Christ in all the scriptures
The law expounded by Moses Deuteronomy 1
"On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law..." Deut.1v5.
The word declare is, in the Hebrew is baw-ar, and means to dig, to engrave. This suggests an in depth proclamation, a detailed exposition of the law of God. It's usage elsewhere in scripture confirms this: Deut. 27v8, referring to the tablets of stone, "Thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly"; Habakkuk 2v2, "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it". Some commentators render it "explain", Darby translated it "unfold". Like the law was engraved, set in stone, so the repetition of it and application of it to the new land must be plainly understood, and accepted by all. This was for Israel, and through them to the whole earth (Deut. 32v1 and others). As something that must be made plain to Israel and to the whole world, it behoves us to familiarise ourselves with its contents.
The Law of God
The law reflects the character of God. Romans 7v12, "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good". God is holy, God is just, and God is good. His law is not arbitrary or capricious. It is unchangeable and imperative for us all.
The law makes ethical and moral demands on humanity before God, to whom we are accountable, because we are made in the image of God (Thou shalt...thou shalt not).
The law is righteous (Deut. 4v8; Psalm 119v137) that is it satisfies the demands of God and is fair and just to all men.
The law is perfect (that is mature) and is able to change lives as nothing else can (Psalm 19v7).
The law is eternal It will outlast the universe, and stand as the framework for godly living to perpetuity-Matthew 24v35, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away".
Adherence to the law will issue in blessing or cursing Deuteronomy 27/28. Blessing is the state of total wellbeing; cursing, the loss of wellbeing.
The law cannot save us James 2v10, "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point is guilty of the whole". No one has kept the law, even Moses disobeyed. The conclusion of scripture is, "there is none righteous, no not one"-Romans 3v10.
The law was designed and given to prove no one could ever keep it Romans 5v20, "The law entered (was introduced) that the offence might abound (to prove the powerful nature of sin). Thus the need for salvation was made clear, and only God can provide it.
The law fulfilled in Jesus
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law , till all be fulfilled"-Matthew 5v17-18.
"What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh"-Romans 8v3. In boundless grace, God sent His Son to do what no man could ever do.
The law brought a curse upon mankind because of sin: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them...Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us...that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ..."-Galatians 3v10-14. Christ took the curse for us and there is only blessing! Through Moses He gave the law to Israel, and through Israel to the world. As it is written, "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ"-John 1v17
God gave the law to Moses; Moses expounded it in graphic detail to Israel; Israel, through Christ and the apostles transmitted it to the world. Now sin has been deposed, and "grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord". Praise God! What a plan! what a beautiful design, what a triumph! Acts 13v39, "By Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses!"
The law fulfilled in us
It was necessary for the law to emerge first, so that we could understand our need of the Saviour Jesus Christ. Now we can keep the law, not for salvation, but for progressive sanctification; as Paul wrote, "That the righteousness of the law be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"-Romans 8v4.
