The law that is established vs. the shadow that is no more.

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These are constantly conflated by Christians, and can only lead to gross error.

The Law Which Is Established

The writings of the Disciples of Christ contain clear evidence that the Law is still relevant to Christians and the Ten Commandments are highlighted. Rather than delivering a fatal blow to the Dual Law Theory the Epistles clearly show a law that is to be observed by Christians which is based on the Ten Commandments and laws which are abolished because of Christ's death. The following scriptures prove this point.

The Law Based On The Ten Commandments Is For Christians
• Acts 22:12 - Ananias was a Christian (Acts 9:10-14) but was described as a devout man according to the Law and having a good report of Jews in Damascus. Could this be possible if he did not keep the Ten Commandments?

Romans 2:12,13, 16, 21, 22 - All Men, both Jews and Gentiles, are required to obey the Law.Gentiles will perish without it and Jews who have it will be judged according to how they treated it. This is according to the Gospel (vs. 16). The Law which Paul is referring to is based on the Ten Commandments (vs. 21, 22).

Romans 3:20 - "...for by the Law is the knowledge of sin."

Romans 7:7 - Paul would not have known sin but by the Law. The law which says,"Thou shall not covet", is of the Ten Commandments. Hence, Paul is clearly saying the law based on the Ten Commandments is used by the Christian to identify what is sin.

Romans 7:12,14 - The Law and the commandment referred to above is called holy, just and good and also spiritual.

Romans 7:25 - Paul serves the Law of God.

Serve - DOULEUO (GRK.) - to be subject and serve in subjection.

• Romans 8:4 - The righteousness of the Law will be be fulfilled in those who walk after the Spirit. The righteousness of the Law includes the Ten Commandments. (See Romans 2:21-26).

Romans 8:7 - The person who is carnal, i.e. the opposite of spiritual, will not be subject to the Law of God. This means that someone who is spiritual must be subject to the Law of God.

Subject - HUPOTASSO (GRK.) - to subordinate, to obey. Paul had said before that the Law is spiritual. (Romans 7:14)

• Romans 13:8-10 - No man can love properly unless he had fulfilled the Law. The Law defines love (Matthew 22:36-40). No one can claim to love according to their own standard and say this is fulfilling the Law. It is only when the Law is fulfilled or done completely that we can say we have love. It is clear that the Law being referred to here is based on the Ten Commandments (vs. 9).

II Corinthians 3:1-3 - This passage implies that what was written on the tables of stone, i.e. the Ten Commandments are now to be in the table of our hearts. As the Corinthian's lives show them to be of Christ. Notice, that which was written with ink is now accomplished by the Spirit of God or by faith while that on stones must be in the heart to be manifested in their way of life. (See also Hebrews 8:10)

• Galatians 5:1-6 - Again, Paul states "faith which worketh by love" (vs. 6) but; what is love? Romans 13:8-10; I John 5:3; shows that this involves the keeping of the Ten Commandments.

• Galatians 5:22-23 - The fruit of the Spirit conforms to a particular law i.e. there is no law against it. This implies that there is a law which is against the works of the flesh which is the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit. Which law is this? (See Galatians 5: 19-21).

• I Corinthians 9:20-21 - Paul admitted to doing things which would cause him to be identified with Jews who still observed the Old Covenant. (i.e. under the Law, vs. 20). (See Acts 21:21-26; 16:1-3). With Gentiles he did not behave that way however, as he could ignore those things which are no longer relevant because of Christ's death. He was not completely without law as he was "Not without Law to God, but under the Law to Christ." (vs. 21) He is not under the Law of Christ but under the Law to Christ. This ultimately means, he keeps a part of the Law but faith in Christ has replaced another part. (See Galatians 5:l- 6; I Corinthians 7:19; Hebrews 9:15).

• I Timothy 1:8-11 - This passage continues Paul's teaching about the proper use of the Law in the New Covenant. It is often misunderstood by lawbreakers as they quote a part of the passage and say, "The Law is not made for the righteous man." They ignore "But we know that the Law is good if a man use it lawfully." Paul in this passage describes breakers of the Ten Commandments and in the same order as they were given in Exodus 20:1-16. He says these actions were "contrary to sound doctrine; according to the glorious gospel..." (I Timothy 1:10-11). Hence, the Ten Commandments is used in the New Covenant to identify sin and sinners. The Ten Commandments must be observed by those who have believed the gospel. If they do, then the urgings of this Law would no longer be against them as they would be among the righteous, but it would be against those who are sinners and would signal to the righteous when he is straying. This is the lawful use of the Law(Romans 3:20; 7:7; I John 3:4).

