Faith Vs. The Law Of Moses:
It is important in our discussion of faith to look briefly at the
Law of Moses compared to faith. Many scriptures are devoted to this one
topic:
As Background:
Despite the many men and women of faith in the Old Testament, there were many
who continued to sin.
 In the time of Moses, after he had led the
Israelites out of Egypt, God gave the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. This Law
consists of the 10 commandments and the many other laws given by God to the
Israelites.
The Law of Moses was a covenant between God and
the Israelites (for more information, see Lesson 3 -
The One True God). This Law of Moses was
given by God because of their transgressions or sin against God. The Law
of Moses was to
remain in place until Jesus came (Jesus was the promised seed from whom all
nations would be blessed):
 "Why
the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained
through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom
the promise had been made." Galatians 3:19 (NAS)
Saved by Works of the Law of Moses?
After the Jews received the law from Moses, they began to follow it...then they would fall away. They would come back to God again...and
then they would fall away again. In later times, especially in the days of Jesus, many Jews felt that they
could earn their own salvation by following perfectly (or near perfectly) the
Law of Moses. Many Jews didn't realize that the works of the Law of Moses
could never save them.
"...because
by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight..." Romans 3:20
(NAS)
For the Law, since it has only a shadow of
the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same
sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who
draw near.
2
Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be
offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have
had consciousness of sins?
3
But in those sacrifices there
is a reminder of sins year by year.
4
For it is impossible
for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." Hebrews 10:1-4 (NAS)
The Law of Moses (which came ~400 years after the call of Abraham) did not
invalidate the covenant that God made with Abraham:
"Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to
his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to
one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.
17
What I am
saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does
not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the
promise." Galatians 3:16-17 (NAS)
Question:
According to Hebrews 10:1-4, it was ____________ for the sacrifices of bulls
and goats performed according to the Law of Moses to take away sins. (fill
in the blank) |
Site Home
More Info
The
law is only a shadow of the good things that are
coming-- not the realities themselves. For this
reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated
endlessly year after year, make perfect those who
draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not
have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would
have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer
have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those
sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because
it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to
take away sins. (NIV)
For
the law, having a shadow of the good things to come,
and not the very image of the things, can never with
these same sacrifices, which they offer continually
year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For
then would they not have ceased to be offered? For
the worshipers, once purified, would have had no
more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those
sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and
goats could take away sins. (NKJ)
For
the law having a shadow of the good (things) to
come, not the very image of the things, can never
with the same sacrifices year by year, which they
offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.
2 Else would they not have ceased to be offered?
because the worshippers, having been once cleansed,
would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But
in those (sacrifices) there is a remembrance made of
sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible that the
blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. (ASV)
For
the law having a shadow of good things to come, and
not the very image of the things, can never with
those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For
then would they not have ceased to be offered?
because that the worshippers once purged should have
had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those
sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins
every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood
of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (KJV)