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WHAT is the ceremonial law - and how is it contrasted to the moral law of God?
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Paul points out that circumcision is a good example of it -- in 1 Cor 7:19 and in that text he says the "commandments of God" are by contrast to it.
1 Cor 7:19
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.
And we note with interest Paul's statement in Eph 6:1-2 where he reminds us that the fifth commandment is the "first commandment with a promise" in that still-valld set of TEN commandments. A point that D.L. Moody and the Baptist Confession of Faith also affirm.
No wonder Paul quotes from the same TEN in Rom 13 after the cross as does Christ in Matt 19 before the Cross.
Rom 13
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (not "abolished")
9 For this,
“You shall not commit adultery,
You shall not murder,
You shall not steal,
You shall not covet,”
and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The same after the cross as before the cross in Matt 19
From the TEN where "the first commandment with a promise" is still the 5th commandment. Eph 6:1-2 according to Paul
Matt 19
if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said,
“You shall not commit murder;
You shall not commit adultery;
You shall not steal;
You shall not bear false witness;
19 Honor your father and mother;
and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Same list unchanged before and after the cross
How nice that even the Baptist Confession of Faith and the Westminster Confession of Faith (section19 in each of them) - admit to this same detail about all TEN commandments in the moral law of God written on the heart -- all the while the ceremonial law ends at the cross.
As for animal sacrifice - we have Hebrews 10
4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,
“Sacrifice and offering You have not desired,
But a body You have prepared for Me;
6 In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure.
7 “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(In the scroll of the book it is written of Me)
To do Your will, O God.’”
8 After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
===================================================
Paul points out that circumcision is a good example of it -- in 1 Cor 7:19 and in that text he says the "commandments of God" are by contrast to it.
1 Cor 7:19
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.
And we note with interest Paul's statement in Eph 6:1-2 where he reminds us that the fifth commandment is the "first commandment with a promise" in that still-valld set of TEN commandments. A point that D.L. Moody and the Baptist Confession of Faith also affirm.
No wonder Paul quotes from the same TEN in Rom 13 after the cross as does Christ in Matt 19 before the Cross.
Rom 13
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (not "abolished")
9 For this,
“You shall not commit adultery,
You shall not murder,
You shall not steal,
You shall not covet,”
and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The same after the cross as before the cross in Matt 19
From the TEN where "the first commandment with a promise" is still the 5th commandment. Eph 6:1-2 according to Paul
Matt 19
if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said,
“You shall not commit murder;
You shall not commit adultery;
You shall not steal;
You shall not bear false witness;
19 Honor your father and mother;
and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Same list unchanged before and after the cross
How nice that even the Baptist Confession of Faith and the Westminster Confession of Faith (section19 in each of them) - admit to this same detail about all TEN commandments in the moral law of God written on the heart -- all the while the ceremonial law ends at the cross.
As for animal sacrifice - we have Hebrews 10
4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,
“Sacrifice and offering You have not desired,
But a body You have prepared for Me;
6 In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure.
7 “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(In the scroll of the book it is written of Me)
To do Your will, O God.’”
8 After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
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