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VIII. The Law Of God

Chapter 86 :

The Law of God in the New Testament

1. BY what means did the Jews know God's will?
"Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and
makest thy boast of God, and knowest His will,... being instructed out of the law." Rom. 2:17,18.

2. What did they have in the law?
"Which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law." Verse 20.

NOTE.-The written law presents the form of knowledge and of the truth. Grace and truth, or grace and the reality or realization of that which the written law demands, came by Jesus Christ. He was the law in life and action.

3. What did Jesus say of His attitude toward the law?
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matt. 5:17.

NOTE.-By the expression "the law" here is meant the five books of Moses; and by "the prophets," the writings of the prophets. Christ did not come to set aside or to destroy either of these, but to fulfil both. The ceremonialism of types and shadows contained in the books written by Moses He fulfilled by meeting them as their great Antitype. The moral law, the great basic fabric underlying all of Moses' writings Christ fulfilled by a life of perfect obedience to all its requirements. The prophets He fulfilled in His advent as the Messiah, Prophet, Teacher, and Saviour foretold by them.

4. What did He teach concerning the stability of the law?
"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." Verse 18.

5. In what instruction did He emphasize the importance of keeping the law?
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Verse 19.

6. What did Christ tell the rich young man to do in order to enter into life?
"If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:17.

7. When asked which commandments, what did Jesus say?
"Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Verses 18,19.

NOTE.-While not quoting all of the ten commandments, Jesus quoted sufficient of them to show that He referred to the moral law. In quoting the second great commandment He called attention to the great principle underlying the second table of the law,-love to one's neighbor,-which the rich young man, in his covetousness, was not keeping.

8. Does faith render the law void?
"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." Rom. 3:31.

9. How is the law fulfilled?
"Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment [touching our duty to our fellow men], it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Rom. 13:8-10.

10. What is of more importance than any outward ceremony?
"Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God." 1 Cor. 7:19.

11. What kind of mind is not subject to the law of God?
"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it
is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7.

12. What proves that the law is an undivided whole?
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said [margin, that law which said], Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:10-12.

13. How is sin defined?
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.

14. How may we know that we love the children of God?
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when
we love God, and keep His commandments." 1 John 5:2.

15. What is the love of God declared to be?
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous." Verse 3.

16. How is the church of the last days described?
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 12:17; 14:12.

How blest the children of the Lord,
Who, walking in His sight,
Make all the precepts of His Word
Their study and delight!

What precious wealth shall be their dower,
Which cannot know decay;
Which moth and rust shall ne'er devour,
Or spoiler take away.
                                                 HARRIET AUBER.