The Role of the Law for Unbelievers and Believers

By

Albert Gomez

OUTLINE

Thesis: The righteousness of a Holy God disclosed in Moses' law affects to all people, beginning in the Garden of Eden, later with Abraham and the nation of Israel that brought the promises through the SEED.

• Introduction

• Law: definition of the wor

• Old Webster's dictionary
• First article defining law (OWD)
• How the New Webster's dictionary defines law

• Biblical scope

• God's law to Israel and their reaction
• Common's people attitude before God's truth
• Unbelievers and believers before God's law

• Law/Torah

• Moses' law

• Ten Commandments: the law
• John Walton's selection on the legal material given to Israel
• Failure of Israel, and God's provision
• Goodness and purpose of the law
• Israel keeps breaking the law

• The Law in the NT

• The entire OT

• The law and the prophets
• Israel , Gentiles, and sin

• The power of sin: the law

• The first and second Adam
• Law, sin, and the Seed

• Christ victory over sin

• Christ fulfills the law
• Sin is defeated and believers are justified in Christ
• More than substitutionary atonement

• How the Law of God affects us all

• There is no condemnation in Christ

• God's plan of salvation for all
• The difference between law and grace
• Various teachings on law and grace

Introduction

The definition for the word law found in a dictionary[1] says

LAW, n.
[L. lex; from the root of lay. See lay. A law is that which is laid, set or fixed, like statute, constitution, from L. statuo.]

The first statement from this source, gives us a general idea about the word law, [2]

• A rule, particularly an established or permanent rule, prescribed by the supreme power of a state to its subjects, for regulating their actions, particularly their social actions. Laws are imperative or mandatory, commanding what shall be done; prohibitory, restraining from what is to be forborn; or permissive, declaring what may be done without incurring a penalty. The laws which enjoin the duties of piety and morality, are prescribed by God and found in the Scriptures. Law is beneficence acting by rule.

In today's Webster's dictionary, we read that law is, "a statement of an order or relation of phenomena that so far as is known is invariable under the given conditions ."[3] In other words, law is a rule or action that directs people's lives.

However, in the intention to explain the role of the law in the biblical context, I must say that God's vehicle to bring mankind to the knowledge of His Law has been the nation of Israel. The Israelis are God's object lessons, whom the Lord dealt and struggled with, especially with Moses in the wilderness, saying, "How long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?" (Numbers 14:11). Nevertheless, this election is God's choice (Deut. 7:7). It is the "Finger of God" reaching out to man, working out the plan of salvation promised in Genesis 3:15 until "the fulness of the time was come" (Gal. 4:4)

The conditions which unbelievers and believers have before God are similar in many ways. I always remember, 15 years ago, a former fellow worker asked me if I trusted Peggy (another worker with whom I shared the good news of the gospel frequently). I said, "Yes, why do you ask that?" He answered, "Because she is an adulteress" Then I replied, "Andy, how do you know that?" He said, "I know because she goes out with me." So finally I asked him, in order to find out his position, "What reason do you have to think that you are not in adultery, also?" Then he replied, "She is the one who goes to church, not me."

The conclusion of Andy's concept, I found out, is the common understanding of God's law which many people have. They think God is in the church building and, consequently, they are not accountable to God.

God's truth in many instances is applicable to unbelievers and believers alike. The first and second chapters of Romans describe how the people know who is the Creator and rebel against Him (Rom. 1:18-2:16). However, there is a different law for the true believer in Christ Jesus ( Rom. 8:1-4). Furthermore, we are all condemned under the light of the law as it is written (Gal. 3:11; Rom. 3:10,23). The truths we find in the Scriptures, which are stated by the law, indicate our position before our Lord. The facts that the above Bible verses imply will be expanded and correlated with other passages in the following exposition on the law, the Old Testament and the New Testament. God's plan involves absolutely everyone. He knows the ones He will use (Rom. 8:30) and He does not want anyone to perish (Ezek. 18:32, 33:11; 2 Pe. 3:9).

