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“Why Not the Mosaic Law”

Ian Boike
03/02/25 - Sun PM

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reading is Isaiah 53.

I'll be reading from the ESV.

Start in verse one and read the whole chapter.

Who has believed what he heard from us and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed, for he grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no form or majesty that we should look at him and no beauty that we should desire Him.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions.

He was crushed for our iniquities.

Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace.

And with his wounds we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray.

We've turned every one to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth like a lamb that has led to the slaughter and like a sheep that before its shears is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment, he was taken away.

And as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people.

And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, though he had done no violence and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him.

He has put him to grief.

When his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring.

He shall prolong his days.

The will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied.

By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore, I will divide him a portion with the many.

And he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors, yet he bore the sin of many and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Good evening.

A will and testament is typically written whenever you turn 33 years old, or whenever you move out of your parents's house, or in other words, whenever you become independent in the things that are actually yours are yours.

And the purpose of a will is to legally distribute assets such as cash, cars, land, anything that is yours to someone after you die.

And of course when the when the writer of the will or otherwise known as the testator dies, that's when a lawyer or judge who is presiding over you.

will be able to read your will and distribute those assets to their corresponding new owners.

And I think all of us understand how this very common practice works.

And in a similar fashion, the old law and the New Testament.

They were both inaugurated by blood.

And they were put into effect by a death.

The old law, of course, with animal blood, bulls and goats that was made for these, for the forgiveness of sins and the new law with Christ's blood or his death.

Now which which will or testament applies to us.

And this is important for us to understand and know so that we can understand what God expects from us as Christians.

Some may ask, do I need to follow just the new law, or do I need to mix in some of the old law with the new law?

Or do I follow all of the old law in addition to the new?

And there are many who claim that we are still bound by the old law.

And I believe that this is not the case.

We are not bound by the Old Testament law, the Mosaic Law, and I believe it's important for us to discuss that this evening and to understand why we are not.

And this evening, I feel it's appropriate to start by discussing what Jesus's relationship to the law of Moses was.

And if you would turn over to Galatians chapter 4, So that's where we're gonna start our study this evening.

Galatians chapter 4 and verse 4, and then I'll read Hebrews chapter 5393 and verse 5383.

Both of these verses explain That Jesus was that Jesus respected and followed the old law.

In Galatians chapter 5373 and verse 5363, we are told, but when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of woman, born under the law.

And then in Hebrews chapter 5353 and verse 5343, we're told by Paul, for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.

But one who in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without sin.

And so we're told between these two verses that one Jesus was born under the old law, and that Jesus had all the power in the universe, but he chose to humble himself and place himself under the law of Moses.

And in Philippians chapter 5333, we're told that Jesus was obedient all the way until death.

Philippians chapter 5323, verses 5313 and 5303.

If you would turn over there, please.

Philippians chapter 219, starting in verse 2110 says, but emptied himself that being Christ by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

And so here we can see that Jesus's relationship to the old law was a relationship of respect and obedience.

And secondly, I believe that Jesus came to fulfill the law and not destroy it.

We're gonna spend a little bit of time in Matthew chapter 2112.

Matthew chapter 2112, starting in verse 2112.

And I'll be reading this section from the new King James.

Matthew chapter 53 starting in verse 213 through 4, Jesus tells us, do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets.

I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot, not or or or one title will by no means pass away from the law till all is fulfilled.

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

But whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.

You by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

And in verse 1, Jesus uses the term destroy, which means to overthrow completely.

And during his life, Jesus did not set aside the Mosaic law.

He kept it perfectly and he fulfilled it.

And Jesus says that he came to fulfill the law and the prophets.

And when he said this, he was saying that the old law still applied to them and would continue to until his death.

And we can even see evidence of the old law that was still in effect during Jesus' day in Jesus' life because Christ used Old Testament scripture to combat temptation.

We're not gonna read all of Matthew chapter 2112 in its account of Jesus's temptation.

