THE LAW VERSUS THE GOSPEL

THE LAW OF MOSES VERSUS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

By Charles N. Spence, Jr.

In the Bible we read of two major covenants the Lord made with his people. The first is the Mosaic covenant, also known as the Old Testament. The second is the covenant of Christ, also called the gospel or the New Testament. In Hebrews 8:7-13, the writer contrasts the two covenants to show the superiority of the New covenant. The old covenant consisted of the Law. The law contained the Ten Commandments and all its regulations. The old covenant was made with Israel only (Exo. 19:5-8). In Ephesians 2:15, Paul says that the law and commandments (Old Testament) was done away with. Paul says in Colossians 2:14 that these laws and commandments were blotted out, having been nailed to Jesus' cross. Thus, it would be vain for anyone to refer to the Mosaic covenant to justify any religious practice. Paul said in Galatians 5:4, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace. " Many people have attempted to pick and choose certain parts of the Old Testament to justify a religious practice today. Yet, in James 2:10 the writer says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend it in one point, he is guilty of all.” Compare what James said with what Paul said in Galatians 5:3. A person cannot pick and choose parts of the Old Testament they like and disregard the rest. If they keep one part of the Law they are obligated to keep the rest of the law.

There is a New Covenant that has been established upon better promises (Heb. 8:6). All that God would have His people to do are contained in the New Covenant. God's will for the Nation of Israel was outlined in the Mosaic Law; God's will for His church today is outlined in the New Testament. Everyone must strive to justify their religious practice from the New Testament. If the New Testament does not authorize the practice, they must give it up and associate with those who are following the directions of the Lord as spoken in the New Testament.

One very important distinction one needs to make between the law of Moses and the law of Christ is, unlike the law of Christ, the law of Moses was given only to the Israelites. Paul states clearly in Romans 9:4 that unto the Israelites belonged “the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God and the promises.” Notice also the testimony of the psalmist in Psalms 147:19-20, “He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and his judgments to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation; and as for His judgments, they have not known them.” Just from these passages alone it is clear that the Jews, the nation of Israel, were the only people under the law of Moses. The Gentiles neither knew such law nor were under such a law. How, then, could the “Gentile Christians,” who never received nor were under the law, now be required to apply the law in the age of Christ? According to Acts 15, certain people were trying to apply the Law to Gentiles. The conclusion was that the Gentiles were not required to be under the law.

Many religious people today try to apply the old Law to our present age. The question that must be answered is “Has the law of Moses been done away?" Understanding on this issue will certainly help to relieve much of the religious division. One proof-text used to support the notion that the law of Moses is still in force is Matthew 5:17-18. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” The student of the Bible must be able to determine if all has been fulfilled. This is important because Jesus said that the law will not pass away until a time of fulfillment. To show the fulfillment of which Jesus spoke, one must compare Scripture with Scripture. Notice the following comparable items and their sequence:

1. “It is finished” (John 19:30) and “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed to the cross” (Col. 2:14).

2. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom. 10:4) and "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3-4).

At this point one should be able to sense the connection between the death of Christ upon the cross and the end or fulfillment of the law. Paul affirms in Colossians 2:14 that when Jesus was nailed to the cross (died), the law was nailed to the cross as well. When Jesus died the Law of Moses died with Him. This is a foundation for better understanding the point made by Paul in Romans 7:1-6. Put simply, if one covenant is in force one cannot become a party to another. The previous covenant must be dead prior to entering into another. Paul says that we have been delivered from the law. No one is required to obey it today. Paul further teaches in Galatians 5:4 that the believer who seeks to be justified by the law makes himself a stranger to Christ. The Hebrew writer supports Paul's point about putting to death the old covenant. In Hebrews 9:15-17 Jesus is described to be the mediator of a New Covenant by means of his own death. Further, as the testator (mediator) he must die to bring into force this New Testament. Thus, today men are under the New Testament or the law of Christ.

The righteous requirements of the law were fulfilled and, as Paul said, the requirements were taken out of the way (Col. 2:14). Thus, the law has passed and is dead with all having been fulfilled as Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18. "But what about the Ten Commandments? Should we keep them?" someone may ask. The Ten Commandments were a part of the Old Covenant (The Law of Moses). Notice the context of Deuteronomy 4:44-5:21. The narrative begins with these words, "And this is the law who Moses set before the children of Israel.” In chapter 5:2-3, Moses refers to the Ten Commandments that follow as part of the covenant that God made with them. Also, Moses said in verse 3 that the covenant was not made with anyone else but the nation of Israel. Jeremiah prophesied that there would be a new covenant that would be unlike the one made at mount Sinai (Jer. 31:31-34). The Hebrew writer speaks to the fulfillment of this prophecy in Hebrews 8:7-13. When the old covenant vanished away, the Ten Commandments went with it. Paul said that we have been delivered from the law (Rom. 7:6). Yet notice in Romans 7:7 what Paul considers to be a part of the law from which we were delivered: “Thou shalt not covet.” This was one of the Ten Commandments. Thus, it is plain to see that the Ten Commandments are a part of the law from which we are delivered. James also makes a similar association between the Law and the Ten Commandments in James 2:8-11. The royal law is a reference to the Law of Moses. James says that the Law said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18). He also says that the same law said, “Do not commit adultery” and “Do not murder." The latter two commands are a part of the Ten Commandments. However, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself” is not a part of the Ten Commandments. James is talking about the Law of Moses in general. In that context James adds these words, “For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet, stumbles in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). Compare this with Paul's thoughts in Galatians 5:3. A person who tries to keep any part of the law is obligated to keep it all. You cannot ignore animal sacrifice and the burning of incense and just keep the Ten Commandments. You cannot keep the Ten commandments without observing the Sabbath Day. You cannot accept the practice of using instruments of music and reject the practice of abstaining from unclean meats which were all a part of the Law of Moses.

Now, some parts of a covenant may be similar to former covenants. In America we are governed by the constitution. Many of the elements contained in the constitution are found in the Magna Carta. However, no one would dare claim to be under the Magna Carta. Rape is against the law in America. Rape is against the law in Singapore. Does that mean that the U.S. and Singapore are under the same law? Of course not. In the case of the Ten Commandments, someone may ask if it is now alright to kill or to covet or to commit idolatry since we are not under the Ten Commandments? Jesus incorporated such principles into His law when he said what he said in Matthew 22:37. If God is loved with every fiber of one's being he will not take God's name in vain, commit idolatry or make any graven images. If one loves his fellow man as he does himself he will not murder, covet, bear false witness, etc., against him.

One should be able to determine from the Bible the distinction between the Old and New Covenants. The careful Bible student will notice that the Law was fulfilled and taken out of the way at the time Jesus died upon the cross. Also, he will notice that the Ten Commandments were included in that which was taken out of the way. Since it is clear that we are under the Law of Christ, we need not and should not try to apply the Law of Moses to ourselves today.