A. Introduction.
1. The title of this article is not quite correct. It speaks of the fact that the ceremonial law has been abolished; while the article speaks not only of the ceremonial law, but of the entire law. And, the article does not teach that it has been abolished, but rather that the use is abolished, while the substance and truth remains.
2. This article was written against:
a. Roman Catholicism. We need only think of the emphasis which the church of Rome places upon her eucharist, her images, her pope and priesthood, her hallowing of buildings and vessels.
b. Chiliasm. Although perhaps our fathers did not have those in mind who entertain fond chiliastic dreams, nevertheless they stand condemned by this article. The basic error of Chiliasm or Pre-millennialism is that it separates the Old and the New Dispensations finding no relation between them at all. The article rather emphasizes that the law and the prophets have all been fulfilled in Christ, and thus their use for Christians has been abolished while their substance remains in the Church of all ages.
B. The purpose of the law in the Old Dispensation.
1. The article does not specifically mention, but clearly implies that the entire law is meant. This law is usually divided into:
a. The moral law briefly summarized in the ten commandments.
b. The ceremonial law which directed Israel’s life as a church and which included all the laws concerning sacrifices, feast days, cleansings, etc.
c. The civil law governing Israel’s life as a nation and including laws concerning crimes, family rights, property rights, etc.
2. The purpose of the law.
a. They were given to form Israel into a separate nation and the people of God. Christ had not yet come and the blood of atonement had not yet been shed. The Lord had not yet been exalted, and His Spirit poured out upon His church. Yet God would have a people also in the Old Testament who would walk before Him as His own chosen people in the midst of the world. Laws were given to distinguish them sharply from the whole world about them and indelibly mark them as God’s church.
b. Yet Israel could never keep the law.
1) After all, the law demanded perfect obedience in every respect. And simply outward conformity to the external principles of the law was never sufficient. God Himself repeatedly warns the people that He is weary of their sacrifices when they are externally offered and not accompanied by a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
2) Therefore the law not only said, “Do this and thou shalt live”, but also, “Accursed is every one that does not abide in all that is written in the book of the law to do it.” For this reason, the law led to slavery, and the true people of God groaned beneath the burden of the law.
3) Thus the law was also intended to be a schoolmaster to lead the people to Christ. Israel in the Old Dispensation was as a child that had not yet come to years of maturity and had to be led by the hand of the law until the time when they were old enough to receive their inheritance through the out-pouring of the Spirit.
C. The abolishing of the ceremonies and figures; the retaining of the substance.
1. With the coming of Christ, the entire law was fulfilled.
a. Christ came as the only One Who could keep the law of God not only with respect to its outward form, but especially with respect to its inward reality. “I come to do Thy will O Lord”.
b. Thus Christ was at times bent on keeping the letter of the law; while at other times he scorned the mere outward observance and damned the Pharisees for their hypocrisy.
2. Thus when Christ came, the shadows of the law fled away.
a. The law all pointed ahead to Christ. He was the reality. When He came as the eternal High Priest and as the perfect Lamb of God to offer the perfect sacrifice for sin, the shadows of the law had no more place nor purpose.
b. Christ, even in the Old Dispensation cast upon the nation the shadows of Himself. But when the day broke, and the Sun of Righteousness appeared with healing in His wings, the shadows fled away. The veil of the temple was rent at the moment that Christ died; and that marked the end of all that pertained to the economy of the Old Dispensation.
3. But the substance of the law remained.
a. Christ is the real substance of all the law.
b. Hence, the substance of them could never perish, Israel still is, but is no more the Jewish nation, but the true Israel of God; Jerusalem still is, but no more the earthly city,-it is the spiritual city of God; Canaan still is, but not in the land of Palestine, but it is the inheritance of the people of God in that city which hath foundations; God’s temple and tabernacle still are, but they are the covenant fellowship of God with His people in Christ. Christ is our Prophet and Priest and King, and we are a royal priesthood in Him. He is the fulfillment of all the sacrifices. Washings and cleansings still exist, but in the sanctified heart of the elect child of God. Tithes and firstfruits still have their place, but are now the true sacrifies of our thanksgiving. Fasting is changed in Christ to the real sorrow of a contrite heart. All the inward substance of the entire law of God is written upon the hearts of the people of God by an act of sovereign grace thorough the perfect sacrifice of Christ.
D. The purpose of the law for us.
1. This does not mean that we have nothing to do with the law or with the Old Dispensation anymore.
2. On the contrary, it still has a purpose for us who live in the end of the ages.
a. They are for our instruction. In as far as they show that the Lord fulfills His promises, they confirm our faith and help us to understand the reality.
b. In the substance of the law there were also eternal principles of truth and righteousness which regulate our life and walk in the world. The law reveals sin, points us to Calvary, and is the rule of a life of gratitude to the praise and glory of our God.