Law
The Battle With Sin
Having explained what the Law does, Paul now explains what the Law cannot do. The Law cannot set you free (v. 14). Paul doesn’t understand why he acts the way he does (vv. 15-20). What he doesn’t want to do he ends up doing and what he wants to do he ends up not doing. The Law cannot …
The Law reveals Sin but doesn’t take it away
In the opening lines of his letter to Timothy, Paul addresses him (1) as an apostle & (2) as a spiritual father. While we might immediately associate apostleship with authority, Paul here associates it with obedience and patience. Paul was under the command of God, and his hope was in Jesus (v.1) …
The Jerusalem Council
The idea of salvation through faith in Christ alone, apart from works, is not an easy one to grasp. It’s tempting to add regulations onto faith. This is what the Jerusalem Council sought to address. The inciting incident was the arrival of some well-meaning but legalistic Jewish teachers in …
The Book of God’s Law
Josiah became king of Judah when he was eight years old and ruled for 31 years (v. 1). He followed the example of his ancestor David by obeying the Lord (v. 2). When he was 16 years old, he began worshiping God, just as David had done (v. 3). Four years later he decided to destroy the local …
The law reveals sin but doesn’t take it away
At the heart of the Jewish Law was the ten commandments. Yet apparently, as dogmatic as these false teachers were, they really didn’t understand God’s law. God’s law is like a medicine prescribed by our doctor. If we use the medicine the way its prescribed, it w …
The Ten Commandments
Moses calls Israel together and exhorts them with four key words (vv. 1-2). The words are hear, learn, keep, and do. It is a restating of the Law, but the emphasis is still on love and obedience. What the Lord demanded of Israel is still required of His people today (v. 3). The only difference …
Law as it Relates to The Ten Commandments
Chapter 19 deals with the sanctity of law. The regulations given here aren’t arranged in any particular order, but that which ties them together is their relationship to the 10 commandments. 1. Be holy (vv. 1-2) 2. Honor to parents (v. 3). 3. Honoring the Sabbath (v. 3) …
An Exhortation to Obedience
This chapter concludes Moses’ review of Israel’s wilderness journey. Moses stops talking about Israel’s past and emphasizes the present. He wanted to make sure that the people did not soon forget all they had seen God do. At the same time, he wanted Israel to know the importance of …
Jerusalem Council?“Discussion Re: Moses’ Law
The chairman of this Jerusalem council was James, the half brother of Jesus, who did not believe in Him until after the resurrection (v. 13). Peter was also an important participant in this meeting. It appears that at least four different meetings were involved in this strategic …
Love Fulfills The Law
A little leaven causes a whole lump of dough to rise. It only takes one person to infect all the others. It only takes one. Legalists reveal their hypocrisy, for they fail to keep the whole law. They look upon the Old Testament law the way a customer surveys the food in a cafeter …