• Hebrews 8:8,10; 10:16 - These passages clearly state that the Law is a part of the New Covenant. The Law is to be placed in our hearts. God is the one who does this. Note also that the New Covenant is made with Israel, not with Gentiles. Gentiles are grafted in to learn the ways of Israel in order to be a part of the Covenant and be the people of God.(Romans 11: 17-25; Jeremiah 12:14-17; Isaiah 56:1-8). The Law is very much a part of the New Covenant and the Ten Commandments are the basis of this Law ( Romans 2:21-22; 7:7; 13:8-10).

• James 2:8-13 - James is writing to those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is writing about what Christian conduct should be like. He addresses the subject of partiality in chapter 2 and appeals to the Law as that which shows when a transgression has occurred. (James 2:1-4, 8, 9). Convinced - ELENCHO (GRK.) - to convict, to admonish. It is clear that the Royal Law refers to the Ten Commandments. (See Romans 13:9). The believer in Christ is encouraged to keep this law and is also warned that he will be judged by the Law of Liberty. Which law is this? It is clearly a reference to the Ten Commandments. (See James 2:11-12; Romans 2:12,17-22).

The Christian is expected to keep the whole law. (See James 2:10). This whole law cannot include sacrifices and offerings, as we have seen before that Christians are not required to observe these. Hence, this whole law is not a reference to the entire Old Covenant but refers to what is called the Royal Law and the Law of Liberty. This must include the Ten Commandments and is summarized as God's desire to teach us how to love. The commands outside of the Ten Commandments like James 2:9 and Leviticus 19:15 are explanations and expansions which show the depth of how we should love and hence show the depth of the Ten Commandments.

• I John 3:4 - This is a most profound statement. It clearly states that sin is the transgression of the Law. The Christian is not expected to sin but is expected to obey God's Law. The trend of John's reasoning shows that this is a reference to the Ten Commandments. The action of Cain is shown to be one of a sinner and this is because he disobeyed, "Thou shalt not kill" (I John 3:12). To "love one another" is a clear reference to the Ten Commandments. (See Romans 13:9).

II Timothy 3:15-17 - Timothy is told by Paul that he knew the Holy Scriptures from a child. This could not be, what we call, the New Testament or the Greek Scriptures, but are the Law and Prophets. When Paul wrote to Timothy, many of the books comprising the Greek Scriptures were not yet written and they were not organized or compiled as we have them today. Hence, Paul is telling Timothy to use the Law and the Prophets for Christian doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness and that this will make him perfect and thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Unlike many today, Paul is clearly saying the Law and Prophets are needed to make us perfect as Christians. This is because it contains the basis of Christian living i.e. the Ten Commandments, its expansions and explanations. It contains the Law which is to be in our hearts. (Hebrews 8:10).

• James 1:25 - As the Law and Prophets are used to make us perfect as was seen in I Timothy3:15- 17. It is also shown by James that the Law which is to be observed is called perfect. We have shown previously that the Law of Liberty statement is a reference to the Ten Commandments and its expansion and explanations. (James 2:11-12).

From the above, it is clear that Christianity is associated with a law which is holy, just and good, spiritual, which shows what is sin, should be fulfilled in us, Christians should be subject to, shows what is love, should be in our hearts, is of liberty, makes perfect, is perfect and will judge all persons including Christians. It is clearly seen that the Ten Commandments is the basis of this Law which can be summarized as love (Romans 13:9).

 

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The Law Of Sacrifices i.e. The Shadows Are No More

The reason why the above scriptures are ignored, avoided, belittled and misinterpreted is because there are other scriptures which speak negatively of Law. Could these passages also be referring to the Ten Commandments? This is impossible as the scriptures and in fact the apostles who wrote them would be confused and also contradictory.

When examined carefully, it is seen that these passages are references to laws which the death and resurrection of Christ has caused to be redundant. These include laws for punishment and atonement for sins. They had been put in place to be temporary practices which show the work which the Lord Jesus would come to do. They involved a tabernacle or temple in which priests made sacrifices and offerings. All of this system which foreshadowed or previewed what Christ would do has now been abolished. These laws and practices were concerned with the punishment or forgiveness of sins and not with; what is sin. The Law, based on the Ten Commandments, is that law which show us what is sin.

Take note of the following:
• Romans 3:20 (a) - Paul would seem to be contradicting himself as he previously said the doers of the Law are justified. (Romans 2:13). The context of this statement however shows he is speaking about the forgiveness of sins to make one right before God rather than right doing. The Law cannot forgive sins but this is achieved by the shedding of Christ's blood. (See Romans 3:21-25). The Law which foreshadowed the atoning work of Christ is not the Ten Commandments.

• Romans 6:14 - This passage shows that the Grace of God has replaced those practices in the Law which were to be done when sin is committed. Under Grace means, sin is forgiven by Jesus' death but under Law it would be punishments or sacrifices for atonement. (See Romans 3:24-25; Hebrews 10:1-4, 28).

