1. Galatians The freedom letter 9-4-11

2. What is the status of the Mosaic covenant since the cross? 1. It was conditional and came to an end with Christ’s death 2. In Jeremiah 31:32 it was already considered broken and a new one was coming. 3. Seven points concerning the status of the covenant. 4. First consider these 5 passages. 31) “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah– 32) “not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.

3. Romans 10:4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 2 Cor 3:3) clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

4. 6) who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7) But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses

5. because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8) how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9) For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10) For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11) For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

6. Gal 3:19) What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 21) Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

7. 22) But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23) But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24) Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25) But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

8. Eph 2:14) For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15) having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16) and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

9. Heb 7:11) Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12) For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

10. 18) For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and un-profitableness, 19) for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. First point on the status of the covenant : 1. The Law is a unit You cannot separate the law into ceremonial, legal and moral commandments. This has caused much confusion

11. Ceremonial, legal Not 603 commands But 10 Moral commands

12. If we are under the ten then we have a problem with the 4 th commandment, the Sabbath. There is considerable inconsistency here when trying to explain it away. The word Law In Hebrew is Torah The word law in Greek is Nomos Both are singular and always mean the whole law. Dividing them up is fun for study but scripture just doesn’t teach it.

13. 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

14. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 7 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law

15. Questions/comments