| Author | Message | ||
| Gatororeo7 (Gatororeo7) |
The passages of Scripture we studied in part one narrowed the definition of law to what was given to Moses and grace to what came through Jesus Christ. This is not to say that law did not exist before Moses, or that grace did not exist before Jesus. For example, law can be seen in the Garden of Eden when God said to Adam, "Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:17). Likewise, grace can be seen when God killed an innocent animal to provide clothing for Adam and Eve after the fall (Genesis 3:21). Law and grace have always existed, but "the law" and "the grace" refer specifically to Moses and the work of Jesus Christ, respectively. The law consists of the Ten Commandments and the ceremonial laws given to Moses at Mount Sinai. Israel had lived in bondage to the Egyptians for 430 years. By His miraculous power, God split the Red Sea and Moses led the people across on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to follow, the sea returned to normal and all of Pharoah's army drowned. Israel was free. The Israelites traveled from place to place, and after three months set up camp at the foot of Mount Sinai. There, God met with Moses and established the law for the nation of Israel. As we saw in part one, the grace of Jesus Christ was and is far superior to the law that was given at Mount Sinai. So why was the law given? What role did it play for the Israelites, and what role does it play in our lives? With these questions in mind, let's take a closer look at the law. Exodus 19:3-5 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.'" 1. Who met with God on the mountain? Moses. 2. To whom did God as Moses to speak? The house of Jacob; the people of Israel. 3. Who, then, was the law for? The people of Israel. 4. What had God done for the Israelites? delivered them from Egypt and brought them to Himself. 5. In light of these things, God makes a proposal to the nation. What two things did He require of them? Obey Him fully and keep His covenant. 6. What would be the results of fulfilling these requirements? Out of all nations they would be God's treasured posession. Exodus 24:4-8 Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey." Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." 1. What did Moses write down? Everything the Lord had said. 2. What did he read to the people? The Book of the Covenant. 3. What was their response? "We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey." 4. How did Moses inaugrate this covenant? By the sprinkling of blood over the people. 5. Who was this covenant between? God and the people of Israel. 6. Are we a part ofthis covenant that God made between Himself and the nation of Israel? NO! Deuteronomy 6:20-25 In the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?" tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders-great and terrible-upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness." 1. Why did God bring the Israelites out of Egypt? To bring them to the land promised to their forefathers. 2. Did God ever promise to give you a land like He promised the Israelites? No. 3. Were you ever a slave of Pharoah in Egypt? No. Romans 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 4. Even though we were not slaves to Pharoah, what does this say we were slaves to? Sin. 5. Why did the Lord command the Israelites to obey all the decrees that he gave to Moses on Mount Sinai? So they might prosper and live. 6. If the nation of Israel was careful to obey all the commandments, what would their obedience be for them? Their righteousness. Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. 7. According to this verse, can an individual gain righteousness through obedience to the law? No! 8. The promise of a new land and righteousness as spoken of in Deuteronomy were directed toward whom? The nation of Israel. Deuteronomy 28:1, 2 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God... 1. What did Israel have to do to be set high above all the nations of the earth? Obey the Lord and follow all His commands. 2. How were they to obey the Lord, and how many of His commands were they to follow? They were to CAREFULLY follow ALL the Lord's commands. 3. What else did God say would happen to Israel of they obeyed? Blessings would accompany them. 4. Read through the blessings of God listed in Deuteronomy 28:2-14. Are these blessings spiritual or physical in nature? Physical blessings. Deuteronomy 28:15 However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you... 1. What would happen to Israel if they did not obey the commands of God? Curses would come upon them. 2. Read through the curses listed in Deuteronomy 28. Are these curses physical or spiritual in nature? Physical curses. Galatians 3:19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 1. How long was the law to last for the nation of Israel? Until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. 2. Who do you think the Seed refers to in this verse? Jesus Christ. 3. Since the law was to last only until the Seed had come, do you think God had something better for Israel than the law? Yes. 4. Do you think God has something better for us? Yes. God oftentimes uses physical pictures to communicate spiritual truth. For example, Jesus pointed to the relationship between a vine and a branch to show us what our relationship to Him is like. God uses the law in much the same way. As we will see, the law is spiritual in nature and had a spiritual purpose in our lives. What was given to Moses and the nation of Israel is a physical picture to help us understand just what the spiritual purpose of the law is. Romans 7:12, 14 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.... We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 1. How does Paul describe the law? As holy. 2. Is the law spiritual or physical in nature? Spiritual. 3. Since we are not part of the nation of Israel and, therefore, not included in the covenant that God made with Israel, would the law have a different purpose in our lives than it did for the nation of Israel? Yes! 4. Since Paul described the law as spiritual in nature, would it be correct to conclude that the law has a spiritual purpose in our lives? Yes! The covenant that God established at Mount Sinai was between Himself and the nation of Israel. The laws He gave were for the good of the nation of Israel, so they could prosper and live. If they obeyed the law, they would receive physical blessings. if they disobeyed, they would receive physical curses. The Old Testament records the history of Israel, the blessings and curses they received as a result of their obedience and disobedience. It is fascinating to read and encouraging to see God's faithfulness to Israel. But God has something much better for you and me. It is a spiritual blessing received through the person of Jesus Christ. The law has a spiritual purpose in our lives, and we will discuss this purpose in the next study. | ||
| Colleentinker (Colleentinker) |
Thanks again, Joel! Colleen |
