under' the' Mosaic' law' (Rom' 6––8).8

The' Law' of' the' Kingdom
' The' New' Testament' clearly' speaks' of' and' anticipates' the' reign' of' Christ' on' earth' when' He' will' rule' in' perfect' righteousness' and' justice' (Isa.' 11:4-5).' This' will' naturally' mean' many' laws' that' will' govern' the' life' of' citizens' of' the' Kingdom.' One' only' needs' to' consider' Isaiah' 2:3' which' reads,'

2:3' many' peoples' will' come' and' say,' Come,' let’’s' go' up' to' the' LORD’’s' mountain,' to' the' temple' of' the' God' of' Jacob,' so' he' can' teach' us' his' requirements,' and' we' can' follow' his' standards.' For' Zion' will' be' the' center' for' moral' instruction,9' the' LORD' will' issue' edicts' from' Jerusalem.' (NET' Bible)

The' Significance' of' these' Various' Laws
' We' can' see' from' this' that' God' is' the' administrator' of' the' world.' In' the' progress' of' His' revelation' and' the' development' of' His' plan,' there' have' been' various' economies' (dispensations)' administered' by' God' with' different' regulations' or' laws' giving' precise' instruction' for' each' administration.' The' way' God' has' run' each' economy' or' dispensation' has' varied,' however,' in' each' case,' different' people' were' addressed' with' the' commands' differing' in' quantity' and' character,' but' always' with' specific' instruction.

The' Use' of' the' Term' Law' in' the' New' Testament
' A' great' deal' of' flexibility' is' found' in' the' use' of' the' term' law' in' the' New' Testament.' A' few' of' the' uses' are' as' follows.

1.' This' term' is' used' of' the' entire' Old' Testament' (John' 10:34;' 12:34;' 1' Cor.' 14:21).' John' 10:34' is' a' quotation' from' Psalm' 82:6,' and' 1' Corinthians' 14:21f' is' a' quote' from' Isaiah' 28:11-12.' Technically' neither' the' Psalms' nor' Isaiah' are' a' part' of' the' Old' Testament' law,' but' sometimes' the' term' law' was' applied' to' the' entire' Old' Testament' because' it' constituted' God’’s' special' revelation' of' instruction' for' Israel' and' ultimately' for' man.

2.' It' is' used' with' such' terms' as' the' prophets,' and' writings,' again' as' a' title' for' the' entire' Old' Testament' Scripture,' but' in' this' way' it' looks' at' them' in' their' division' (Luke' 24:27,' 44).
' 3.' It' is' especially' used' of' the' first' five' books' of' the' Old' Testament' or' the' Mosaic' Law' (Genesis,' Exodus,' Leviticus,' Numbers,' and' Deuteronomy).' (Compare' Luke' 2:23;' John' 8:5;' 1' Cor.' 9:9;' Gal.' 3:10).'

4.' The' term' is' used' of' the' entire' specific' Mosaic' code' given' to' the' nation' Israel' to' govern' and' guide' their' moral,' religious' and' secular' life,' and' covers' parts' of' Exodus,' Leviticus,' Numbers' and' Deuteronomy' (Deut.' 4:8,' 44-45).

5.' The' term' is' used' of' the' Ten' Commandments' (Exodus' 20:3-17).

6.' Law' is' used' of' a' principle,' force' or' influence' that' impels' one' to' action' or' behavior' (Rom.' 7:21,' 23a,' 25).

7.' It' is' used' of' law' in' general' (Rom' 3:27' and' possibly' Rom.' 5:13b).

The' Origin' and' Source' of' the' Mosaic' Law'
' Though' part' of' the' Law' was' mediated' by' angels,' God' is' the' origin' and' source' of' the' Mosaic' Law,' which' stems' from' the' eternal' and' holy' character' of' God.' This' is' true' even' of' the' natural' law' written' in' the' heart' or' conscience' of' man' (Exodus' 31:1b;' Acts' 7:53;' Rom.' 2:14-16;' Heb.' 2:1-2).'

The' Nature' and' Content' of' the' Mosaic' Law
' It' is' common' to' divide' the' Mosaic' Law' into' three' parts' as' illustrated' below,' but' though' this' is' helpful' for' analysis' and' the' study' of' the' Mosaic' Law' and' the' way' it' functions,' such' a' division' is' never' stated' as' such' in' Scripture.' Rather' it' is' seen' as' a' unit.' Arguments' for' this' will' be' given' below.'

Part' 1:' The' Moral' Law' or' the' Ten' Commandments.' This' part' of' the' Law' governed' the' moral' life' giving' guidance' to' Israel' in' principles' of' right' and' wrong' in' relation' to' God' and' man' (Exodus' 20:1-17).'
' Part' 2:' The' Judgments,' or' the' Social' Law.' This' part' of' the' Law' governed' Israel' in' her' secular,' social,' political,' and' economic' life' (Exodus' 21:1––23:13).'
' Part' 3:' The' Ordinances' or' the' Ceremonial' Law.' This' was' the' religious' portion' of' Law' which' guided' and' provided' for' Israel' in' her' worship' and' spiritual' relationship' and' fellowship' with' God.' It' included' the' priesthood,' tabernacle' and' sacrifices' (Exodus' 25:-31:' Leviticus).'
' The' Recipients' of' the' Mosaic' Law
' The' Mosaic' Law' was' a' bilateral' covenant' made' specifically' for' Israel' alone' to' govern' her' life' in' the' promised' land.' From' the' Abrahamic' Covenant' (Gen.12)' we' see' Israel' was' a' chosen' nation,' an' instrument' of' God' to' become' a' channel' of' blessing' to' all' nations.' Yahweh' was' her' Theocratic' King' who' was' to' rule' and' guide' the' nation' in' her' destiny' that' she' might' not' become' polluted' or' contaminated' by' other' nations' and' could' thus' fulfill' her' purpose.' For' this' the' Mosaic' Law' was' instituted' to' direct' Israel' as' a' nation' in' all' spheres' of' her' life——morally,' socially,' politically,' economically' and' religiously.

