LAW: SCOFIELD NOTES
A. "The Mosaic Covenant, [Notes at
Exodus 20]
given to Israel [Ex. 19:3-6],
in three divisions, each essential to the
others, and together forming the Mosaic Covenant;
the 'COMMANDMENTS,' expressing the righteous will of God
(Ex. 20:1-26);
the 'JUDGMENTS,' governing the social life of Israel (Ex. 21:1
thru 24:11);
and the 'ORDINANCES,' governing the religious life of Israel (Ex. 24:12 thru 31:18).
These three elements form the 'LAW,' as the phrase is generically used in the New Testament (e.g. Mt. 5:17,18).
The Commandments were a "ministry of condemnation and of "death" (2 Cor. 3:7-9); the Ordinances gave, in the
high priest, a representative of the people with Jehovah; and in the sacrifices a "cover" for their sins in anticipation of
the Cross (Heb. 5:1-3; 9:6-9; Rom. 3:25,26).
The Christian is not
under the conditional Mosaic Covenant of works, the law, but under the unconditional
new covenant of grace (Rom. 3:21-27; 6:14,15; Gal. 2:16; 3:10-14, 16-18, 24-26; 4:21-31; Heb. 10:11-17)."
B. The Mosaic Covenant, or Old Covenant, is
distinct from the New Covenant which began the moment Christ died at Calvary and the veil in the Jerusalem Temple was rent.
C. The Mosaic Covenant was specifically
to Israel and for Israel only! Immediately before giving the Ten Commandments, the Judgments, and the Ordinances, God
said to Moses, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel,"
Exodus 19:3. "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all
nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth
is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These
are the words you are to speak to the Israelites" Exodus 19:5,6.
D. That only Israel was given the conditions,
blessings, and curses of the Mosaic Covenant is clear from the introduction to the Ten Commandments. "I am the Lord your God, who brought YOU out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery" Exodus 20:2 and repeated
in Deuteronomy 5:6. Only the nation Israel fits this description in the historical
sense.
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Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come
to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The answer is sixfold:
(1) The law was added because of transgressions
i.e. to give to sin the character of transgression.
a) Men had been sinning before Moses,
but in the absence of law their sins were not put to their account (Rom 5:12); the law gave to sin the character of "transgression,"
i.e. personal guilt.
b) Also since sin men continued to transgress
by the very law which forbade it
(Rom 7:8), the law conclusively proved the inveterate sinfulness of man's nature (Rom
7:11-13).
(2) The law, therefore, concluded "all under
sin" (cf. Rom 3:19, 20, 23).
(3) The law was ad interim dealing "till the seed should come" (v19).
(4) The law shut sinful man up to faith as
the only avenue of escape (v23).
(5) The law was to the Jews what the pedagogue
was in a Greek household, a ruler of children in their minority, and it had this character "unto' (i.e. until) Christ (v24).
(6) Christ having come, the believer is no
longer under the pedagogue (v25).
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Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster
to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
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I.
THE LAW OF MOSES, Summary: [similar to notes at Exodus 20]
(1) The Mosaic Covenant was given to Israel in three parts:
the commandments expressing the righteous will of God (Ex 20:1-26); the judgments governing the social life of Israel (Ex 21:1 to 24:11);
and the "ordinances" governing the religious life of Israel (Ex 24:12 to 31:18).
(2) The commandments and ordinances were one
complete and inseparable whole. When an Israelite sinned he was held "blameless" when he brought the required offering (Lk
1:6; Phil 3:6).
(3) Law as a method of the divine dealing
with man, characterized the dispensation extending from the giving of the law to the death of Jesus Christ (Gal 3:13, 14, 23, 24).
(4) The attempt of legalistic teachers e.g.
Acts 15:1-31; Gal 2:1-5) to mingle law with grace as the divine method of this present dispensation of grace, brought out
the true relation of the law to the Christian.
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II.
THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF THE LAW.
(1)
Law is in contrast with grace.
Under the latter God bestows the righteousness
which, under law, He demanded (Ex 19:5; John 1:17; Rom 3:21 note; 10:3-10; 1 Cor 1:30).
LAW: Thou shat not …..
GRACE: You will spontaneously as a new creation.
(2)
The law is in itself, holy, just, good, and spiritual (Rom 7:12-14).
