The law of the Lord
What is law?
- some laws describe – like the law of gravity
- some laws prescribe – like the Ten Commandments
The Old Testament laws
- Political laws – relating to Israel as a state
- Ceremonial laws – guiding worship up to the time of Christ
- Moral laws – permanent
Christ and the law
- He loved the law! – Jn 4:34; cf. 1 Jn 5:3
- He fulfilled the ceremonial law, Heb 10:9-14
- He confirmed and deepened the moral law, Mt 5:17
The scope of the moral law
- if affects all of our duty both to God and one another
- it reaches to the heart, Deut 6:5; Mt 23:23
- more is intended than is stated, Mt 5:22
- a negative command implies a positive duty, and vice versa
The value of the moral law
- it restrains wickedness in the world
- it brings people under conviction of sin
- it serves as a rule of life for believers
But it cannot save us – only the gospel can do that