But there are 3 verses that I want to, that I want to dissect.

From Matthew chapter 4's account and of course, before the events of Matthew chapter 4, Jesus had just been baptized by John, his cousin.

And God had just stated to all who were present, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.

And so after God establishes Jesus's authority, Jesus is then led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan.

And in verses 1 through 4, we are seeing, we, we are told that Jesus had fasted for a great deal of time, 40 days.

So we can obviously tell that he was very hungry by this point that Satan encounters him.

And in verse 63, we see where Satan tries to take advantage of this hunger that Jesus had, by telling him to take the stones that were right next to him, to turn them into bread to fix his hunger.

But Jesus, knowing Knowing that the old law was still in effect, he quotes Deuteronomy chapter 8 in verse 3 that says in the latter half, and you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

And then skipping down to verse 7.

Satan takes Jesus and sets him on the pinnacle of the temple and tells him, if you jump off the the angels will save you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

And Jesus responds to Satan with what Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verse 16 tells us.

You shall not put the Lord your God to the test as you tested him at Manasseh.

And then finally in verse 10, Satan takes Jesus to a high mountain.

And showed him all the earthly possessions and all the kingdoms that he could obtain, if only he would bow down and worship Satan.

And of course, Jesus refers to Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verses 13 and 14, where it says, it is the Lord your God, you shall fear.

Him, you shall serve, and by his name, you shall swear.

You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you.

And after reading these three verses, it's pretty easy to tell that Jesus came to fulfill the law and not destroy it while he was alive.

However, because Jesus fulfilled the law, the law of Moses ended when Christ died on the cross.

And in Hebrews chapter 73, Hebrews chapter 9 verse 6 starting in verse 16 to 17.

We are told that in the same way that our will and testament would work today, Christ's will and testament went into effect once he died on the cross.

Paul tells us in Hebrews chapter 9 starting in verse 16, For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established, for a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

And I think we can all understand this concept.

I think all of us would be pretty upset if, if people in our family or our friends who are listed in our wheel started taking our cars and our property before we died.

Be very inconvenient for us.

In in Ephesians chapter 2, We're told that Jesus broke down that wall of separation.

And in Ephesians chapter 2, starting in verse 14, going through verse 93, for it says starting in verse 14, for he himself is our peace.

Who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in his flesh the enmity that is the law of commandments contained in the ordinances so as to create in himself one new man from two thus making peace.

And that he might reconcile them both to God and in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

In verse 11 of Ephesians chapter 2, we can obviously see that he is referring to the Gentiles.

And so when it's saying that Jesus broke down this wall of separation, he broke down the wall of the old law that separated Jews and Gentiles.

In the priesthood of Jesus that has now been enacted because of his death, argues for a changing of the law.

And the author of Hebrews asks a question in Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 11.

He basically says, if we already have a priesthood that would provide justification, why would we need another priesthood?

And the Levitical priesthood could not provide justification.

Just as Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 11 says, now, if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood, for under it the people received the law.

What further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek rather than one after the Order of Aaron?

And so, the the Levites could only offer animal sacrifices, which cannot take away sin.

As Hebrews chapter 10, starting in verse 4, we're gonna read verses 103 and 11 and then 12 to 14 as, as Paul unravels.

This argument.

And he answers this question that he provided in Hebrews 7.

And then starting in verse 4 of Hebrews 10, Paul tells us, for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

And then skipping down to verse 11, Paul refers to the to the Levites as he says, and every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which can never take away sins.

And so the Levitical priesthood could not offer the perfect justification that we need in order to get rid of our sin, even upon the thousands of animal sacrifices over hundreds of years.

Could not accomplish what Jesus did by himself.

And then in Hebrews chapter 10, starting in verse 12 to 123, we are told that only Christ is the perfect sacrifice that can offer justification.

And in Hebrews chapter 10, starting in verse 12 to 14, Paul tells us, but when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

And because the priesthood changes to Jesus after a new order, after Melchizedek, so must the law connected to the priesthood change also.

