The Bible Class

LESSON II. Two kinds of Laws

Questions to Lesson 2^*

In our last lesson we mentioned two kinds of laws. The first is the rule of duty towards God and each other. It is a rule by which we can tell what actions are right and what are wrong. For this reason we call it the moral law. By this law we learn what actions are sinful; for an Apostle says, Sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4. All of us can see, then, that if man had not sinned, he would have kept this law. BIC 5.1

But the other kind of laws was given to man because he was a sinner; that is, because he had transgressed the first law, or the law of right and wrong. This second law we call the ritual, or ceremonial law, because it consisted of rites, or ceremonies, by which the believing, penitent sinner might obtain forgiveness of sins. If men had not broken the moral law of God, they never would have been obliged to perform rites for remission of sins. They never would have been commanded to take an innocent animal from the flock, and offer him, a sacrifice for sin, by shedding his guiltless blood. Those offerings were typical of Christ. The person offering them virtually acknowledged himself worthy of death for his sins, and expressed his faith in Christ, the Lamb of God, who was to come and die for the sins of the world. Now when we read of Christ’s blotting out the hand writing of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross, we know that the law that required those sacrifices for sin, is meant. God never gave man anything that was contrary to him, till he had done contrary to the moral law of God. BIC 6.1

The word law, in the New Testament means, sometimes the first and sometimes the second law. We can always tell which is meant by what is said of it. When Jesus says, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, [Matthew 5:18,] we know that he means the first, or moral law. But when Paul speaks of a law having a shadow of good things to come-which stood only in meats and drinks, (offerings,) and carnal ordinances, (rites and ceremonies,) imposed on them till the time of reformation, (till Christ the better sacrifice was offered,) [Hebrews 10:1; 9:10,] we know that he means the second or ceremonial law. When James pronounces every person guilty who does not keep the whole law, [Chap 2:10,] he speaks of the moral rule of God’s government, which Jesus came not to destroy Matthew 5:17. But when we read of the law of commandments contained in ordinances, those ceremonies are referred to, which Jesus did abolish. Ephesians 2:15. BIC 7.1