Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 113

16. What is one of the offices of the moral law?

"Wherefore the law was _our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith_." Gal. 3:24.

17. How is this same teaching expressed in another place?

"For _Christ is the end of the law for righteousness_ to every one that believeth." Rom. 10:4.

NOTE.-Murdock's translation of the Syriac New Testament renders this pa.s.sage: "For Messiah is the _aim_ of the law, for righteousness, unto every one that believeth in Him."

18. In what statement is there a similar use of the word end?

"Receiving _the end of your faith_, even the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:9. See also 1 Tim. 1:5; James 5:11.

NOTE.-In the ceremonial law there was "a shadow of good things to come," a type of the mediatorial work of Christ, our great High Priest. The moral law makes known sin, places the sinner under condemnation, and forces him to Christ for pardon and cleansing.

The ceremonial law was abolished by the work of Christ, but the moral law was established by both His life and death.

19. What testimony did Christ bear concerning His relation to the law and the prophets?

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matt. 5:17.

NOTE.-"Christ kept the law. If He had ever broken it, He would have had to die for Himself; but because He was a Lamb without spot or blemish, His atoning death is efficacious for you and me.

He had no sin of His own to atone for, and so G.o.d accepted His sacrifice. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. We are righteous in G.o.d's sight because the righteousness of G.o.d which is by faith in Jesus Christ is unto all and upon all them that believe."-_"__Weighed and Wanting,__"__ by D. L. Moody, pages 123, 124._ See also notes on pages 374, 375, 382, and 389.

The Law And The Gospel

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Sinai And The Cross. "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ." Gal. 3:24.

1. What is one of the uses of the law?

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for _by the law is the knowledge of sin_." Rom. 3:20.

2. In thus making known sin, and the consequent need of a Saviour, what part does the law act?

"Wherefore the _law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ_, that we might be justified by faith." Gal. 3:24.

3. What is the gospel declared to be?

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is _the power of G.o.d unto salvation to every one that believeth_; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Rom. 1:16.

4. What is the significance of the name bestowed by the angel upon the Saviour before His birth?

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name _Jesus_: for _He shall save His people from their sins_." Matt. 1:21.

5. In whom is this power to save from sin revealed?

"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-*block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, _Christ the power of G.o.d_, and the wisdom of G.o.d." 1 Cor. 1:23, 24.

6. What was foretold concerning Christ's att.i.tude toward the law of G.o.d?

"Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, _I delight to do Thy will, O My G.o.d: yea, Thy law is within My heart_."

Ps. 40:7, 8.

7. What is the first promise of the new covenant?

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; _I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts_." Heb. 8:10.

8. What is Christ's relation to this new covenant?

"But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the _mediator_ of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." Verse 6.

9. How is this same work for man otherwise described?

"For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore _it is of necessity that this Man have somewhat also to offer_.

For if He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law." Verses 3, 4.

10. What is necessary on the part of the individual in order to receive the benefit of Christ's work?

"With the heart man _believeth_ unto righteousness; and with the mouth _confession_ is made unto salvation." Rom. 10:10.

11. For what did the apostle Paul trust Christ?

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, _the righteousness which is of G.o.d by faith_." Phil. 3:8, 9.

12. What relation does the law sustain to this righteousness?

"But now the righteousness of G.o.d without the law is manifested, _being witnessed by the law_ and the prophets." Rom. 3:21.

13. Does the faith which brings righteousness abolish the law?

"Do we then make void the law through faith? G.o.d forbid: yea, _we establish the law_." Verse 31.

NOTE.-The law reveals the perfection of character required, and so gives a knowledge of sin; but it is powerless to confer the character demanded. In the gospel, the law, first written in the heart of Christ, becomes "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," and is thus transferred to the heart of the believer, in whose heart Christ dwells by faith. Thus the new covenant promise is fulfilled that the law shall be written in the heart. This is the genuine experience of righteousness by faith,-a righteousness which is witnessed by the law, and revealed in the life in harmony with the law. The gospel is thus seen to be the provision for restoring the law to its place in the heart and life of the one who believes on Christ, and accepts His mediatorial work. Such faith, instead of making void the law, establishes it in the heart of the believer. The gospel is not against the law, therefore, but upholds, maintains, and presents the law to us in Christ.