Lesson for March 12, 2025

The Mosaic Law

Lesson 3

Limitations of the Mosaic Law

The Mosaic Law could not justify anyone before God. (Acts 13:39; Philippian 3:9) The Law was given as a system for understanding sin, not as a system of salvation. The Law pointed to the fact that people needed salvation, but it was not the means of that salvation. The Mosaic Law revealed the means of salvation as faith in Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah. Many Jews participated in the rituals of the Mosaic Law without relating them to the reality of Christ as Savior. This was a failure on the part of the Levitical priests to understand and teach the nation of Israel the true meaning of the rituals.

The purpose of the Mosaic Law was, first and foremost, to reveal Adam’s original sin and the spiritual death that resulted. Salvation could not be achieved by keeping the principles of the Law. Salvation has always been and will always be through faith in Jesus Christ (as He is revealed to a specific generation) and His work on the Cross of paying the penalty for sin. (Galatians 2:15-16) 

The Mosaic Law did provide a spiritual life for those who believed in the coming Messiah for salvation. The instructions for developing a spiritual life were given to believers in the Age of Israel in the Ordinances. The instructions were primarily related to faith-rest, which was learning and claiming the promises of God. There was also a requirement to stay in fellowship with God by using the Rebound Technique of confessing your sins. (Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13)

The Mosaic Law established the Levitical priesthood to teach God’s principles and laws to the people of Israel. The Tabernacle and its contents were provided as a place for communicating salvation through the furniture and the rituals performed in it. (Hebrews 9:1-7) The Mosaic Law set up animal sacrifices as a teaching aid to demonstrate the judgment that would fall upon the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 9:12-22)

Hebrews 7:18, ^“For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment (the Mosaic Law) because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better hope (the Law of Christ), through which we come near to God.”

The Mosaic Law in the Church Age

The termination of the Mosaic Law does not leave believers or unbelievers with a license to commit sin or engage in sinful or unlawful acts. (Romans 6:15-16) God’s perfect character remains unchanged through all dispensations in history. God continues to provide ethical norms, morality, virtue, and spiritual instruction in the Bible. Although there are no contradictions with the principles of the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ, during the Church Age believers operate their spiritual lives according to the Law of Christ. The Church Age derives its instructions from the New Testament epistles. (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:2-6; Colossians 1:25-27)

The Mosaic Law was revealed to Old Testament writers. Therefore, it cannot be part of Church Age doctrine. When principles of the Mosaic Law apply to the Church, they do so, not because the Church is still under the Mosaic Law, but because they are repeated as principles to the Church for Christian living. (Romans 13:1-10)

The Mosaic Law was written for our example to never turn away from the Lord but to stay faithful to God and His Word. What happened to Israel when they rebelled against God could happen to the Church, as well. I Corinthians 10:11-12, “Now these things happened to them (Israel) as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Divine Form of Government

To prevent people from destroying themselves, God introduced human government as a ruling factor for a nation. Human government was given by God for all nations. It was the confusion of languages and the dispersion of mankind that God used to introduce human government into the human race. (Genesis 11:1-9)

As history has progressed, nations have risen and fallen, some good, some bad, but the concept of nations still exists. It is when individual nations come together under a “one-world government” (as in the Tribulation) that freewill will no longer exist, marriage and family will disintegrate, and the practice of nationalism will not be allowed. Nations are designed by God for the perpetuation of the human race, for freedom to accept or reject Jesus Christ, freedom to worship, freedom to succeed or fail, and protection from interior and exterior predators. It is the human race who corrupts this divine institution and introduces evil into a nation.

Under God’s grace policy, certain divine laws were established to ensure the function and the perpetuation of the human race. These principles or laws are called The Laws of Divine Establishmentand were given by God to believers and unbelievers alike. Within these laws, there is no discrimination based on race, nationality, gender, or any other factor.

God’s Laws of Divine Establishment apply equally to all members of the human race, in all dispensations. This means that anyone, believer or unbeliever, can have a peaceful, happy life, if they apply these principles. On the other hand, failure to abide by these principles or laws by individuals or nations brings disaster. 

Wise political leaders in the Church Age, who desire prosperity for their nation, will use principles found in the Mosaic Law, and integrate them into their culture and heritage.

Divine Institutions

A divine institution is a law or principle established by God for the entire human race for all dispensations. There are four:

1. Freewill – Freewill sets up the potential for everything in life. It guarantees the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Violation of God’s establishment laws or the laws of the land can negate this potential. Freewill also guarantees human freedom and privacy. It gives every human being the right to accept or reject Jesus Christ as Savior. Attempting to force people to believe in Christ and forming a “Christian nation” would be tyranny. (John 3:16,18,36)
2. Marriage – Biblical marriage is a union between one man and one woman. The stability of a nation depends upon the institution of marriage. Breakdown of marriages and the home inevitably leads to the destruction of that nation. Marriage guidelines are presented throughout Scripture for believers and unbelievers. God has provided detailed guidelines for marriage, such as, believers should never marry unbelievers. (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:21-33)
3. Family – The family is designed by God for the perpetuation of the human race. Children who are trained properly by their parents grow up to be good citizens of the nation, whether they are believers or not. One of the basic concepts that needs to be taught is respect for authority. Proper training ensures at least a good possibility that a person will utilize the Laws of Divine Establishment, even if they don’t call them by that name. (Ephesians 6:1-4)
4. Nationalism – Nationalism is defined as loyalty, devotion, and allegiance to a nation – patriotism. In order to provide protection for a nation and its citizens, God established the authority of human government. Nations were established to provide basic freedoms. These freedoms are privacy, the right to succeed or fail, protection from outside predators, freedom to accept or reject Jesus Christ, freedom of worship, and freedom of free enterprise. By following this divine establishment law of nationalism, everyone is free to pursue their dreams. (Genesis 10:5; Deuteronomy 32:8; Romans 13:1-7)