By' its' very' nature,' the' Mosaic' Law' was' not' to' be,' and' could' not' be,' obeyed' to' the' letter' by' any' other' people' in' any' other' place' as' a' rule' of' life.' However,' in' the' spirit' of' the' Law' it' did' set' forth' moral' principles' which' were' applicable' and' would' bring' blessing' to' all' people' anywhere' and' at' any' time' when' applied' and' used' as' a' standard' of' right' and' wrong.'

There' were' certain' economic' provisions' in' the' Law' to' govern' and' protect' the' economic' life' of' Israel' in' their' promised' land.' For' example' there' was' the' right' of' property' ownership,' free' enterprise,' protection' of' the' poor' which' guarded' against' the' evils' of' great' concentrations' of' wealth' in' the' hands' of' a' few' with' the' consequent' impoverishment' of' others.' But' the' poor' were' provided' for' in' such' a' way' as' to' avoid' the' loss' of' free' enterprise' and' the' individual’’s' initiative' by' high' taxation' as' well' as' to' avoid' making' leeches' out' of' men' who' refused' to' work.
' However,' the' strict' application' of' these' laws' to' our' world' is' impossible' since' the' original' conditions' in' which' God' directly' intervened' cannot' he' reproduced,' at' least' not' until' the' millennium.' Yet,' economists' could' study' and' learn' much' from' these' laws' and' principles.

The' Characteristics' of' the' Mosaic' Law
' (1)' The' foundation' and' basis' of' the' Mosaic' Law' is' the' covenant' God' made' with' the' patriarchs,' Abraham,' Isaac,' and' Jacob.' In' several' places' in' Exodus' and' Deuteronomy,' there' a' references' to' the' Abrahamic' Covenant' which' establish' the' fact' that' the' giving' of' the' Law' at' Sinai' was' based' on' the' covenant' with' Abraham' and' God’’s' continuing' plan' for' the' nation' of' Israel' as' a' priesthood' nation' (cf.' Ex.' 19:4-6;' Deut.' 4:4-8' with' Ex.' 2:24-25;' Deut.' 4:36-38;' 29:31;' 1' Chron.' 16:15-19).' God' had' promised' to' bless' the' descendants' of' Abraham' and' through' them,' the' world.' This' was' a' promises' reiterated' and' expanded' to' Abraham' and' to' Isaac' and' Jacob.' God' would' bless' Israel' and' through' them,' bring' blessing' to' the' world' (Gen.' 12:1f;' 15;' 17:1ff;' 26:24f;' 28:13f).' The' Abrahamic' covenant' is' a' unilateral' covenant.' Its' ultimate' fulfillment' is' dependent' on' God’’s' sovereign' and' steadfast' faithfulness' to' His' promises' to' Abraham' regardless' of' Israel’’s' continued' disobedience' (cf.' Ezek.
' 20:1-44).'

The' Mosaic' Covenant,' however,' was' a' bilateral' covenant.' Though' its' ultimate' fulfillment' is' dependent' on' God,' for' any' generation' to' experience' the' blessings' of' the' Abrahamic' Covenant,' there' had' to' be' faithfulness' to' God.' Thus,' enters' the' Law,' a' bilateral' covenant' given' to' Moses' for' the' nation' of' Israel' after' their' redemption' out' of' the' land' of' Egypt.' It' was' through' obedience' to' the' Mosaic' Covenant' (the' Law)' that' Israel' would' be' able' to' experience' the' blessings' of' the' Abrahamic' covenant' in' the' promised' land.' For' obedience' there' would' be' blessings;' for' disobedience,' cursing' (cf.' Deut.' 28-30).'

(2)' The' Mosaic' Law' is' holy,' good,' and' spiritual' (Rom.' 7:12,' 14).' It' was,' however,' only' temporary' as' the' book' of' Hebrews' so' clearly' teaches.' As' such,' the' Mosaic' Law' was' designed' to' maintain' a' proper' relationship' between' God' and' His' people' Israel' (blessing' versus' cursing),' but' only' until' the' coming' of' Messiah' and' the' establishment' of' a' New' Covenant.' The' Law' was' never' designed' to' be' a' permanent' rule' of' life.' It' was' merely' a' tutor' or' guardian' to' guide' Israel' in' all' areas' of' her' life' until' Christ' (2' Cor.' 3:7,' 11;' Gal.' 3:23-24;' Rom.' 10:4).

(3)' The' Mosaic' Law' is' weak' because' it' is' dependent' on' man’’s' ability.' It' is' especially' weak' when' adopted' as' a' system' of' merit' (Rom.' 8:3).'

(4)' The' Mosaic' Law' was' an' indivisible' unit,' and' is' that' which' was' terminated' by' the' Lord' Jesus.' Though' the' Law' is' usually' divided' into' three' parts,' as' described' above,' it' is' important' to' see' that' it' was' an' indivisible' unit.' Thus,' when' Paul' stated' that' we' are' not' under' the' Law,' this' included' all' three' parts,' including' the' Ten' Commandments.' Some' will' agree' that' parts' of' the' Old' Testament' Law' have' been' done' away,' but' assert' the' Ten' Commandments' are' supposedly' still' in' force' today.' But' all' three' parts' of' the' Law' were' designed' to' function' as' a' unit' to' guide' Israel' in' all' of' its' life.' The' Ten' Commandments' cannot' be' separated' from' the' rest.' Further,' even' though' most' recognize' this' three-fold' division,' the' Jews' so' numbered' all' the' commands' that' they' approached' the' Law' as' a' unit.' Ryrie' notes' that,'

……the' Jewish' people' either' did' not' acknowledge' it' (the' three-fold' division)' or' at' least' did' not' insist' on' it.' Rather' they' divided' the' 613' commandments' of' the' Law' into' twelve' families' of' commandments' which' were' then' subdivided' into' twelve' additional' families' of' positive' and' twelve' additional' families' of' negative' commands.10'

Further,' that' it' is' a' unit' is' evident' by' the' fact' that' the' recognition' of' any' of' its' features,' i.e.,' as' a' meritorious' system' of' righteousness' with' God,' obligates' the' person' to' fulfill' the' entire' Law,' as' we' are' taught' by' both' Paul' and' James' (cf.' Gal.' 3:10,' 12;' 5:3;' Jam.' 2:8-11).