LAW/TORAH

The law[4] is the divine instruction given by Moses, written in the Pentateuch. The tablets of the law (Ten Commandments) which are the very heart of the OT, are called by the Israelites, the "Ten Words"[5]. This expression connotes the revelatory nature instead of the authoritarian nature that the word "commandment" does in the English language. For the law as a whole, the word "davar" ("Yahweh, Yahweh's word") is applied, which is translated "statute" meaning engraved or fixed (probably on tablets, like the Ten Words; Exodus 32:16)[6]. The OT law is directly related with the Ten Commandments, ordinances (priestly and ceremonial), instructions (distinction between "clean and unclean"; Lev., chs. 11-15), statutes, and feast and festivals.

John H. Walton study confronts the ancient Near Eastern texts with the law of the Israelites and in his exposition, selects the principal aspects of the law with respect to civil, criminal and cultic use that are present in the Torah. He compiled the biblical legal material that rules the nation and as follows:

• Covenant Code – Exodus 20:22-23:19
• Decalogue – Exodus 20:2-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21
• Ritual Decalogue – Exodus 34:14-26
• Deuteronomic Law – Deuteronomy 12-26
• Holiness Code – Leviticus 17-25
• Priestly Procedures – Leviticus 1-7, 11-16[7]

By these commandments and ordinances the Jewish people received understanding of their responsibilities and privileges under the law given by Moses by God at Mount Sinai, this represents the absolute standard of behavior. However, as Joshua said to the people, "Ye cannot serve the Lord for He is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins." (v. 24:19), knowing the natural inclination of his brethren. Therefore, God's mercy for the children of Israel comes through the prophet Jeremiah with a solution (Jer. 31:31-34). Today, the Jewish people still are in condemnation because they remain out of God's provision for their faults as a nation, their attitude resembles the hardening heart of Pharaoh (e.g., Ex. 7:14).

Moses represents the Law; God told him to write all the words of the law plainly (Deut. 27:8). It was read before all Israel (Deut. 31:11-12), and handled by priests and Levites for a witness to the nation (Deut. 31:25-26). The precepts of the law were for Israel's own good (Deut. 32:46-47), to be holy unto the Lord (Lev. 19:2; Haggai 2:14), and, so, many godly Israelis loved it. King David stated in Psalm 1:1-2, that a blessed man delights in the law of the Lord (found also in Psalms 19:7; 37:31; 40:8). He even calls the promises to Abraham, and passed on to Jacob, "the law of the God of Jacob" (Ps. 81:4, 105:10). These remind us of the priority of the promises given to Abraham four hundred years before Moses' law. The whole motif in Psalm 119 is to praise God for His Word (119:1-2, 18, 29, 34, 44, 51, 55, 61, 70, 72, 77, 92, 97, 113, 143, 163, 168). Nevertheless, they broke the law from the very beginning in the wilderness and in many other instances recorded in the Scriptures (e.g.; 2 Kings 17:12-16,34; 21:9-10; Neh. 9:26, 29, 34; Ps. 78:10, 119:36; Is. 1:10, 30:9; Jer. 44:10; Dan. 9:11-13). The prophet Habakkuk accused them of ignoring God's law (1:4) and Malachi asked them to remember His law (Mal. 4:4). However, God already announced the solution for this law-breaking problem in the Garden of Eden. The SEED of the woman will accomplish it.

