Mosaic Law was given specifically to the nation of Israel (Exodus 19; Leviticus
26:46; Romans 9:4). It was made up of three parts: the Ten Commandments, the ordinances, and
the worship system, which included the priesthood, the tabernacle, the offerings, and the festivals
(Exodus 20—40; Leviticus 1—7; 23). The purpose of the Mosaic Law was to accomplish the
following:
(1) Reveal the holy character of the eternal God to the nation of Israel
(Leviticus 19:2; 20:7-8).
2 Set apart the nation of Israel as distinct from all the other nations (Exodus 19:5).
(3) Reveal the sinfulness of man (cf. Galatians 3:19). Although the Law was good and holy
(Romans 7:12), it did not provide salvation for the nation of Israel. “No one will be declared
righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law. Rather, through the law we become
conscious of our sin” (Romans 3:20; ef. Acts 13:38-39).
@ Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of
of sins. (Heb. 9:22) for the nation of Israel showed their faith in
obedient (adhering to God’s commands)(we do the same today, for Jesus said, “Whoever
has my commandments A them, he it is who loves me.” John 14:21
(5) Provided a way of worship for the community of faith through the yearly feasts (Leviticus
23).
(6) Provided God’s direction for the physical and spiritual health of the nation (Exodus 21—23;
Deuteronomy 6:4-19; Psalm 119:97-104).
(7) Revealed to humanity that no one can keep the Law but everyone falls short of God’s standard of holiness (Rom. 3). That realization causes us to rely on God’s mercy and grace. When Christ came, He fulfilled the Law and with His death paid the penalty for our breaking the Law (Galatians 3:24; Romans 10:4).
*By faith in Him, the believer has the very righteousness of Christ imputed to him.
The purpose of the Mosaic Law raises these questions: “Are you trusting in yourself to keep all the Ten Commandments all the time (which you can’t do)?” OR “Have you made the choice to accept Jesus as your Savior, realizing that He has fulfilled all the commandments all the time for you, even paying your penalty for breaking them?”
A debate amongst “Christians”
To what extent does the Law play in the life of the Christian!
Some argue that the Law has no benefit for us today!
Jesus said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.” John 14:21
In the Old Testament we see believers great love and adoration for God’s
Laws/commands/instructions!
• Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day (Ps. 119:97).
• Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end (Ps. 119:111–112).
• I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments (Ps. 119:131).
• Trouble and anguish have overtaken me. Yet Your commandments are my delights (Ps. 119:143).
Does this sound like a modern Christian? Do we hear people talk about longing passionately for the law of God? Do we hear our friends expressing joy and delight in God’s commandments?
Now from the New Testament we see believers love for God’s love as well
• What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through law (Rom. 7:8).
• Therefore, the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good (Rom. 7:12).
• For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man (Rom. 7:22).
The Purpose of the Law TODAY!
For the Christian the greatest benefit of the law of God is that it reveals to us the character of God. The law reveals to us the Law-Giver.
It teaches us what is pleasing in His sight. We need to seek the law of God—to pant after it—to delight in it. Anything less is an offense against the One who has given the Law [the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit].
- The law reveals the character of God, and this is valuable to believers of all time.
As the law reveals the character of God, it provides a mirror to reflect to us our unholiness against the ultimate standard of righteousness. In that regard, the law serves as a schoolmaster to drive us to Christ [Gal. 3:24, below].
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. [Galatians 3:24]
*the word translated guardian here had to do with a schoolmaster to direct in the original culture! So, the law shows us our unrighteousness and our need for Christ!
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; [Psalms 19:7]
- The law functions as a restraint against sin. The Law lays some restraints upon us [convictions]. Even in societies the Law warns and threats, therefore restraining people from being as bad as they could be, and so civil order is preserved. [In addition, see lawlessness below word study!]
- The law reveals to us what is pleasing to God. Technically speaking, Christians are not under the old covenant and its stipulations.
Yet, at the same time, we are called to imitate Christ and to live as people who seek to please the living God (Eph. 5:10; Col. 1:9–12). So, although in one sense I’m not covenantally obligated to the law or under the curse of the law,
Some Christians today argue that there is nothing to do but “believe”
[*question, does belief constitute action?(does what we truly believe lead us to act in accordance? Yes!)]
I Never Knew You
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7
Lawlessness is depicted as a bad thing throughout the Bible (there are some examples below included within the word study of the original word within the original language within a few contexts
Quick word study!
The word in the original language (Greek)
of lawlessness!’
ἀνομίαν (anomian)
Noun – Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong’s 458: Lawlessness, iniquity, disobedience, sin. From anomos; illegality, i.e. Violation of law or wickedness.
Matthew 13:41 N-AFS
GRK: ποιοῦντας τὴν ἀνομίαν
NAS: and those who commit lawlessness,
KJV: and them which do iniquity;
INT: practice lawlessness
41″The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13
Matthew 23:28 N-GFS
GRK: ὑποκρίσεως καὶ ἀνομίας
NAS: of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
KJV: of hypocrisy and iniquity.
INT: of hypocrisy and lawlessness
Romans 6:19 N-DFS
GRK: καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τὴν
NAS: to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting
KJV: and to iniquity unto
INT: and to lawlessness unto
We are instructed to not be lawless!:
19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in [further] lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
Romans 6
Romans 6:19 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν οὕτως νῦν
NAS: resulting in [further] lawlessness, so
KJV: to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now
INT: unto lawlessness so now