The Law of Moses or the Law of Christ? Part 2

Following the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the inspired apostles taught that the Law of Moses was no longer in effect. Below are some key passages for your consideration: "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (Galatians 3:24-25). Christ "broke down the barrier of the dividing wall [between Jews and Gentiles] by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances" (Ephesians 2:14-15). In 2 Corinthians 3, we see where Paul spoke of the Law as "the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones" (V7) and as a "ministry of condemnation" (V9). He referred to such as "that which fades away" (v11) and "the old covenant (v14).

Much of Hebrews is simply a comparison of the old and new covenants. The writer said "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us by His Son" (1:1-2). In the remainder of the letter, explains that the way of Christ is far superior to the Old Law of Moses. He speaks of Christ as another priest who would not be needed "if perfection is through the Levitical priesthood" (7:11). But since such was not possible, "of necessity there takes place a change of law also" (v12). Verse 18 speaks of "setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness." 8:6-7 states that Christ "is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second." Then in v13 it says, "When He said, A new covenant, He has made the first obsolete" meaning "no longer in use." 10:9 says, "He takes away the first in order to establish the second."

In our next article we will study whether the 10 Commandments are separate from the Law of Moses—the covenant that was abolished.

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