The Law in the NT

It is very interesting that most of the time in the NT, "the law and the prophets" or just "the law", embraces the whole OT (e.g., Matt.7:12, 22:40; Luke 16:16-17; 24:44; John 12:34; Acts 24:14, 28:23). Therefore, the writers after Jesus that mentioned the law, refer to the whole Tanach (complete OT Scriptures). The reference to the Law of God with the whole NT, or the Pentateuch, or just the Decalogue, or even less, the Two Commandments on which the law and the prophets hang, which presents a serious problem to all people. The apostle Paul wrote that, "For all have sinned, and come short before the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23), and this is for the Israelites and for the entire world (Rom. 3:19). Moreover, by the law we know that we are all guilty before God (James 2:10; Gal. 3:10. Deuteronomy 27:26 states, "A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting then into practice. All the people are to say, ‘Amen!' (Complete Jewish Bible Version, translated by David H. Stern). No wonder, when the Lord asked the religious Jews accusing the adulterous woman to cast stones at her starting with those free from sin, they began to leave "being convicted by their own conscience". For the law "helps" us to bring knowledge of our sinful nature (Rom. 5:13, 7:1,7:8-10). This is for Jewish people first, but also for the Gentiles who knew not the written law of God and still, they are guilty of sin; as it is recorded in Romans 1:20-25 for obvious reason. Furthermore, there is not "respect of persons with God", for within the law and without the law He will judge (Rom. 2:11-12). Consequently, the Word of God teaches us that we all are helpless sinners (Rom. 3:19-20). Beginning with Adam, we are all under a curse, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world; and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12. The Lord Jesus' revelation to Nicodemus about the world's spiritual condition (Adam's condition) and himself as the Savior of the world (the second Adam; I Cor. 15:22,45). At that particular time redemption came (Gal. 4:3-5) for all, to deliver us from the "wages of sin" (Rom. 6:23). Really, the law is good (Rom. 7:7,14; 1 Tim. 1:8), but sin is our problem (Rom. 7:13, 16-23), and the law shows us to be law-breakers (1 Tim 1:9-10). God added the law because of our transgressions (Gal. 3:19), until the SEED came (Gal. 3:20). The same promise that Abraham received (Gal. 3:16-18) by faith was before the law of our fathers (Gal 3:25). It was impossible to be saved by the law ( Rom. 8:3, 9:31; Gal. 2:16, 3:13). However, in no manner is the law is against the promises given by the Lord (Gal. 3:21). Its function was to tutor us to Christ (Gal 3:24), because, "the law shows the exceeding sinfulness of sin (Rom. 7:13)".[8] Thankfully, Christ fulfills the law for all those who believe in Him ( Rom. 10:4), the strength of sin has been defeated (1 Cor. 15:56-57) and has justified us. Radmacher states that, "If human effort cannot attain justification, the only other possibility is that God provides it."[9] The fact that, "Justification is the act of counting, declaring, or pronouncing one righteous, or free from guilt and exposure to punishment. The person lost in sin is declared righteous before God on account of the finished substitutionary and sin-bearing death of Jesus Christ."[10] We must be aware that salvation did not come for anything that we have done, but happened because of His love for us (Rom. 5:8; John 3:16). If anyone thinks that he is justified by the law, he is fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4). Moreover, "If righteousness comes by the law, then is Christ dead in vain." (Gal. 2:21). Furthermore, His blood redeemed us from the curse of it (Gal. 3:13; Deut. 21:22-23). For without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Lev. 17:11; Heh. 9:22), and Jesus' body, sacrificed for us is sufficient (propitiatory), once and for all (Heb. 10:7-10). Unlike the atoning (covering) word used in the OT, the word propitiation in the NT means more than atonement, and because of Christ's work at Calvary we know that,[11]

• Christ fulfilled every type in the OT
• Christ fulfilled every prophecy concerning His first coming
• Christ did more than to fulfill OT types and pictures (shadows)

The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministries, some years ago, made an interesting and truthful statement written on postcards, saying the following: "Jesus paid a debt He didn't owe, because we had a debt we couldn't pay!"[12]

How God's Law Affects Us All

The gospel was given to set people free from condemnation (John 3:17-18; Rom. 8:1). For without the Savior's blood, there is no way of escape, as we read in the book of Hebrews, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation (v. 2:3). Moses brought the law, which condemns the best of men, but Jesus Christ brought salvation to the worst of men (John 1:17). He brought reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:21) and called us with an holy calling (2 Tim. 1:9). Jesus' law sets you and me free (Rom. 8:2; James 1:25, 2:12) by grace through faith; it is His gift to us (Eph. 2:8-9). The contrast is great between the law that condemns us, and the grace that God bestows upon men which, unmerited, saves us. He has propitiated for the whosoever's of the world (John 3:16). Two teachers I know, presented the law versus grace in the way that follows:

