God's Plan: The Mosaical Age
You remember that we discussed the Creation story and we saw that God created the world as a place for man to live. He created every living thing, gave it a seed, or the ability to reproduce and a law controlling the reproduction. This law said that the seed would produce “according to its type.” We saw that every living thing that is in the world today, is here as a result of this law which God gave at the creation.
Then, we noted that God placed man in the Garden of Eden, and gave him a command forbidding the eating of the fruit of one of the trees there. Man violated this commandment and the apostle John tells us that a violation of God’s Law is sin. Isaiah tells us that sin is that which separates us from God and that this man and woman could no longer remain in the garden and enjoy the fellowship of God after they had sinned.
As punishment for their disobedience, we saw that they were driven from the garden. We then noted that two of their sons came to worship God by offering sacrifice. One son, Abel, made his offering by faith as God had commanded and God was pleased. Cain, the other son, submitted something other than what God had said and God was not pleased.
We saw here that God destroyed all men on the earth except the family of Noah because of their disobedience. Then God chose a man named Abraham and made him several promises concerning his plan to redeem man from his sin. That his offspring would become a great nation. That one of his offspring would be the Christ through whom all families of the earth would be blessed.
That his offspring would receive the land of Canaan when they became a great nation.
We saw that Abraham was obedient to God, and because of this, God blessed him richly. God repeated the same promises to his son Isaac and to his grandson Jacob. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel by God and Israel had twelve sons. They became the heads of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. After 400 years of slavery in Egypt, God used Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt across the Read Sea on their way to the promised land, the land of Canaan. They came to Mount Sinai where Moses received the law, and this is the beginning of our study for this chapter.
When we ended the previous chapter, Israel had arrived in the area of Mount Sinai. God called Moses up into the mountain and spoke to him.
Exodus 19:3-6a - “Then Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain. ‘This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites, You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to my mountain. If you carefully obey me and are faithful to the terms of my promise, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, even though the whole world is mine. You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. …”
God told Moses that He would bless the nation of Israel if they would “obey Him." We have noted before that God always blesses those who obey him, and punishes those who disobey. Here we see that his promises to this people were conditional upon their obedience. Notice further, that they “are faithful to the terms of my (God’s) promise.” Let us investigate now and see what this covenant was that God was to make with this nation.
Deuteronomy 5:2 - “The Lord our God made a promise to us at Mount Horeb.”
Here Moses reminds the children of Israel that Jehovah our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Horeb is another name for Mount Sinai. He had not made this covenant with their fathers before them, but He had made it with Israel as Moses said “…with us, even us that are all here alive this day."
Deuteronomy 4:13-14 - “The Lord told you about the terms of his promise, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded me to do. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets. The Lord also commanded me to teach you the laws and rules you must obey after you cross the Jordan and take possession of the land.”
Here we see what this covenant was that God made with Israel. It was the Ten Commandments which were written on two stone tablets. At the same time God gave many other statues and ordinances that were a part of this covenant, but they were explanatory and instructions for implementing the law given in the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were the sum and substance or the summary of the law, and for this reason they were called the terms of his promise or covenant.
Exodus 34:27-28 - “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write down these words, because on the basis of these words I’m making a promise to Israel and to you.’ Moses was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights without food or water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the promise, the Ten Commandments.”
Again, we see that the covenant which God had said that these people must keep was the ten commandment law. In order to receive God’s blessings they had to obey God and keep his covenant. Now that we have seen from the Scriptures what the covenant was, let us see to whom it was given.
Then, we noted that God placed man in the Garden of Eden, and gave him a command forbidding the eating of the fruit of one of the trees there. Man violated this commandment and the apostle John tells us that a violation of God’s Law is sin. Isaiah tells us that sin is that which separates us from God and that this man and woman could no longer remain in the garden and enjoy the fellowship of God after they had sinned.
As punishment for their disobedience, we saw that they were driven from the garden. We then noted that two of their sons came to worship God by offering sacrifice. One son, Abel, made his offering by faith as God had commanded and God was pleased. Cain, the other son, submitted something other than what God had said and God was not pleased.
We saw here that God destroyed all men on the earth except the family of Noah because of their disobedience. Then God chose a man named Abraham and made him several promises concerning his plan to redeem man from his sin. That his offspring would become a great nation. That one of his offspring would be the Christ through whom all families of the earth would be blessed.
That his offspring would receive the land of Canaan when they became a great nation.
We saw that Abraham was obedient to God, and because of this, God blessed him richly. God repeated the same promises to his son Isaac and to his grandson Jacob. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel by God and Israel had twelve sons. They became the heads of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. After 400 years of slavery in Egypt, God used Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt across the Read Sea on their way to the promised land, the land of Canaan. They came to Mount Sinai where Moses received the law, and this is the beginning of our study for this chapter.
When we ended the previous chapter, Israel had arrived in the area of Mount Sinai. God called Moses up into the mountain and spoke to him.
Exodus 19:3-6a - “Then Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain. ‘This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites, You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to my mountain. If you carefully obey me and are faithful to the terms of my promise, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, even though the whole world is mine. You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. …”
God told Moses that He would bless the nation of Israel if they would “obey Him." We have noted before that God always blesses those who obey him, and punishes those who disobey. Here we see that his promises to this people were conditional upon their obedience. Notice further, that they “are faithful to the terms of my (God’s) promise.” Let us investigate now and see what this covenant was that God was to make with this nation.
Deuteronomy 5:2 - “The Lord our God made a promise to us at Mount Horeb.”
Here Moses reminds the children of Israel that Jehovah our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Horeb is another name for Mount Sinai. He had not made this covenant with their fathers before them, but He had made it with Israel as Moses said “…with us, even us that are all here alive this day."
Deuteronomy 4:13-14 - “The Lord told you about the terms of his promise, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded me to do. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets. The Lord also commanded me to teach you the laws and rules you must obey after you cross the Jordan and take possession of the land.”
Here we see what this covenant was that God made with Israel. It was the Ten Commandments which were written on two stone tablets. At the same time God gave many other statues and ordinances that were a part of this covenant, but they were explanatory and instructions for implementing the law given in the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were the sum and substance or the summary of the law, and for this reason they were called the terms of his promise or covenant.
Exodus 34:27-28 - “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write down these words, because on the basis of these words I’m making a promise to Israel and to you.’ Moses was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights without food or water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the promise, the Ten Commandments.”
Again, we see that the covenant which God had said that these people must keep was the ten commandment law. In order to receive God’s blessings they had to obey God and keep his covenant. Now that we have seen from the Scriptures what the covenant was, let us see to whom it was given.
To Whom Was The Law Given
Exodus 19:5 - “If you carefully obey me and are faithful to the terms of my promise,# then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, even though the whole world is mine.”
In answer to the question to whom was the law given, note that Jehovah said here “…then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession." Thus, this covenant was not made with “all nations of people” but with this nation, the children of Israel, whom God took from among “all nations.” This being true, this covenant was not given to all men, was it? God took the nation of Israel from among all people, and made them a special possession of his.
Exodus 20:1-2 - “Then God spoke all these words: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.’”
Notice that in this chapter, God begins to give the law to Moses for Israel. He begins by giving the Ten Commandments. Here, God reminds them who He is before beginning to give the covenant. God said he was speaking to those whom He had “brought out of slavery in Egypt.” Whom did God bring out of Egypt? The children of Israel. Remember we read in Deuteronomy 5:2-3, Moses said, “The Lord our God made a promise to us at Mount Horeb. He didn’t make this promise to our ancestors, but to all of us who are alive here today." Again, with whom did God make this covenant? The answer is so obvious from the Scriptures isn’t it. It was the nation of Israel.
Malachi 4:4 - “Remember the teachings of my servant Moses, the rules and regulations that I gave to him at Horeb for all Israel.
Here the prophet Malachi, the last writer in the Old Testament, said that the law of Moses was given in Horeb “for all Israel.” Thus the Scripture gives us the answer again. The law or covenant was not given to others but only to the nation of Israel.
