Day 19 of the 20 Day Salvation Study
Notes compiled by Steve McAtee and Marty Zide
1. The Mosaic Law and the Law of Christ contain man similar commands
One reason there is so much confusion in the minds of many about the relationship of the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ as found in the New Testament is that many commandments are similar to each other.
Nine of the ten commandments are carried over into the Law of Christ from the Law of Moses. However, they were not carried over as a continuation of the Law of Moses, but as the new Law of Christ. That’s because the Law of Moses has been rendered inoperative.
2. Our focus should be on the commandments that are found in the Law of Christ
The Law of Christ contains all the individual commands of Jesus and the Apostles that are applicable to Christians. They are found in the New Testament. Just as the Law of Moses was only given to a specific group, the Jewish people, the Law of Christ has been given to a specific group of people, true believers in Jesus.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 15:10 - If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.
1 John 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1 John 3:24 - And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
1 John 5:3 - For this is the Love of God that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
1 Cor. 9:19-23 - For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
Here is an example of the confusion that arises by trying to make the Law of Moses apply to the present-day Church. Deut. 22:5
Deut. 22:5 - A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.
First, if we are going to try to use Deut. 22:5 to forbid the wearing of pants by women, what else does chapter 22 have to say? In other words, you can’t just pull out one verse and neglect the others.
Deut. 22:5 - A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.
Deut. 22:11 - “You shall not wear a material mixed of wool and linen together.
Second, what kind of clothes were being worn when this command was written? They both wore robes. No one wore pants back then. The point is, wear clothes that are made specifically for your gender.
What does the Law of Christ have to say about clothing? What command do we find that will give us some instruction? After all that is what we as believers are under.
1 Tim. 2:9-10 - Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments; but rather by means of good works, as befits women making a claim to godliness.
Pet. 3:3-4 - And let not your adornment be merely external-- braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
What if a true believer freely chooses to keep parts of the Mosaic Law? Is that ok?
He is free to do so, but he must keep several things in mind:
There is no salvation by keeping the Law
There is no sanctification produced by keeping the Law One must not insist that other believers keep the same Laws.
In conclusion, the Law is a wonderful thing that God gave to Israel. Many helpful lessons can still be learned from it, even though it has been rendered inoperative. This is true for all believers. It should be read, studied, preached from, used during evangelism, and used as a means to see the holiness of our great God. However, we must realize that any attempt to keep the Law of Moses to try to obtain salvation will not work. We must also keep in mind that the Law cannot produce sanctification in the life of a believer. The Law today for believers is the Law of Christ. By His grace and for His glory, we must strive to obey it, then we will be doing what He desires.