And the old law was limited in its application.

In in Exodus chapter 19 and verse 5, we've already talked about how Jesus's death broke down the he broke down the wall of separation, which was the old law.

But I think it's important to realize who the old law was given to.

In in Exodus chapter 19 in verse 5.

God says, now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.

So God is obviously talking to the Israelites.

He's talking to his children, the Jews.

Which stands to tell us that the Gentiles do not have the law of Moses.

And Paul expresses this in Romans chapter 2 and verse 14 when he says, for when Gentiles who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

And so the old law was only for Jews.

The Mosaic law was only for the Israelites because the Gentiles were not under the Mosaic law.

And Paul is telling the Jews who were upset, you had your chance, but because you continually rejected God, God offers salvation now to the Gentiles as well.

And the scriptures clearly explained that the law of Moses ended when Christ died on the cross.

And finally, I think it's important to discuss that there are consequences for trying to be justified to the mosaic law today.

And in the first century, there were many Jewish Christians who believed that you had to become a good Jew before you became a good Christian.

In in Acts chapter 123, we see where the Jews are bringing this argument to the light.

And they are expressing to Christian brothers that this is how they feel.

And in Acts chapter 15 and verse 1 and verse 5, we're told starting in verse 1, but some men came down from Judea, and they were teaching the brothers, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

And then in Acts chapter 15 and verse 5, likewise, it says, but some believers who belong to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, it is necessary to circumcise them and order them to keep the law of Moses.

And of course, as we know in from Exodus that circumcision was the physical act that the Jew that the Jewish nation had to complete in order to be in compliance with God's covenant.

And Paul addresses this issue, and he sets the record straight in his letter to the Galatians.

And we're gonna be taking a look at specifically Galatians chapter 3 and Galatians chapter 5.

We're gonna jump between the two.

But starting in Galatians chapter 3, Starting in verse 123 of Galatians 3, Paul states, now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for the righteous shall live by faith.

But the law is not of faith.

Rather, the one who does them shall live by them.

And what this is saying is that salvation and right standing before God comes solely through faith.

In Jesus Christ and not by following the law, as the law itself is not based in faith, but on perfect obedience.

Which no one can achieve.

Now I believe in Galatians chapter 5.

Paul takes a step further and he says, you can't cherry-pick the Old Testament commandments.

If you follow one, you got to follow all of them.

And especially with in Acts chapter 15, they're bringing the light of circumcision.

He attacks this directly in Galatians chapter 5, starting in verse 1.

Paul says, starting in verse 1 of Galatians chapter 5, for freedom, Christ has set us free.

Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

Look, I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.

I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law.

You have fallen away from grace.

And then skipping back to Galatians chapter 3 and verse 10.

Paul takes it a step further.

In Galatians chapter 333 and verse 10, Paul tells us, for all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse.

For it is written cursed, be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law and do them.

So here we can see that Paul takes it very seriously.

He says, OK, if you want to accept circumcision into your life, you better be ready to fulfill all of it and do all of it perfectly.

And if you're not, you're cursed.

He lays it out, he lays it out very plainly for them to see.

And then in Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 15, we've already read this, but Christ, of course, is the only one who has ever been able to keep the law perfectly.

And in Hebrews 4:15, I'll read it again, for we do not have a high priest who is, who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without sin.

And Paul seems to be the expert on this issue, because then in Romans chapter 3 and verse 23, he says, For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

And in Romans chapter 7, Paul is still trying to get these Jewish Christians to understand.

That you cannot follow both laws.

And trying to do so will make you a spiritual adulterer.

And in Romans chapter 7 and verses 33 through 6, we're gonna spend a little bit of time there.

And I'll be reading from the new King James Version, Romans chapter 7, starting in verse 1.

Or do you not know, brethren, for I speak to those who know the law and that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives, for a woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives.

But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.

So then if while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will then be called an adulteress.

But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress.

Though she has married another man, therefore, my brethren, you have also become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another.

To Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

For when we were of the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.