Further' evidence' that' the' Law' is' a' unit' is' the' penalty' of' death' for' disobedience' is' attached' to' all' three' parts' of' the' Law.

Noticing' the' penalties' attached' to' certain' commands' further' emphasizes' the' unitized' character' of' the' Law.' When' the' command' to' keep' the' Sabbath' (one' of' the' commandments)' was' violated' by' a' man' who' gathered' sticks' on' that' day,' the' penalty' was' death' by' stoning' (Num.' 15:32-36).' When' the' people' of' Israel' violated' the' command' concerning' the' Sabbatical' Year' for' the' land' (one' of' the' judgments),' God' sent' them' into' captivity' where' many' died' (Jer.' 25:11).' When' Nadab' and' Abihu' offered' strange' fire' before' the' Lord' (one' of' the' ordinances),' they' immediately' died' (Lev.' 10:1-7).' Clearly' these' commands' from' various' parts' of' the' Law' were' equally' binding' and' the' punishment' equally' severe.' The' Law' was' a' unit.11

Finally,' three' times' in' 2' Corinthians' 3:6-13' Paul' declares' that' the' Mosaic' system' is' done' away' or' abolished' (vss.' 7,' 11,' 13).' In' commenting' on' 2' Corinthians' 3:7-13,' Chafer' wrote:'

It' is' the' law' as' crystallized' in' the' ten' commandments' which' is' in' view;' for' that' law' alone' was' ‘‘written' and' engraven' in' stones.’’' In' the' midst' of' the' strongest' possible' contrast' between' the' reign' of' the' teachings' of' the' law' and' the' teachings' of' grace,' it' is' declared' that' these' commandments' were' ‘‘done' away’’' and' ‘‘abolished.’’' It' should' be' recognized' that' the' old' was' abolished' to' make' place' for' the' new,' which' far' excels' in' glory.' The' passing' of' the' law' is' not,' therefore,' a' loss;' it' is' rather' an' inestimable' gain.12

(5)' The' Mosaic' Law' stands' in' contrast' to' the' grace' of' God' as' now' manifested' in' the' coming' of' Christ' (Rom.' 6:14;' 7:6;' 8:3;' Gal.' 3:12).'

The' Purpose' and' Function' of' the' Mosaic' Law
' The' Purpose' and' Function' Explained
' What' then' is' the' purpose' of' the' Law?' Though' given' to' Israel' to' govern' her' life' in' the' promise' land' for' blessing' instead' of' cursing,' there' was' an' attendant' purpose' in' the' giving' of' the' Mosaic' Law' to' Israel——a' purpose' that' still' stands' today.' Simply' put,' its' proper' use' is' to' show' man' his' total' helpless' and' hopeless' condition' before' a' righteous' and' just' God.

1' Timothy' 1:8-10' But' we' know' that' the' law' is' good' if' someone' uses' it' legitimately,' 1:9' realizing' that' law' is' not' intended' for' a' righteous' person,' but' for' lawless' and' rebellious' people,' for' the' ungodly' and' sinners,' for' the' unholy' and' profane,' for' those' who' kill' their' fathers' or' mothers,' for' murderers,' 1:10' sexually' immoral,' sodomites,' kidnappers,' liars,' perjurers——in' fact,' for' any' who' live' contrary' to' sound' teaching.

In' the' study' of' the' Bible,' there' are' three' specific' purposes' that' surface' in' the' proper' use' of' the' Mosaic' Law.

(1)' In' a' general' sense,' it' was' given' to' provide' a' standard' of' righteousness' (Deut.' 4:8;' Psalm' 19:7-9).' In' the' process,' the' Mosaic' Law' revealed' the' righteousness,' holiness,' and' goodness' of' God' (Deut.' 4:8;' Lev.' 11:44-45;' 19:2;' 20:7;' Rom.' 7:12-14).' The' Law' at' Sinai' was' given' to' Israel' to' reveal' who' God' is' and' to' shed' light' on' the' reality' of' an' infinite' gulf' that' separates' God' from' man.

Romans' 3:19' Now' we' know' that' whatever' the' law' says,' it' says' to' those' who' are' under' the' law,' so' that' every' mouth' may' be' silenced' and' the' whole' world' may' be' held' accountable' to' God.

Romans' 3:' 23' for' all' have' sinned' and' fall' short' of' the' glory' of' God.

(2)' The' Law' was' given' to' identify' sin' and' reveal' man’’s' sin' and' bankrupt' condition' as' guilty' before' God' (Rom.' 3:19f;' 7:7-8;' 5:20;' Gal.' 3:19).' God’’s' holy' Law' reveals' to' man' just' who' and' what' he' is——sinful' and' separated' from' God' by' an' infinite' gulf' that' he' is' unable' to' bridge' in' his' own' human' strength.

Romans' 3:19-20' Now' we' know' that' whatever' the' law' says,' it' says' to' those' who' are' under' the' law,' so' that' every' mouth' may' be' silenced' and' the' whole' world' may' be' held' accountable' to' God.' 3:20' For' no' one' is' declared' righteous' before' him' by' the' works' of' the' law,' for' through' the' law' comes' the' knowledge' of' sin.

