withallyourmind.net

Today, I conclude this series on the relationship of the believer and the Law of Moses.

Previously, I have stressed the discontinuity between the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ. It is instructive, however, to note that there is continuity between them. Many commandments found in the Mosaic Law are taken up and included in the Law of Christ. This might be expected since God’s holiness and righteousness do not change. God’s moral character would be manifest in all formulations of His law. It is therefore not surprising that God’s moral commands found within the Law of Moses are repeated for the New Testament believer.

It is also not surprising that love is at the center of both formulations. As Jesus summarized the Mosaic Law with the love of God and the love of one’s neighbor, so Paul encouraged Christians to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” While there is some disagreement over whether there are specific commandments within the Law of Christ, the emphasis is clearly on the direction and enablement of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who produces fruit in the believer’s life.

In conclusion, we have seen that the Law, although good and holy, does not serve as a direct source of guidance for the conduct of the Christian. New Testament believers are not under its condemning force. This does not mean that the Law is of no use to the Christian. In fact, Douglas Moo provides three ways in which the Law is profitable.

First, although the Law it itself is not binding on the Christian, individual commandments within that Law might be if they are “reapplied” by the New Testament writers. For example, the Law of Christ subsumes nine of the Ten Commandments (excluding the Sabbath), making us responsible for those nine. The Christian, however, is bound only to that part of the Mosaic Law which is explicitly taken up by and incorporated into the Law of Christ - only that which is repeated in New Testament teaching. (This is counter to those who might hold that we are bound to obey whatever parts of the Mosaic Law which are not explicitly denounced in the Law of Christ.)

Second, the Mosaic Law “fills out” or explains certain basic concepts found in both Testaments (Moo uses an example concerning laws of personal injury in the Old Covenant). Principles might be found therein that are profitable for the believer in this time after Christ has come. Baylis states that “Paul is not opposed to using the Law for instruction. It was from his pen that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 flowed, affirming that all Scripture… is to be used for teaching.” The Mosaic Law was certainly not a means of attaining justification, but did serve as an insight into God’s view of life.

Finally, the Law serves as a “prophetic witness” to the fulfillment of God’s plan in Christ. As such, it is beneficial to the believer.

(Recommended Reading: Five Views on Law and Gospel, from which many quotes in this series was taken.)