THE LAW OF MOSES

Lesson: II Cor 3:6 - 11 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
II Cor 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was done away;
II Cor 3:8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
II Cor 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
II Cor 3:10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
II Cor 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
The plan of salvation has never changed. God has always saved man by grace through faith,
(Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.) but He has changed His methods of dealing with man and He has changed the people through whom He reaches the lost. When He changed His people, (turning to the gentiles through the church, because of the disobedience of Israel) He changed the rules or laws which governed them.

I. The Law of Moses
A. It was from God. Lev. 26:46
B. It came through Moses. John 1:17
C. It was given to Israel as a nation Lev. 26:46; Psa 78:5 & 147:19,20 Deut. 4:7,8, 13
D. The purpose of the Law
1. To provide civil government to God's chosen nation Deut. 17: 9 - 11; Acts 23:3; 24:6
(laws of one nation are not applicable in another)
2. Added because of transgression Gal. 3:19
3. It was a schoolmaster Gal 3:24, 25
4. It could not bring righteousness Heb. 10:1
5. It served as a mouth-stopper (showed them their transgressions) Rom. 3:19
6. None ever justified by the law Rom. 3:20 - 28
E. The duration of the law
1. It was to last till fulfilled Mat 5:18
a. Law and prophets were until John. Luke 16:16
b. Till the promised seed should come. Gal. 3:16& 19
c. Christ fulfilled and blotted it out on the cross. Col 2:14- 17
F. What about those who try to keep the law today?
1. Debtor to do the whole law! Gal. 5:3 & 3:10
2. To offend in one point makes one guilty of it all. James 2:10
To try to keep the law in order to be saved is to reject Christ who kept it for us. (Gal 5:4; 2:21) Christ kept it completely (Gal. 4:4,5 ) yet He paid the penalty for us who were guilty of it.
(Gal. 3:13) and now since we are dead and our lives are hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3) The law CANNOT touch us! (Rom. 7:4)

WHICH BLESSING HAVE YOU EARNED?

If God should draw his purse-strings tight,
And no blessings would bestow,
Except we earned them by our labor
In His vineyard here below.

Could we claim as ours, by right of wage,
The light that greets the eye;
The air we breathe; the song of birds;
The wonders of the sky?

Which promise could we say was ours?
Would God be in our debt,
Or would there be a dearth of blessings,
If there were wages set?

Aren't you glad He doesn't make us wait
To earn these simple things;
But lets us labor now to earn
The right to reign with Him as kings?

We could never earn one breath of air,
Yet, working by His grace,
We can hear Him say, "My child, well done",
When we see Him face to face.

fcc