• Romans 7:6- This passage shows that the believer is not delivered from keeping the Ten Commandments but from a system which brought death upon him because it had no provisions for the forgiveness of sin.

• Romans 8:3 - It has been clearly established that the Law could not forgive sins and this was its weakness. Christ, by His sacrifice, condemned sin and hence, through Him, not through bulls and goats, we are able to be forgiven. (Galatians3:13).

• II Corinthians 3:7-11 - Shows that it is not the Ten Commandments which minister death but sin. What is done away is the Old Covenant, which, because the shadows could not truly remove sin, actually left all condemned. (Hebrews 10:1-4).

•Galatians 2:16; 3:11;5:4 - The justification being referred to here again is the forgiveness of sins. As was said before, the Law had no provision for the forgiveness of sins. Only faith in the sacrifice of Christ can achieve this. (Romans 3:21-25).

• Galatians 3:10,13 - Many boldly claim, from this passage, that the Law is a curse and all who observe the Ten Commandments are under a curse. However, a little research would show what is the true meaning of this passage. This statement by Paul is based upon the agreement or covenant made by the people of Israel just before entering the promised land. They agreed to a curse being upon them if they failed to obey the commands of God. (Deuteronomy 27:11-26). This is the curse of the Law. All who sinned would be under this curse. Christ has redeemed us from this curse by His sacrifice on the cross. (Galatians 3:13-14). Again, we are forgiven through Christ, something the Law could not do.

Galatians 3:24-25 - Again, faith in Christ's sacrifice replaces the schoolmaster. This again has to do with the treatment of sin. Instead of the schoolmaster we are justified or cleared of sin though faith in Christ and motivated to do right by His sacrifice, not by the threat of punishment. The schoolmaster is not an instructor but a guardian or guide
Ephesians 2:15 - It is the sacrifice of the Lord's flesh which has caused commandments contained in ordinances to be abolished. They must then have been those commands of the sacrificial system which also restricted the participation of Gentiles unless certain conditions were met. (Exodus 12:43-49). Gentiles were also restricted from certain positions. In Christ, this is not so. (See Leviticus 22:10-13; Deuteronomy 17:15). Israel was also warned not to make covenants with uncircumcised Gentiles. (See Exodus 23:32-33; Deuteronomy 7:2-6; Acts 10:28). These were the enmity and middle wall of partition broken down by Christ's death and the coming of the New Covenant. (Ephesians 2:14).

• Colossians 2:14-17 - This passage expands on the one above and shows what some of the ordinances were. Meat and drink refers to the offering made for the atonement of sin. The yearly feasts and Sabbaths which occur during their observance are the Shadows being referred to. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross has replaced all of these. His body has replaced the Shadows which are the sacrifices and ceremonies in which they occurred. (See Leviticus 23:4-44; Hebrews 9:1-15; 10:1-10).

• Hebrews 10:1 - This passage is often used to say the Law was a shadow. This would be a reference to the whole Law or to the Ten Commandments, but note it says the Law "having" a shadow of good things. This is explained by Hebrews 9:1-15, and as the passage continues, the Shadows are shown to be the sacrifices offered year by year. Hence, the Law is not a shadow but contained shadows of what Christ would come to do. (Hebrews 10:1-10).

• Hebrews 7:16-19 - This passage is used to say the Ten Commandments are carnal, disannulled, not perfect. It is clear, from the passage, that the word commandment does not refer to the Ten but to the command concerning the Priesthood. The command was carnal, as the Priest could not last forever as Christ has. It is this command which is disannulled and the perfection required was that which came from the forgiveness of sin which the sacrifices in the Law could not do. This passage simply shows that the priesthood of Christ is superior to the Aaronic priesthood and hence, all the laws regulating this system are no longer needed. (See Hebrews 7:11-14, 28; Exodus 28:1). When it says, "For under it the people received the Law", it refers to the teaching mandate received by the Priests to teach the law to the people. (See Leviticus 10:8-11; Malachi 2:7)

From the above, it is clear that there is a law or set of laws which Christians do not need to observe. They are; not able to justify, Christians are not under them, we are delivered from them, weak, administration of death, a curse, a schoolmaster, the enmity which is abolished, shadows which are against us, contrary to us, carnal, disannulled, not perfect, unprofitable.

Could these very opposite descriptions be speaking of the same law or laws? This is impossible: It is perfectly justified for the Law of God to be divided into:

(i) the Ten Commandments and its expansions and explanations and;
(ii) the sacrificial system and the judgements against sin.
(i) Shows what is sin and (ii) shows how sin is punished or atoned for.

Careful study of the scriptures show that the Dual Law Theory is a valid one, not necessarily in the way explained by others, but as clearly seen in the scriptures.​