I think the Law had several purposes. I believe the Ten Commandments are moral laws and serve as the foundation of the Law. I think some laws were social and serving society. Others were ceremonial and symbolically pointed to higher truths.
I think the ultimate purpose of the Law is to show us the Holiness of God and how fallen and sinful we are, thus forcing us to admit that we need a savior.
While the the old ceremonial law of ordinances have been nailed to the cross, Christ having fulfilled all, Jesus lifted the moral law out of the domain of the natural and carnal realm into that of the spiritual.
Amen. And He adjusted how we accomplish those laws by having the Spirit inspire and empower us to do them, rather than self making self so them.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
While the the old ceremonial law of ordinances have been nailed to the cross, Christ having fulfilled all, Jesus lifted the moral law out of the domain of the natural and carnal realm into that of the spiritual.
Paul called the moral law given to Moses on the mountain, holy, just and good. But then in Rom 7:14 he called it "spiritual." The law lifted from the carnal state, though holy, just and good is seen in a new light that Jesus brought to this law, making it spiritual.
Much can be said about this but this would not be the place to delve too deeply into it. However, David being both King and Prophet understood this "spiritual" concept of the carnal law. It occupied his thoughts continually. With each new discovery wrought in his mind from the marvelous light that burst forth as the horns of a rising sun, he was obsessed with going further into the unsearchable regions of the worth, value and expanse of the "spiritual law."
But, on the other hand, we are never too far away from the hiss of the serpent in the tree of knowledge...."sssss...thou shalt not surely die...." The wise man will turn from hearing the hiss and will turn to the tree of life and wonder at the life-giving powers in the fruit from it's tree...the law of the Lord.
"Thy Word, have I hid in my heart...."
I'm not completely following your response.
The "ceremonial law" was nailed to the cross, and the moral law is now spiritualized?
Speaking of which, does everyone agree in the distinction of laws: moral, ceremonial, civil? Seems to be a dispy-type distinction accepted by many. So with the moral law (10 Commandments) now spiritualized, does that mean they are still in the form of "thou shalt not kill, etc..." or they are defined only by and through the Gospel lens, and that of the cross.
If we could, please say it plainer so us slower folks can understand.
I think the Law had several purposes. I believe the Ten Commandments are moral laws and serve as the foundation of the Law. I think some laws were social and serving society. Others were ceremonial and symbolically pointed to higher truths.
I think the ultimate purpose of the Law is to show us the Holiness of God and how fallen and sinful we are, thus forcing us to admit that we need a savior.
Any way to phrase these in the order of the questions presented?
For instance, when Paul uses the term "law" which of your three categories is he referring and how can we be sure? Is that what his audience understood?
Your second paragraph is Paul's hindsight view as well, but if the Law was given just to humble us and to show us how flawed we were, that wouldn't seem to be such a beautiful thing. As I understand from Hebrew and Jewish history, the Law was regarded as a gift from God, and something that helped them know how to live healthy, full and long. Did the Hebrews not know they needed a Savior?
1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
Rom 7:7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Rom 7:12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Gal 3:24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Gal 3:21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
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...Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ...(Acts 20:21)
Mt 22:36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Gal 3:19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster
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What we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us.~Rich Mullins
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.~Galileo Galilei
Any way to phrase these in the order of the questions presented?
For instance, when Paul uses the term "law" which of your three categories is he referring and how can we be sure? Is that what his audience understood?
Your second paragraph is Paul's hindsight view as well, but if the Law was given just to humble us and to show us how flawed we were, that wouldn't seem to be such a beautiful thing. As I understand from Hebrew and Jewish history, the Law was regarded as a gift from God, and something that helped them know how to live healthy, full and long. Did the Hebrews not know they needed a Savior?
I agree we are getting answers to many questions, and it's confusing. The law was given because of sin.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
Mt 22:36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Gal 3:19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster
Some important scriptures. For Galatians 3, I'd add vv15-29.
vv21-22 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises?[l] Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.
I think the ultimate purpose of the Law is to show us the Holiness of God and how fallen and sinful we are, thus forcing us to admit that we need a savior.
So, if it were not for the law, we would not know how sinful we are? Yeah, I guess that makes sense. If there were no law, we wouldn't know it was a sin to lie, for example. So we'd think it's OK to lie, and we would lie, without even knowing it was.... Wait. I'm confused again! It wouldn't be a sin to lie if God never told us not to lie! Would it?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
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