By what are all men to be
judged at last?
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His
commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work
into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be
evil." Eccl. 12:13, 14. "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be
judged by the law of liberty." James 2:12.
With what other law were
the people of God for a time concerned, which is not to judge them?
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,
which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;
and having spoiled principalities and power, He made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink,
or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days; which
are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Col. 2:14-17.
What terms are employed,
for the sake of convenience, to designate these two laws?
"The first is called "the moral law," summarily contained in
the decalogue; the second is known as the "ceremonial or typical law"
of the Jewish dispensation.
What is the relation of
the moral law to sin?
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the
transgression of the taw." 1 John 3:4.
How early in the history
of our world was this law applicable?
"For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived; but
the woman being deceived was in the transgression." 1 Tim. 2:13, 14.
Since this law was
binding on man previous to his fall, what did it cover?
His relations to God and to His fellow creatures: "Then one of them,
which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, Master,
which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it:
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the
law and the prophets." Matt. 22:35-39.
When and for what reason
were laws of a ceremonial or typical nature introduced?
They were introduced after man had sinned, and were instituted because God
in mercy provided a plan of redemption or a remedial system. "And in
process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an
offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock
and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his
offering." Gen. 4:3, 4. "By faith Abel offered unto God a more
excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was
righteous, God testifying of his gifts." Heb. 11:4.
How was the moral law
communicated to the people at Sinai?
"And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire... And He
declared His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten
commandments." Deut. 4:12, 13.
How was the ceremonial
law communicated to them?
"And the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the
tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel,
and say unto them, if any man of you bring an offering,..." Lev. 1:1,
2. "This is the law of the burnt offering... meat offering,... sin
offering,... trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice
of the peace offerings; which the Lord commanded Moses in Mount Sinai, in the
day that He commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the
Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai." Lev. 7:37, 38.
On what, and by whom, was
the moral law written?
"The Lord spake unto you,... and He declared unto you... ten
commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone." Deut. 4:12, 13.
In what, and by whom, was
the ceremonial law written?
"And commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of
Moses thy servant." (Neh. 9:14). "And they spake unto Ezra the scribe
to bring the Book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to
Israel." Neh. 8:1.
Were the ten commandments
a distinct and complete law by themselves?
"These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of
the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great
voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them in two tables of stone, and
delivered them unto me" (Deut. 5:22). "And the Lord said unto Moses,
Come up to Me into the mount, and be there; and I will give thee tables of
stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written." Ex. 24:12.
Was the ceremonial law
composed of rules or ordinances?
"The law of commandments, contained in ordinances." Eph. 2:15.
What is the nature of the
moral law?
"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul."
Ps. 19:7.
Was perfection to be
secured by the ceremonial law?
"Which was a figure for the time then present in which were offered
both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service
perfect, as pertaining to the conscience." Heb. 9:9.
How did the prophet
Isaiah say that Christ would treat the moral law when He should appear on earth
as the great teacher?
"The Lord is pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will magnify the
Law, and make it honorable." Isa. 42:21.
How did Christ fulfill
this prophecy?
By opening before the people the deep spiritual nature of the law, living in
perfect obedience to both letter and the spirit of all its requirements, and
giving His life to save men from the penalty of its transgression. See Matt.
5:17-48; John 15:10; 1 Peter 2:22; Rom. 4:25.
How long was the
ceremonial law to continue?
"Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal
ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." Heb.
9:10.
When was this time of
reformation?
"But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by
a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not
of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood
He entered in once [once for all] into the holy place [places], having
obtained eternal redemption for us." Heb. 9:11, 12.
How did Christ's death
affect the ceremonial law?
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which
was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His
cross." Col. 2:14. "Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even
the law of commandments contained in ordinances." Eph. 2:15.
What was the object of
the ceremonial law?
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the
very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered
year by year, continually, make the comers thereunto perfect." Heb. 10:1.
What does Paul say of the
holiness and spirituality of the moral law?
"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and
good." "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal,
sold under sin." Rom. 7:12, 14.
How does faith in Christ
affect our relation to the moral law?
"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we
establish the law." Rom. 3:31.
How does dependence on
the ceremonial law affect our relation to Christ?
"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall
profit you nothing." Gal. 5:2.
How long does Christ say
that the moral law is to endure?
"Verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one
