Lesson 2 --- Which Law Are We Under?

The Open Bible Study Method
Background Studies

Lesson 2
Which law are we under?

Instructions: Please answer the questions from the verses given and supply the verse number where you found the answer.

Galatians 4:21-31 “ Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he whowas of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”

1. Which law did the bondwoman and her son represent?
2. Which law did the free woman and her son represent?
3. Which son represents Christians?
4. What was to be done to the bondwoman and her son?
5. Which son was to inherit everything?
6. Which son was to inherit nothing.
7. Which son represented those who follow the Old Testament?
8. What spiritual things blessings do those who follow the Old Testament inherit?

Jeremiah 31:31-34 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

1) Did Jeremiah say that there would be a “new covenant”?
2) Did this new covenant have to do with complete forgiveness of sins?

Colossians 2:14 “ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”

1. Was the old law against us?
2. Was it contrary to us?
3. Did the old law demand perfection which is contrary to human nature?
4. When was the old law taken away?

Hebrews 8:6-7 “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.”

1. Can you see the concept of two laws here?
2. Which law was better?
3. Which law was established upon better promises?
4. Which law had Christ as its mediator?
5. Which law demanded perfection?
6. Which law provided for forgiveness of sins?

Matthew 5:17-18 “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.”

1. Did Christ come to destroy the law of Moses?
2. What was Christ's purpose?
3. Could any of the old law be taken away before all of it was fulfilled?
4. Can any part of the Law of Moses be in effect, if it has been fulfilled?

Hebrews 7:11-17 “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

1. Could perfection come by the Levitical priesthood?
2. Which priesthood was Christ called after?
3. What had to happen for Christ to become a high priest after the order of Melchizedek?
4. Could Jesus become the High Priest if any of the Law of Moses remained in effect?
5. How long would Jesus be a priest after the order of Melchizedek?

Hebrews 10:9 “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”

1. Did Christ take away the old law?
2. Did Christ establish a second law?
3. Was this the will of God?

Hebrews 9:15-17 “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”

1. By what means did Christ establish the New Testament?
2. Was Christ's death necessary for a change in law?

What was the Purpose of the Old Law?
Galatians 3:24&25 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

1. What was the purpose of the old law?
2. Are we now under the schoolmaster, the old law?

Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

1. Why was the old law written?
2. Should we study the old law?

Hebrew 10:1 “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

1. What did the old law contain?
2. Could the old law make us perfect?

II Timothy 3:16&17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

1. Can the new law make us perfect (thoroughly equipped/mature)?
2. Which law do we wish to follow?

SUMMARY
Is The Law Of Moses Still In Effect?

INSTRUCTIONS: Please write the book, chapter and verse number where the statement is contained.
1) The Law from Moses is represented by the Bondwoman.

2) The New Testament is represented by the Freewoman.

3) Those who follow the Old Testament are represented by the Bondwoman’s son.

4) Christians are represented by the son of the Freewoman.

5) Those who follow the Old Testament receive no inheritance at all.

6) Christians will inherit everything from God.

7) The handwriting of ordinances was against human nature.

8) The Law of Moses was contrary to us.

9) The Old Law was taken away when Jesus was nailed to the cross.

10) The New Testament is better than the Old Testament.

11) The New Testament was established upon better promises.

12) Jesus Christ was the mediator of the New Testament.

13) Jesus did not come to destroy the Law of Moses, but to fulfill it.

14) Either all the Old Testament is in effect or none of it is.

15) Before Jesus could become High Priest, the Law of Moses had to be changed.

16) Jesus came to take away the Old Law and establish a New Law.

17) It was the will of God that this happen.

18) Jesus had to die to fulfill the Law of Moses and bring in a new covenant.

19) The death of Jesus was necessary for the New Testament to come into effect.

What Was The Purpose Of The Law Of Moses?
1) The purpose of the Law of Moses was to lead the world to Jesus.

2) The Old Testament contains a shadow of the New Testament.

3) By studying the Old Testament, we can better understand the New Testament.

4) The Old Testament was written for our learning.

5) The Old Testament could never make its followers perfect.

6) We do not study the Old Law to find commandments that we still obey.

7) We study the Old Testament to see how God feels about obedience to His commandments.