Sabbath A Part Of The Law
Exodus 20:8 - Remember the day of worship by observing it as a holy day.”
Here again we read that when God was giving the Ten Commandments, He said in the fourth “Remember the day of worship (Sabbath day) and keep it holy.” There are those who tell us that the Sabbath has always been binding upon all men, and that it is binding on us today. Let us see if the Scriptures teaches this.
Nehemiah 9:13-14 - “You came from heaven to Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them fair rules, trustworthy teachings, and good laws and commandments. You taught them about your holy day of worship. You gave them commandments, laws, and teachings through your servant Moses.”
Nehemiah tells us that God came down to Mount Sinai and made known at Mount Sinai “the day of worship” or Sabbath day. If the Sabbath day was “made known” at Mt. Sinai, it could not have been known before they came to Sinai.. Let us look next at the Scripture that tells us when the Sabbath was first mentioned.
Exodus 16:22-23 - “But on the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts per person. All the leaders of the community came to Moses and told him about it. He said to them, ‘This is what the Lord said: Tomorrow is a day of worship, a holy day of worship dedicated to the Lord. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Save all that’s left over, and keep it until tomorrow morning.’”
In this verse we have the first time, the word “holy day of worship” or Sabbath day is used in the Bible. If men who lived before this time observed the Sabbath, we are not told of this in the Bible. In the preceding verses, we can see from the things recorded in this passage that these persons had never heard of the Sabbath previous to this time. God provided Manna for these people to eat which they found on the ground like dew each morning. They were to gather just enough for each person each morning. However, on the sixth day they were to gather for two days, so that there would be no work done on the seventh day. Because of their confusion over this, we can know of a certainty that these people had not heard of the Sabbath day before this time.
Exodus 16:26-27 - “You can gather food on six days, but on the seventh day, the day of worship, you won’t find any. On the seventh day some people went out to gather food, but they didn't find any.”
Thus, we can see that the institution of the “day of worship” or seventh day or Sabbath day was something new to these people. Because it was new, there was a great amount of confusion over the gathering of this Manna in the beginning. Nehemiah said that God “made known” the Sabbath at Mt. Sinai. Then it could not have been made know before this time. The keeping of the Sabbath was a part of the covenant God made with Israel at Mt. Sinai, and as Moses said in Deuteronomy 5:3, which we read earlier “He didn’t make this promise to our ancestors, but to all of us who are alive here today.” Thus, we have seen that the keeping of the Sabbath was a part of this covenant, and it was given at the same time and place, as the rest of the covenant. But what was the attitude God expected these people to have towards this law? Let us note one example.
Leviticus 10:1-2 - “Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took an incense burner and put burning coals and incense in it. Then in the Lord’s presence they offered this unauthorized fire. A fire flashed from the Lord and burned them, and they died in the presence of the Lord.”
In giving the law, God had commanded that the sons of Aaron, the brother of Moses, were to be priests, and to offer the sacrifices before him. He gave the exact instructions concerning how the sacrifices were to be offered. Here we see that they ignored these instructions which God had given, and they offered unauthorized fire before God which He had not commanded. As a result of this, these men were destroyed. God destroyed these men because of disobedience, and we are able to see from this example the attitude that God expected these people to have toward His law, can’t we? Do not the examples that we have discussed tell us that God is pleased only with obedient persons? There is one thing more about this law that we want to note before going on to other things. We want to see that this law was going to be replaced. Remember that the law was the covenant that God had made with the nation of Israel when He led them out of Egyptian bondage.
In answer to the question to whom was the law given, note that Jehovah said here “…then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession." Thus, this covenant was not made with “all nations of people” but with this nation, the children of Israel, whom God took from among “all nations.” This being true, this covenant was not given to all men, was it? God took the nation of Israel from among all people, and made them a special possession of his.
Exodus 20:1-2 - “Then God spoke all these words: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.’”
Notice that in this chapter, God begins to give the law to Moses for Israel. He begins by giving the Ten Commandments. Here, God reminds them who He is before beginning to give the covenant. God said he was speaking to those whom He had “brought out of slavery in Egypt.” Whom did God bring out of Egypt? The children of Israel. Remember we read in Deuteronomy 5:2-3, Moses said, “The Lord our God made a promise to us at Mount Horeb. He didn’t make this promise to our ancestors, but to all of us who are alive here today." Again, with whom did God make this covenant? The answer is so obvious from the Scriptures isn’t it. It was the nation of Israel.
Malachi 4:4 - “Remember the teachings of my servant Moses, the rules and regulations that I gave to him at Horeb for all Israel.
Here the prophet Malachi, the last writer in the Old Testament, said that the law of Moses was given in Horeb “for all Israel.” Thus the Scripture gives us the answer again. The law or covenant was not given to others but only to the nation of Israel.
Sabbath A Part Of The Law
Exodus 20:8 - Remember the day of worship by observing it as a holy day.”
Here again we read that when God was giving the Ten Commandments, He said in the fourth “Remember the day of worship (Sabbath day) and keep it holy.” There are those who tell us that the Sabbath has always been binding upon all men, and that it is binding on us today. Let us see if the Scriptures teaches this.
Nehemiah 9:13-14 - “You came from heaven to Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them fair rules, trustworthy teachings, and good laws and commandments. You taught them about your holy day of worship. You gave them commandments, laws, and teachings through your servant Moses.”
Nehemiah tells us that God came down to Mount Sinai and made known at Mount Sinai “the day of worship” or Sabbath day. If the Sabbath day was “made known” at Mt. Sinai, it could not have been known before they came to Sinai.. Let us look next at the Scripture that tells us when the Sabbath was first mentioned.
Exodus 16:22-23 - “But on the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts per person. All the leaders of the community came to Moses and told him about it. He said to them, ‘This is what the Lord said: Tomorrow is a day of worship, a holy day of worship dedicated to the Lord. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Save all that’s left over, and keep it until tomorrow morning.’”
In this verse we have the first time, the word “holy day of worship” or Sabbath day is used in the Bible. If men who lived before this time observed the Sabbath, we are not told of this in the Bible. In the preceding verses, we can see from the things recorded in this passage that these persons had never heard of the Sabbath previous to this time. God provided Manna for these people to eat which they found on the ground like dew each morning. They were to gather just enough for each person each morning. However, on the sixth day they were to gather for two days, so that there would be no work done on the seventh day. Because of their confusion over this, we can know of a certainty that these people had not heard of the Sabbath day before this time.
Exodus 16:26-27 - “You can gather food on six days, but on the seventh day, the day of worship, you won’t find any. On the seventh day some people went out to gather food, but they didn't find any.”
Thus, we can see that the institution of the “day of worship” or seventh day or Sabbath day was something new to these people. Because it was new, there was a great amount of confusion over the gathering of this Manna in the beginning. Nehemiah said that God “made known” the Sabbath at Mt. Sinai. Then it could not have been made know before this time. The keeping of the Sabbath was a part of the covenant God made with Israel at Mt. Sinai, and as Moses said in Deuteronomy 5:3, which we read earlier “He didn’t make this promise to our ancestors, but to all of us who are alive here today.” Thus, we have seen that the keeping of the Sabbath was a part of this covenant, and it was given at the same time and place, as the rest of the covenant. But what was the attitude God expected these people to have towards this law? Let us note one example.
Leviticus 10:1-2 - “Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took an incense burner and put burning coals and incense in it. Then in the Lord’s presence they offered this unauthorized fire. A fire flashed from the Lord and burned them, and they died in the presence of the Lord.”
In giving the law, God had commanded that the sons of Aaron, the brother of Moses, were to be priests, and to offer the sacrifices before him. He gave the exact instructions concerning how the sacrifices were to be offered. Here we see that they ignored these instructions which God had given, and they offered unauthorized fire before God which He had not commanded. As a result of this, these men were destroyed. God destroyed these men because of disobedience, and we are able to see from this example the attitude that God expected these people to have toward His law, can’t we? Do not the examples that we have discussed tell us that God is pleased only with obedient persons? There is one thing more about this law that we want to note before going on to other things. We want to see that this law was going to be replaced. Remember that the law was the covenant that God had made with the nation of Israel when He led them out of Egyptian bondage.
