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Can you explain Christ and the Law?


 Introduction. The full question specifies Christ and the Law of Moses. The expression "Law of Moses" was used by Jesus (Luke 24: 44). The Law of Moses consisted of the laws God gave through Moses to Israel (Ex. 20, Deut. 5), including the Ten Commandments.

Christ kept the law perfectly. As a Jew, Jesus was born and lived under the Law of Moses (Gal. 4: 4). The law he kept sinlessly, then, was the Law of Moses (Heb. 4: 15). The charges brought against Jesus of violating the Law were false (Mark 7: 2-3). Not only did Jesus keep the Law, he taught other Jews to do so (Matt. 23: 3).

Christ condemned those who perverted the Law. The Hebrew scriptures had many warnings against perverting or changing God's laws (Duet. 4: 2, cp. Rev. 22: 18-19). However, some arrogantly distorted the teaching of the Law (Mk. 7: 10-13, Matt. 5). Jesus' wrath was evoked in the presence of such false doctrine (Mark 7, Matt. 15, Matt. 23). That included being more strict than the Law required (Mark 3: 5).

Christ fulfilled the Law. Not only did Jesus perfectly keep the Law, he fulfilled it (Matt. 5: 17). Paul wrote that Jesus was the end of the Law (culmination, Rom. 10: 4). Jesus was the substance of all the shadows and antitype of all the types of the Law (Acts 3: 22-23). Jesus was such a complete sacrifice for sin that the one offering was sufficient for evermore (Heb. 9: 28, cp. 10: 1-4).

An overlooked truth. Concerning Christ and the Law, there is a truth taught that many have overlooked. The truth is after Jesus fulfilled the Law, he did away with the Law (Matt. 5: 17-18). It was "nailed to his cross" (Col. 2: 14, Rom. 13, Jas. 2). Hence, if any seek justification by the Law, "ye are fallen from grace," Paul said (Gal. 5: 4). This would include regulations regarding religious circumcision, unclean foods, tithing, a separate priesthood, Sabbath keeping, instrumental music, incense, and other commands limited to the Law (Acts 15). The Law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus (John 1: 17).
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