But now, we have been delivered from the law having just having died to what we were held by.

So that we should serve in the newness of the spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

And Paul here in these 29st 210 verses is using the beauty of a marriage relationship to explain why we can't live under both laws at the same time.

And in verse one, breaking it down, a man is bound by the law as long as he lives, just as the woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.

And if she marries another while her husband lives, she's an adulteress.

But once her husband dies, she is free to be married to another man.

And in verse 212, we are released from the Mosaic law, having died to that which held us captive.

We died through the law through the body of Christ so that we can belong to Christ, as it says in verse 212.

And after going through these different verses from Paul and others, You may be asking yourself, well, why does this matter to me today?

How can I apply this to my life?

Well, I think it's important to understand that Jesus lived under the old law and kept it perfectly, and he was the only one to do so.

But we need to understand that the law was never given to the Gentiles.

It was limited in its application.

And that the death of Jesus has made it clear that no one is under the old law now.

And that is not to say the old law is of no value to us.

I don't want us to leave here this evening thinking, well, man, I just bashed the old law tonight.

I don't want to read that book books anymore.

But Romans chapter 212 and verse 233, Paul tells us that the old law was still written for our instruction.

In Romans 3:223, Paul tells us for whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.

That through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

So Paul is explaining that we are not, even though we're not bound by the old law, it can still be used as a text of example and teaching to to aid us in our growth as New Testament Christians.

And I think it's also important to understand that the old law pointed to the coming of Christ.

In John chapter 12 and verse 212, read this very quickly.

Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

And of course, one of these prophets.

Who wrote very extensively during his life about Jesus.

Was Isaiah.

Thank you, Brother Copeland for reading Isaiah 53 and verses 1 through 12, and we're not gonna read those again.

But what I want to do is I want to break down the sections of these verses to bring back to our minds what these verse, what these 12 verses signify to us.

And in verses 1 through 3 of Isaiah 533, It talks about the type of life that Jesus was to be born into.

Showing that he was not born in a palace.

He was not born Into royalty.

He was born in a manger.

And then in verses 4 through 6, it speaks to how he was to be treated during his ministry and all the horrible things that he would have to endure.

And verses 7 through 9 referenced the Jewish and Roman officials alike who would consistently question his authority and threatening him with crucifixion.

If he did not stop what he was preaching, calling him a liar and a treasonous man.

And then in verses 10 to 12, it speaks of Christ's death and sacrifice on the cross for the remission of our sins brought on by our imperfections.

And I think until I read this in depth, these just these 12 verses.

I didn't realize how descriptive 12 verses could cover 33 years of a man's life.

And just how powerful that can be for us.

And I hope that this lesson has been encouraging for you as it was for me and And I believe it's important to remember.

I know I've referenced it once or twice this evening, but Paul wrote that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, as he says in Romans chapter 3 and verse 23.

And that the old law commanded that animal sacrifices be done, but we understand now that the old law could not, and the animal sacrifices could not take away our sin.

And as we read earlier in Isaiah 53 and 12, we know why Jesus went to the cross.

Jesus died on the cross for everyone, and he bore the sins for everyone so that we might have a chance of being given the free gift that God offers.

And thankfully, the new law that we are under offers a better sacrifice, a perfect sacrifice that will take away our sin.

And of course, we're told in order to access these benefits of that sacrifice, if you're not a Christian, you're, we are told that you must first hear the word of God, and you must believe.

Then you must repent of your sin, confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and finally be baptized for the remission of your sins.

And Christ is able, and He is willing to forgive you this evening.

If your sin of your sin, if you will seek his forgiveness.

And we have everything here tonight.

Prepared to make you his child.

And for Christians who have sin in their lives here this evening, isn't it wonderful that the sacrifice of Christ is available for your forgiveness also.

And if you need the prayers of the congregation, and if you need the prayers of your fellow brothers and sisters, your fellow soldiers in Christ, please respond to this invitation as we as, as we stand and as we sing.