05/31/12 FOUR BIBLICAL LAWS...
A popular misconception is that salvation is salvation from all law or rule, rather than salvation from all sin. There are at least four ways the word, "law" is used in the New Testament.
1- The Moral Law.
2- The Law of Sin (the rule of sin in our heart).
3- The Law of Moses.
4- The Law of Christ.
FOUR BIBLICAL LAWS...
1- The Moral Law, (a.k.a. The Law, which sometimes refers to the Mosaic Law, see point 3 below; The Law of God). This may refer to the rule of God over men, or the commandments which God imposes on man. This is the law given by God throughout history and is binding upon all men. Obedience to the moral law indicates a person's trust, loyalty and submission to God. The moral law addresses such issues as murder, adultery, stealing, lying. The moral law is established by God and is grounded in His nature. Moral law is inherent to a moral Creator, and a moral realm. The moral law is not simply a test of loyalty. The moral law was never intended to be the way of salvation. The moral law of God has not changed with the dispensations of God's rule. No man can keep the moral law without a living faith in Christ.
2- The Law of Sin, (a.k.a. The Law of Sin and Death; Another Law). This is the ruling, inner attitude that contaminated the human condition as a result of Adam's sin. Though Adam was created in the likeness of God, Adam was corrupted when he sinned against God, and he has passed this corrupted nature/condition to all of his offspring. It is also known as, Double Minded, Carnally Minded, The Flesh, The Old Man, The Evil Heart of Unbelief, The Root of Bitterness, and Sin (singular, as a state, not an action). Since the Law of Sin (the carnal mind) is not subject to the law (rule) of God, it cannot be suppressed or made subject to the will of man. We cannot keep the law of sin under control and it cannot be redeemed. The law of sin is not phased our of our lives by progressive sanctification or growth in grace. It is eliminated by an act of Divine intervention. God's initial and continued solution to the problem of this inner pollution is purification through the Blood of Christ, the Fullness of the Holy Spirit and Faith in the Word of God.
3- The Law of Moses (a.k.a. the Mosaic law). Though this sometimes includes Moral and Judicial laws given to Israel, it is primarily the Ceremonial (sacrificial, dietary) laws. These are the laws that God gave to Israel concerning sacrifices, the priesthood, diet and feasts of the Lord. God gave these laws to reveal Himself and His plan of salvation. It was never intended that the keeping of these laws would save anyone. The law of Moses was a system of outward acts of devotion that represented the spiritual salvation, which would come through the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Christ.
4-The Law of Christ (a.k.a. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus; The Law of Love; The Royal Law; The Perfect Law of Liberty). This is the rule of Christ that reigns in the hearts of those who have been born again to a lively hope and then have died to sin, accepting by faith the crucifixion of their "old man." The law of Christ, rule of Christ, is the outward life of faith. It is not a human attempt to earn salvation.
Conclusion...
God has the right to rule over every heart and has given moral laws to be followed. These moral laws are as much in effect today as they were in the Old Testament. Adultery, murder, idolatry are never acceptable for those who live under the rule of God.
Those who do not live under the rule of God are not a part of the kingdom of God. Man is born with a natural inclination to rebel against the rule of God, making it impossible to obey God. God gave ceremonial laws to Israel, along with moral laws, to show man his sinfulness, and God's plan to save man from his sinfulness.
However, it is not the keeping of the moral or the Mosaic law that saves anyone. It is faith in the death and resurrection of Christ. When a person believes on Christ and then surrenders fully to the rule of Christ, he is endowed with power from on high that gives him the desire and the ability to obey Christ, because he is ruled by the Law of Christ.
The rule of Christ in our lives delivers us from the penalty, the pollution and the power of sin.
Obedience to God is not legalism, it is salvation from sin.
FOUR BIBLICAL LAWS...
1- The Moral Law, (a.k.a. The Law, which sometimes refers to the Mosaic Law, see point 3 below; The Law of God). This may refer to the rule of God over men, or the commandments which God imposes on man. This is the law given by God throughout history and is binding upon all men. Obedience to the moral law indicates a person's trust, loyalty and submission to God. The moral law addresses such issues as murder, adultery, stealing, lying. The moral law is established by God and is grounded in His nature. Moral law is inherent to a moral Creator, and a moral realm. The moral law is not simply a test of loyalty. The moral law was never intended to be the way of salvation. The moral law of God has not changed with the dispensations of God's rule. No man can keep the moral law without a living faith in Christ.
2- The Law of Sin, (a.k.a. The Law of Sin and Death; Another Law). This is the ruling, inner attitude that contaminated the human condition as a result of Adam's sin. Though Adam was created in the likeness of God, Adam was corrupted when he sinned against God, and he has passed this corrupted nature/condition to all of his offspring. It is also known as, Double Minded, Carnally Minded, The Flesh, The Old Man, The Evil Heart of Unbelief, The Root of Bitterness, and Sin (singular, as a state, not an action). Since the Law of Sin (the carnal mind) is not subject to the law (rule) of God, it cannot be suppressed or made subject to the will of man. We cannot keep the law of sin under control and it cannot be redeemed. The law of sin is not phased our of our lives by progressive sanctification or growth in grace. It is eliminated by an act of Divine intervention. God's initial and continued solution to the problem of this inner pollution is purification through the Blood of Christ, the Fullness of the Holy Spirit and Faith in the Word of God.
3- The Law of Moses (a.k.a. the Mosaic law). Though this sometimes includes Moral and Judicial laws given to Israel, it is primarily the Ceremonial (sacrificial, dietary) laws. These are the laws that God gave to Israel concerning sacrifices, the priesthood, diet and feasts of the Lord. God gave these laws to reveal Himself and His plan of salvation. It was never intended that the keeping of these laws would save anyone. The law of Moses was a system of outward acts of devotion that represented the spiritual salvation, which would come through the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Christ.
4-The Law of Christ (a.k.a. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus; The Law of Love; The Royal Law; The Perfect Law of Liberty). This is the rule of Christ that reigns in the hearts of those who have been born again to a lively hope and then have died to sin, accepting by faith the crucifixion of their "old man." The law of Christ, rule of Christ, is the outward life of faith. It is not a human attempt to earn salvation.
Conclusion...
God has the right to rule over every heart and has given moral laws to be followed. These moral laws are as much in effect today as they were in the Old Testament. Adultery, murder, idolatry are never acceptable for those who live under the rule of God.
Those who do not live under the rule of God are not a part of the kingdom of God. Man is born with a natural inclination to rebel against the rule of God, making it impossible to obey God. God gave ceremonial laws to Israel, along with moral laws, to show man his sinfulness, and God's plan to save man from his sinfulness.
However, it is not the keeping of the moral or the Mosaic law that saves anyone. It is faith in the death and resurrection of Christ. When a person believes on Christ and then surrenders fully to the rule of Christ, he is endowed with power from on high that gives him the desire and the ability to obey Christ, because he is ruled by the Law of Christ.
The rule of Christ in our lives delivers us from the penalty, the pollution and the power of sin.
Obedience to God is not legalism, it is salvation from sin.
