*** 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