New Covenant To Be Given
Jeremiah 31:31-34 - “‘ The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘When I will make a new promise # to Israel and Judah. It will not be like the promise that I made to their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of Egypt. They rejected that promise, although I was a husband to them,’ declares the Lord. ‘But this is the promise that I will make to Israel after those days,’ declares the Lord; ‘I will put my teachings inside them, and I will write those teachings on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will each person teach his neighbors or his relatives by saying, ‘know the Lord. All of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,’ declares the Lord, ‘because I will forgive their wickedness and I will no longer hold their sins against them.’”
In these verses the prophet Jeremiah said several hundred years later, in speaking for Jehovah:
We will read in our study more about these passages in a later chapter, but, for now we want to note that the covenant which God made with Israel was temporary in nature, and that it was replaced with a new and different covenant. Let us summarize what we have learned about this covenant:
Now that we have seen these things about the giving of the law of Moses, let us note some of the events in the lives of these people as they lived under, and were guided by this law. Then we will see what happened to the Law.
After Israel had received the law of Moses, Jehovah in a pillar of cloud by day, began again to lead them on their journey to the Promised land. As they came to the borders of the land, God told Moses to send twelve spies into the land to spy it out. When these men returned, 10 of the spies convinced the people that there were giants in the land and they could not take it. The other two spies, Joshua and Caleb, attempted to persuade the people that they could take the land. In fact, it was theirs already because God had given it to them, and all they had to do was to go in and possess it. The people believed the 10 spies and refused to go in. Because they did not believe that Jehovah would give them the land and for their unbelief, God said that they must wander forty years in that wilderness until all of them who were above 20 years old when they came out of Egypt had died. The only exceptions were Joshua and Caleb, the two faithful spies.
Near the end of this 40 year period, Moses died and God appointed Joshua to lead the nation across the Jordan river into the Promised land. After the death of Joshua, no longer was there a single ruler to rule over the whole nation, but God appointed Judges to lead them as they were needed.
This condition lasted for about 350 years. Samuel, who was the last of these Judges was asked by the people to appoint a king over them so that they could be like the nations about them. God directed Samuel to appoint them a King. The first king that God chose for them was a young man named Saul. Let us read about the characteristics of this man when anointed king.
1st Samuel 9:2 - “He had a son named Saul, a handsome, young man. No man in Israel was more handsome than Saul. He stood a head taller than everyone else.”
Here we read the character of the man whom God chose as the first king of Israel. There was not a better person to be found among the people of Israel than him.
After he was appointed king, God told him to take the Army and go down and completely destroy the Amalekites, because of what they had done to Israel.
1st Samuel 15:3 - “Now go and attack Amalek. Claim everything they have for God by destroying it. Don’t spare them, but kill men and women, infants and children, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
God was specific in that the entire nation and all its possessions were to be wiped out from the face of the earth. Nothing was to be spared.
1st Samuel 15:9 - “Saul and the army spared Agag and the best sheep and cows, the fattened animals, the lambs, and all the best property. The army refused to claim them for God by destroying them. But everything that was worthless and weak the army did claim for God and destroy.”
We see that Saul failed to do as God had directed him. Let us note what was the results of this disobedience.
1st Samuel 15:22-23 - “Then Samuel said, ‘Is the Lord as delighted with burnt offerings and sacrifices as he would be with your obedience? To follow instructions is better than to sacrifice. To obey is better than sacrificing the fat of rams. The sin of black magic is rebellion. Wickedness and idolatry are arrogance. Because you rejected the word of the Lord, he rejects you as king.”
Saul, who was one of the better persons in Israel when God chose him to be king, was rejected by God from being king in a few years. Eventually he took his own life.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 - “‘ The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘When I will make a new promise # to Israel and Judah. It will not be like the promise that I made to their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of Egypt. They rejected that promise, although I was a husband to them,’ declares the Lord. ‘But this is the promise that I will make to Israel after those days,’ declares the Lord; ‘I will put my teachings inside them, and I will write those teachings on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will each person teach his neighbors or his relatives by saying, ‘know the Lord. All of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,’ declares the Lord, ‘because I will forgive their wickedness and I will no longer hold their sins against them.’”
In these verses the prophet Jeremiah said several hundred years later, in speaking for Jehovah:
- That the day is coming when He will make a New Covenant with Israel.
- The new covenant will not be according to the covenant that He made with their fathers when He led them out of Egypt.
- The law of the new covenant will be written on the heart and not on tables of stone.
- And under the new covenant “I (God) will no longer hold their sins against them.”
We will read in our study more about these passages in a later chapter, but, for now we want to note that the covenant which God made with Israel was temporary in nature, and that it was replaced with a new and different covenant. Let us summarize what we have learned about this covenant:
- It was the Ten Commandments law.
- It was made known at Mt. Sinai.
- It was given only to the nation of Israel.
- It included the Sabbath which was made known at the same time and place as the other portions of the covenant.
- God expected the people to obey this covenant.
- It was temporary in nature, and was to be replaced with a new covenant.
Now that we have seen these things about the giving of the law of Moses, let us note some of the events in the lives of these people as they lived under, and were guided by this law. Then we will see what happened to the Law.
After Israel had received the law of Moses, Jehovah in a pillar of cloud by day, began again to lead them on their journey to the Promised land. As they came to the borders of the land, God told Moses to send twelve spies into the land to spy it out. When these men returned, 10 of the spies convinced the people that there were giants in the land and they could not take it. The other two spies, Joshua and Caleb, attempted to persuade the people that they could take the land. In fact, it was theirs already because God had given it to them, and all they had to do was to go in and possess it. The people believed the 10 spies and refused to go in. Because they did not believe that Jehovah would give them the land and for their unbelief, God said that they must wander forty years in that wilderness until all of them who were above 20 years old when they came out of Egypt had died. The only exceptions were Joshua and Caleb, the two faithful spies.
Near the end of this 40 year period, Moses died and God appointed Joshua to lead the nation across the Jordan river into the Promised land. After the death of Joshua, no longer was there a single ruler to rule over the whole nation, but God appointed Judges to lead them as they were needed.
This condition lasted for about 350 years. Samuel, who was the last of these Judges was asked by the people to appoint a king over them so that they could be like the nations about them. God directed Samuel to appoint them a King. The first king that God chose for them was a young man named Saul. Let us read about the characteristics of this man when anointed king.
1st Samuel 9:2 - “He had a son named Saul, a handsome, young man. No man in Israel was more handsome than Saul. He stood a head taller than everyone else.”
Here we read the character of the man whom God chose as the first king of Israel. There was not a better person to be found among the people of Israel than him.
After he was appointed king, God told him to take the Army and go down and completely destroy the Amalekites, because of what they had done to Israel.
1st Samuel 15:3 - “Now go and attack Amalek. Claim everything they have for God by destroying it. Don’t spare them, but kill men and women, infants and children, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
God was specific in that the entire nation and all its possessions were to be wiped out from the face of the earth. Nothing was to be spared.
1st Samuel 15:9 - “Saul and the army spared Agag and the best sheep and cows, the fattened animals, the lambs, and all the best property. The army refused to claim them for God by destroying them. But everything that was worthless and weak the army did claim for God and destroy.”
We see that Saul failed to do as God had directed him. Let us note what was the results of this disobedience.
1st Samuel 15:22-23 - “Then Samuel said, ‘Is the Lord as delighted with burnt offerings and sacrifices as he would be with your obedience? To follow instructions is better than to sacrifice. To obey is better than sacrificing the fat of rams. The sin of black magic is rebellion. Wickedness and idolatry are arrogance. Because you rejected the word of the Lord, he rejects you as king.”
