|
Chapter
78
What was
Abolished by Christ?
[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]
Did our Saviour abolish
anything on the cross?
"Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances." Eph. 2:15.
What did He Himself say
about the law?
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not
come to destroy, but to fulfill." Matt. 5:17.
How long did He say the
law would endure?
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt.
5:18 (Luke 16:17).
NOTE. - It is
evident, from these texts, that the abolished law was not the law of ten
commandments.
What did Paul say of the
law of God?
"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and
good." Rom. 7:12.
How did he regard it?
"For I delight in the law of God after the inward man." Rom. 7:22.
What does one show by
keeping the commandments?
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and
His commandments are not grievous." l John 5:3.
NOTE. - A law that is
holy, just, and good, and not grievous, cannot be an "enmity," as was
that which Christ abolished.
Does sin still exist?
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us." 1 John 1:8.
Could there be sin now,
if Christ abolished the law?
"For until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when
there is no law." Rom. 5:13.
What was made possible by
abolishing the law of commandments contained in ordinances?
"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no
hope, and without God in the world; but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes
were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath
made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between
us." Eph. 2:12-14.
What was the chief thing
that separated the Jews and the Gentiles?
"And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the
circumcision contended with him, saying, Thou wentest in to men
uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." Acts 11:2, 3.
Was circumcision done
away in Christ?
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any- thing, nor
uncircumcision, but a new creature." Gal. 6:15.
After circumcision and
the ordinances connected with it lost their force, what still remained of the
utmost importance?
"Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the
keeping of the commandments of God." 1 Cor. 7:19.
NOTE. - There are
several distinct objects to which the term law is applied. (1) The ten
commandments are by themselves called a law, and are often referred to by that
term in the Holy Scriptures. (Ex. 24:12). (2) The ceremonial law of the Jews was
given through Moses, and was abolished at the cross (Deut. 31:26). (3) The five
historical books of Moses, which in the classification of the Scriptures were
called "the law," in contrast with the prophetical and poetical books;
as in the expression, "which were written in the law of Moses, and in the
prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me" (Luke 24:44). None need be
confused concerning these laws when considering Paul's statements as to what was
done away, and what remains ( Rom. 3:31; Col. 2:14). It was not the five
historical books of Moses which were nailed to the cross. Conventionally, the
term "the law" may still be applied to those books to distinguish them
from other portions of the Scriptures. But the types, shadows, and ceremonies of
the Jewish system, only, were done away; while the moral law still remains.
|