(3)' The' Law' was' given' to' shut' man' up' to' faith,' i.e.,' to' exclude' the' works' of' the' Law' (or' any' system' of' works)' as' a' system' of' merit' for' either' salvation' or' sanctification' and' thereby' lead' him' to' Christ' as' the' only' means' of' righteousness' (Gal.' 3:19-20,' 20-24;' 1' Tim.' 1:8-9;' Rom.' 3:21-24).' The' ceremonial' portion' of' the' Law' did' this' by' pointing' to' the' coming' of' a' suffering' Savior,' for' without' the' shedding' of' blood,' there' is' no' forgiveness' (Heb.' 9:22).

Romans' 3:21-24' But' now' apart' from' the' law' the' righteousness' of' God,' which' is' attested' by' the' law' and' the' prophets,' has' been' disclosed——' 3:22' namely,' the' righteousness' of' God' through' the' faithfulness' of' Jesus' Christ' for' all' who' believe.' For' there' is' no' distinction,' 3:23' for' all' have' sinned' and' fall' short' of' the' glory' of' God.3:24' But' they' are' justified' freely' by' his' grace' through' the' redemption' that' is' in' Christ' Jesus.

Galatians' 3:24-26' Thus' the' law' had' become' our' guardian13' until' Christ,' so' that' we' could' be' declared' righteous' by' faith.' 3:25' But' now' that' faith' has' come,' we' are' no' longer' under' a' guardian.' 3:26' For' in' Christ' Jesus' you' are' all' sons' of' God' through' faith.

Summary:' Keeping' the' Law' in' the' True' Sense
' By' keeping' the' Law,' we' are' speaking' about' the' true' sense' as' God' intended' it,' not' as' Israel' and' man' tend' to' take' it.' The' Ten' Commandments' showed' the' Jew' his' sin' (and' so' all' mankind)' and' that' he' was' shut' up' under' that' sin.' The' Ten' Commandments' were' designed' to' guide' him,' indeed' to' drive' him' to' the' Ceremonial' Law' (the' tabernacle,' priesthood,' and' sacrifices)' for' forgiveness' through' faith' in' the' sacrifices' which' pointed' to' Christ.' Then,' the' Social' Law,' regulated' his' life' by' showing' him' how' to' live' socially,' not' to' give' him' merit' before' God,' but' to' enable' him' to' experience' the' blessings' of' the' covenant' rather' than' the' cursing' as' God' warned' in' Deuteronomy.'

The' Limitations' of' the' Mosaic' Law'
' When' approached' as' a' meritorious' system,' the' Law' cannot' justify' (Gal.' 2:16),' give' life' (Gal.' 3:21),' give' the' Holy' Spirit' (Gal.' 3:2,' 14),' sanctify' (Gal.' 3:21;' 5:5;' Rom.' 8:3),' make' perfect,' or' permanently' deal' with' sin' (Heb.' 7:19).' It' was' designed' to' be' a' temporary' guardian' until' the' coming' of' Christ,' the' Suffering' Messiah' Savior.

The' Effects' of' the' Mosaic' Law
' The' reasons' for' the' effects' listed' below' lie' in' the' wrong' reaction' of' Israel' and' people' today,' i.e.,' approaching' the' Law' as' a' system' of' merit,' shifting' from' a' faith' basis' to' a' works' basis' (Exodus' 19:8;' Rom.' 10:3).' People' often' try' to' use' the' Law' as' a' means' of' establishing' their' own' standing' before' God.' But' Scripture' emphatically' teaches' us' that' the' Law' brings' a' curse' (Gal.' 3:10-12),' brings' death,' it' is' a' killer' (2' Cor.' 3:6-7;' Rom.' 7:9-10),' brings' condemnation' (2' Cor.' 3:9),' makes' offenses' abound' (Rom.' 5:10;' 7:7-13),' declares' all' men' guilty' (Rom.' 3:19),' and' holds' men' in' bondage' to' sin' and' death' (Gal.' 4:3-5,' 9,' 24;' Rom.' 7:10-14).' This' is' because' man' in' his' sinful' state' can' never' fulfill' the' righteousness' of' the' Law,' especially' in' the' spirit' of' the' Law.' He' always' falls' short' as' Romans' 3:23' tells' us,' and' becomes' condemned' or' guilty' before' a' Holy' God' (Rom.' 3:19).

The' End' of' the' Mosaic' Law' as' a' Rule' of' Life
' The' Fact' Established
' Several' passages' of' Scripture' clearly' establish' that' the' coming' of' Christ' has' brought' an' end' to' the' Mosaic' Law.' Paul' specifically' states' that' Christ' is' the' end' of' the' law' for' righteousness' to' everyone' who' believes' (Rom.' 10:4).' This' instituted' a' new' law' or' principle' of' life,' i.e.,' the' law' of' the' Spirit,' the' one' of' liberty' and' grace' (Rom.' 8:2,' 13).' This' fact' was' also' clearly' settled' by' the' Jerusalem' Council' in' Acts' 15.' A' council' was' convened' in' the' church' at' Jerusalem' to' look' into' the' issue' of' the' Law' and' its' place' in' the' life' of' believers' because' some' were' saying' Unless' you' are' circumcised' according' to' the' custom' of' Moses,' you' cannot' be' saved,' and' because' even' certain' of' the' Pharisees' who' had' believed' were' also' saying' It' is' necessary' to' circumcise' the' Gentiles' and' to' order' them' to' observe' the' law' of' Moses.' The' conclusion' of' the' council,' consisting' of' apostles' and' elders,' was' to' reject' the' concept' of' placing' New' Testament' believers' under
' the' yoke' of' the' Law' (15:6-11).' The' only' thing' the' Jerusalem' Council' asked' was' that' Gentile' believers' control' their' liberty' in' matters' that' might' be' offensive' to' Jewish' believers,' but' they' did' not' seek' to' place' the' believers' under' the' yoke' of' the' Law' for' they' realized' the' Law' had' come' to' an' end.