Saul, who was one of the better persons in Israel when God chose him to be king, was rejected by God from being king in a few years. Eventually he took his own life.
A Summary of the Kings and Divided Kingdom
After the death of Saul, David was appointed king and reigned for forty years. At his death, his son Solomon was appointed king, and he reigned for forty years. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam succeeded him and because he increased the tax burden on the people to a point where they could no longer bear it, the people rebelled and then we have the divided kingdom period. The northern kingdom was called Israel and was composed of nearly 10 tribes, with the southern kingdom made up of about two tribes. This period of the divided kingdom lasted for about 400 years with both kingdoms drifting away into the worship and service of idols. As punishment for their idolatry, God permitted both nations to be taken away into captivity by their enemies.
You know there are people who tell us that it does not matter what we believe, just so long as we are sincere in our worship and service. There is one event that took place in the divided kingdom period, which will help us understand how God views those who are led into believing a lie.
A Young Man of God Deceived
1st Kings 13:1 - “A man of God from Judah had come to Bethel. When he arrived, Jeroboam was standing at the altar to offer a sacrifice.
Jeroboam, who was king of the northern kingdom, decided that it was too much for the people to go to Jerusalem and worship, as God had commanded. Jerusalem was located in the area of the southern kingdom. So he built altars in Dan and Beth-el on which the people were to offer their sacrifices. God sent this young prophet to Beth-el to prophecy against this altar (verse 2), and it was destroyed. There was an old prophet there who invited this young prophet to come and eat with him.
1st Kings 13:16-19 - “The man of God said, ‘I’m not allowed to go back with you. I’m not allowed to eat or drink with you. When the Lord spoke to me, he told me not to eat or drink there or go back on the road I took to get there.’ The old prophet said, ‘I’m also a prophet, like you. An angel spoke the word of the Lord to me. He said, ‘Bring him home with you so that he may have something to eat and drink’ (But the old prophet was lying.) The man of God went back with him and ate and drank in his home.”
The old prophet lied to the young prophet and the young prophet listened to him and went back to his home.
1st Kings 13:21b-22, 24 - “This is what the Lord says: you rebelled against the words from the Lord’s mouth and didn’t obey my command that the Lord your God gave you. You came back, ate, and drank at this place about which he told you, ‘Don’t eat or drink there.’ That is why your dead body will not be allowed to be placed in the tomb of your ancestors. …The man of God left. A lion found him as he traveled on the road and killed him.”
Here we see a young man who was caused to believe a lie, and God destroyed him because of it. The old prophet’s lies to the young man did not change God’s command. Men today must choose to believe God or man. Let us note what the Apostle Paul says to us about this.
2nd Thessalonians 2:10-12 - “He will use everything that God disapproves of to deceive those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would save them. That’s why God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe a lie. Then everyone who did not believe the truth, but was delighted with what God disapproves of will be condemned.”
Will God accept anything in religion so long as it is done in sincerity? Does not Paul say here that a person must receive a love of the truth in order to be saved? If he does not receive the love of the truth that he would be saved, God will allow him to believe a lie that he might be judged because he did not believe the truth. We can see from this that those who teach that sincerity in religion is enough to please God are false teachers. It requires the belief of the truth to be saved. Men today have the truth available to them in God’s wonderful book the Bible, and unless they study the Bible to know what the truth is, they may be led into believing a lie. They will be judged for believing a lie like this young prophet who was punished by God. These two passages tell us that God expects more than sincerity alone in order to please him.
Naaman
2nd Kings 5:1 - “Naaman, the commander of the Aramean king’s army, was respected and highly honored by his master. The Lord had given Aram a victory through Naaman. This man was a good soldier, but he had a skin disease.”
This man Naaman, was a very important official in the government, but he was a leper and wanted to be healed. Men could not heal leprosy then and, neither is it healed today by medicine. Even in the law of Moses it was recognized that if a leper was healed, it was by the power of God, and an offering had to be made at the altar by the person healed. Naaman heard that the Prophet Elisha could heal his leprosy, so let us read what happened from the Scriptures.
2nd Kings 5:9-11 - “Naaman came with his horses and chariot and stopped at the entrance to Elisha’s home. Elisha sent a messenger to him. He said, ‘Wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River, and your skin will be healthy and clean.’ # But Naaman became angry and left. He said, ‘I thought he would at least come out of his house, stand somewhere, call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the infected place, and heal the skin disease.’”
Now Naaman wanted to be healed, for he came to the prophet for that purpose. When the prophet told him through a messenger what to do to be healed he became angry and went away in a rage. In later part of verse 11, he said “I thought he would…..” He wanted to be healed, but he wanted to say how it was to be done. But when was Naaman healed?
2nd Kings 5:14 - “So he went to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. His skin became healthy again like a little child’s skin.”
Naaman had an affliction that only God could cleanse, and when God told him how to become clean, he became angry, because it was not the way that he thought it ought to be done. What was it that cleansed Naaman? Obedience to the Word of God. Did the water have anything to do with it? No.
Men today also need to be cleansed of their sins. This is a cleansing that only God can tell how it is to be done. Jesus said “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Yet many persons are like Naaman, and do not want to do what the Lord has said in order to be cleansed of their sin. Some will say, “I don’t believe that water will wash away sin in baptism.” Is it the water that washes away the sin? What is it that cleanses the man? Naaman’s leprosy would only be cleansed by doing as the Lord has said to do. Obedience cleansed Naaman, and obedience will cleanse us.
After the death of Saul, David was appointed king and reigned for forty years. At his death, his son Solomon was appointed king, and he reigned for forty years. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam succeeded him and because he increased the tax burden on the people to a point where they could no longer bear it, the people rebelled and then we have the divided kingdom period. The northern kingdom was called Israel and was composed of nearly 10 tribes, with the southern kingdom made up of about two tribes. This period of the divided kingdom lasted for about 400 years with both kingdoms drifting away into the worship and service of idols. As punishment for their idolatry, God permitted both nations to be taken away into captivity by their enemies.
You know there are people who tell us that it does not matter what we believe, just so long as we are sincere in our worship and service. There is one event that took place in the divided kingdom period, which will help us understand how God views those who are led into believing a lie.
A Young Man of God Deceived
1st Kings 13:1 - “A man of God from Judah had come to Bethel. When he arrived, Jeroboam was standing at the altar to offer a sacrifice.
Jeroboam, who was king of the northern kingdom, decided that it was too much for the people to go to Jerusalem and worship, as God had commanded. Jerusalem was located in the area of the southern kingdom. So he built altars in Dan and Beth-el on which the people were to offer their sacrifices. God sent this young prophet to Beth-el to prophecy against this altar (verse 2), and it was destroyed. There was an old prophet there who invited this young prophet to come and eat with him.
1st Kings 13:16-19 - “The man of God said, ‘I’m not allowed to go back with you. I’m not allowed to eat or drink with you. When the Lord spoke to me, he told me not to eat or drink there or go back on the road I took to get there.’ The old prophet said, ‘I’m also a prophet, like you. An angel spoke the word of the Lord to me. He said, ‘Bring him home with you so that he may have something to eat and drink’ (But the old prophet was lying.) The man of God went back with him and ate and drank in his home.”
The old prophet lied to the young prophet and the young prophet listened to him and went back to his home.
1st Kings 13:21b-22, 24 - “This is what the Lord says: you rebelled against the words from the Lord’s mouth and didn’t obey my command that the Lord your God gave you. You came back, ate, and drank at this place about which he told you, ‘Don’t eat or drink there.’ That is why your dead body will not be allowed to be placed in the tomb of your ancestors. …The man of God left. A lion found him as he traveled on the road and killed him.”
Here we see a young man who was caused to believe a lie, and God destroyed him because of it. The old prophet’s lies to the young man did not change God’s command. Men today must choose to believe God or man. Let us note what the Apostle Paul says to us about this.
