The perpetual obligation of the Decalogue implies, of course, the
perpetual obligation of the Sabbath as enjoined in the fourth
commandment. But if _that_ was abrogated, the Sabbath which it
enjoined was also abrogated; and, consequently, it ceases to be
binding, unless renewed under the new economy. What, then, is the
proof here relied upon? One of the principal passages in which this
proof is supposed to be contained is 2 Corinthians 3:7, 8, 13. "But if
the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was
glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold
the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to
be done away, how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather
glorious?... And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that
the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that
which is abolished." It is argued from this passage, that the clauses
"which glory was to be done away," and "to the end of that which is
abolished," refer to the whole law, _moral_ as well as _ritual_,
because mention is made of "that which was written and engraven in
stones," which is an evident allusion to the Decalogue. But, on
careful examination, it will be found that "that which was to be done
away," was not the _Decalogue itself_, but "the _ministration_ of it,"
which was then appointed--the same being emblematically illustrated by
the glory of Moses' countenance, which was merely temporary. This
clause refers expressly to the glory of his countenance, and not to
the glory of the law itself. So also the clause "that which is
abolished," does not refer to the Decalogue, but to the ministration
of Moses, including the appended rites and usages, the priesthood and
its sacrifices, which were useful merely for the time being. It cannot
be supposed that the Decalogue was abolished, without expressly
contradicting Christ's testimony, Matt. 5:17-19, as well as many other
representations of the Scriptures. The abolishment spoken of,
therefore, evidently respected no other than what the Apostle calls in
another place "the law of commandments contained in ordinances,"
inclusive of the entire ministration of Moses. There is unquestionably
a reference in this chapter to the Decalogue, but not as abolished. It
was merely the ministration of it, or the then instituted manner of
teaching, illustrating, and enforcing it, which was abolished, to be
succeeded by a new ministration of the same law by the Spirit. For it
is written, "I will put my law"--(the very law of the ten
commandments)--"in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts."
Again, "We are not without law to God, but under the law to Christ."
What law but the Decalogue is here referred to? Evidently none. For
surely we are not under the Mosaic ritual. Again, "Do we make void the
law through faith?... Yea, we establish the law." The same, no doubt,
which was contained in the Decalogue. Hence, the Apostle James says,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account