Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 107

NOTE.-Then G.o.d's commandments and laws existed in the time of Abraham.

18. Before giving the law at Sinai, what did G.o.d say because some of the people went out to gather manna on the seventh day?

"And the Lord said unto Moses, _How long refuse ye to keep My commandments and My laws?_" Ex. 16:28.

19. Had the Lord spoken regarding the Sabbath previous to this time?

"This is that which the Lord _hath said_, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath." Verse 23.

20. Before coming to Sinai, what had Moses taught Israel?

"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.

NOTE.-All this shows that the law of G.o.d existed from the beginning, and was known and taught in the world before it was proclaimed at Sinai.

The Law Of G.o.d In The New Testament

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Paul Preaching To The Thessalonians. "This is the love of G.o.d, that we keep His commandments." 1 John 5:3.

1. By what means did the Jews know G.o.d's will?

"Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of G.o.d, and knowest His will, ... _being instructed out of the law_." Rom. 2:17, 18.

2. What did they have in the law?

"Which hast _the form of knowledge and of the truth_ in the law." Verse 20.

NOTE.-The written law presents the _form_ of knowledge and of the truth. Grace and truth, or grace and the reality or realization of that which the written law demands, came by Jesus Christ. He was the law in life and action.

3. What did Jesus say of His att.i.tude toward the law?

"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.-By the expression "the law" here is meant the five books of Moses; and by "the prophets," the writings of the prophets. Christ did not come to set aside or to destroy either of these, but to fulfil both. The ceremonialism of types and shadows contained in the books written by Moses He fulfilled by meeting them as their great Ant.i.type. The moral law, the great basic fabric underlying all of Moses' writings, Christ fulfilled by a life of perfect obedience to all its requirements. The prophets He fulfilled in His advent as the Messiah, Prophet, Teacher, and Saviour foretold by them.

4. What did He teach concerning the stability of the law?

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pa.s.s, one jot or one t.i.ttle shall in no wise pa.s.s from the law, till all be fulfilled." Verse 18.

5. In what instruction did He emphasize the importance of keeping the law?

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Verse 19.

6. What did Christ tell the rich young man to do in order to enter into life?

"If thou wilt enter into life, _keep the commandments_." Matt. 19:17.

7. When asked which commandments, what did Jesus say?

"Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Verses 18, 19.

NOTE.-While not quoting all of the ten commandments, Jesus quoted sufficient of them to show that He referred to the moral law. In quoting the second great commandment He called attention to the great principle underlying the second table of the law,-love to one's neighbor,-which the rich young man, in his covetousness, was not keeping.

8. Does faith render the law void?

"Do we then make void the law through faith? _G.o.d forbid: yea, we establish the law._" Rom. 3:31.

9. How is the law fulfilled?

"Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for _he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law_. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment [touching our duty to our fellow men], it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore _love is the fulfilling of the law_." Rom.

13:8-10.

10. What is of more importance than any outward ceremony?

"Circ.u.mcision is nothing, and uncirc.u.mcision is nothing, but _the keeping of the commandments of G.o.d_." 1 Cor. 7:19.

11. What kind of mind is not subject to the law of G.o.d?

"Because _the carnal mind_ is enmity against G.o.d: for it is not subject to the law of G.o.d, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7.

12. What proves that the law is an undivided whole?

"_For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all._ For He that said [margin, _that law which said_], Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."

James 2:10-12.

13. How is sin defined?

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for _sin is the transgression of the law_." 1 John 3:4.

14. How may we know that we love the children of G.o.d?

"By this we know that we love the children of G.o.d, _when we love G.o.d, and keep His commandments_." 1 John 5:2.