LAW AND GRACE[13]

Law is Performance

Grace is a Person

God Prohibits and Requires

God Besieges you and Bestows you

Ministry of Condemnation

Ministry of Forgiveness

Curses

Redeemed us from that Curse

Kills

Gives Life

Shuts Every Mouth Before God

Open Every Mouth to Praise God

Puts a Great Distance Between God and Man

Makes a Guilty Man to Reconcile with God

An Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth

Get up and Sin no More

Hate your Enemies

Love your Enemies and Bless Those that Despiteful use you

Do this or you will Die

Believe this and you will Live

Never had a Missionary

Preach to the Uttermost Parts of the Earth

Condemned the Best of Man

Freely Justifies the Worst of Man

System of Probation

System of Favor

Stone the Adulteress

Neither I Condemn you Get up and Sin no More

The Sheep Dies for the Shepherd

The Shepherd Dies for the Sheep

UNDER RELIGION/UNDER GRACE[14]

Look at what I am doing for you.

Look what I did for you.

Look at how I went to Church.

Look at how I went to Calvary.

Look at how I was raised. In my denomination.

Look at how I was raised. From the dead.

Look at how I gave my money.

Look I how I gave My life.

Look at how I confessed my sins.

Look at how I took away your sins.

Look at how I stood against sin.

Look at how I died for your sins.

Look at how I judged. The lost world.

Look at how I saved The lost world.

Look at how I march Against evildoers.

Look at how I suffered For evildoers.

Look at how I bow down to you.

Look at how I became one of you.

Look at how I healed the sick.

Look at how I raised the dead.

Look at how I spoke in tongues.

Look at how I spoke in love.

Look at how successful My life was.

Look at how successful My death was.

THE LAW AND CHRIST[15]

Offered Substitutionary Lambs.

Offered Themselves.

Lambs has to be Perfect.

Offer Themselves in a Depraved Condition and Become Cleansed Through Christ's Blood.

Offered Dead Sacrifices On the Altar.

Offered Themselves as a Living Sacrifice for Service.

They Brought Mandatory Sacrifices.

Voluntarily Offer Themselves.

Physical Disqualification Leviticus 21:16-24

All Qualify Romans 8:28-34

All materials compiled by Albert Gomez

*Except where otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations in this paper are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

[1] Law, Noah Webster's 1928 Dictionary, CD-ROM. Christian Technologies, Inc.

[2] Ibid., art. 1

[3] Law, Merriam Webster's College Dictionary.

[4]. "Law" New Unger's Bible Dictionary CD-ROM. PC Bible Study.1992-1998. The meaning of the word law (Heb. Tora), is "teaching, instruction" (Gk.nomos0). A term employed almost 200 times in the Bible and signifying the reveal will of God to human conduct.

[5] D.E.H. Whiteley. The theology of St. Paul (1964), 76-86; G. Kittel, ed. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. IV. Law and Gospel (1967). The authority found in the Ten Words are even stronger, because they indicate the revelation of Jehovah's will and purpose for Israel.

[6] Ibid., 884

[7] Walton, John H. Chapter 3. The Ancient Israelite Literature In Its Cultural Context. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan: 1990, page 74.

[8] Zweitzig, Robert. Soteriology and Angeology. Philadelphia: Berean Bible Church, page 76

[9] Radmacher Earl D. Salvation Nashville: Word Publishing, ed. 2000. Page 137

[10] Zweitzig, Robert. Class lecture. MBS652.01. Philadelphia College of Bible, Langhorne. 10 October 2000

[11] Zweitzig, Robert. Class lecture MSB652.01. Soteriology and Angeology. Philadelphia College of Bible, Langhorne. 10 October 2000

[12] Post Card. The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministries, Inc. Bellmawr, NJ.

[13] George, Bob. Law and Grace. Magnetic tape. Dallas, TX: People to People, 1993

[14] George, Bob. The New Covenant, A Study in Hebrews. Dallas, TX: People to People, 1993, p. 6

[15] Levy, David. The Tabernacle: Shadows of the Messiah. Bellmawr, NJ: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. 1993