Finally,' the' book' of' Hebrews' demonstrates' that' the' old' covenant' of' the' Mosaic' Law' was' only' temporary' and' has' been' replaced' by' the' coming' of' Christ' whose' ministry' is' based' on' (1)' a' better' priesthood,' one' after' the' order' of' Melchizedek' which' is' superior' to' Aaron’’s,' and' (2)' a' better' covenant' with' better' promises' (see' Heb.' 7-10).' The' old' covenant' was' only' a' shadow' of' heavenly' things,' and' if' it' had' been' able' to' make' men' perfect' before' God' there' would' have' been' no' occasion' for' a' second' or' new' covenant' (see' Heb.' 7:11-12;' 8:1-13).' This' change' in' the' priesthood' also' necessitates' a' change' in' the' Law.' Such' a' change' shows' the' Law' has' been' terminated' or' done' away.

The' Problem' of' Mosaic' Laws' as' Commands' for' New' Testament' Believers
' A' careful' reading' of' the' New' Testament' shows' us' that' nine' of' the' Ten' Commandments' are' repeated' as' obligations' for' believers.' The' one' exception' is' the' command' to' keep' the' Sabbath.' If' the' Mosaic' Law' has' been' done' away,' then' why' are' these' commandments' repeated' in' the' New' Testament?' Further,' some' commandments' outside' the' Ten' Commandments' are' even' repeated' in' the' New' Testament.' For' instance,' as' a' motivation' for' loving' others,' Paul' referred' to' four' of' the' Ten' Commandments' because' they' demonstrate' this' principle,' but' then,' to' summarize,' he' mentioned' one' from' Leviticus' 19:18,' You' shall' love' your' neighbor' as' yourself.' So' in' what' sense' has' the' Law' been' done' away?'

The' Solution
' Part' of' the' purpose' of' the' Law' was' to' point' men' to' the' coming' Savior' through' its' shadows' and' types.' Through' the' moral' law,' man' could' see' God’’s' holy' character' as' well' as' his' own' sinfulness' and' the' infinite' gulf' that' separates' God' and' man.' Through' the' ceremonial' part' of' the' Law' (the' priesthood,' sacrifices,' and' tabernacle),' man' could' find' the' solution' to' his' sin' by' faith' in' what' this' part' of' the' Law' represented,' a' suffering' Savior,' one' who' would' die' as' the' Lamb' of' God.' But' even' though' no' one' could' perfectly' keep' the' Law,' it' was' also' designed' for' Israel’’s' immediate' blessing' by' setting' forth' righteous' principles' that' would' show' them' how' to' love' God' and' their' fellow' man.' This' would' produce' a' stable' and' secure' society' as' well' as' a' testimony' to' the' nations' (Deut.' 4:6-8).'

Thus,' in' 613' commands' the' Mosaic' Law' represented' an' ethical' code' given' by' God' to' Israel' to' govern' the' nation' until' the' coming' of' Messiah,' but' at' their' heart,' they' represented' the' moral' law' of' God——righteous' principles' vital' to' humanity.' Today,' we' are' not' under' this' code,' but' many' of' its' righteous' principles,' the' eternal' laws' of' God,' have' been' carried' over' and' are' part' of' the' law' of' the' Spirit' of' life' in' Christ' (Rom.' 8:2)' or' the' law' of' Christ' (1' Cor.' 9:21;' Gal.' 6:2).' In' this,' some' of' the' former' commands' are' carried' over' (Rom.' 13:9),' some' new' commands' and' guidelines' are' added' (Eph.' 4:11f;' 1' Tim.' 3:1f;' 4:4),' and' some' have' been' revised,' as' in' the' case' of' capitol' punishment' which' is' to' be' exercised' by' human' government' (Rom.' 13:4).'

It' needs' to' be' emphasized' that' the' end' of' the' Mosaic' law,' including' the' Ten' Commandments,' does' not' cancel' or' detract' one' iota' from' the' eternal' moral' law' of' God.' The' moral' principles' of' the' ten' laws' did' not' begin' with' Sinai' but' are' as' eternal' and' immutable' as' the' character' of' God.' To' understand' this' should' dispel' the' fears' of' those' who' think' the' abolition' of' the' Mosaic' law' leaves' only' a' state' of' lawlessness.

The' moral' principles' embodied' in' the' law' of' Moses' Paul' calls' the' righteousness' of' the' law' (Rom' 8:4),' and' shows' that' such' principles' are' the' goal' of' the' Spirit-directed' life' in' the' same' context' in' which' he' teaches' the' believer' is' not' under' the' Mosaic' law' (Rom' 6——8).

This' should' be' no' more' difficult' to' understand' than' the' fact' that' a' citizen' of' the' United' States' is' not' under' the' laws' of' Canada,' even' though' the' moral' principles' underlying' the' laws' of' the' two' countries' are' the' same.' When' a' citizen' of' the' United' States' becomes' a' citizen' of' Canada' he' does' not' remain' under' ten' of' the' best' laws' of' the' United' States.' Nor' does' the' fact' that' some' of' the' laws' of' the' United' States' are' quite' similar' to' some' of' the' laws' of' Canada' confuse' or' compromise' his' new' exclusive' responsibility' to' Canada.' So' the' believing' Jew' of' the' first' century' moved' entirely' from' the' Mosaic' economy' of' law' into' the' new' economy' of' grace' instituted' by' Jesus' Christ' (John' 1:17).14

The' Lawful' Use' of' the' Mosaic' Law
' The' Law' is' still' good' from' the' standpoint' of' its' main' function' and' purpose' as' seen' above' in' The' Purpose' and' Function' of' the' Law' (1' Tim.' 1:8-10;' James' 2:1-10;' Gal.' 5:1-3;' 6:1).' This' is' how' James' uses' the' Law,' to' reveal' sin' (James' 2:9),' to' get' believers' out' of' self-righteous' legalism,' and' move' them' into' a' walk' by' faith' in' a' living' Savior.

