I. Some representative Biblical references to "Law"

   A. Old Testament
         Exod. 24:12 - "I will give you stone tablets with the law"
         Ps. 119:142 - "Thy Law is truth"
         Jere. 31:33 - "I will put My Law within them"
         Dan. 9:11- "all Israel has transgressed Thy Law"
   B. New Testament
         Matt. 5:17 - "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law..."
         Rom. 3:20 - "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified"
         Rom. 7:7 - "Is the Law sin? May it never be!"
         Rom. 10:4 - "Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness"
         Rom. 13:10 - "love is the fulfillment of the law" (cf. Gal. 5:14)
         Gal. 5:18 - "you are not under the Law"

II. Explanation of the Biblical usage of "Law"

    A. Law in the Old Testament
         1. Hebrew word torah means "direction, guidance, instruction."
         2. Torah is used 220 times in Hebrew Old Testament.
         3. Synonymns of "Law" in Old Testament
              a. Commandment - Exod. 16:28
              b. Ordinance - Lev. 19:37
              c. Statute - Lev. 18:4,5
              d. Admonition - Neh. 9:34
              e. Precept - Ps. 119:168
              f. Decree - Ps. 2:7
    B. Law in the New Testament
         1. Greek word for "law" is nomos.
              a. Greeks used the word for social law.
              b. Used 196 times in Greek New Testament.
         2. Nomos used to refer to Old Testament law.
              a. Entire Old Testament - John 10:34;12:34; 15:25
              b. First five books - Lk. 24:44; Rom. 3:21
              c. Mosaic law; Decalogue - Rom. 5:13,14; Gal. 3:17

III. Judaism interpreted "Law" as a legal codification of behavioral standards

    A. Law became regulations of external behavioral activity.
    B. Theological categorizations of behavior
         1. Religious, ceremonial, ritual, cultic.
         2. Civil, social, political, judicial.
         3. Moral, ethical, personal, individual.

IV. Purposes of the "Law" within the historical intents of God

   A. Instrumental purpose of the Law.
         1. To reveal the character of God
         2. To reveal sin - Rom. 3:20; 7:7,13
              a. Not to promote sin - Rom. 5:20; 7:9; I Cor. 15:56
         3. To reveal the coming of Messiah/Savior - Preparational
              a. Pictorial.
                   (1) Promises - Rom. 1:2; 3:21; 16:26
                   (2) Shadows - Heb. 8:5; 9:9; 10:1; 11:19
              b. Custodial.
                   (1) "In custody" - Gal. 3:23
                   (2) Paidagogos - Gal. 3:24
                          (a) Guardian, attendant
                          (b) Not educator, teacher, tutor
    B. NO behavioral purpose of the Law.
         1. Law pertained to human behavioral practice, but there was not a divine behavioral purpose.
         2. Religious and political man tries to use God's law for functional, behavioral, moral
             purposes.
    C. NO vital purpose of the Law.
         1. God's Life not made available in God's Law.
              a. Not in Scripture - John 5:39,40
              b. Not in Law - Gal. 3:21
              c. Other verses to consider - Rom. 10:5; Gal. 3:12; Rom. 7:10
         2. God's Righteousness not made available in God's Law.
              a. Jewish religionists thought there was righteousness in the law - Rom. 10:3; Phil. 3:6,9.
              b. Paul denies - Rom. 3:20,28; 10:4; Gal. 2:16,21; 3:11; 5:4

V. New Covenant perspective of the Law

    A. Affirmation of the Law.
         1. Jesus and the Law.
              a. Born under the law - Gal. 4:4
              b. Disassociated Himself from Law - Jn 8:17; 10:34; 15:25
              c. Reinterpreted Law - Matt. 5:21-48
              d. Added to Law - John 13:34
         2. Law in the rest of the New Testament - Rom. 3:31; 7:12,14,16; 8:4; I Cor. 7:19; Gal. 3:21;
              James 4:11; I Jn. 2:3,4; 3:4; 5:2,3
    B. Abrogation of the Law.
         1. Inadequacy of the Law
              a. No life - Gal. 3:21
              b. No righteousness - Rom. 3:20,28; Gal. 2:16,21
              c. No freedom - Acts 13:29
              d. No perfection - Heb. 7:11,12,18,19;8:7
         2. Temporality of the Law - Heb. 7:24; 8:13; II Cor. 3:11; Rom. 10:4
         3. Abolishing of the Law
              a. Objective - Eph. 2:14,15; Col. 2:13,14
              b. Subjective
                  (1) Dead to the Law - Rom. 7:4,6; Gal. 2:19; Col. 2:20
                  (2) Released from the Law - Rom. 7:6
                  (3) Not under Law - Gal. 3:25; I Cor. 9:20; Rom. 6:14,15;6:14,15; Gal. 5:18
    C. Application of the Law.
         1. What purpose would it serve? Instrumental? Behavioral? Vital?
         2. To whom would it apply? Jews? Non-Christians? Christians?
         3. How should Christians view the Law?
              a. Connection
              b. Appreciation
              c. Not repudiation
              d. Not legalism
         4. The divine directive of God.
              a. Christ, the living Torah
                  (1) Law of Christ - I Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2
                  (2) law of faith - Rom. 6:14
                  (3) law of Spirit - Rom. 8:2
                  (4) perfect law - James 1:25
                  (5) law of liberty - James 1:25;2:12
                  (6) royal law - James 2:8
                  (7) law written on hearts -Heb. 8:10;10:16
              b. Law fulfilled in Christian-Rom. 8:4; 13:8,10; Gal. 5:14; 6:2
                  (1) Grace of God
                  (2) Ontological dynamic of Jesus Christ