People have always
needed a law to live by. John wrote that sin is "lawlessness." (1 John
3:4). From Adam to Moses, people had a law to live by (Romans 2:15;
5:12-13). From the time that God gave the law to Moses for the children
of Israel to the time of Christ, God's people had a law given to them
(Deuteronomy 4:44). Since the time of Jesus, particularly at His death,
God's people have a new covenant or law to live by (Colossians 2:14;
Romans 10:4).
In bringing the new
covenant to the world, Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses. Jesus' claim
regarding Himself and the law of Moses is that He only came to fulfill
it, riot destroy it. (Matthew 5:17). The "new law" that Jesus instituted
was intended to "take the place of the first (old) covenant." (Hebrews
8:1-13). God never intended for the law of Christ and the law of Moses
to coexist (Romans 3:28; 4:13; 7:1-4; 8:2; Galatians 2:21;
3:17,19,23-24; 5:18; Ephesians 2:14-16).
The law of Moses served
the purpose of defining sin (1 Timothy 1:8-9; Romans 7:7). Under Christ
a new law is at work (Hebrews 7:12). This new law has more to do with
internal concerns that become evident in behavior (Matthew 23:23; Romans
13:8,10; Galatians 5:14). The law of Moses was more concerned with
externals (Hebrews 9:9-10).
If God's people today
attempt to keep the law of Moses, they are guilty of spiritual adultery
(Romans 7:1-4; 2 Corinthians 11:2). Keeping two laws was exactly what
the Judaizers that so plagued the ministry of Paul were strongly
advocating (Galatians 4:1-11). If the idea of keeping both the law of
Moses and the law of Christ was wrong then, it is wrong now.
The law of Christ is
described by James as the "perfect law of liberty." (James 1:25). The
old law came from God through a man (Deuteronomy 5). The new law came
from God the Son (Galatians 6:2).
It became in force at
His death (Hebrews 9:16-17). It is the only law still in force today. It
is the fulfillment of all that has come before it.