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THE LAW OF MOSES, SUMMARY

Galatians 3:24
Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

I. The law of Moses, Summary:

(1) The Mosaic Covenant was given to Israel in three parts:

the commandments, expressing the righteous will of God; (Exo. 20:1-26);

the judgments, governing the social life of Israel; (Exo. 21:1-24); (Exo. 21:11); and

the ordinances, governing the religious life of Israel. (Exo. 24:12); (Exo. 31:18).

(2) The commandments and ordinances were one complete and inseparable whole. When an Israelite sinned, he was held "blameless" if he brought the required offering. (Luk. 1:6); (Phi. 3:6).

(3) Law, as a method of the divine dealing with man, characterized the dispensation extending from the giving of the law to the death of Jesus Christ. ( Gal. 3:13); ( Gal. 3:14); ( Gal. 3:23); ( Gal. 3:24).

(4) The attempt of legalistic teachers, (for example), (Act. 15:1-31); ( Gal. 2:1-5), to mingle law with grace as the divine method for this present dispensation of grace, brought out the true relation of the law to the Christian, namely,

II. The Christian doctrine of the law:

(1) Law is in contrast with grace. Under the latter, God bestows the righteousness which, under law, He demanded. (Exo. 19:5); (Joh. 1:17). (See Scofield) - (Rom. 3:21); (Rom. 10:3-10); (1Co. 1:30).

(2) The law is, in itself, holy, just, good, and spiritual. (Rom. 7:12-14).

(3) Before the law, the whole world is guilty, and the law is therefore of necessity a ministry of condemnation, death, and the divine curse. (Rom. 3:19); (2Co. 3:7-9); ( Gal. 3:10).

(4) Christ bore the curse of the law, and redeemed the believer both from the curse and from the dominion of the law. ( Gal. 3:13); ( Gal. 4:5-7).

(5) Law neither justifies a sinner nor sanctifies a believer. ( Gal. 2:16); ( Gal. 3:2); ( Gal. 3:3); ( Gal. 3:11); ( Gal. 3:12).

(6) The believer is both dead to the law and redeemed from it, so that he is "not under the law, but under grace". (Rom. 6:14); (Rom. 7:4); ( Gal. 2:19); ( Gal. 4:4-7); (1Ti. 1:8); (1Ti. 1:9).

(7) Under the new covenant of grace, the principle of obedience to the divine will is inwrought. ( Heb. 10:6). So far is the life of the believer from the anarchy of self-will that he is "inlawed to Christ", (1Co. 9:21), and the new "law of Christ"; ( Gal. 6:2); (2Jo. 1:5); is his delight; while, through the indwelling Spirit, the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in him. (Rom. 8:2-4); ( Gal. 5:16-18). The commandments are used in the distinctively Christian Scriptures as an instruction in righteousness. (2Ti. 3:16); (Rom. 13:8-10); (Eph. 6:1-3); (1Co. 9:8); (1Co. 9:9).

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