Day 18 of the 22 Day Salvation Study
Notes compiled by Steve McAtee and Marty Zide
1. The Mosaic Law was never meant to be permanent, but only temporary. Gal. 3:19 - Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. But, someone might ask, “What about Matthew 5:17-19?” Matt. 5:17-19 - “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. The Mosaic Law did not end with His life, but with His death. As long as Jesus was still alive, He was under the Law of Moses. His statement in Matt. 5:17-19 was made while He was still alive. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” the Mosaic Law became inoperative. When Jesus died, all the Law was accomplished and therefore no longer needed. To repeat, since the Law of Moses has been rendered inoperative, does that mean that there is no use for the Law at all? No, the Law still has the power to reveal the holy character of God and the sinfulness of man. There continues to be value in teaching the Law and the Ten Commandments since they are in the Bible and as such are profitable, II Tim. 3:16 2. Jesus being a priest after the order of Melchizedek, required a new Law. He could not function under the Law of Moses as a priest. Heb. 7:11-18 - Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of Him, Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek. For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness. Jesus, being a priest after the order of Melchizedek, could not function under the Law of Moses, because He was not from the tribe of Levi. Therefore, a new Law was required. As such, there was no longer a need for the Law of Moses to remain in effect. 3. The Mosaic Law was the middle wall of partition spoken of by Paul that is now broken down. Eph. 2:14-15 - For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace. The Law of Moses, which has caused enmity between Jewish people and Gentiles has been rendered inoperative. In Christ, Jewish people and Gentiles are one and because of Jesus, there is now peace between both groups. The hostility between Jewish people and Gentiles has been destroyed. This was accomplished by making the Law inoperative. Harold Hoehner - “Since the whole Mosaic Law has been rendered inoperative for Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ, it is a false dichotomy to distinguish between the moral and ceremonial laws making only the ceremonial laws inoperative. Christ is the end of the whole law for believers, Rom. 10:4, and we are no longer under that pedagogue, Gal. 3:25. In fact, we have died to the law, Rom. 7:1-6. Does this mean that there are no laws in the Mosaic law that the believer today is obligated to obey? Only those that have been reiterated in the NT. We are under the new covenant and the old covenant has been done away. We are now under the Law of Christ.” To summarize, the entire Law of Moses has been rendered inoperative. The Law is still in Scripture and can be used as a teaching tool to show God’s standards as well as man’s sinfulness. It can be used to teach many spiritual truths. However, it has completely ceased to function as an authority over a believer in Christ. Since the Law of Moses has been rendered inoperative, does that mean we are without any Law? Can we simply do as we please as believers? If the Law of Moses is no longer in effect, what Law is in effect? V. Does the New Testament speak of a new Law that the believer is under as opposed to the Mosaic Law? Yes! It is called the Law of Christ. Gal. 6:2 - Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. Rom. 8:2-4 - For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Coming Next – Biblical Facts About The Law Of Christ