2nd Thessalonians 2:10-12 - “He will use everything that God disapproves of to deceive those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would save them. That’s why God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe a lie. Then everyone who did not believe the truth, but was delighted with what God disapproves of will be condemned.”
Will God accept anything in religion so long as it is done in sincerity? Does not Paul say here that a person must receive a love of the truth in order to be saved? If he does not receive the love of the truth that he would be saved, God will allow him to believe a lie that he might be judged because he did not believe the truth. We can see from this that those who teach that sincerity in religion is enough to please God are false teachers. It requires the belief of the truth to be saved. Men today have the truth available to them in God’s wonderful book the Bible, and unless they study the Bible to know what the truth is, they may be led into believing a lie. They will be judged for believing a lie like this young prophet who was punished by God. These two passages tell us that God expects more than sincerity alone in order to please him.
Naaman
2nd Kings 5:1 - “Naaman, the commander of the Aramean king’s army, was respected and highly honored by his master. The Lord had given Aram a victory through Naaman. This man was a good soldier, but he had a skin disease.”
This man Naaman, was a very important official in the government, but he was a leper and wanted to be healed. Men could not heal leprosy then and, neither is it healed today by medicine. Even in the law of Moses it was recognized that if a leper was healed, it was by the power of God, and an offering had to be made at the altar by the person healed. Naaman heard that the Prophet Elisha could heal his leprosy, so let us read what happened from the Scriptures.
2nd Kings 5:9-11 - “Naaman came with his horses and chariot and stopped at the entrance to Elisha’s home. Elisha sent a messenger to him. He said, ‘Wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River, and your skin will be healthy and clean.’ # But Naaman became angry and left. He said, ‘I thought he would at least come out of his house, stand somewhere, call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the infected place, and heal the skin disease.’”
Now Naaman wanted to be healed, for he came to the prophet for that purpose. When the prophet told him through a messenger what to do to be healed he became angry and went away in a rage. In later part of verse 11, he said “I thought he would…..” He wanted to be healed, but he wanted to say how it was to be done. But when was Naaman healed?
2nd Kings 5:14 - “So he went to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. His skin became healthy again like a little child’s skin.”
Naaman had an affliction that only God could cleanse, and when God told him how to become clean, he became angry, because it was not the way that he thought it ought to be done. What was it that cleansed Naaman? Obedience to the Word of God. Did the water have anything to do with it? No.
Men today also need to be cleansed of their sins. This is a cleansing that only God can tell how it is to be done. Jesus said “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Yet many persons are like Naaman, and do not want to do what the Lord has said in order to be cleansed of their sin. Some will say, “I don’t believe that water will wash away sin in baptism.” Is it the water that washes away the sin? What is it that cleanses the man? Naaman’s leprosy would only be cleansed by doing as the Lord has said to do. Obedience cleansed Naaman, and obedience will cleanse us.
A Brief Summary of the Captivity, Return and John the Baptist
Getting back to our story of the Israelites, we have mentioned that they were all taken away into captivity because of their idolatrous practices. After 70 years of captivity, some of the people of the southern kingdom were allowed to return to Judea, and rebuild the city of Jerusalem. These people were called Judeans because they were primarily from the tribe of Judah. The shortened form of this word is Jews, which is more common with us today. After the national way of life was re-established, the Old Testament period ends, but these people continue under the law of Moses for about 400 years.
Near the end of this period, John the Baptist came and began to teach about the coming Savior of the world as recorded in the first four books of the New Testament. John himself was a subject of prophecy. It had been foretold that he would prepare the way of the Lord. The Gospels tell us of Jesus, who was born of the descendents of Abraham as foretold in the Old Testament.
Galatians 4:4 - “But when the right time came, God sent his Son into the world. A woman gave birth to him, and he came under the control of God’s laws.”
When the right time came, God brought his Son into the world through the nation of Israel, and for this reason, while Jesus was here on earth in the flesh, He was subject to the Law of Moses. While Jesus was on earth, He taught the Jews that they should “keep the commandments,” because they were under the Law of Moses. There is no record that he ever told those of another nation to “keep the law,” because the Law of Moses had been given to Israel only. Let us read what He said about the law while here.
Matthew 5:17-18 - “Don’t ever think that I came to set aside Moses' Teachings or the Prophets. I didn’t come to set them aside but to make them come true. I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from Moses' Teachings before everything has come true.”
The purpose in the coming of Jesus, was not to set aside Moses' Teachings or the prophets, but to make them come true. In other words, to complete the purpose of God’s divine plan. He did not say here, that the law would continue until heaven and earth pass away, but that all things in them would be accomplished before heaven and earth pass away. Further, He did not say how long before heaven and earth were to pass away that all these things would be accomplished. How did Jesus fulfill the law and the prophets?
Luke 24:44-47 - “Then he said to them, ‘These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you. I told you that everything written about me in Moses' Teachings, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He said to them, ‘Scripture also says that the Messiah would suffer and that he would come back to life on the third day. Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people must be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This must be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.’”
Jesus taught the disciples that all things written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must (it is necessary) be fulfilled. The Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms made up the scripture at that time, for the New Testament had not been written. Jesus opened their minds that they might understand the Scriptures. And in doing so, He said to them that Scripture says that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations beginning in Jerusalem. So these men understood that by his death, resurrection and the preaching of repentance and remission of sins beginning at Jerusalem, that the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms had been fulfilled. Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses and the Prophets when He did those things in his life and death. These things were prophesied or foretold in the law and the prophets or the Old Testament.
The Apostle Peter was present with Jesus after the resurrection and heard Jesus say this. At a later time when Peter was preaching he said the following:
Acts 3:18 - “But in this way God made the suffering of his Messiah come true. God had predicted these sufferings through all the prophets.”
Here Peter had been talking of the putting to death of Jesus and he tells us that God had predicted these sufferings through ALL the prophets.
Acts 3:22 - “Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will send you a prophet, an Israelite like me. Listen to everything he tells you.”
In this verse, we see that Moses was a prophet, and that God was going to raise up another prophet like himself (Moses), and it is He that they (Israelites) are to listen too and take heed. Peter tells us that this was fulfilled by Jesus the Christ. If we are to listen to Christ in all things, then we are not to listen to the Law of Moses, the Prophets or to anyone else.
Acts 3:24 - “Samuel and all the prophets who followed him spoke about these days.”
If Samuel and those that followed him, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days and these days as spoken here actually came. Then those things that were spoken in the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms were then fulfilled. The things foretold had been accomplished. While Jesus was on earth He made his last will and testament. If we are to hearken to him in all things Jesus tells us, we must listen to Him, and His Will, so we can obey.
Hebrews 9:15-17 - “Because Christ offered himself to God, he is able to bring a new promise from God. Through his death he paid the price to set people free from the sins they committed under the first promise. He did this so that those who are called can be guaranteed an inheritance that will last forever. In order for a will to take effect, it must be shown that the one who made it has died. A will is used only after a person is dead because it goes into effect only when a person dies.”
The words promise and will are both used in this passage, and we need to understand the difference in them, if any. In the American Standard translation, the marginal reading says for both covenant (promise) and testament (will) in this passage: The Greek word here used signifies both covenant and testament. The words are and mean the same. Here we are told that Christ died to put in force the new promise or covenant so that those who sinned under the first covenant may receive the PROMISE of eternal inheritance. In order to put his testament (will) in force he had to die, for a testament has no force at all while the one that made it lives.
For example, if I make a will or testament, and leave my possessions to my children they will not receive them until my death. If I desire, I may give my possessions away. Until I die, the will is a worthless piece of paper, but at my death, it becomes of force and they may claim any possessions that I have under its provisions. In the same way, Christ died to put in force a new testament or covenant under which men might receive the PROMISE of eternal inheritance. Isn’t it true that only those who live according to the terms of the covenant shall receive the promises under it?
Further, the Apostle Paul tells us that Christ nailed Moses Teachings to his cross.
