What about the passage above—Christ is the end of the Law? Does this mean that the Law of Moses has been abolished?

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Hebrews 8:10)

We see that the Torah, rather than being done away, is moved from stone and parchment to the mind and heart of the worshiper. It is not the statutes of the Law of Moses that are moved to the mind and heart of the worshiper but the eternal law of God, of which the Law of Moses is an abridged, negative form.

It is not enough to claim we are not under the Law but under grace unless we are ready to explain precisely what we mean.

It is not enough to state that Christ is the end of the Law, in the sense of abolishing the Law, unless we are able to show how our position fits Hebrews 8:10. The Greek term translated "end," in Romans 10:4, sometimes means termination, and on other occasions gives the idea of end result, as in the following:

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (I Peter 1:9)

Then we would have, "Christ is the end result, or fulfillment, of the Law of Moses." All was fulfilled in Him, not necessarily abolished in the sense that God has changed His mind concerning man's moral obligations.

The Elements of the Law

One reason for the lack of clarity in our insistence that we are not under the Law but under grace is that the Law has many different components. Some of the components, such as the animal sacrifices and the priesthood, have been done away. Other statutes, particularly those concerning moral behavior, are not to be transgressed at any time.

The Ten Commandments are the best known part of the Law of Moses. They are a summary of the Law and often seem to be what Paul means primarily when he refers to the Law.

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Romans 13:8,9)

While the following is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of the elements of the Torah, it may give us an idea of the diverse aspects of which the Law is composed.

The animal sacrifices.

The ordinances of the priesthood and of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. The feast days. Dietary regulations, washing of dishes and pots.

Property and money ownership and management, tithing, usury and interest, the redemption of land.

Marriage and divorce. Special dress, mixtures, appearance.

Laws regarding leprosy. Laws governing slavery. Cities of refuge, murder.

Various ordinances regarding sorcery, thievery, paying of wages, pledges, surety, personal injury.

Circumcision. The Sabbath day. Moral purity. Righteous behavior.

Worship and holiness.

All of these plus injunctions we may have not mentioned constitute the Law, the Torah.

To be continued.