The' Relationship' of' New' Testament' Believers' to' the' Mosaic' Law
' 1.' He' is' never' saved' by' keeping' the' Law' (Gal.' 2:21).

2.' He' is' not' under' the' Law' as' a' rule' of' life,' i.e.,' sacrifice,' Sabbath' keeping,' tithing' (Rev.' 6:14;' Acts' 15:5,' 24).

3.' Thus,' he' does' not' walk' by' the' Law' but' by' the' Spirit,' which' is' the' new' law' for' the' New' Testament' saint' (Rom.' 8:4;' Gal.' 5:5).' This' is' law' of' liberty' through' faith' in' the' power' of' God.

4.' He' is' dead' to' the' Law' (Rom.' 7:1-6;' Gal.' 2:19)' by' virtue' of' his' union' with' Jesus' Christ' who' fulfilled' the' Law.

5.' He' is' to' fulfill' the' righteousness' of' the' Law,' i.e.,' the' spirit' of' the' law' as' seen' in' Christ’’s' words' in' Matthew' 10:37-40' love' for' God,' and' love' for' one’’s' neighbor' (James' 2:9).' But' this' can' only' be' fulfilled' through' a' knowledge' of' Bible' truth' and' the' filling' of' the' Holy' Spirit,' which' furnishes' the' power' or' ability' needed' to' live' the' Christian' life' according' to' the' eternal' moral' law' of' God.' So' we' are' under' God’’s' new' law,' the' law' of' the' Spirit' of' life' in' Christ' Jesus' (Rom.' 8:2-4).

Christ,' the' Fulfillment' of' the' Mosaic' Law
' Christ' fulfilled' the' Ten' Commandments' by' living' a' perfect' and' sinless' life.' Thus,' when' man' trusts' in' Christ,' Christ’’s' righteousness' is' imputed' to' that' individual' so' we' have' justification.' We' have' Christ’’s' righteousness' so' the' Law' can’’t' condemn' us' (Rom.' 8:1;' 7:1-6;' Rom.' 5:1;' 4:4-8).

Christ' fulfilled' the' ceremonial' ordinances,' the' shadows' and' types' of' His' person' and' work,' by' dying' on' the' cross' for' us' and' in' our' place.' This' showed' that' God' was' also' perfect' justice' and' sin' must' be' judged,' but' God' provided' His' Son,' the' precious' Lamb' of' God.' The' penalty' which' the' Law' exercised' was' paid.' Again' there' is' no' condemnation' because' the' believer' is' in' Christ' (Col.' 2:14;' Rom.' 3:24-25).

Christ' also' fulfilled' the' Social' Law,' but' now' He' replaces' it' with' a' new' way' of' life' fitting' to' our' new' salvation.' He' gives' provision' for' the' inner' man——the' indwelling' Holy' Spirit——who' enables' us' to' experience' true' sanctification' so' that' we' may' experience' also' the' righteousness' of' the' Law' (Rom.' 8:2-4).'

Summary
' 1.' Christ' is' the' end' of' the' Law' and' believers' are' not' under' the' Mosaic' Law.' New' Testament' believers' are' not' under' Law' but' under' grace' (Rom.' 6:14).

2.' Since' the' Lord' Jesus' Christ' fulfills' the' Law' by' His' person' and' work,' believers' are' under' a' new' law;' the' obligation' to' walk' by' the' Spirit' of' Life' through' faith' (Rom.' 8:2-4).' If' we' are' led' by' the' Spirit,' then' we' are' not' under' the' Law' (Gal.' 5:18).

3.' Against' such,' i.e.,' the' fruit' of' the' Spirit,' there' is' no' law' because' the' believer' is' then' operating' under' the' highest' law,' the' standards' are' met' as' we' walk' by' the' Holy' Spirit' and' grow' in' the' Word' (Gal.' 5:22).'

Warning' Against' Entanglements' with' the' Law' as' Believers' Today
' After' salvation' by' grace' there' has' always' been' the' grave' danger' of' reverting' to' Law' or' legalism' by' taboos' and' tactics' of' coercion,' or' some' form' of' human' manipulation' (Gal.' 3:1-3).' To' go' back' to' the' Law' as' a' way' of' life' puts' one' under' the' control' of' the' flesh,' it' nullifies' true' spirituality' by' faith' in' the' Holy' Spirit,' and' defeats' the' believer.' It' results' in' human' good' and' domination' by' the' sin' nature' or' the' flesh' (Gal.' 5:1-5;' Col.' 2:14f).' The' fact' that' the' Christian' is' not' under' the' Mosaic' Law' does' not' mean,' of' course,' that' there' is' lawlessness' or' no' proper' sense' of' morality' or' ethics' in' the' Christian' life.' Quite' the' contrary' is' true.' But' in' dealing' with' the' subject' of' morality' or' ethics,' it' must' be' understood' that' the' clear' teaching' of' the' New' Testament' is' that' the' moral' life' the' Christian' is' responsible' for' is' that' (1)' no' one' can' be' saved' by' virtue' of' his' own' works' (Tit.' 3:5;' Eph.' 2:8-9),' and' (2)' that' the' morality' of' the' Christian' life' is' to' be' the
' result' of' the' Christ' exchanged' life' by' faith' and' submission' to' the' ministry' and' power' of' a' Spirit-controlled' life.'

