Adult Bible Study Guide

Apr • May • Jun 2014

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Christ and His Law The Law and Love

FROM THE very beginning of the great controversy in heaven it has been

Satan’s purpose to overthrow the law of God”—The Great Controversy 582.

The law, as the foundation of God’s government, expresses the moral

integrity of the cosmos,

Christ and His Law The Law and Love

and to overthrow that law would be to overthrow the moral order of the

creation itself.

Morality means the ability to choose right or wrong, good or evil—and the

only way for the universe to be moral, would be for it to have a law

that defines right or wrong.

Christ and His Law The Law and Love

God created humans as creatures who can love. Love, though, can’t exist without freedom, moral freedom. And moral freedom can’t exist without law, moral law. Love rests on freedom, and freedom rests on law. Hence, the core of God’s government,—a government of love—has to be His law.

Christ and His Law Contents

1 Laws in Christ’s Day 2 Christ and the Law of Moses 3 Christ and Religious Tradition 4 Christ and the Law in the Sermon on the Mount 5 Christ and the Sabbath 6 Christ’s Death and the Law 7 Christ, the End of the Law 8 The Law of God and the Law of Christ 9 Christ, the Law and the Gospel 10 Christ, the Law and the Covenants 11 The Apostles and the Law 12 Christ’s Church and the Law 13 Christ’s Kingdom and the Law

Christ and His Law Our Goal

WE WILL study the law, especially the question of why so many

Christians—misunderstanding the relationship between law and

grace—have fallen into the trap of denying the continued validity of

the Ten Commandments, thus unwittingly helping the

attempt to “overthrow” God’s law.

Christ and His Law Lesson 1, April 5

Laws in Christ’s Day

Laws in Christ’s Day Key Text

Romans 2:14 NASB

“FOR WHEN Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the

things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to

themselves.”

Laws in Christ’s Day Initial Words

IN NEW Testament times, when a person used the common word for “law” (nomos in Greek, lex in Latin, and Torah in Hebrew), he or she could have been referring to any one of a number of laws. We study these laws to set a foundation for the study of the Ten Commandments.

Laws in Christ’s Day Quick Look

1. Roman Law (Luke 2:1-5)

2. Mosaic Law (Acts 18:14, 15)

3. Moral Law (James 2:8-12)

Laws in Christ’s Day 1. Roman Law

Luke 2:1-5 NKJV

“A DECREE went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be

registered. … Joseph also went…to…Bethlehem, because he

was of the house and lineage of David,

to be registered with Mary…who was with child.”

1. Roman Law Civil Law

SINCE THE time of the early republic, the Romans recognized how

important written laws were for the governance of society.

In fact, the system of constitutional law established by the Romans

remains a foundation of the legal systems found in many of today’s

democratic societies.

1. Roman Law Civil Law

Roman law was concerned with order in society. It not only

addressed issues of government but also legislated behavior in the

domestic arena. Many of the social codes are similar

to the ones found in the Old Testament and other societies.

1. Roman Law Civil Law

Rome allowed vassal kingdoms to maintain their own customs, but all

subjects were expected to obey imperial and senatorial laws.

Despite the obvious hand of the Lord in Mary’s pregnancy, they still

obeyed, which required them to leave their home, even when Mary

was quite far along in her pregnancy.

Laws in Christ’s Day 2. Mosaic Law

Acts 18:14, 15 NKJV “GALLIO SAID to the Jews, ‘If it were a

matter of wrong doing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be

reason why I should bear with you. But if it is a question of words and

names and your law, look it up yourselves; for I do not

want to be a judge in such matters.’ ”

2. Mosaic Law Civic

ALTHOUGH THE Jews were under

Roman rule, they were granted

authority over those issues that

were unique to their customs

and religion.

The legislative body responsible

for administering Jewish law was

called the Sanhedrin.

2. Mosaic Law Civic

Sometimes referred to as the council, the Sanhedrin con- sisted of

71 men selected from among the priests, elders, and rabbis and was presided over by the high priest.

It served as a type of Supreme Court that dealt with Jewish customs,

traditions, and laws.

2. Mosaic Law Civic

Jewish societal law was founded upon the civil codes revealed in the five books of Moses, the laws are referred to as the law of Moses. 1. Temple tax, Exod 30:13 2. Divorces, Deut 24:1-4 3. Levirate marriage, Deut 25:5 4. Circumcision, Lev 12:3 5. Stoning, Deut 22:23, 24

2. Mosaic Law Ceremonial

THE “CEREMONIAL law” centered around the sanctuary and its

services, all of which, were designed to teach the children of Israel the

plan of salvation and point them to the coming Messiah.

2. Mosaic Law Ceremonial

The ceremonial system was to function as a type, a symbol of the coming of Jesus and His death and

High Priestly ministry.

Once He completed His work on earth, this old system—along with its sacrifices and rituals and feasts—no

longer was needed.

2. Mosaic Law Rabbinic

The Jews were also familiar with the law of the rabbis, the scholastic arm of the Pharisees, who took the responsibility of ensuring that the Mosaic law remained relevant to the people. They used these laws as the basis for their legislation; supple-mented them with an oral law—the interpretations of leading rabbis.

2. Mosaic Law Rabbinic

Oral law is known as halakah, which means “to walk.”

The rabbinic halakoth were collated and recorded in book form.

Some of the interpretations from Jesus’ day survive in commentaries known as Midrash, while others are

recorded in a legal collection called Mishnah.

Laws in Christ’s Day 3. Moral Law

James 2:8-12 NKJV

“IF YOU really fulfill the royal law…you do well…. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet

stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. …

So speak and do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.”

3. Moral Law The Ten Commandments

HOWEVER MUCH Roman law, Mosaic law, and rabbinic law impacted the

lives of Jews, many people who followed the religion of Israel lived

outside of Palestine and beyond the borders of the Roman Empire.

Many of these laws would not have played a big role in their lives. They would have adhered to the Ten Commandments.

3. Moral Law The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments surpassed any system of law known to Jews in

the first century.

Even the Pharisees, who had meticulously memorized the 613

Mosaic laws, recognized the importance of the Ten

Commandments.

3. Moral Law The Ten Commandments

The division of the Mishnah called Tamid (5:1) contains a rabbinic

command to recite the Ten Commandments daily.

It was believed that all the other laws were contained in the Ten

Commandments.

Laws in Christ’s Day Final Words

“THE KNOWLEDGE of God’s law, and the plan of salvation were imparted to Adam and Eve by Christ Himself.

They carefully treasured the important lesson, and transmitted it by word of mouth, to their children,

and children’s children. Thus the knowledge of God’s law was

preserved.”–Selected Messages 1:230.