THE RULE OF LIFE AND DAILY WALK FOR THE CHRISTIAN.
Christ's death upon the cross is the dividing I. line, the complete separation, between Judaism and Christianity, between the old and the new, between law and grace-the handwriting of ordinances (the obligations) blotted out, taken out of the way, nailed to His cross (Col. ii- 14).
John 1:17-"The law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
Rom. 10:4-Christ is the end of the law for the believer.
Rom. 8:2-4-What the law could not do, Christ has done by His cross.
2 Cor. 5:17-New creatures (creation).
Rom. 6:1-14-Not under law, but under grace.
Rom. 7:1-6-Dead to the law, married to Christ.
Gal. 2:16-21-"I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God."
Gal. 3:10-13-"The just shall live by faith; and the law is not of faith."
The believer in Christ is born again, born of God (i Peter 1:23; John 1:13), is a new creature, old things are passed away, all things are new (a Cor. 5:I7)_justified by faith and at peace with God (Rom. 5:i). This is all of God-God's grace; as we read in Rom. 4:16, it is of faith, that it might be by grace. Again, in Eph. 2:8-10, " For by grace are ye saved through faith:… it is the gift of God:not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." Has the law any place in all this ?
As the believer is justified only by faith, and the law is not of faith,-"no man being justified by the law in the sight of God,"-how then can the law be either the rule of life or of daily walk for him who is dead to it, and who is united by faith to the risen, glorified Man at God's right hand ? Does not the word of God (which should be final and conclusive for the believer) forever settle the question of the law for him ? for it is written in Gal. 2:21 " for if righteousness come by (or is through) the law, then Christ is dead in vain " (has died for naught). Can the believer go back again to the law, asking God to incline his heart to keep the law-that which is not of faith-that which is the "ministration of death, written and engraven in stones" (2 Cor. 3:7) ?
DAILY WALK.
John 1:12, 13.
Colossians 2:6, 7, 8.
i John 2:6.
i Peter 2:21.
The book of Hebrews is the book of"better |things," Christ, our great High Priest, and not the law, being set before us. In chapter 7:12 we read, "For the priesthood being changed, there is made a change of the law;" and in verse 19, "The law made nothing perfect." In chapter 10:i it is written, '' The law was a shadow of good things to come; " and in verse 9, "He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second." Read prayerfully Hebrews, Chaps. 7:, 8:, 9:, 10:R. D.