The' Threefold' Duties' of' the' New' Testament' Believer
' In' the' New' Testament,' then,' completely' adequate' teaching' is' provided' as' to' the' principles' of' conduct' the' Christian' will' follow' if' he' truly' presents' his' body' a' living' sacrifice' (Rom' 12:1)' and' walks' in' the' Spirit' (Eph' 5:9).' In' Titus' 2:11-14' is' to' be' found' a' convenient' outline' around' which' to' group' these' principles.' First' in' this' passage' it' is' majestically' stated' that' God’’s' grace' brings' us' salvation.' But' His' grace' then' teaches' us' to' live' soberly,' righteously' and' godly.' These' are' three' important' lines' of' responsibility:' the' believer' is' to' live' soberly' with' regard' to' himself' (Rom' 12:3);' righteously' with' regard' to' his' fellow' men;' and' godly' with' regard' to' the' Lord.' The' same' truth' can' be' more' or' less' expressed' in' a' somewhat' different' way:' We' should' seek' to' live' in' accordance' with' the' precepts' of' grace' because' (1)' this' will' please' God' (Heb' 13:16)' and' will' demonstrate' our' love' for' Christ' (John' 14:15);' (2)' it' will' help' others' (Matt' 5:16;' Titus
' 3:8,14);' (3)' it' will' bring' true' joy' and' blessing' to' our' own' hearts' (John' 15:10-11).' 15

The' following' compilation,' though' not' exhaustive,' contains' some' of' the' most' important' of' these' precepts.

Duties' toward' God
' Positive
' 1.' Trust' Him' (Mark' 11:22;' John' 14:1,' ASV;' Heb' 11:6).

2.' Love' Him' and' seek' to' know' Him' better' (1' John' 5:2;' Phil' 3:10,' 15;' Jas' 4:8).

3.' Be' thankful' to' Him;' worship' and' praise' Him' (John' 4:23;' Col' 3:15;' Heb' 13:15.)

4.' Serve' Him' (Rom' 12:6-8,' 11;' 1' Cor' 15:58).
' 5.' Pray' to' Him' (Luke' 18:1;' Rom' 12:12;' Eph' 6:18;' Phil' 4:6;' Col' 4:2;' 1' Tim' 2:2).

6.' Live' in' accordance' with' His' will' (Rom' 12:1;' Heb' 13:21;' Jas' 4:7).

7.' Walk' in' the' Spirit' (Gal' 5:16,' 25;' Eph' 5:18).

8.' Hold' fast' to' sound' doctrine' and' contend' for' the' faith' (2' Tim' 1:13;' Heb' 13:9;' Jude' 3).

9.' Witness' for' Christ' (John' 15:27;' Acts' 1:8;' 1' Pet' 3:15).

10.' Do' everything' as' unto' Him' (1' Cor' 10:31;' Eph' 6:7-8;' Col' 3:17,23-24).

11.' Be' diligent' in' devotion' and' study' of' His' Word' (John' 5:39;' Col' 3:16;' 2' Tim' 2:15;' Jas' 4:8;' 1' Pet' 2:2).

Negative
' 1.' Do' not' have' idols' (1' Cor' 10:7,' 14;' Eph' 5:3;' Phil' 3:19;' Col' 3:5;' 1' Tim' 6:17;' Heb' 13:15;' 1' John' 5:21).'

2.' Do' not' receive' false' teachers' (2' John' 10).'

3.' Do' not' mock' or' speak' against' God' (Gal' 6:7;' Col' 3:8).'

Duties' toward' Other' Human' Beings
' Positive
' 1.' Love' all,' especially' our' brethren' (John' 15:17;' Rom' 12:10;' 1' Cor' 16:14;' 1' Pet' 1:22;' 1' John' 3:23;' 4:7' {1' John' 4:7}).

2.' Be' sympathetic' and' compassionate' (Eph' 4:32;' Phil' 2:4;' Col' 3:12).

3.' Forgive' and' forbear' (Rom' 12:19;' Eph' 4:32;' Col' 3:13).

4.' Deal' honestly' and' fairly' (Rom' 12:17b;' 13:7' {Rom' 13:7};' 13:13' {Rom' 13:13};' 1' Thess' 4:12;' Jas' 2:1).

5.' Do' good' to' all' and' help' all' (Rom' 12:13;' Gal' 6:2,' 10;' 1' Thess' 5:15;' Titus' 3:1;' Heb' 13:16;' Jas' 4:17;' 3' John' 11).

6.' Tell' the' truth' (Eph' 4:25).

7.' Be' courteous' and' live' peaceably' with' all' (Rom' 12:18;' 1' Pet' 2:17;' 3:8' {1' Pet' 3:8}).

8.' Treat' others' as' we' would' like' for' them' to' treat' us' (Luke' 6:31;' Rom' 12:17a).

9.' Provide' a' good' example' for' others' (1' Cor' 8:9,' 13;' Phil' 2:15).

10.' Urge' brethren' to' good' works' and' seek' to' restore' backsliders' (Gal' 6:1;' Heb' 10:24).

Negative
' 1.' Do' not' lie' or' bear' false' witness' (Eph' 4:25;' Col' 3:9;' Titus' 2:3).

2.' Do' not' steal' (Eph' 4:28;' 1' Pet' 4:15).
' 3.' Do' not' murder' (1' Pet' 4:15).

4.' Do' not' commit' adultery' or' fornication' (1' Cor' 6:18;' 1' Thess' 4:13).

5.' Do' not' judge' others' or' speak' evil' of' them' (Rom' 14:13;' Titus' 3:2;' Jas' 4:11;' cf.' John' 7:24).

6.' Do' not' be' unequally' yoked' with' an' unbeliever' (2' Cor' 6:14).

7.' Do' not' have' fellowship' with' professing' Christians' who' live' in' scandalous' sin' (1' Cor' 5:11;' 2' Thess' 3:14).

8.' Do' not' go' to' law' with' other' believers' (1' Cor' 6:lff).

9.' Do' not' glory' in' men' (1' Cor' 3:21).

10.' Avoid' troublemakers' and' useless' disputes' (Rom' 16:17;' 2' Tim' 2:23;' Titus' 3:12).

