Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 104

Rom. 3:20.

1. How does Nehemiah describe the giving of the law at Sinai?

"Thou earnest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: and madest known unto them Thy holy Sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses Thy servant." Neh.

9:13, 14.

2. What is declared to be the chief advantage possessed by the Jews?

"What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circ.u.mcision? Much every way: _chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of G.o.d_." Rom. 3:1, 2.

NOTE.-The law was not spoken at this time exclusively for the benefit of the Hebrews. G.o.d honored them by making them the guardians and keepers of His law, but He intended that it should be held by them as a sacred trust for the whole world. The precepts of the decalogue are adapted to all mankind, and they were given for the instruction and government of all. "Ten precepts, brief, comprehensive, and authoritative, cover the duty of man to G.o.d and to his fellow men;" and all are based upon the great fundamental principle of love. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself."

Luke 10:27. In the ten commandments these principles are carried out in detail, and are made applicable to the condition and circ.u.mstances of man.

3. Before the giving of the law at Sinai, what did Moses say when Jethro asked him concerning his judging the people?

"When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and _I do make them know the statutes of G.o.d, and His laws_." Ex.

18:16.

4. What explanation did Moses give the rulers of Israel concerning the withholding of the manna on the seventh day in the wilderness of Sin, before they reached Sinai?

"And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, _Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord_.... Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, _which is the Sabbath_, in it there shall be none." Ex. 16:23-26.

5. When some went out to gather manna on the seventh day, what did the Lord say to Moses?

"And the Lord said unto Moses, _How long refuse ye to keep My commandments and My laws_?" Verse 28.

NOTE.-It is evident therefore that the Sabbath and the law of G.o.d existed before the law was given at Sinai.

6. What question does Paul ask concerning the law?

"Wherefore then serveth the law?" Gal. 3:19.

NOTE.-That is, of what use or service was the law announced at Sinai? What special purpose had G.o.d in view in giving it then?

7. What answer is given to this question?

"_It was added, because of transgressions_, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Same verse.

NOTES.-The Greek word here translated "added" is the same one that is translated "spoken" in Heb. 12:19.

"The meaning is that _the law was given to show the true nature of transgressions_, or _to show what sin is_. It was not to reveal a way of justification, but it was _to disclose the true nature of sin_; to deter men from committing it; to declare its penalty; _to convince men of it_, and thus to be ancillary to, and preparatory to, the work of redemption through the Redeemer. This is the true account of the law of G.o.d as given to apostate man, and this use of the law still exists."-_Dr. Albert Barnes, on Gal. 3:19._

8. How is this same truth again expressed?

"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Was then that which is good made death unto me? G.o.d forbid. _But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful._" Rom. 7:12, 13.

9. For what purpose did the law enter?

"Moreover the law entered, _that the offense might abound_." Rom. 5:20.

NOTE.-By the giving of the law at Sinai, then, G.o.d designed, not to increase or multiply sin, but that men might, through a new revelation of Him and of His character and will, as expressed in a _plainly spoken_ and _plainly written_ law, the better see _the awful sinfulness of sin_, and thus _their utter helplessness_ and _undone condition_. While in Egypt, surrounded as they were with idolatry and sin, and as the result of their long bondage and hard servitude, Israel even, the special people of G.o.d, had largely forgotten G.o.d and lost sight of His requirements. Until one realizes that he is a sinner, he cannot see his need of a Saviour from sin. Hence the entering, or republication, of the law to the world through Israel at Sinai.

10. By what is the knowledge of sin?

"_By the law_ is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20. See also Rom. 7:7.

11. Under what condition is the written law good?

"But we know that the law is good, _if a man use it lawfully_." 1 Tim.

1:8.

12. And what is indicated as the lawful use of the law?

"Knowing this, that _the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient_, for the _unG.o.dly_ and for _sinners_, for _unholy_ and _profane_, for _murderers_ of fathers and _murderers_ of mothers, for _manslayers_, for _wh.o.r.emongers_, for them that _defile themselves with mankind_, for _menstealers_, for _liars_, for _perjured persons_, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." Verses 9, 10.

NOTE.-In other words, the lawful use of the written law is to show what sin is, and to convince sinners that they are sinners, and that they need a Saviour. G.o.d's design, then, in giving the law at Sinai was to shut men up under sin, and thus lead them to Christ.

13. Who does Christ say need a physician?

"They that be whole need not a physician, but _they that are sick_." Matt.

9:12.

NOTE.-Speaking of how to deal with those "who are not stricken of their sins," and "have no deep conviction of guilt," D. L. Moody, in his "Sermons, Addresses, and Prayers," says: "Just bring the law of G.o.d to bear on these, and show them themselves in their true light.... Don't try to heal the wound before the hurt is felt. Don't attempt to give the consolation of the gospel until your converts see that they have sinned-see it and feel it."

14. Whom does Christ say He came to call to repentance?

"For I am not come to call the righteous, but _sinners_ to repentance."

Verse 13.

15. What is the strength of sin?

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is _the law_." 1 Cor.

15:56.