The Law of Moses and the Law of Christ

These are some of the notes I used on a forum.

Some things to consider.

If the Law of Moses could save sinners from the wrath of God and eternity in the lake of fire then why did Jesus have to come?

If righteousness, and justification came by the Law of Moses again why Jesus.

We must not forget that if the Law of Moses is to be kept then remember the 10 were expanded to 613. James 2:10 " For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one [point,] he is guilty of all".  That means circumcision and Sabbath day keeping. Not good if you have a an open fire or a wood burner (Numbers 15:32-36)

At the end of Luke 24:44ff we see Jesus explaining how He was to fulfil what was written in the Law of Moses. Did Jesus fulfil the Law or not?
Did He do what prophecy said He would? Did the things written in the Psalms point to Jesus coming dying and being raised?

So what does that leave us with?

Interesting what Rom 8 says. 

Jesus fulfilled the Law by giving His life for sinners and those believing in Him are made righteous and receive the Spirit .

Doesn't the Spirit of Christ enable the believe to fulfil the law? Now we won't of cause have to die on the cross for the sins of the world but it does mean to live as Christ did, putting to death the deeds of the flesh, taking up our cross.

Living by the Spirit is how we demonstrate the love of Christ. Love is the fulfilment of the Law Rom 13:8-13, Gal 5:14.

Gal 6:10 tells us what the law of Christ looks like. So let us live as nothings, as we live as Christ.
  The law of moses law of christ pt1

The law of moses law of christ pt2

The law of moses law of christ pt3

The law of moses law of christ pt4

The law of moses law of christ pt5

I would like to if I may go back to say that Jesus came to fulfill the law (NOT DO AWAY WITH IT)Mat 5:17 How did Jesus do that?
How do born again Christian do that?
The answer lies with the Spirit of God, and the love of God. The Law is fulfilled when love is demonstarted the ultimate way is by laying down ones life, in Christ's case it was unto death as a substitute for sinful man.

As Christians we fulfill the law of Christ when we obey His commandments (to love)Hence the context of 1 Jn. 5:3 is loving brethren and in doing so we love God. The who of the law is summed up in what commandments? Loving God & Loving your neighbour Matt 22:37-40.

It's not about how many you keep, it's what you keep and how you keep it. If it's not by the Spirit it's going to fail. Rom 8
David are you fearful that if you don't keep the whole law that you will be condemned?
Jesus came so that in Him, that is by the working of His Spirit in us and through us, that we are able to live in the spirit and by doing so we won't be condemned.

The issue raised in James about showing faith by works is telling us that faith must be demonstrated as a proof of salvation not for our salvation. Eph 2:8-9

We can't be saved by the keeping of the Law
We can't be Justified by the law.
We cant be made righteous by keeping it either.

If we fail in keeping one part we fail in all (James 2:10, Gal 3) and it's this failing that then condemns us and we turn grace in works
For example how as Christians are we able to keep Sabbath? How are we going to deal with being circumsized? The Law remember is not 10 commandments it's 613.

More insight. a quick look at Romans 8:1-4
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
Rom 8:4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

How many Laws are mentioned here?

Vs 2 the law G3551 of the Spirit G4151 of life G2222 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 This is found in those who are Born again.
Vs 2 G575 the law G3551 of sin G266 and G2532 death G2288 this is not saying the Law of Moses was sinful but rather that it proves man is fallen.

Strongs word number G3551 νόμος nomos (nom'-os)
The New Testament the word nomos is often used to refer back to the Old Testament law, and thus to translate the Hebrew word torah.

The word Torah has to do with God given direction, like an arrow is given direction to the target.
The Hebrew word for "law" is torah. The Hebrew word torah is etymologically derived from another Hebrew root word, yara, which means "to cast, to indicate, to direct." Torah therefore means "direction, guidance, instruction." Specifically it pertained to divinely revealed instruction and guidance and directives in the law. The Hebrew word torah is used 220 times in the Hebrew Old Testament.
There are numerous other Hebrew words that are used as synonyms to torah in referring to God's law in the Old Testament. A partial list includes the following words:
(1) commandment - miswah - Exod. 16:28
(2) ordinances - mispat - Lev. 19:37
(3) statutes - huggim - Lev. 18:4,5
(4) admonitions - edut - Neh. 9:34
(5) precepts - piggudim - Ps. 119:168
(6) decrees - chog - Ps. 2:7
(7) words - dabar - Exod. 34:28
(8) law - daht - Ezra 7:25,26
Nomos is used also in reference to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament, also known as the Books of Moses or the Books of the Law. Jesus mentions that all the things written about Him "in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets and the Psalms" must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). Paul mentions that the righteousness of God was witnessed to "by the Law and the Prophets" (Rom. 3:21).

Continuing Rom 8
Vs 3 For G1063 what the law G3551 could not do G102, in G1722 that G3739 it was weak G770 through G1223 the flesh G4561

The law fails to work because the flesh is weak. Sinful man can’t live by Nomos the Torah
Because we are corrupt, hence Rom 3:23. In other words the arrow can’t hit the mark it falls short.

So what’s the answer? How can anyone be righteous?
Remember in Matt 5:20 Jesus said “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven”.

Remember also James 2:10

So the answer is not obey the commandments because we can’t and if we try we will fail in one part and therefore all parts.

So God has to do something and He does.
God G2316 sending G3992 his own G1438 Son G5207 in G1722 the likeness G3667 of sinful G266 flesh G4561, and G2532 for G4012 sin G266, condemned G2632 sin G266 in G1722 the flesh G4561:1 4 That G2443 the righteousness G1345 of the law G3551 might be fulfilled G4137 in G1722 us G2254, who walk G4043 not G3361 after G2596 the flesh G4561, but G235 after G2596 the Spirit G4151.

Jesus comes, dies for sinful flesh, then those who live life by the spirit of Christ will live righteously (see Rom 5)
Hence the Just shall live by faith.
So those born again of the Sprit are in Christ and He in them and so we in Him become righteous (2 Cor 5:21) therefore our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. Furthermore we enter the kingdom by Christ’s work and not ours.

So does this mean we must obey the law of Moses. No
It means we live by the Spirit as we live by faith and therefore please God. For without faith it’s impossible to please God( Heb 11:6)
Now in the process of our new life in Christ we will certainly do things that will seem like we are living by the law of Moses.
If we take a look at Matt 5 and verses 21 onwards Jesus is teaching how the Law is seen from the Holy Spirit’s view. The law says “though shall not kill” the spirit says that hatred in the heart for your brother and bad thoughts are the same as murder. So Jesus says this has to be put right.
“You shall not commit adultery” is turned into “if you have lust in your heart” it’s the same thing the intent of the heart has to be inline with the Spirit of God. Hence a person must have the Spirit of Christ to live righteously.

How was an Old Testament saint made righteous? Was it by the Law? Or by Faith?
See Rom 4
Notice verses 9-10 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. (Abraham was a gentile)

This also tells us circumcision came before the Law of Moses so Abraham was not circumcised in connection with the Torah (the Law of Moses) or the Pentateuch as they where not yet written.

Rom 9:31-33 says
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law 4 of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, 5 by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Jesus is "The Rock" in Him we are are righteous.