Colossians 2:14 - “He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the written laws God had established. He took the charges away by nailing them to the cross.”
Colossians 2:16-17 - “Therefore, let no one judge you because of what you eat or drink or about the observance of annual holy days, New Moon Festivals, or weekly worship days . These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body, that casts the shadow, belongs to Christ.”
The Apostle says that the matter of meat, drink, feast days, new moons, or weekly worship days which is referring to the Sabbath days, which were all regulated under the Law of Moses by ordinances, were just a shadow of good things to come. Christ has taken them all out of the way, nailing them to the cross. The body belongs to Christ and we are to hear him.
But let us note what Paul said to the Christians at Galatia about the law, what some were teaching that a person had to obey the Law of Moses, in order to be saved.
Getting back to our story of the Israelites, we have mentioned that they were all taken away into captivity because of their idolatrous practices. After 70 years of captivity, some of the people of the southern kingdom were allowed to return to Judea, and rebuild the city of Jerusalem. These people were called Judeans because they were primarily from the tribe of Judah. The shortened form of this word is Jews, which is more common with us today. After the national way of life was re-established, the Old Testament period ends, but these people continue under the law of Moses for about 400 years.
Near the end of this period, John the Baptist came and began to teach about the coming Savior of the world as recorded in the first four books of the New Testament. John himself was a subject of prophecy. It had been foretold that he would prepare the way of the Lord. The Gospels tell us of Jesus, who was born of the descendents of Abraham as foretold in the Old Testament.
Galatians 4:4 - “But when the right time came, God sent his Son into the world. A woman gave birth to him, and he came under the control of God’s laws.”
When the right time came, God brought his Son into the world through the nation of Israel, and for this reason, while Jesus was here on earth in the flesh, He was subject to the Law of Moses. While Jesus was on earth, He taught the Jews that they should “keep the commandments,” because they were under the Law of Moses. There is no record that he ever told those of another nation to “keep the law,” because the Law of Moses had been given to Israel only. Let us read what He said about the law while here.
Matthew 5:17-18 - “Don’t ever think that I came to set aside Moses' Teachings or the Prophets. I didn’t come to set them aside but to make them come true. I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from Moses' Teachings before everything has come true.”
The purpose in the coming of Jesus, was not to set aside Moses' Teachings or the prophets, but to make them come true. In other words, to complete the purpose of God’s divine plan. He did not say here, that the law would continue until heaven and earth pass away, but that all things in them would be accomplished before heaven and earth pass away. Further, He did not say how long before heaven and earth were to pass away that all these things would be accomplished. How did Jesus fulfill the law and the prophets?
Luke 24:44-47 - “Then he said to them, ‘These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you. I told you that everything written about me in Moses' Teachings, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He said to them, ‘Scripture also says that the Messiah would suffer and that he would come back to life on the third day. Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people must be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This must be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.’”
Jesus taught the disciples that all things written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must (it is necessary) be fulfilled. The Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms made up the scripture at that time, for the New Testament had not been written. Jesus opened their minds that they might understand the Scriptures. And in doing so, He said to them that Scripture says that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations beginning in Jerusalem. So these men understood that by his death, resurrection and the preaching of repentance and remission of sins beginning at Jerusalem, that the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms had been fulfilled. Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses and the Prophets when He did those things in his life and death. These things were prophesied or foretold in the law and the prophets or the Old Testament.
The Apostle Peter was present with Jesus after the resurrection and heard Jesus say this. At a later time when Peter was preaching he said the following:
Acts 3:18 - “But in this way God made the suffering of his Messiah come true. God had predicted these sufferings through all the prophets.”
Here Peter had been talking of the putting to death of Jesus and he tells us that God had predicted these sufferings through ALL the prophets.
Acts 3:22 - “Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will send you a prophet, an Israelite like me. Listen to everything he tells you.”
In this verse, we see that Moses was a prophet, and that God was going to raise up another prophet like himself (Moses), and it is He that they (Israelites) are to listen too and take heed. Peter tells us that this was fulfilled by Jesus the Christ. If we are to listen to Christ in all things, then we are not to listen to the Law of Moses, the Prophets or to anyone else.
Acts 3:24 - “Samuel and all the prophets who followed him spoke about these days.”
If Samuel and those that followed him, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days and these days as spoken here actually came. Then those things that were spoken in the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms were then fulfilled. The things foretold had been accomplished. While Jesus was on earth He made his last will and testament. If we are to hearken to him in all things Jesus tells us, we must listen to Him, and His Will, so we can obey.
Hebrews 9:15-17 - “Because Christ offered himself to God, he is able to bring a new promise from God. Through his death he paid the price to set people free from the sins they committed under the first promise. He did this so that those who are called can be guaranteed an inheritance that will last forever. In order for a will to take effect, it must be shown that the one who made it has died. A will is used only after a person is dead because it goes into effect only when a person dies.”
The words promise and will are both used in this passage, and we need to understand the difference in them, if any. In the American Standard translation, the marginal reading says for both covenant (promise) and testament (will) in this passage: The Greek word here used signifies both covenant and testament. The words are and mean the same. Here we are told that Christ died to put in force the new promise or covenant so that those who sinned under the first covenant may receive the PROMISE of eternal inheritance. In order to put his testament (will) in force he had to die, for a testament has no force at all while the one that made it lives.
For example, if I make a will or testament, and leave my possessions to my children they will not receive them until my death. If I desire, I may give my possessions away. Until I die, the will is a worthless piece of paper, but at my death, it becomes of force and they may claim any possessions that I have under its provisions. In the same way, Christ died to put in force a new testament or covenant under which men might receive the PROMISE of eternal inheritance. Isn’t it true that only those who live according to the terms of the covenant shall receive the promises under it?
Further, the Apostle Paul tells us that Christ nailed Moses Teachings to his cross.
Colossians 2:14 - “He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the written laws God had established. He took the charges away by nailing them to the cross.”
Colossians 2:16-17 - “Therefore, let no one judge you because of what you eat or drink or about the observance of annual holy days, New Moon Festivals, or weekly worship days . These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body, that casts the shadow, belongs to Christ.”
The Apostle says that the matter of meat, drink, feast days, new moons, or weekly worship days which is referring to the Sabbath days, which were all regulated under the Law of Moses by ordinances, were just a shadow of good things to come. Christ has taken them all out of the way, nailing them to the cross. The body belongs to Christ and we are to hear him.
But let us note what Paul said to the Christians at Galatia about the law, what some were teaching that a person had to obey the Law of Moses, in order to be saved.
The Relationship Between Law and Promise
Galatians 3:15-29 - Brothers and sisters, let me use an example from everyday life. No one can cancel a person's will or add conditions to it once that will is put into effect. (16) The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture doesn't say, "descendants," referring to many, but "your descendant," referring to one. That descendant is Christ. (17) This is what I mean: The laws given to Moses 430 years after God had already put his promise to Abraham into effect didn't cancel the promise to Abraham. (18) If we have to gain the inheritance by following those laws, then it no longer comes to us because of the promise. However, God freely gave the inheritance to Abraham through a promise. (19) What, then, is the purpose of the laws given to Moses? They were added to identify what wrongdoing is. Moses' laws did this until the descendant to whom the promise was given came. It was put into effect through angels, using a mediator. (20) A mediator is not used when there is only one person involved, and God has acted on his own. (21) Does this mean, then, that the laws given to Moses contradict God's promises? That's unthinkable! If those laws could give us life, then certainly we would receive God's approval because we obeyed them. (22) But Scripture states that the whole world is controlled by the power of sin. Therefore, a promise based on faith in Jesus Christ could be given to those who believe. (23) We were kept under control by Moses' laws until this faith came. We were under their control until this faith which was about to come would be revealed. (24) Before Christ came, Moses' laws served as our guardian. Christ came so that we could receive God's approval by faith. (25) But now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the control of a guardian. (26) You are all God's children by believing in Christ Jesus. (27) Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ's name have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus. (29) If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants and heirs, as God promised.
