The Law of Moses (the Torah) is God's covenant instruction to Israel, given at Sinai (Exodus 19-24). It contains moral, ceremonial, and civil laws. Christ fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17); his death frees believers from its curse (Galatians 3:13); but the moral law continues to guide Christian living.
The Law (Hebrew 'Torah,' Greek 'nomos') is a major biblical theme. Several biblical truths. (1) The Law was given at Sinai. Exodus 19-24 — God established his covenant with Israel through the Law, mediated by Moses. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) form its summary. (2) The Law has three categories (traditional distinction). (a) Moral — the Ten Commandments and moral principles. Continues to bind. (b) Ceremonial — sacrifices, dietary laws, festivals. Fulfilled in Christ; not binding. (c) Civil — laws specific to Israel's theocracy. Not binding on modern states. (3) The Law's purpose. (a) Reveals God's holy character. (b) Defines sin. Romans 3:20 — 'by the law is the knowledge of sin.' (c) Restrains sin in society. (d) Points to Christ. Galatians 3:24 — 'the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.' (4) The Law cannot save. Galatians 2:16 — 'a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.' Romans 3:20 — 'by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.' (5) The Law reveals our need for Christ. Romans 7:7 — 'I had not known sin, but by the law.' The Law diagnoses; it does not heal. (6) Christ fulfilled the Law. Matthew 5:17 — 'I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.' Christ kept the Law perfectly, paid its curse for sinners (Galatians 3:13), and provides righteousness through faith. (7) Believers are not under the Law. Romans 6:14 — 'ye are not under the law, but under grace.' Galatians 5:18 — 'if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.' This means as a covenant of works for salvation. (8) But moral law continues. Christians are still bound to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40) — which summarizes the Law (Romans 13:8-10). The moral law endures. (9) Christ is the end (telos) of the Law. Romans 10:4 — 'For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.' The Law has reached its goal in him. (10) The Spirit fulfills the Law in believers. Romans 8:3-4 — 'that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' The Law-keeping that the flesh could never produce, the Spirit produces in believers — not as works for salvation but as fruit of salvation. Common errors. (a) Legalism — using the Law as a covenant of works (Galatians). (b) Antinomianism — claiming Christian freedom means no moral standards (Romans 6:1-2). (c) Mosaic theonomy — applying all OT laws to modern states (most evangelicals reject). The biblical balance: free from the Law's curse and demands as a covenant of works; bound to its moral substance as the standard of Christ-like living.
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.”
“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Be grateful for Christ who fulfilled the Law for you. Use the Law as it was meant — revealing sin and pointing to Christ. Live by the Spirit; the Law's righteousness is fulfilled through Spirit-empowered love (Romans 8:3-4). Love God and neighbor — this summarizes and fulfills the Law (Romans 13:10).
The Law (Hebrew Torah) is God's covenant instruction to Israel given at Sinai (Exodus 19-24). It includes moral laws (the Ten Commandments, love your neighbor), ceremonial laws (sacrifices, dietary, festivals), and civil laws (Israel's national legislation). The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5) summarize the moral core.
Not as a covenant of works for salvation (Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:18). Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, not by Law-keeping. However, Christians are bound to love God and neighbor — which summarizes the moral Law (Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10). The ceremonial and civil Law are fulfilled in Christ; the moral law endures.
No. Matthew 5:17 — 'I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.' Christ kept the Law perfectly, paid its curse for sinners (Galatians 3:13), and is its goal (Romans 10:4 — 'Christ is the end of the law'). The ceremonial laws are fulfilled in him; the moral law continues. The Law is not destroyed but completed.
(1) Reveals God's character. (2) Defines sin (Romans 3:20). (3) Restrains sin in society. (4) Drives sinners to Christ (Galatians 3:24 — 'schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ'). (5) Guides Christian living (the moral law). The Law diagnoses; only Christ heals. Read alongside the gospel.