11.' Do' not' have' unpaid' debts' (Rom' 13:8).

Duties' toward' Self
' Positive
' 1.' Be' holy' (1' Pet' 1:15;' 2:11' {1' Pet' 2:11};' 2' Pet' 3:1).

2.' Cleave' to' the' good' and' do' good' to' all' (Rom' 12:9;' 1' Thess' 5:15).

3.' Study' the' Word' of' God' and' meditate' on' sacred' things' (1' Thess' 4:11;' 2' Tim' 2:15).

4.' Grow' spiritually' (2' Pet' 3:18).

5.' Think' on' good' things' (Phil' 4:8).

6.' Think' soberly' of' yourself' (Rom' 12:3).

7.' Be' ambitious' in' the' right' way' (1' Cor' 12:31;' 14:1' {1' Cor' 14:1};' 2' Cor' 5:4).

8.' Be' content' with' what' God' gives' you' (Heb' 13:5).

9.' Rejoice' in' the' Lord' (Rom' 12:12;' Phil' 3:1;' 4:4' {Phil' 4:4};' 1' Thess' 5:16).

10.' Live' in' the' light' of' the' judgment' seat' of' Christ' (1' Cor' 9:24).

11.' Judge' yourself' and' confess' sins' to' God' (1' Cor' 11:31;' 2' Cor' 13:5;' 1' John' 1:9).

12.' Conserve' time' for' good' purposes' (Eph' 5:11;' Col' 4:5).

13.' Cultivate' your' mind' (1' Pet' 1:13).

14.' Do' useful' work' (Eph' 4:28;' 2' Thess' 3:12).

15.' Keep' your' body' clean' and' in' good' health' (1' Cor' 6:15;' 6:19,20' {1' Cor' 6};' 10:31' {1' Cor' 10:31};' Rom' 12:1).

Negative
' 1.' Abhor' evil' (Rom' 12:9;' 1' Thess' 5:22).
' 2.' Avoid' pride' (Rom' 12:3;' Jas' 4:10;' 1' Pet' 5:6).

3.' Do' not' conform' to' or' love' the' world' (Rom' 12:2;' 1' John' 2:15).

4.' Do' not' fellowship' with' evil' (Eph' 5:11).

5.' Do' not' sin' through' anger' (Eph' 4:26).

6.' Do' not' worry' (Phil' 4:6;' 1' Pet' 5:7;' 1' John' 14:1,27).

7.' Do' not' be' lazy' (Rom' 12:1).

8.' Do' not' use' filthy' speech' (Eph' 4:29;' 5:4' {Eph' 5:4}).

9.' Do' not' become' drunk' (Eph' 5:18).

10.' Do' not' complain' (1' Cor' 10:10;' Phil' 2:14).

Miscellaneous' Duties
' Beyond' all' that' has' been' said……,' there' are' still' other' duties' which' the' earnest' believer' would' do' well' to' consider:' duties' toward' the' lower' creation;' responsibilities' with' regard' to' human' government;' special' duties' devolving' upon' particular' classes,' such' as' the' unmarried,' husbands,' wives,' children,' servants.

' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1' For' further' information' on' this' subject' see' the' article' by' Roy' L' Aldrich,' Causes' for' Confusion' of' Law' and' Grace,' Bibliotheca' Sacra,' 116:463:221-29,' July,' 1959.

2' G.' Coleman' Luck,' Christian' Ethics,' Bibliotheca' Sacra,' 118:471——July,' 1961,' Theological' Electronic' Library,' Galaxie' Software.

3' The' verb' train' or' instruct' is' paideuo,' to' bring' up,' instruct,' educate,' train' then,' correct,' practice,' discipline,' give' guidance.

4' Charles' C.' Ryrie,' The' Grace' of' God,' Moody' Press,' Chacago,' 1963,' pp.' 51-52.

5' In' this' clause,' but' is' alla,' a' conjunction' that' expresses' strong' contrast.

6' Ryrie,' p.' 53.

7' Ryrie,' p.' 53.

8' Roy' L.' Aldrich,' Has' the' Mosaic' Law' Been' Abolished?,' Bibliotheca' Sacra,' 116:464,' October,' 1959,' Theological' Journal' Electronic' Library,' Galaxie' Software.

9' Literally,' the' Hebrew' reads,' for' out' of' Zion' will' go' instruction.' Though' the' NASB' has,' for' the' Law' of' the' Lord' will' go' forth,' which' might' be' taken' as' the' Mosaic' Law' because' of' the' article,' the,' used' in' the' translation,' but' the' original' Hebrew' is' better' rendered' by' the' NET' Bible' for' the' Hebrew' word' for' law,' torah,' lacks' the' the' article.

10' Charles' C.' Ryrie,' Basic' Theology,' Victor' Books,' Wheaton,' IL,' 1987,' electronic' media.
' 11' Ryrie,' electronic' media.

12' Lewis' Sperry' Chafer,' Systematic' Theology,' IV,' 242.

13' Or' disciplinarian,' custodian,' or' guide.' According' to' BAGD' 603' s.v.' paidagwgov",' the' man,' usu.' a' slave……whose' duty' it' was' to' conduct' the' boy' or' youth……to' and' from' school' and' to' superintend' his' conduct' gener.;' he' was' not' a' ‘‘teacher’’' (despite' the' present' mng.' of' the' derivative' ‘‘pedagogue’’……When' the' young' man' became' of' age' the' p.' was' no' longer' needed.' LN' 36.5' gives' guardian,' leader,' guide' here.' (Taken' from' the' NET' Bible' translators' notes)

14' Aldrich,' Theological' Electronic' Library.'

15' This' and' all' the' material' that' follows' is' taken' from' the' article' by' G.' Coleman' Luck,' Christian' Ethics,' Bibliotheca' Sacra,' 118:471,' July,' 1961,' Theological' Electronic' Library.