These are several verses here which answer this question. Let’s discuss them one at a time, and be sure we understand what they each say before proceeding to another.
Galations 3:15 - Brothers and sisters, let me use an example from everyday life. No one can cancel a person's will or add conditions to it once that will is put into effect.
Paul says here that he is speaking according to the way men do things. If you and I make a promise or agreement, then no one can annul it or add anything to it. For example, if we make a contract and we both sign it, no one else can change it and neither can either of us without the other’s consent.
Galatians 3:16 - The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture doesn't say, "descendants," referring to many, but "your descendant," referring to one. That descendant is Christ.
God made a covenant with Abraham that in his descendant would bless all families of the earth. The word descendant can be mistakenly referred to as plural, but inspiration tells us that it was used in the singular sense here. The descendant which God had reference to was the one who was to be the Christ.
Galatians 3:17 - This is what I mean: The laws given to Moses 430 years after God had already put his promise to Abraham into effect didn't cancel the promise to Abraham.
God made and confirmed this promise with Abraham 430 years before the Law of Moses was given. Thus, the law could not change this promise so as to make the promise of none effect.
Galatians 3:18 If we have to gain the inheritance by following those laws, then it no longer comes to us because of the promise. However, God freely gave the inheritance to Abraham through a promise.
This is a very simple statement and easily understood. If the inheritance is of the law it is not then a promise, but God gave it as a promise. What then is the law? What is the purpose of the Law?
Galatians 3:19 - What, then, is the purpose of the laws given to Moses? They were added to identify what wrongdoing is. Moses' laws did this until the descendant to whom the promise was given came. It was put into effect through angels, using a mediator.
Because of the transgressions of Abraham’s descendants, the law was given to guide them. For how long was this to be? “Until” refers to time. “Until the descendant to whom the promise was given came.” Who was this? Read verse 16 again. It was Christ Jesus. Then we see that the law was added because of the transgressions of these people, “until” Christ should come. So you and I see by this that the law was temporary, and that God intended from the beginning to take it away. Let us read further about this.
Galatians 3:21 Does this mean, then, that the laws given to Moses contradict God's promises? That's unthinkable! If those laws could give us life, then certainly we would receive God's approval because we obeyed them.
The law is not contrary to the promises of God, but the law could not make alive or give life. If this were possible, then it would have been done by the law. Let’s look at Galatians chapter 2, verse 21b before going back to Chapter 3.
Galatians 2:21b - “… If we receive God’s approval by obeying laws, then Christ’s death was pointless.”
Now back to chapter three of Galatians.
Galatians 3:22 - But Scripture states that the whole world is controlled by the power of sin. Therefore, a promise based on faith in Jesus Christ could be given to those who believe.
The Scriptures has placed all men under sin because all have sinned by breaking God’s law, but the promise by faith in Christ Jesus is given to them that believe.
Galatians 3:23 - We were kept under control by Moses' laws until this faith came. We were under their control until this faith which was about to come would be revealed.
Before Christ came, man was guided by the law and was in the darkness or ignorant about the faith which was to be revealed.
Galatians 3:24 Before Christ came, Moses' laws served as our guardian. Christ came so that we could receive God's approval by faith.
Let us here ask the Apostle Paul some questions. Paul says that the “Law was our guardian” (For what reason, Paul?) To bring us to Christ. (Why is this, Paul?) So that we might be justified by faith. (Why is this necessary, Paul?) Verse 11-12, “No one receives God’s approval by obeying the law’s standards since, ‘The person who has God’s approval will live by faith.' Laws have nothing to do with faith, but, ‘whoever obeys laws will live because of the laws he obeys.’”
Galatians 2:16 - “Yet, we know that people don’t receive God’s approval because of their own efforts to live according to a set of standards, but only by believing in Jesus Christ. So we also believed in Jesus Christ in order to receive God’s approval by faith in Christ and not because of our own efforts. People won’t receive God’s approval because of their own efforts to live according to a set of standards.”
Again, we are told that man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus. For instance, a person today is trying to be right before God by observing the Ten Commandments which were a part of the Law of Moses. Are they not trying to be justified by a means by which it is impossible to be justified? Does not Paul tell us that there is only one way to be justified before God, and that is not by the works of the Law?
Back to Chapter three, verse 24.
Galatians 3:24 - Before Christ came, Moses' laws served as our guardian. Christ came so that we could receive God's approval by faith.
We note also in this passage that Paul says that we are brought to Christ by the Law in order that we might be justified by faith. This was impossible for the law to do because it was not of faith.
Galatians 5:4 - “Those of you who try to earn God’s approval by obeying his laws have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen out of God’s favor.”
If a person is trying to be justified by the Law he is cut off from Christ. Is this not true? Most religious people feel that they are right before God if they keep the Ten Commandments. Are they not cut off from Christ if they are seeking to be justified by this means? But let us note what else Paul has to say about this.
Go back to chapter 3 again and read verse 25.
Galatians 3:25 - But now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the control of a guardian.
The Law was a guardian (What for?) to bring us to Christ (why?) that we might have faith and be justified by it but NOW that faith has come we are no longer under a guardian, or we are no longer under the Law. Why is this true, Paul?
Galatians 3:26-28 You are all God's children by believing in Christ Jesus. (27) Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ's name have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus.
NOW, Paul says mankind is no longer under the Law, but, are heirs of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Those that have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, and there is no longer any differences for all are the same, IN CHRIST.
Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants and heirs, as God promised.
“In Christ” you are heirs according to the promise or covenant and not according to the Law. Let us summarize what Paul has told us about the Law in Galatians chapter three:
God had made a promise or covenant with Abraham that “through his descendant all families of the earth would be blessed” and this descendant was the Christ. This covenant was confirmed and no one could annul it or add anything to it. Even the Law which was given 430 years after could not change it for the inheritance was not given by Law, but by promise. What then is the purpose of the Law? It was added to guide the descendants of Abraham because of their transgressions until the Christ should come, a guardian if you will. Paul said the purpose of the Law was to bring men to Christ that they might be justified by faith, for this is the only way that man can be justified. When Christ came and men could have faith in him, the purpose of the Law had been fulfilled or accomplished. This is why Jesus said, “Don’t ever think that I came to set aside Moses' Teachings or the Prophets. I didn’t come to set them aside but to make them come true” (Matthew 5:17),
Let us illustrate what happened to the Law by showing a parallel in the history of the United States Prior to July 1776, when the US was under a different rule.
Galatians 3:15-29 - Brothers and sisters, let me use an example from everyday life. No one can cancel a person's will or add conditions to it once that will is put into effect. (16) The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture doesn't say, "descendants," referring to many, but "your descendant," referring to one. That descendant is Christ. (17) This is what I mean: The laws given to Moses 430 years after God had already put his promise to Abraham into effect didn't cancel the promise to Abraham. (18) If we have to gain the inheritance by following those laws, then it no longer comes to us because of the promise. However, God freely gave the inheritance to Abraham through a promise. (19) What, then, is the purpose of the laws given to Moses? They were added to identify what wrongdoing is. Moses' laws did this until the descendant to whom the promise was given came. It was put into effect through angels, using a mediator. (20) A mediator is not used when there is only one person involved, and God has acted on his own. (21) Does this mean, then, that the laws given to Moses contradict God's promises? That's unthinkable! If those laws could give us life, then certainly we would receive God's approval because we obeyed them. (22) But Scripture states that the whole world is controlled by the power of sin. Therefore, a promise based on faith in Jesus Christ could be given to those who believe. (23) We were kept under control by Moses' laws until this faith came. We were under their control until this faith which was about to come would be revealed. (24) Before Christ came, Moses' laws served as our guardian. Christ came so that we could receive God's approval by faith. (25) But now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the control of a guardian. (26) You are all God's children by believing in Christ Jesus. (27) Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ's name have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus. (29) If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants and heirs, as God promised.
These are several verses here which answer this question. Let’s discuss them one at a time, and be sure we understand what they each say before proceeding to another.
