The Proper Perspective Between Law and Grace in the Bible

 

I. The Historical Time Frames for the Public Institutionalizing of the Covenants

(Jn. 1:17; Gal. 4:21-29)

 

Mt. Sinai                          Mt. Calvary                   2nd Coming

^-----------------------------------^---------------------------------^

ß---------Law Covenant--------àß---Grace Covenant----------à

(Gal. 3:17; Jn. 1:17)          (Heb. 8:6-7; 9:10; 10:9)

 

 

II. The Personal Application of Law and Grace

 

A. Salvation by Grace before, during and after the

     Mosaic Law

  1. Abraham is an example of salvation by grace BEFORE Mosaic Law, David is an example UNDER Mosaic Law and Paul is example AFTER Mosaic law of those saved by grace without works of the Law – Rom. 4:1-25; Gal. 3:6-8; Acts 10:43; Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12
  2. Salvation by grace was the only way to be saved from the foundation of the world – Heb. 13:20; Rev. 13:8; Eph. 1:4-7; Acts 10:43; 26:22-23; Heb. 4:2; Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12; Gen. 3:15;

 

B. Law as a Moral Standard before, during and after the    

     Mosaic Law

1.      Written on the conscience of all men at all times irregardless of Mosaic Law – Rom. 2:15-17

2.      Written in the new regenerated heart of the elect at all times  2 Cor. 3:3; Rom. 7:22; 8:4,9

 

C. The Three Changes in Divine Service

1.      Before MosaicLaw the saved served God at an appointed place, by appointed sacrifices on an appointed day – Gen. 2:3; 3:15; 4:3,16

2.      Under Mosaic Law the saved served God through a more complex system of service which including observing the Sabbatical system of days, months, feasts and years, as well as the ceremonial observances and sacrifices at the appointed temple – Deut. 13; Heb. 9:1-9

3.      After the cross the saved serve God through a new appointed house of God (I Tim. 3:1-15) and new ordinances (Mt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Heb. 13) and newly appointed day (Psa. 118:22-24; Jn. 20:1,19; Mk. 16:1-2,9; Acts 2:1; 20:7; I Cor. 11:1-2; Rev. 1:10; Heb. 4:9)

 

QUESTION: If saved people between Sinai and the Cross observed the sabbatical cycle of days, months, seasons and years (Lev. 23-25) and other ceremonial laws (Lev. 11-22.) why shouldn’t saved people do so today?  ANSWER: Between the cross and Christ’s return the Mosaic expression of service is abolished – Gal. 3:17,25; 4:2:24-25,29; Heb. 8:6-7; 9:10; 10:9; Col. 2:14-17; 1 Tim. 4:1-6; Gal. 4:9-10 - and will only be restored in the Millennium as a means of instruction when Israel is restored as the ruling nation over the world (future millennial temple – Ezek. 40-44; future millennial observations – Isa. 66)

 

Summary

 

1.      The Old Covenant has been  wholly replaced by the New Covenant – Heb. 8:6-7; 9:10; 10:9

 

2.      The Old Covenant expression of Divine Service has been wholly replaced by the New Testament expression of divine service. The temple is replaced by the church, the sabbatical cycle by the Lord’s Day, the ceremonial laws by the church ordinances.

 

3.      To presently observe any aspect of the Mosaic way of service is to repudiate the cross, the New Covenant temple and its ordinances  – Gal. 3:17,25; 4:9-10, 21-29; 5:1-11; Col. 2:14-16

 

4.      Abraham was not a Jew but a Gentile (Ezek. 16:3) – All of His children are SPIRITUAL by birth and nationality– Gal. 3:28-29; Eph. 2:15.

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