True Christian Religion (Chadwick) n. 288

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288. The law is frequently mentioned in the Word. I must state what the law means in the strict sense, what in a wider sense, and what in the widest sense. In the strict sense the law means the Ten Commandments; in a wider sense the rules given by Moses to the Children of Israel, and in the widest sense the whole Word.

It is well known that the law in the strict sense means the Ten Commandments. The law in a wider sense means the rules given by Moses to the Children of Israel, as is evident from the individual rules in Leviticus each being called a law:

This is the law of the sacrifice. Lev. 7:1.

This is the law of the sacrifice for making one's peace. Lev. 7:7, 11.

This is the law of the grain-offering. Lev. 6:14ff

This is the law of the burnt-offering, the grain-offering, the sin-sacrifice and the guilt-sacrifice, and the completions. Lev. 7:37.

This is the law of beast and bird. Lev. 11:46, 47.

This is the law of the woman who gives birth to a son or a daughter. Lev. 12:7.

This is the law of leprosy. Lev. 13:59; 14:2, 32, 54, 57

This is the law of the person with a discharge. Lev. 15:32.

This is the law of jealousy. Num. 5:29, 30.

This is the law of the Nazirite. Num. 6:13, 21.

This is the law of cleansing. Num. 19:14.

This is the law concerning the red cow. Num. 19:2.

The law for the king. Deut. 17:15-19.

In fact the whole book of Moses* is called the law (Deut. 31:9, 11, 12, 26; also in the New Testament, as Luke 2:22; 24:44; John 1:45; 7:22, 23; 8:5; and elsewhere).

[2] The context plainly shows that these rules were what Paul meant by 'the deeds prescribed by the law', when he says that man is justified by faith without the deeds prescribed by the law (Rom. 3:28). The same is shown by his words to Peter, whom he criticised for behaving like the Jews, when he says three times in one verse that no one is justified by the deeds prescribed by the law (Gal. 2:14, 16).

The law in its widest sense means the whole of the Word, as is plain from these passages:

Jesus said, Is it not written in your law, you are gods? John 10:34.

This is said in Ps. 82:6.

The crowd answered, We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever. John 12:34.

This is said in Ps. 89:29; Ps. 110:4; Dan. 7:14.

That the word should be fulfilled which is written in their law, They hated me without cause. John

This is said in Ps. 35:19.

The Pharisees said, Have any of the princes believed in him? But the crowd which does not know the law.... John 7:48, 49.

It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one dot of the law to fall out. Luke 16:17.

The law in these passages means the whole of Holy Scripture; and there are a thousand further passages in the Psalms of David.

* I.e. the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).


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