Galations 3:15 - Brothers and sisters, let me use an example from everyday life. No one can cancel a person's will or add conditions to it once that will is put into effect.
Paul says here that he is speaking according to the way men do things. If you and I make a promise or agreement, then no one can annul it or add anything to it. For example, if we make a contract and we both sign it, no one else can change it and neither can either of us without the other’s consent.
Galatians 3:16 - The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture doesn't say, "descendants," referring to many, but "your descendant," referring to one. That descendant is Christ.
God made a covenant with Abraham that in his descendant would bless all families of the earth. The word descendant can be mistakenly referred to as plural, but inspiration tells us that it was used in the singular sense here. The descendant which God had reference to was the one who was to be the Christ.
Galatians 3:17 - This is what I mean: The laws given to Moses 430 years after God had already put his promise to Abraham into effect didn't cancel the promise to Abraham.
God made and confirmed this promise with Abraham 430 years before the Law of Moses was given. Thus, the law could not change this promise so as to make the promise of none effect.
Galatians 3:18 If we have to gain the inheritance by following those laws, then it no longer comes to us because of the promise. However, God freely gave the inheritance to Abraham through a promise.
This is a very simple statement and easily understood. If the inheritance is of the law it is not then a promise, but God gave it as a promise. What then is the law? What is the purpose of the Law?
Galatians 3:19 - What, then, is the purpose of the laws given to Moses? They were added to identify what wrongdoing is. Moses' laws did this until the descendant to whom the promise was given came. It was put into effect through angels, using a mediator.
Because of the transgressions of Abraham’s descendants, the law was given to guide them. For how long was this to be? “Until” refers to time. “Until the descendant to whom the promise was given came.” Who was this? Read verse 16 again. It was Christ Jesus. Then we see that the law was added because of the transgressions of these people, “until” Christ should come. So you and I see by this that the law was temporary, and that God intended from the beginning to take it away. Let us read further about this.
Galatians 3:21 Does this mean, then, that the laws given to Moses contradict God's promises? That's unthinkable! If those laws could give us life, then certainly we would receive God's approval because we obeyed them.
The law is not contrary to the promises of God, but the law could not make alive or give life. If this were possible, then it would have been done by the law. Let’s look at Galatians chapter 2, verse 21b before going back to Chapter 3.
Galatians 2:21b - “… If we receive God’s approval by obeying laws, then Christ’s death was pointless.”
Now back to chapter three of Galatians.
Galatians 3:22 - But Scripture states that the whole world is controlled by the power of sin. Therefore, a promise based on faith in Jesus Christ could be given to those who believe.
The Scriptures has placed all men under sin because all have sinned by breaking God’s law, but the promise by faith in Christ Jesus is given to them that believe.
Galatians 3:23 - We were kept under control by Moses' laws until this faith came. We were under their control until this faith which was about to come would be revealed.
Before Christ came, man was guided by the law and was in the darkness or ignorant about the faith which was to be revealed.
Galatians 3:24 Before Christ came, Moses' laws served as our guardian. Christ came so that we could receive God's approval by faith.
Let us here ask the Apostle Paul some questions. Paul says that the “Law was our guardian” (For what reason, Paul?) To bring us to Christ. (Why is this, Paul?) So that we might be justified by faith. (Why is this necessary, Paul?) Verse 11-12, “No one receives God’s approval by obeying the law’s standards since, ‘The person who has God’s approval will live by faith.' Laws have nothing to do with faith, but, ‘whoever obeys laws will live because of the laws he obeys.’”
Galatians 2:16 - “Yet, we know that people don’t receive God’s approval because of their own efforts to live according to a set of standards, but only by believing in Jesus Christ. So we also believed in Jesus Christ in order to receive God’s approval by faith in Christ and not because of our own efforts. People won’t receive God’s approval because of their own efforts to live according to a set of standards.”
Again, we are told that man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus. For instance, a person today is trying to be right before God by observing the Ten Commandments which were a part of the Law of Moses. Are they not trying to be justified by a means by which it is impossible to be justified? Does not Paul tell us that there is only one way to be justified before God, and that is not by the works of the Law?
Back to Chapter three, verse 24.
Galatians 3:24 - Before Christ came, Moses' laws served as our guardian. Christ came so that we could receive God's approval by faith.
We note also in this passage that Paul says that we are brought to Christ by the Law in order that we might be justified by faith. This was impossible for the law to do because it was not of faith.
Galatians 5:4 - “Those of you who try to earn God’s approval by obeying his laws have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen out of God’s favor.”
If a person is trying to be justified by the Law he is cut off from Christ. Is this not true? Most religious people feel that they are right before God if they keep the Ten Commandments. Are they not cut off from Christ if they are seeking to be justified by this means? But let us note what else Paul has to say about this.
Go back to chapter 3 again and read verse 25.
Galatians 3:25 - But now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the control of a guardian.
The Law was a guardian (What for?) to bring us to Christ (why?) that we might have faith and be justified by it but NOW that faith has come we are no longer under a guardian, or we are no longer under the Law. Why is this true, Paul?
Galatians 3:26-28 You are all God's children by believing in Christ Jesus. (27) Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ's name have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus.
NOW, Paul says mankind is no longer under the Law, but, are heirs of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Those that have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, and there is no longer any differences for all are the same, IN CHRIST.
Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants and heirs, as God promised.
“In Christ” you are heirs according to the promise or covenant and not according to the Law. Let us summarize what Paul has told us about the Law in Galatians chapter three:
God had made a promise or covenant with Abraham that “through his descendant all families of the earth would be blessed” and this descendant was the Christ. This covenant was confirmed and no one could annul it or add anything to it. Even the Law which was given 430 years after could not change it for the inheritance was not given by Law, but by promise. What then is the purpose of the Law? It was added to guide the descendants of Abraham because of their transgressions until the Christ should come, a guardian if you will. Paul said the purpose of the Law was to bring men to Christ that they might be justified by faith, for this is the only way that man can be justified. When Christ came and men could have faith in him, the purpose of the Law had been fulfilled or accomplished. This is why Jesus said, “Don’t ever think that I came to set aside Moses' Teachings or the Prophets. I didn’t come to set them aside but to make them come true” (Matthew 5:17),
Let us illustrate what happened to the Law by showing a parallel in the history of the United States Prior to July 1776, when the US was under a different rule.
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Indian Tribal law - Articles of Confederation - Fulfilled in U S Constitution
Father Rule - Law of Moses - All Fulfillment in Christ
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Indian Tribal law - Articles of Confederation - Fulfilled in U S Constitution
Father Rule - Law of Moses - All Fulfillment in Christ
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At first, America was controlled by the Indian Tribes. The articles of confederation was established when Colonies were established as a set of rules or laws. When the Colonies joined together to form a union, they established the Constitution, those laws were fulfilled, not because of those laws, but by the faith to form a more perfect union.
This is a parallel with the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was a Guardian to bring us to Christ and when Christ came the Law was not destroyed but fulfilled. This is illustrated above.
This is a parallel with the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was a Guardian to bring us to Christ and when Christ came the Law was not destroyed but fulfilled. This is illustrated above.
I think that you and I can very easily answer the question as to What happened to the Law? It accomplished just exactly what God intended for it to do, and when fulfilled, it was taken away.
Perhaps there are some questions starting to arise. Please write your questions down. When you finished this book and we have not already answered them, you can visit any church of Christ in your neighborhood and talk with the minister of that congregation about your questions. You may want to take this book along. Your full understanding should be satisfied and we care. Be sure to finish the book, as many questions that may arise are answered in a later chapter. †
Perhaps there are some questions starting to arise. Please write your questions down. When you finished this book and we have not already answered them, you can visit any church of Christ in your neighborhood and talk with the minister of that congregation about your questions. You may want to take this book along. Your full understanding should be satisfied and we care. Be sure to finish the book, as many questions that may arise are answered in a later chapter. †